R.I.P. Teddy Kennedy

[Keverian FireCry]

He died late tonight. Definitely one of the most influential and accomplished senators...ever, really. It's sad that he died before any big health care reform passed, as it was an issue he championed for most of his life. He'll be very hard to replace, but I hope that reflecting on his life and his passing will inspire some Democrats to grow a backbone and get some shit done.

Anyhow, rest in peace Teddy.

[Winnow]

This is the guy that drove off a bridge while drunk driving, leaving a young lady trapped in the car to drown right?

Ah yes, sad to see him go.

[Aabidano]

Standing up and calling Bush on his nonsense gained him a measure of respect from me. Not that it was effective, but no one else in his party had the balls to do so until after he left office.

[Spang]

A Message on Ted Kennedy to Conservatives Who Hated Him (Mostly Profanity-Free for the Kiddies):
Let's just get this right:

Do you like your state and not the federal government controlling the curriculum of your kids' schools? Thank Ted Kennedy.

Do you like being able to vote starting at age 18? Thank Ted Kennedy.

Do you think low-income people should get help with heating their homes in the winter? Thank the man.

Do you think the federal government should fund cancer research? Yep.

Do you believe that Meals on Wheels is a good thing? Ditto.

Does your daughter (or you, if you're female) like playing soccer or basketball or softball at school? That'd be because of Ted Kennedy.

Do you think that disabled people should be able to go to school? Have access to buildings? Not be discriminated against for housing and loads of other things? Kennedy, big time.

You like your cheap airfares? You know the answer.

You think people on welfare oughta get jobs? So did Kennedy.

You think mental institutions should treat people humanely? Yeah, so did your new friend, Ted Kennedy.

You believe that the Defense Department should provide child care for the kids of soldiers? Kennedy did.

You think a woman shouldn't lose her job if she gets pregnant? You think 100,000 more cops on the street's a good idea? You think poor kids should have health care? You think soldiers in Iraq should have the proper armor? Just tick those things off the list. Some of them would have been accomplished without him; many would not have been.

You agreed with Ted Kennedy far, far more than you want to think you did, dear conservatives. Still, go ahead and dance your mad jigs on his still-warm corpse. Why not? We on the left certainly did when Jerry Falwell, Strom Thurmond, and Jesse Helms kicked. Hell, one asshole blogger even celebrated the death of Ann Coulter's father. But know that you dance in ignorance. Ask Orrin Hatch.

But, of course, you want to address the far more pressing issue of whether or not Ted Kennedy killed Mary Jo Kopechne back at Chappaquiddick all those decades ago, no matter what the investigations said. There's only a couple of things to say about that: The glib response is, "Yeah, and Thomas Jefferson nailed his slaves. What's your point?" More directly, Kennedy asked the people of Massachusetts if they wanted him to quit. They did not. The rest of the nation may have not wanted him as president, but for Massachusetts, Chappaquiddick quickly became a settled issue and distant history. That's all that mattered to keep him in the Senate, just like Louisiana will have to judge whether or not a prostitute-lovin' David Vitter should go back. That's democracy, gang, like it or not.

And Ted Kennedy did more for real, actual democracy than almost anyone else in our entire history as a nation.

More on that tomorrow in a real tribute.

(By the way, perhaps we now know why Barack Obama was trying to get health care reform done quickly.)

The Source

[Tyek]

But, of course, you want to address the far more pressing issue of whether or not Ted Kennedy killed Mary Jo Kopechne back at Chappaquiddick all those decades ago, no matter what the investigations said. There's only a couple of things to say about that: The glib response is, "Yeah, and Thomas Jefferson nailed his slaves. What's your point?" More directly, Kennedy asked the people of Massachusetts if they wanted him to quit. They did not. The rest of the nation may have not wanted him as president, but for Massachusetts, Chappaquiddick quickly became a settled issue and distant history. That's all that mattered to keep him in the Senate, just like Louisiana will have to judge whether or not a prostitute-lovin' David Vitter should go back. That's democracy, gang, like it or not.

That's a pretty stupid arguement. "A Person died, but we did not want him to quit, so it's all good.?"
He did some great things for the country, he did some not so great things for the country, but he was embroiled in a major scandal where a life was lost, you can't just gloss over it if you want to look at his life in review.

[Animalor]

If Michael Jackson was any indication, people tend to forgive pretty easily and highlight the positive after someone dies.

[Ashur]

Still, go ahead and dance your mad jigs on his still-warm corpse. Why not?

kthxbye!

[Aslanna]

What negative did Michael Jackson do?

[Funkmasterr]

If Michael Jackson was any indication, people tend to forgive pretty easily and highlight the positive after someone dies.

Difference being, it was never proven that Michael did anything wrong But I agree with what you're saying.

[Nick]

Did Ted Kennedy flee from the scene of a drink drive accident where a women died? Confirm/deny?

[Xatrei]

A yes or no answer isn't really available. That he was drunk and fled a fatal accident was the commonly held suspicion, but it was never proved. He was in an accident in which a woman was killed who had worked for Bobby Kennedy during the 68 primary campaign. Wikipedia has a fairly good account of events, including the investigations, their outcome and the legal consequences to Kennedy. There were a few inconsistencies in his account of events that added to the suspicious circumstances of the accident and Kennedy's behavior following it. In the end, he pleaded guilty to a something like "leaving the scene of an accident involving an injury" and received a suspended jail sentence and, I believe, a fine. His political enemies have always liked to point to that incident to thoroughly dismiss Kennedy's career of service.

