He was human just like the rest of us, he really screwed up in his younger days like most of us have, his family surely had far more tragedy in their lives than fifty families should have to go through.
Love him or hate him he was unapologetic of his world view, he was welded solidly to his convictions, he was a different kind of politician, he could argue passionatley against another member of the senate but after the session he would get together with the other side and make things happen, he saw the other side not as enemys but as an integral part of our system.
He was deeply religious, but unlike so many phoney baloney politicians these days he did not wear his religion on his sleeve.
So farewell and God speed on the next part of the adventure Teddy.

No Comment.

Please let this thread die soon.

quote:

Originally posted by Eurocab:
No Comment.

Please let this thread die soon.

Well said, if you can't speak well of the dead, don't speak at all.

While I respect most everyone on here, I have to say the following:
He was a crook, a murderer, ties to the mob,and this country is better off without him. In fact, his direct actions (among many others) held this country back from what it should be today.
There, I said what a lot of this country thinks. Media aside, propaganda aside, its true

quote:

Originally posted by hooknline:
While I respect most everyone on here, I have to say the following:
He was a crook, a murderer, ties to the mob,and this country is better off without him. In fact, his direct actions (among many others) held this country back from what it should be today.
There, I said what a lot of this country thinks. Media aside, propaganda aside, its true

So you don't believe in any kind of redemption? Please enumerate the actions that have held us back from where we should be, and please no hear say, citeable examples only.

Wow Hookline, what a novel way to announce you are just another card carrying right winger. Who would have thunk you would pick a biodiesel site, such a ground breaking way to come out.

Raften, I am not anymore a card carrying right winger than you are a card carrying liberal. Since when has the USE of biodiesel been deemed only acceptable for liberal thinking? I will leave it at that.

Fab,
I do believe in redemption. Kennedy and Pelosi have directly fought tooth and nail against quite a few projects, bills etc that would have directly benefited the people of this country as a whole. Instead they chose to pander to special interest groups and lobbyist and campaign donors. Rather than listen to what the people of the country needed, wanted and required.
I dont feel like getting into a political debate tonight. While you chose to put this topic out here, instead of the politics section( you are entitled to your choice) it comes across as trolling for a response, and I bit.
You show me where he asks for redemption, I will show you examples of where it appears he could care less about what his constituents wanted and more what the pursuit of power and money led him to do.
Deal?

ok Fab, please take a close look at listing number 8, among others:\

1. He was caught cheating at Harvard when he attended it. He was expelled
Twice, once for cheating on a test, and once for paying a classmate to cheat
For him.

2. While expelled, Kennedy enlisted in the Army, but mistakenly signed up
For four years instead of two. Oops! The man can't count to four! His
Father, Joseph P. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to England (a step up from
Bootlegging liquor into the US from Canada during prohibition) , pulled the
Necessary strings to have his enlistment shortened to two years, and to
Ensure that he served in Europe, not Korea , where a war was raging. No
Preferential treatment for him! (like he charged that President Bush
Received).

3. Kennedy was assigned to Paris, never advanced beyond the rank of
Private,and returned to Harvard upon being discharged. Imagine a person of
His "education" NEVER advancing past the rank of Private!

4. While attending law school at the University of Virginia, he was cited
For reckless driving four times, including once when he was clocked driving
90 miles per hour in a residential neighborhood with his headlights off
After dark.. Yet his Virginia driver's license was never revoked.
Coincidentally, he passed the bar exam in 1959. Amazing!

5. In 1964, he was seriously injured in a plane crash and hospitalized for
Several months. Test results done by the hospital at the time he was
Admitted had shown he was legally intoxicated. The results of those tests
Remained a "state secret" until in the 1980's when the report was unsealed.
Didn't hear about that from the unbiased media, did we?

6. On July 19, 1969, Kennedy attended a party on Chappaquiddick Island in
Massachusetts . At about 11:00 PM, he borrowed his chauffeur's keys to his
Oldsmobile limousine and offered to give a ride home to Mary Jo Kopechne, a
Campaign worker. Leaving the island via an unlit bridge with no guard rail,
Kennedy steered the car off the bridge, flipped, and into Poucha Pond.

7. He swam to shore and walked back to the party passing several houses and
A fire station. Two friends then returned with him to the scene of the
Accident. According to their later testimony, they told him what he already
Knew - that he was required by law to immediately report the accident to the
Authorities. Instead Kennedy made his way to his hotel, called his lawyer,
And went to sleep. Kennedy called the police the next morning and by
Then the wreck had already been discovered. Before dying Kopechne had
Scratched at the upholstered floor above her head in the upside-down car.
The Kennedy family began "calling in favors", ensuring that any inquiry
Would be contained. Her corpse was whisked out-of-state to her family
Before an autopsy could be conducted.
Further details are uncertain, but after the accident Kennedy says he
Repeatedly dove under the water trying to rescue Kopechne and he didn't call
Police because he was in a state of shock. It is widely assumed Kennedy was
Drunk, and he held off calling police in hopes that his family could fix the
Problem overnight. Since the accident Kennedy's "political enemies" have
Referred to him as the distinguished Senator from Chappaquiddick. He
Pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, and was given a
SUSPENDED SENTENCE OF TWO MONTHS.
Kopechne's family received a small payout from the Kennedy's insurance
Policy and never sued. There was later an effort to have her body exhumed
And autopsied, but her family successfully fought against this in court, and
Kennedy's family paid their attorney's bills.... A "token of friendship"?

