She's been in DC but a few weeks and already the pull of New York is calling her home--as a New York State Senator? Current president of the American Federation of Teachers and New York's local United Federation of Teachers, Weingarten has expressed her interest in Hillary Clinton's soon-to-be-vacated Big Apple Senate seat. Apparently she told Governor Paterson, "You know me well enough to know if you want me." Well, we've always said she's a consumate politician so maybe this is her true calling. Now, the question is who will replace her at the AFT? She's no Al Shanker but we could certainly do worse when it comes to reform-ish minded union leaders (ever think you see those two words in the same sentence--or in reference to Weingarten?). Stay tuned.
(Apparently, Fran Drescher of the 1990s sitcom The Nanny is also interested in the position. The New York Daily News reasons that though her voice "could strip the rust off an engine block," it "might come in handy during a Senate filibuster.")
