One of newly-appointed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's committee appointments makes no sense.

Democrats put her on foreign relations, environment and public works, agriculture, and the Special Committee on Aging. She wanted a spot on the Armed Services Committee, but couldn't get it because Senator Roland Burris already took it.

The kicker: aging had three vacant seats, says the Albany Times Union, and that's why Gillibrand got stuck with it.

It would have been a smarter move for Dems to put Gillibrand on Armed Services and Burris on aging. Regardless what you think of Gillibrand, she has experience relevant to that committee - she served on it while in the House.

Burris, meanwhile, was reluctantly seated by the Senate because he was appointed by Blago. So why give him a plum appointment?