# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/101 "2009-08-26T20:26:31Z")
There will be lots and lots of time later to debate Ted Kennedy’s legacy - the good and the bad of it. I will gladly join in when that comes, but I won’t do that today. I do wish condolences for the Kennedy family, and for those people here who feel a personal sadness in his death I wish you comfort as well. ---
**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, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/102 "2009-08-26T20:28:11Z")
Looking at the [current composition of the Supreme Court](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States#Current_membership), I see two appointed by Bush43, two appointed by Reagan, one appointed by Bush41, one by Ford, two by Clinton, and one by Obama. By my count, that makes six appointed by Republicans, and three by Democrats. If this is, as you say, a “pro-abortion” court, then that just drives home the point that Republicans don’t do anything about abortion. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/103 "2009-08-26T20:48:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Looking at the [current composition of the Supreme Court](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States#Current_membership), I see two appointed by Bush43, two appointed by Reagan, one appointed by Bush41, one by Ford, two by Clinton, and one by Obama. By my count, that makes six appointed by Republicans, and three by Democrats. If this is, as you say, a “pro-abortion” court, then that just drives home the point that Republicans don’t do anything about abortion. If we ignore Obama/Sotomayor for the moment (since she has only just gotten on the court) then Dems had only [2 of 15 appointments](http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/reference/nominations/Nominations.htm) to the Supreme Court in the last 40 years. Stealth liberal baby killers the lot of them doubtless all orchestrated by Supreme Leader Ted Kennedy (since this is a thread on Kennedy I figured had to bring it back around to him). Have to reiterate not seeing where Republicans are doing anything on this. ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/104 "2009-08-26T21:12:06Z")
And another thing I dreading here. Listening to the constant barrage of TV and newsprint hype about this. After coming off an absolute media orgy about Michael Jackson, here we go again. ARGGGGHH!!! ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/105 "2009-08-26T21:16:43Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Because his earlier behavior was extremely vile, and he did not make amends for it. One does not cancel the other out. Of course they don’t cancel each other out. That’s relevant if you’re considering the merit of the man. It’s not relevant if you’re considering the merit of one of his later actions. Yet you say, “that part of his life would have been a high achievement were it not for his actions that one night.” That part of his life was either meritorious or it was not. It doesn’t somehow magically become worthless because he was guilty of manslaughter or whatever. If OJ Simpson without repenting of his murders goes out tomorrow and devotes his life to fighting the ravages of AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa, and saves the lives of thousands, that will be a high achievement. And OJ will still be an unrepentant murdering scumbag. ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/106 "2009-08-26T21:45:28Z")
> [@Daylate](#): > > And another thing I dreading here. Listening to the constant barrage of TV and newsprint hype about this. After coming off an absolute media orgy about Michael Jackson, here we go again. ARGGGGHH!!! It won’t be anything close to Michael Jackson. Kennedy was old and everyone has known since last spring that he didn’t have long to live. He didn’t die suddenly, surprisingly, or under weird circumtances. And the people who are most interested in him are older and not a prime advertising demographic. There will be plenty of tributes leading up to the funeral but that will be it. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/107 "2009-08-26T22:01:40Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Just think how awesome the world will be when we get rid of you. 😃 I know this appears to be an attempt at humor, but you would do well to avoid the appearance of wishing death on another poster. [/Modding] ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/108 "2009-08-26T22:23:20Z")
**TWEEEEET!!!** The topic of this thread is that of the late Senator Kennedy. Anyone who feels a desperate need to argue the merits of abortion or the quality of the Supreme Court as currently or previously constituted or the biography of former First Lady Bush go open a new thread. Those topics are now off limits in this thread. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/109 "2009-08-26T22:25:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I know Ted Kennedy was a lightning rod . . . Can we lay this metaphor to rest once and for all? Lightning rods do not attract lightning, they repel it. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/110 "2009-08-26T22:27:47Z")
> [@Curtis LeMay](#): > > They can’t do anything as pro-abortion justices form a majority in the Court which will continue now with Sotomeyer. ☹ There’s also a **Catholic** majority on the SCOTUS now. Funny how that works. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/111 "2009-08-26T22:28:51Z")
> [@tomndebb](#): > > **TWEEEEET!!!** > > The topic of this thread is that of the late Senator Kennedy. > > Anyone who feels a desperate need to argue the merits of abortion or the quality of the Supreme Court as currently or previously constituted or the biography of former First Lady Bush go open a new thread. > > Those topics are now off limits in this thread. > > [/Moderating] Sorry, missed that before posting. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/112 "2009-08-26T22:54:11Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Can we lay this metaphor to rest once and for all? Lightning rods do not attract lightning, they repel it. sen. kennedy was a key on a kite string. how’s that. he got cobra enacted and i’m able to hold onto my healthcare because of it. it is very expensive… but it is there. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/113 "2009-08-26T23:08:37Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Can we lay this metaphor to rest once and for all? Lightning rods do not attract lightning, they repel it. Is this one of those “the world ‘gullible’ isn’t in the dictionary” moments? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/114 "2009-08-26T23:20:48Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > So, who’s going to be the conservatives’ favorite fundraising bogeyman now? Jane Fonda is still alive, isn’t she? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2009, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/115 "2009-08-26T23:38:15Z")
Yeah, but her career’s dead. bDOOM _kssh_ ---
**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, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/116 "2009-08-26T23:58:08Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Can we lay this metaphor to rest once and for all? Lightning rods do not attract lightning, they repel it. This is a whoosh, right? Lightning rods/conductors don’t repel lightning. They attract strikes near the structure they’re on and conduct them safely into the ground, so they don’t get conducted less-safely into the ground via the building’s electrical system or other conductive materials. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/117 "2009-08-27T00:08:28Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > With Eunice and Ted, this chapter closes. But, as he would say, the dream lives on. Which if it’s worth dreaming, it should even in the absence of these persons. there is one left. jean kennedy smith. the chapter has a few paragraphs left to be written. ---
**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, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/118 "2009-08-27T00:13:19Z")
At least we have a worthy successor in Caroline. What? ---
**Author:** ![MyFootsZZZ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/myfootszzz/32/12580_2.png) [@MyFootsZZZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MyFootsZZZ)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/119 "2009-08-27T00:19:26Z")
I know it may be too soon… but I think there was a second cancer behind the grassy mole. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/120 "2009-08-27T00:55:48Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Jane Fonda is still alive, isn’t she? Naah… like someone else said, there’s Obama himself and, even better for the RW fundraisers, Speaker Pelosi, who pushes all the “liberal” hot buttons with gusto. I got to tell the news to my mother (she was in her late teens and early to mid 20s during the 1960s) this morning (She quit listening to morning news radio/TV some time ago in annoyance, so now I’m sort of in charge of her “briefing”). Her reaction was like she had lost an extremely close friend; I had been cool up til then but seeing her face and hearing the catch in her voice made _ **me** _ get somewhat shaken. THAT is some powerful, enduring connection to have made. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746.md?page=7)