# Ted Kennedy is dead **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [August 26, 2009, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746 "2009-08-26T05:39:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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 26, 2009, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/61 "2009-08-26T16:49:06Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If only Republicans felt as much compassion for the 43 million Americans without health insurance, the 5000+ servicemen who died in Iraq, or the million + Iraqis who died as a result of Bush’s lies as they feel for Mary Jo Kopechne. If only Democrats felt as much compassion for the two million or so aborted babies every year. ---
**Author:** ![Redwing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/dfb087/32.png) [@Redwing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redwing)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/62 "2009-08-26T16:55:20Z")
He fought hard for what he believed was the best path. He took on the mantle that his brothers had carried, and did his best to carry it. He was dedicated to his vision, and unceasing in his efforts to bring it forth. I can’t say that I agreed with him on most issues, but he never struck me as politician who didn’t understand the impacts of his work, be they good or ill. He always seemed to me to be like Paul Wellstone, another Senator that I always voted against, but never lost respect for. Wherever he’s gone, I wish him peace and rest. ---
**Author:** ![spifflog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@spifflog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spifflog)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/63 "2009-08-26T16:55:21Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > If only Democrats felt as much compassion for the two million or so aborted babies every year. . . . and off the reservation we go ---
**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 26, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/64 "2009-08-26T16:59:42Z")
> [@spifflog](#): > > . . . and off the reservation we go Well Bob started it by posting that virtual flamebait. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/65 "2009-08-26T17:03:43Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Well Bob started it by posting that virtual flamebait. No, Bob continued it. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/66 "2009-08-26T17:06:02Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Actually, to clean up your little spurty mess. Mary Jo’s gettin’ a little sticky. Damn, I didn’t think to check down there. I thought I felt a little _triste_ after posting. And the cigarette I lit shoulda told me something. I don’t smoke. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/67 "2009-08-26T17:07:53Z")
So the guy spent almost 50 years in the Senate and less than two pages, with almost zero discussion of anything he did in his political life, we’re onto Laura Bush and abortion? Really? I know Ted Kennedy was a lightning rod and that he brought most of his problems on himself, and I think it’s probably true that his accomplishments at best mitigate and can’t outweight his culpability and evasion of responsibility in the death of another person. Even so, this is just ridiculous. I’m not critiquing anyone for posting condolences or just for saying they don’t like the guy, but leaving the tabloid fuckups of his life out of it, can anybody, perhaps an older poster, offer some insight into his record? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/68 "2009-08-26T17:21:23Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > 1. I was confident that this would be an occasion to quietly note to myself how different conservatives are from liberals, at least on this board. I knew that after the hate-filled venom spewed at disliked conservative figures who have died, the contrast would be obvious. I know I always get left out of the “who are the good conservatives” popularity posts on here (probably because I’m not “good”…) but I do identify as such, and I do believe that Ted Kennedy was a fine senator, who had several political positions which I very much disagreed with. He worked his ass off at his job, and clearly had good support from his constituency. I’m sad to say I cannot point to any specific piece of legislation which he championed which was “excellent”, but then I would have trouble doing that for almost any senator, regardless of party. I get the feeling from my brief review of his career that Kennedy was a consummate deal-maker, if not a consensus-builder. The main nitpick I’ve ever had with Ted Kennedy outside of political disagreements is one I also have with the Bush family, which is I very much dislike “dynasties” or “proxy royalties” where multiple family members get into too many areas of politics. I guess by this Board’s warped standards, that makes me a “hayteful konservative.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/69 "2009-08-26T17:23:46Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > Well Bob started it by posting that virtual flamebait. Just noting the hypocrisy of the Pubbies in bemoaning the loss of Mary Jo, when other lives mean so little to them. Anyway, thank you Marley for prodding discussion of his accomplishments. If you have any daughters in sports, than Teddy and Title IX for them not being treated like second class citizens. If you voted at 18, thank Teddy for his work to make it happen. ---
**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, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/70 "2009-08-26T17:25:23Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > I know I always get left out of the “who are the good conservatives” popularity posts on here (probably because I’m not “good”…) > > \ > > I guess by this Board’s warped standards, that makes me a “hayteful konservative.” :rolleyes: Erm… yeah. You were doing so \*well \*until that last line. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/71 "2009-08-26T17:25:52Z")
I’m another who’s a bit conflicted by this. Teddy was indeed a politician of huge stature who deserves to be recognized for a very significant life. But he also deserves to have his memory inextricably tied to those Chappaquidick events (which would surely - and deservedly - have killed the career of almost any other politician in any other state). To focus solely on either aspect seems to involve some measure of dishonesty. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/72 "2009-08-26T17:29:43Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Erm… yeah. You were doing so \*well \*until that last line. Erm…yeah, when I need your approval for my posts I’ll let you know. Expect a call sometime after “never.” ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/73 "2009-08-26T17:33:55Z")
The main thing I had against Ted Kennedy was that he was part of the Kennedy political clan. Too third world/late Roman Republic for my taste. And the trend seems to be getting worse, not better. I suppose I should be happy that the last Bush to hold office ruined things for every other Bush. And thank og that Obama spared us another Clinton. So there’s that. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/74 "2009-08-26T17:35:41Z")
Personally, I’m pretty liberal, and I think that Chappaquidick was nothing more than a regrettable accident, and I still wasn’t all that big a fan of Senator Kennedy. It’s a combination of the dynasty factor that **Una** mentioned, and his opposition to alternate energy. Still, I wish that some means could have been found to get his signature on a health care bill. Even aside from the simple issue of it being one more signature (which could make or break the bill, the way the votes are shaking out), I do recognize that that’s something that he’s been championing for years, and he deserved to play a part in achieving it. ---
**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, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/75 "2009-08-26T17:36:12Z")
> [@Una\_Persson](#): > > Erm…yeah, when I need your approval for my posts I’ll let you know. Expect a call sometime after “never.” Oh you certainly don’t need my approval. But you wondered why you’re not considered one of the more thoughtful conservatives, and I’m just trying to help. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/76 "2009-08-26T17:37:00Z")
Ideology aside, I tend to think that Ted Kennedy was the single greatest US Senator in the history of this country. What he had was a rare trifecta of 1) leadership and respect among his peers, 2) an ability to reach the common people, and 3) a mastery of the legislative process. It’s very rare for all of these to be combined in the same individual. And in Kennedy’s case, he additionally served for 47 years. I can’t think of anyone else who compares. ---
**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 26, 2009, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/77 "2009-08-26T17:38:46Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Just noting the hypocrisy of the Pubbies in bemoaning the loss of Mary Jo, when other lives mean so little to them. What about as I’ve said above the two million fetuses aboted every year in America alone? ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/78 "2009-08-26T17:43:19Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Oh you certainly don’t need my approval. But you wondered why you’re not considered one of the more thoughtful conservatives, and I’m just trying to help. 🙂 Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/79 "2009-08-26T17:45:51Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > What about as I’ve said above the two million fetuses aborted every year in America alone? When was the last time a Republican actually did something about abortion? ---
**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 26, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/80 "2009-08-26T17:46:36Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > When was the last time a Republican actually did something about abortion? President Bush appointed pro-life justices to the Supreme Court. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746.md?page=5)