8. Kennedy has held his Senate seat for more than forty years, but
Considering his longevity, his accomplishments seem scant. He authored or
Argued for legislation that ensured a variety of civil rights, increased the
Minimum wage in 1981, made access to health care easier for the indigent,
Funded Meals on Wheels for fixed-income seniors, and is widely held as the
"standard-bearer for liberalism".. In his very first Senate roll he was the
Floor manager for the bill that turned U.S.
Immigration policy upside down and opened the floodgate for immigrants from
Third world countries..

9. Since that time, he has been the prime instigator and author of every
Expansion of an increase in immigration up to and including the latest
Attempt to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. Not to mention the pious
Grilling he gave the last two Supreme Court nominees, as if he was the
standard bearer for the nation in matters of "what's right". What a pompous
!

10. He is known around Washington as a public drunk, loud, boisterous, and
very disrespectful to ladies. JERK is a better description than "great
American". "A blonde in every pond" is his motto.

Yeah he had a hand in all kinds of really bad stuff, like the original medicare bill, the Americans with Disabilities Act and countless environmental regualtions, and like I said before arguments with unciteable hearsay are less than worthless.

Fab,
with all due respect,do you really want me to look up the bill, vote, and sponsor numbers for him?
TBH, I dont have the energy or time tonight because I am gearing up to head out of town for work in the am. Im not claiming he has been completly evil and hasnt done SOME good, but his history speaks for itself and yet some people refuse to see him for what he is. To be blind to his bad deeds is equally as bad as being blind to his good. I doesnt change the fact he has done what he done, both good and bad. He will be judged for his actions, if he hasnt already.

Hook, you have proved yourself as a able cut and paste artist from far right sites, I commend you. Speaking of far right sites, my local paper carried a story from 'a former FBI Agent' that the Obama gang has built over a thousand 'secret' detention sites around the country. The are said to also be stocking up on guillotines (30,000) because it is the best way to kill critics and collect body parts for transplants. I just threw that in so you would not have to go to the trouble to cut and paste it. Former FBI Agent Ted Gunderson in case you don't already know his name.

How dare you call Ted Kennedy a murderer, if it is murderers you want, Bush and Cheney come to mind, how many innocent deaths are they responsable for?

There are a certain group of people who still believe Faux news is fair and balanced, it's a sad commentary on the state of our union.

Anyone who has the respect of his adversaries, like Teddy had from Orin Hatch, deserves some respect, regardless of how you feel about his agenda. Which, BTW, much of which I agree with. The respectful debate and working across lines in an effort to serve is a genuine sign of service. Particularly in today's politics. My 2 cents.

Raften, I cut and pasted that from a fishing site. If you want to call fishing far right, than that is your choice.
How dare I call him a murderer...lets see, because he is. He is directly responsible for the death of another human being by negligent actions. Now, Im not a lawyer, but I do believe the fits the definition of murder. Before you say it, I know he was never convicted. He chose to call his lawyer before calling for assistance for the lady.
Yeah, hes a real great guy.

Thank God for the end of the Kennedy legacy- a do as I say not as I do family. Hiding millions from their fathers bootlegging days in offshore trusts, opposing Cape Wind, the list goes on....

Chappaquiddick- at a minimum negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and conspiracy. A young womans life lost to avoid a DUI and public embarrassment.

I believe in forgiveness and redemption after remorse. I'm sure Ted is reaping what he has sown as we will all someday.

Enough of the Kennedy love-fest

I'll accept that you cut and pasted from a fishing site just as if I cut and pasted it from a bio diesel site and if anyone asked I would say it came from a bio diesel site. Has nothing to do with either site and it is still right wing blather.

Your defination of murder is wrong Hook, it is much more aligned with man slaughter.

According to your way of thinking I am guilt of attempted murder for something that took place in my youth. Damm, all these years I thought I was just stupid. I suppose I should turn myself in except for the fact that it was fully investigated and nothing done about it.

I had to laugh when I found out someone thinks being against a wind farm is wrong, that would seem to be left wing blather.

Man it sure seems Americans from the US are way too hung up on this left and right BS, what the hell does a persons opinion on the legacy of a man or the man himself have to do with a political standpoint, be it liberal or conservative? Its just an opinion! Like bungholes everyone has one, left right or indifferent...
From the outside looking in this strict polarization seems to be the biggest downfall of US politics. Why must each person be labelled either a liberal or a conservative? Why is it so wrong to have some liberal and conservative ideals? These 2 sides need to put their heads together and work together for the benefit of the nation and put all this left and right polarizing BS aside, at least in my uniformed Canadian opinion...
Thats all I have to say about this!
Jon

Jon

-well said !, Let the man rest in peace. Tom

Many of our southern cousins become confused and overwhelmed when confronted with decisions that require more than a choice between black and white, good or evil, for us or against us, Ford or Chevy, etc. .... Observe the US TV media circus and it soon becomes evident that everything is polarized to a simple dichotomy which most can quickly resolve with the flip of a coin.
Add more options and some begin to behave like pigs on ice.
Politicians and the media usually keep it simple, and play to the lowest common denominator in terms of intelligence. Ad Hominem attacks are common, it's seldom about issues, and many hold the opinion of the 'newscaster' they most admire.

He had the respect and friendship of Ronald Reagan. If that's not good enough, TFB.