# Is the Kennedy Era Over **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 27, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850 "2009-08-27T00:19:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/1 "2009-08-27T00:19:20Z")
Is the era of Kennedys in US Politics over or at least setting? ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/2 "2009-08-27T00:57:22Z")
YesyesyesyesyesyesyesOhplease dear God YESYESYES!! ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/3 "2009-08-27T01:04:20Z")
I would say so. They (whoever they is) tried to pull Caroline into politics but she is about as articulate as your average college freshman. There aren’t any real hopefuls left on a national scale. God seems to despise the family and has tried to exterminate them for decades but they have more money than he does so it has been a stand-off. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/4 "2009-08-27T01:35:37Z")
It’s been over for decades. Kennedy era was over when Robert Kennedy died. Ted Kennedy never had any real influence over the Democrats beyond a local control of Massachusetts. As the population migragted to the South, Massachusetts lost all of it’s clout anyway. Ted Kennedy’s vain attempt to rest the nomination from Jimmy Carter showed how politically weak he was. There were some hopes pinned on John Jr but he proved to be nothing more than a pretty face. He may have had some brains, but if he did he didn’t appear to eager to use them For certain Ted Kennedy was very strong in local politics but not on the national scene. He had no more power in his party than any other long serving senator in either party ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/5 "2009-08-27T03:41:50Z")
I used to work for one-Joseph Patrick Kennedy II when he was in the House of Representatives. His office gave me my first internship ever when I was in high school. They had me write and design party invitations and respond to letters from constituents. I think he’s focused on his heating assistance non-profit these days but maybe he’ll make a comeback at some point. Their office is very Boston nepotistic-his chief of staff or whatever she was for his Newton office at the time was the wife of the Montilio’s bakery guy. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/6 "2009-08-27T15:13:04Z")
Well, Patches is still in the House, and Joe’s name is being kicked around to run for Ted’s Senate seat, so I’d at least wait a few months before declaring it over. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/7 "2009-08-27T15:15:09Z")
Isn’t there a Kennedy running for Burris’s senate seat in Illionis? ---
**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, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/8 "2009-08-27T16:35:55Z")
I’m against nepotism regardless of who practices it, so I hope so. That goes for the Bushes too. I suppose the Governator counts as a Kennedy in a sense. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/9 "2009-08-29T02:36:00Z")
Yeah, not a big fan of hereditary claims on political office, so I hope we’re done with the Kennedys. Frankly, I’m tired of hearing about them. Rest in peace, Ted, but if I have to hear one more sappy paean to the Kennedy family I’m going to hurl. And I am a lefty. ---
**Author:** ![Neptunian\_Slug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Neptunian\_Slug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptunian_Slug)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/10 "2009-08-29T04:41:46Z")
If the question is whether someone named Kennedy will be running for President anytime soon, I would say no, not for a long time, if ever. However, there are still Kennedys in office. And like European royal households, you could see the formation of various branches through marriage that could ensure that great-grandchildren of Joe Sr. remain on the political scene. Joe could still re-emerge to take his uncle’s seat. Patrick is a congressman in RI. While he, like his father, has had a flawed youth, its not unreasonable that he could build a distinguished career in Congress if he gets his act together. Teddy Jr. is always a possibility to go into politics as well. I would guess, that if anything, his father’s passing may nudge him in that direction. None are prospects for national office at this time, but they could remain relevant. Bobby Kennedy Jr. and Christopher are not politicians at this time, but you never know if the lure of a government salary will pull them from their private sector/activist work. That’s kind of it for people named Kennedy. If you look at the possible branches that can emerge, you have the Shriver branch. Even excluding Governor Schwarzenegger, Bobby and Mark Shriver remain active in politics and very well could end up in Congress at some point. Then there is an ex-Kennedy, Andrew Cuomo. He has since divorced but his kids are grandchildren of Bobby. Its entirely possible that if Andrew becomes the next governor of NY, then the next prominent branch could become the Kennedy-Cuomos. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/11 "2009-08-30T05:26:16Z")
I keep wondering who is going to inherit the fat old turd’s seat. Too few Rosewood clubs in the landscape. ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/12 "2009-08-30T19:26:33Z")
Despite being liberal, I’m hoping there’s not another senator from Massachusetts who doesn’t have the clout of Ted Kennedy. I want to see dollar coins in circulation in the US; the reason they aren’t is because Ted Kennedy’s lobbying efforts on behalf of Massachusetts-based Crane Paper, who manufactures the paper dollar bills are printed on. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/13 "2009-08-30T23:27:57Z")
Does the Kennedy-by-marriage who’s serving as governor of California count? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/14 "2009-08-30T23:32:46Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Despite being liberal, I’m hoping there’s not another senator from Massachusetts who doesn’t have the clout of Ted Kennedy. I want to see dollar coins in circulation in the US; the reason they aren’t is because Ted Kennedy’s lobbying efforts on behalf of Massachusetts-based Crane Paper, who manufactures the paper dollar bills are printed on. I’d rather have UHC than dollar coins. > [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Does the Kennedy-by-marriage who’s serving as governor of California count? I think he married in too late, and was too well-known beforehand to count. Of course, he can never be President. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/15 "2009-08-31T09:06:30Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Despite being liberal, I’m hoping there’s not another senator from Massachusetts who doesn’t have the clout of Ted Kennedy. I want to see dollar coins in circulation in the US; the reason they aren’t is because Ted Kennedy’s lobbying efforts on behalf of Massachusetts-based Crane Paper, who manufactures the paper dollar bills are printed on. I hate dollar coins. Then again, I’m not too fond of paper money. I vote for plastic money like Australia. On a Kennedy related note, for better or worse, I don’t think it’s over. I don’t think the Kennedy family can handle not being involved in politics. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2009, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/16 "2009-08-31T10:15:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I think he married in too late, and was too well-known beforehand to count. Of course, he can never be President. He can never be President _today_. Who knows what’ll happen when they finally amend the Constitution to remove that archaic clause. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/17 "2011-01-30T02:25:08Z")
Well Patrick Kennedy is no longer in Congress and the Governator has been replaced by Mr. Brown. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/18 "2011-01-30T14:34:15Z")
One can only hope. the kennedy family represents everything that is wrong about American politics-nepostism, corruption, and brain dead 3rd generation hacks. Hopefully the Kennedy fortune is so depleted at this point, that it won’t be capable of funding any more election tries, of these morons. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/19 "2011-01-30T14:49:29Z")
Geez, people… as an “era” of political ascendancy it was gone back when Jimmy beat back Teddy, and Teddy in turn was the last one to hold real clout as the Liberal Wing’s senior senator. The continued high-profiling of those members of the following generations who chose lives in the public eye was more of a celebrity-media phenomenon than a sign of real power (other than nepotistic links to Ted). But, glad to know y’all are relieved of that burning thorn in your side. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850/20 "2011-01-30T15:01:31Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > For certain Ted Kennedy was very strong in local politics but not on the national scene. He had no more power in his party than any other long serving senator in either party This really isn’t true at all. He had a huge influence in Washington, and on a heck of a lot of legislation. Americans with Disabilities Act, Medicare drug benefit, No Child Left Behind, every minimum wage increase in the last 30 years, various immigration laws, SCHIP, Title IX, the anti-aparteid bill, and the list goes on and on. I’d challenge anyone to find a legislator with as many big accomplishments. But the Kennedy era is indeed over. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-kennedy-era-over/507850.md?page=2)