Search wikipedia for chappaquiddick if you feel like skimming over the details of the event.

[Nick]

Read that.

Far be it from me to judge one man by one action, but when it comes to manslaughter I don't think I'd be alone in considering that a fairly serious consideration, by even the most generous of standards.

The Kennedy's, are of course, an "important" American political dynasty: - So criticising them, to all but the most reasonable and logical of people, is equivalent to shitting on all the USA'S face.

But, let's assume this board has some semblance of valid intellectualism within it and try anyway.

Does a man who effectively drunkenly left a woman to die in a cold bog of a grave, and got away with it because he was genetically associated with a rich and powerful political dynasty, deserve any more respect, or even less respect, than the innocent woman he left to die swallowing, gulping and dying in those cold atlantic waters - for his drunkardness and opportunism?

I think, and I feel I'm entitled to, feel that it shows a severe lack of perspective in the psyche of his defenders, to deny the harsh reality of an inconvenient manslaughter in favour of a partisan support of a family not one of us has any real allegiance to, apart from media pressure and sycophantic fanboyism.

I won't mourn him.

[Fairweather Pure]

I listened to Laura Ingram's show last night and it was her and a guest taking calls from other Catholics calling in screaming how he is burning in hell right now and they mocked his legacy in every way possible. Listening to Catholics discuss morality is always hilarious.

[Nick]

Listening to any religious person talk about anything is pretty much guaranteed hilarity/tragedy.

[Keverian FireCry]

Nick, I doubt anyone here forgives him for that incident 40 years ago. However, some people do take into account the 45+ years of service to the people and his unrelenting dedication to protecting the poor and opressed of this country. You cannot ignore one or the other when looking back on his life.

[Winnow]

Libs will love him.

I heard something Friday that gave me even more appreciation into the indecency, immorality and inhumanity of the late senator. Of course, none of the fawning news media bothered to pick it up. I guess it would have been considered bad taste during our national mourning period for the pervert.

Fortunately, it’s on the record now [2], for future – perhaps wiser and nobler – generations to ponder and evaluate.

Ted Kennedy enjoyed sharing Chappaquiddick jokes with his close friends – including his biographer, Ed Klein.

Do you believe this?

Here’s what Klein told National Public Radio last week in an interview with Katty Kay, filling in for host Diane Rehm: “He would ask people, ‘Have you heard any new jokes about Chappaquiddick?’”

Klein said one of Kennedy’s “favorite topics of humor was, indeed, Chappaquiddick.”

I know. I know. You don’t believe me. You think I’m making this up. So, please, don’t take my word for it, listen to it for yourself [2].

“I mean, that is just the most amazing thing,” Klein said. “Not that he didn’t feel remorse about the death of Mary Jo Kopechne but that he still always saw the other side of everything and the ridiculous side of things, too.” {And what was ridiculous about Mary Jo’s death and Kennedy’s behavior? Really, Klein.}

No, no, no – I’m sure Kennedy felt plenty of remorse about leaving a drowning young woman in a car, where, according to the coroner’s report, she spent up to two hours gasping for air, while Kennedy went home, showered, shaved and rested up for 18 hours before even reporting the crime!

People with great remorse always solicit jokes about their unspeakable acts of cowardice, right? It demonstrates what a keen sense of humor they have, right? It shows how they have a self-deprecating sense of humor, right?

No, not at all.

What it demonstrates is the complete invulnerability this monster had from any serious consequences in his life. He was completely arrogant, because he knew he could literally get away with murder – and did.

Bottom line is that Ted Kennedy let that woman die to protect his political career. Libs are OK with that I'm sure.

[vn_Tanc]

Bottom line is that Ted Kennedy let that woman die to protect his political career. Libs are OK with that I'm sure.

And non-libs too, seeing how there's been 40 years of silence about this from all sides. Until he died.

[Boogahz]

Bottom line is that Ted Kennedy let that woman die to protect his political career. Libs are OK with that I'm sure.

And non-libs too, seeing how there's been 40 years of silence about this from all sides. Until he died.

There has hardly been silence for the last 40 years. It was a common issue that was brought up anytime he did something "good."

[Nick]

Nick, I doubt anyone here forgives him for that incident 40 years ago. However, some people do take into account the 45+ years of service to the people and his unrelenting dedication to protecting the poor and opressed of this country. You cannot ignore one or the other when looking back on his life.

Aye, I know mate. I'm always just one for pointing out the negative *in this manslaughter*

[Fash]

I've always been disgusted by the whole 'dynasty,' except of course for JFK. I wish we had term limits.

[miir]

Winnow, did you just quote world net daily?

[Winnow]

I’m sure Kennedy felt plenty of remorse about leaving a drowning young woman in a car, where, according to the coroner’s report, she spent up to two hours gasping for air, while Kennedy went home, showered, shaved and rested up for 18 hours before even reporting the crime!

[miir]

LOL, you just did it again!

[Gzette]

I heard Glenn Beck was at Chappaquiddick and held the car door shut to kill that girl. Not saying he did, but he should probably provide evidence he didn't.