# RIP Mary Jo Kopechne **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2009, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788 "2009-08-26T17:20:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/61 "2009-08-26T18:28:06Z")
> [@elbows](#): > > Only you don’t know the name of that person, 'cause it got no press, there were no charges or inquiry and no consequences for this wealthy, well connected Texan family. You think she got off because her dad was a real estate developer? ---
**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 26, 2009, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/62 "2009-08-26T18:29:14Z")
And I know how disrespectful it is, but this [advertisement](http://homepage.mac.com/mr_bingley/.Pictures/tedvwsmall.jpg) seems timely in this thread. ---
**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 26, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/63 "2009-08-26T18:32:05Z")
That’s not an advertisement. It’s a National Lampoon faux-ad, and Volkswagen sued for trademark infringement over it. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/64 "2009-08-26T18:35:27Z")
> [@An\_Arky](#): > > Dude, I have nothing against you, but you complain about being stalked then turn around and post what some might be inclined to describe as baiting, plus you’re under warning now. Your recent posts seem to be bubbling just under the surface of what some might consider trolling. Are you spoiling for a flameout? I don’t begrudge yours or anyone’s loathing of Ted Kennedy, but you’re giving the impression of just doing this for sport… This is covered in the thread on the ATMB forum. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/65 "2009-08-26T18:35:54Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Remembering the paucity of cell phones in 1969…could have immediately called 911 A few cars had mobile-radio, special-operator-assistance-required phones then, but that’s it. 911 was just beginning to be rolled out. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/66 "2009-08-26T18:41:59Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > That’s fine. But those actions didn’t cause a death, did they? I don’t know, and you don’t know, and Kennedy didn’t know either. What I do know is that his actions effectively prevented any hope of rescue, and conveniently made it impossible to determine whether or not he was drunk during the accident. There were also plenty of houses in the area that I’m sure had phones where he could call the authorities. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/67 "2009-08-26T18:46:28Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > And I know how disrespectful it is, but this [advertisement](http://homepage.mac.com/mr_bingley/.Pictures/tedvwsmall.jpg) seems timely in this thread. There’s really got to be a way to tie together this been there/done that Kopechne rant, through the fake VW ad, then to Hitler, and end up being sad about Geli Raubel. Then we could bring it full circle and compare Ted Kennedy to Hitler, the latter (Hitler, that is) being apparently rather popular of late. Anybody want to go for it? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/68 "2009-08-26T18:48:03Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > There’s really got to be a way to tie together this been there/done that Kopechne rant, through the fake VW ad, then to Hitler, and end up being sad about Geli Raubel. Then we could bring it full circle and compare Ted Kennedy to Hitler, the latter (Hitler, that is) being apparently rather popular of late. Anybody want to go for it? Can this be construed to be a request for help in deliberately hijacking the thread? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/69 "2009-08-26T18:48:22Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Fair enough. If you’d provide a cite proving that fleeing the scene doesn’t make it vehicular homicide then you can consider my ignorance fought. Sure: In Massachusetts, the [law](http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/90-24.htm) provides that > [@](#): > > Whoever . . . without stopping and making known his name, residence and the register number of his motor vehicle goes away after knowingly colliding with or otherwise causing injury to any other vehicle or property . . . shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars nor more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not less than two weeks nor more than two years That’s it. The vehicular homicide law appears to be [Chapter 265: Section 131/2.](http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/265-13.5.htm) It defines manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle as causing a death while operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of “…alcohol … marijuana, narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances … or the vapors of glue.” There’s nothing in there about leaving the scene as an element of vehicle-related manslaughter. ---
**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 26, 2009, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/70 "2009-08-26T18:50:05Z")
Kind of unlikely that Massachusetts hasn’t changed its vehicular homicide statute in 50 years, though, innit? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/71 "2009-08-26T18:51:39Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I don’t know, and you don’t know, and Kennedy didn’t know either. What I do know is that his actions effectively prevented any hope of rescue, and conveniently made it impossible to determine whether or not he was drunk during the accident. > > There were also plenty of houses in the area that I’m sure had phones where he could call the authorities. I know how long a person can survive without breathing. It’s simply untenable to argue that if Kennedy had run to the nearest phone and called for help immediately, her life would have been saved. And if he had run off without trying to dive in and get her out himself, you’d be up in arms about how he didn’t even try to save her himself. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/72 "2009-08-26T18:52:21Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > Can this be construed to be a request for help in deliberately hijacking the thread? No, for killing it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/73 "2009-08-26T18:52:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Kind of unlikely that Massachusetts hasn’t changed its vehicular homicide statute in 50 years, though, innit? True, indeed. But even less likely that the law in force at the time was more severe than the current law, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/74 "2009-08-26T18:54:26Z")
> [@kelly5078](#): > > No, for killing it. But that’s not what you asked for. You asked for people to hijack it. Which is against forum rules as far as I am aware. ---
**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 26, 2009, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/75 "2009-08-26T18:57:31Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > True, indeed. But even less likely that the law in force at the time was more severe than the current law, isn’t it? Is it? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/76 "2009-08-26T19:02:02Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I know how long a person can survive without breathing. and you know there was no air trapped in the car because… ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/77 "2009-08-26T19:02:49Z")
And you assume there was because… See how that works? > [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > Is it? It is. Vehicular operation laws of all sorts were generally much more lenient back then. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/78 "2009-08-26T19:03:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Is it? Yes, the laws regarding how to handle motor vehicles have only become more strict over time. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > and you know there was no air trapped in the car because… Ted Kennedy opened the door and got out. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/79 "2009-08-26T19:05:43Z")
> [@mswas](#): > > But that’s not what you asked for. You asked for people to hijack it. Which is against forum rules as far as I am aware. There really isn’t much to this thread to hijack, is there? You proclaim sadness you don’t feel for someone you never knew on the date of a significant news event. In the strange world of posting, it’s against the rules for you to do what you’re doing, too, but it’s also against the rules for me to call you on it. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788/80 "2009-08-26T19:05:54Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I don’t know, and you don’t know, and Kennedy didn’t know either. What I do know is that his actions effectively prevented any hope of rescue. What makes you think there was any hope of rescue? I think it speaks well of Ted that the worst thing conservatives can say about him is that he once got in a car accident 40 years ago. That’s so pathetic, and desperate and reaching, and it’s not even sincere since you don’t care that Laura Bush did the same thing. GWB was a habitual drunk driver too, so it’s only a matter of luck that he didn’t kill anybody. By the way, Kennedy himself had suffered a cerebral concussion and shock from the crash, which probably has a lot to do with his erratic behavior afterwards. In any case, I love the way conservatives get so hyperbolically smug and self-righteous over being able to finger point at one bad decision a liberal made 40 years ago. They don’t give a shit at all about the alleged victim, it’s just an excuse to be holier-than-thou. Dubya lied his way into an illegal war that killed hundreds of thousands. Until they get outraged about that, they have no credibility pretending to care about mary Joe Kopechne. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rip-mary-jo-kopechne/507788.md?page=5)