# I pit Crafter Man-In regards to Ted Kennedy's Death **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 26, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804 "2009-08-26T19:02:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/81 "2009-08-27T04:00:18Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > So, anyway, I sometimes bop over to a site called _Sadly, No_!. A bit leftish, and dedicated to documenting the madness and cognitive chaos of our shared enemy, the Forces of Darkness. I won’t even link to it, standard liberal cooty protocols would be useless against the HiveMind Brain Weevils. > > But, as I suggested, they offer choice bits of rightarded blather, from semi-professional blatherskates. Including this gem… > > [http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/](http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/) > > **What They Won’t Mention About Ted Kennedy: Treason** > > The gist is that Teddy conspired with the head of the KGB and Secretary Yuri Andropov to the intentional detriment of American security. I swear, I am not making this up… It’s a testament to how ignorant of one another’s viewpoints people are that liberals wouldn’t know this already. I’ve been hearing that one for years. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/82 "2009-08-27T06:54:19Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > Yes, of course! And he would be the perfect conduit to John Kerry for secret instructions! Aw jeesh.:smack: Kennedy was his SAILING instructor. He taught him how to safely navigate through imaginary waters. John Kerry got his secret instructions from news cameramen. ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/83 "2009-08-27T09:50:30Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I dunno. ATC interviewed a refusenik whose infant daughter needed to come to the US for treatment. He told how Teddy came to his apartment, told his KGB handlers to leave–WHICH THEY DID!–then told the guy that he’d try to get the guy’s family to the US for treatment. > > I could only think that the only way he could order the KGB out of the room was if he were high-ranking in the Soviet hierarchy. > Or a Kennedy, and back in the 70s that name held an unimaginable amount of mojo the world over. I think this was the reason. It was his booze breath. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/84 "2009-08-27T10:12:54Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > John Kerry got his secret instructions from news cameramen. “Kenneth, what is the frequency?” ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/85 "2009-08-27T12:45:45Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t recall much, if any, unpleasantness from US liberals when Reagan passed away. When Colin Powell dies we’ll nearly all say nice things (which will have nothing to do with his endorsement of Obama). We all liked John McCain until he ran a dirty campaign. Bush I will be openly mourned. Nobody had anything bad to say about Gerald Ford. > > Is that enough to be going on with? What was Bush Senior’s greatest accomplishment? Aside from his sons: The Idiot President, the Election Stealing Governor & Silverado Neal? And who will remember the two crewmen who died after Bush I precipitously bailed out of his Navy Avenger bomber in WWII? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/86 "2009-08-27T13:11:31Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > What was Bush Senior’s greatest accomplishment? Aside from his sons: The Idiot President, the Election Stealing Governor & Silverado Neal? He won the first Gulf War and was smart enough not to try the regime change nonsense. It’s not really his fault that his son was a shitty President; after all, the American people elected him one and a half times, and we got what we deserved\*. Jeb’s not really a bad guy. He’s been a pretty good Governor, and he made a point of staying _out_ of the election fiasco, for the most part. Katherine Harris is the one who did the stealing. \*Technically, you got what _you_ deserved. As a non-citizen, I can’t vote, but I live here, so I also got what you deserved, so to speak. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/87 "2009-08-27T13:13:01Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > I don’t recall much, if any, unpleasantness from US liberals when Reagan passed away. **Diogenes the Cynic** has expressed the hope that Reagan’s corpse be dug up and sodomized. I won’t bother to cite, but it happened. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/88 "2009-08-27T13:32:55Z")
You have to better than _one_ (though not much better than necrophilia). ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bb73d2/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Joe_Meager)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/89 "2009-08-27T13:35:10Z")
**Conspirancy Alert** The Democrat “super majority” in the Senate was tenuous at best (all it would’ve taken is one rocking DINO to sink that boat) so losing it isn’t actually as bad as it sounds. But now that he’s gone there’s a newfound sense of urgency, compromise, and kum-bah-ya-ing to get a healthcare bill that can actually pass. And put Teddy’s name on. In short… he was whacked. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/90 "2009-08-27T14:56:47Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > I mean seriously. I spent a good amount of time listening to NPR interviews of his friends and rivals. Even the people who had the most reason to dislike him at the very least respected him for his ability to do his job. This type of thing was brilliantly parodied by Rown Atkinson on Not the Nine O’clock News many years ago. Politician played by Atkinson: in tone of disgust and contempt “this is the sort of man who” Opposing politician keels over. Atkinson: “… will be sorely missed.” ---
**Author:** ![Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d9b06d/32.png) [@Ichini\_Sanshigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ichini_Sanshigo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/91 "2009-08-27T15:09:40Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > **Conspirancy Alert** > > The Democrat “super majority” in the Senate was tenuous at best (all it would’ve taken is one rocking DINO to sink that boat) so losing it isn’t actually as bad as it sounds. But now that he’s gone there’s a newfound sense of urgency, compromise, and kum-bah-ya-ing to get a healthcare bill that can actually pass. And put Teddy’s name on. > > In short… he was whacked. By whom? Michael Jackson’s doctor, maybe? ---
**Author:** ![freedumb2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@freedumb2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freedumb2003)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/92 "2009-08-27T15:38:54Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > I don’t expect anyone put effort into finding good things to say. The mans been serving this country for nearly 50 years and has been at the forefront of numerous important pieces of legislation. It’s brutally ignorant to say you can’t think of a single thing. All his legislation was bad and we are all paying dearly for it. Not only is there nothing good to say about the swimmer, there is a lot bad to say. As far as his enemies “respecting” him, they are playing to the cameras. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/93 "2009-08-27T15:41:10Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > In short… he was whacked. Hey, apart from being an overweight alcoholic 77-year-old with brain cancer, the man was a picture of perfect health. It’s the only logical explanation. ---
**Author:** ![freedumb2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@freedumb2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freedumb2003)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/94 "2009-08-27T15:41:19Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Joe\_Meager](#): > > **Conspirancy Alert** > > The Democrat “super majority” in the Senate was tenuous at best (all it would’ve taken is one rocking DINO to sink that boat) so losing it isn’t actually as bad as it sounds. But now that he’s gone there’s a newfound sense of urgency, compromise, and kum-bah-ya-ing to get a healthcare bill that can actually pass. And put Teddy’s name on. > > In short… he was whacked. I love a good consipracy story! That ones is great, I will spread it far and wide! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![freedumb2003](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@freedumb2003](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freedumb2003)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/95 "2009-08-27T15:43:19Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He won the first Gulf War and was smart enough not to try the regime change nonsense. It’s not really his fault that his son was a shitty President; after all, the American people elected him one and a half times, and we got what we deserved\*. > > Jeb’s not really a bad guy. He’s been a pretty good Governor, and he made a point of staying _out_ of the election fiasco, for the most part. _Katherine Harris is the one who did the stealing._ > > \*Technically, you got what _you_ deserved. As a non-citizen, I can’t vote, but I live here, so I also got what you deserved, so to speak. Yeah, just keep repeating that to yourself over and over… ---
**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/96 "2009-08-27T15:46:39Z")
> [@freedumb2003](#): > > As far as his enemies “respecting” him, they are playing to the cameras. So, all convervative politicians who are paying their respects are lying? Interesting. How do you know that for certain, exactly? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/97 "2009-08-27T15:47:22Z")
Yeah, I’ll get right on that. What are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/98 "2009-08-27T15:50:50Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You have to better than _one_ (though not much better than necrophilia). Well, search is as fucked as it usually is, and I don’t think the boards were Google-accessible then. But come on - that kind of shit always happens when a Republican dies. I mean, fuck - Tony Snow dies, and we get the Usual Suspects saying that they hope he suffered. Falwell dies, and we get them saying they rejoice. Thurmond, every other Republican - same shit. Kennedy kicks it - you get one guy saying he can’t think of anything nice to say, and he gets Pitted for it. _:shrugs:_ 'Twas ever thus. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/99 "2009-08-27T16:00:01Z")
It’s worth noting that that pitting itself has failed miserably, however. I’ll grant you the Tony Snow thing, but frankly I can’t blame anyone for not mourning Jerry Falwell and Strom Thurmond - just as I wouldn’t blame anyone for not mourning, say, Louis Farrakhan. ---
**Author:** ![Blaster\_Master](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Blaster\_Master](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blaster_Master)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804/100 "2009-08-27T16:08:58Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > I don’t expect anyone put effort into finding good things to say. The mans been serving this country for nearly 50 years and has been at the forefront of numerous important pieces of legislation. It’s brutally ignorant to say you can’t think of a single thing. Someone who is diametrically opposed to his political views may or may not see the list of legislation you posted as important, but being important doesn’t necessarily mean good. How good a piece of legislation is is highly influenced by one’s political perspective. If one doesn’t like any of that legislation, how could one be expected to say anything good about him because of it. And to draw a similar comparison, can you say anything good about Bush? He may not have served his country for 50 years, but surely in 8 years he did something right. For instance, he may have been a foreign policy disaster in most cases, but many would say he did very well in Africa. However, many people I know who vehemently hated Bush were so focused on Iraq and various domestic policies and weren’t interested in actually researching positive things he did that they’re probably completely unaware of that. I think Kennedy is similar, except he’s been a villain of the Republicans for much longer. For people who don’t like his policies and are well award of his drinking and other personal problems, what’s their incentive to put in effort to find something nice to say about him? > [@boytyperanma](#): > > Sure. He’s influential in American politics and knows how to motivate his base. When he speaks it is with conviction. The same could have been said about Bush for at least a non-insignificant portion of his presidency. The base of the Republican party loved him and he managed to get most of what he wanted done, done. If you’re going to be aghast that his opponents can’t think of anything nice to say about him, you’re just being silly. If you respect him and liked his policies, great. If someone else doesn’t know much about him and didn’t like his policies, fine. But unless the guy goes on praising his death as the saving grace of American politics or something ridiculous like that, I just don’t get why you’d be upset. I’m not a Republican, but from what I know of his political views, I’m generally opposed to them. I’m not willing to put in the effort to find a piece of legislation that he was a part of just so I can say something nice about him after his death. I respect him for serving his country for so long and, I’d like to think, trying to do what he thought was best, even if I may have disagreed with him. But I have no way of knowing how true he may or may not have held his convictions. So, really, let it go. If someone starts dancing on his grave or starts spouting a bunch of things about him that aren’t true, by all means pit him. This one, it’s just… weak. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-pit-crafter-man-in-regards-to-ted-kennedys-death/507804.md?page=6)