# 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:** 8
**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, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/141 "2009-08-27T22:04:54Z")
> [@aldiboronti](#): > > Hardly disappointed, as I’m an atheist. It’s an expression, you may have heard it before, people generally don’t take it literally. As someone who professes disbelief in the place it rather surprises me that you did. > > BTW I have the perfect solution for you if, as you intimate, you are tiring of my Kennedy posts. Don’t read them. I’m religious and I find it disgusting that someone hopes that someone else goes to Hell. You sound like Fred Phelps or something. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/142 "2009-08-28T00:03:02Z")
Speaking of the man politically, at his worst, I would call him a “worthy adversary.” He had strong opinions, which I find respectable. He never tried to hide them or pretend they were something else. I find that even more respectable. He was a very much a pragmatist. He had no problem being your enemy one day and your ally the next. While his beliefs were deep and personally held, I never saw that he held a personal grudge towards his opposition. He was instrumental in “No child left behind,” a worthy piece of legislation, in my mind, and a strong and consistent proponent of civil rights. I give him credit for repealing the poll tax, for SCHIP and many other pieces of legislation I agree with. He was a strange bird in that he would frequently build the most unlikely of alliances to pass legislation, usually with conservatives (Orrin Hatch.) Diagnosed with his brain cancer, I was impressed with his struggle to live. He went down fighting every step of the way, without a whine or complaint. It’s what they used to call “dying with your boots on.” I hope he, and Jack and Rob are playing a game of touch football right now. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/143 "2009-08-28T01:37:03Z")
Back when the repubs were in a majority, They were passing the bankruptcy bill. Kennedy and a couple other dem senators .tried to get amendments through. One was for exempting seniors. One for people with catastrophic illnesses. One was for soldiers who returned to Iraq several times. One amendment was to cap interest rates at 36 percent. Every one was voted down by a repub majority. But the point was a very rich man continued to fight for the disadvantaged. He drank too much and probably caroused too much. But politicians are famous for that. His heart was for the people . ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/144 "2009-08-28T02:26:08Z")
[Michael Kelly’s](http://books.google.com/books?id=DKwK76kPQt8C&pg=PA130&dq=michael+kelly+ted+kennedy+on+the+rocks#v=onepage&q=&f=false) portrait of Kennedy is…ah…interesting, to say the least. I didn’t know too much about the man, but after reading this, I’d be surprised if he did a single decent thing before he turned 60. What a drunken jackass. I bet Christopher Dodd has been out painting the town red. ---
**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 28, 2009, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/145 "2009-08-28T07:08:23Z")
> [@](#): > > He was instrumental in “No child left behind,” a worthy piece of legislation, in my mind, Ah, yes, I knew there was some other issue I strongly disagreed with him on. Thanks for reminding me. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/146 "2009-08-28T15:44:24Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Back when the repubs were in a majority, They were passing the bankruptcy bill. Kennedy and a couple other dem senators .tried to get amendments through. One was for exempting seniors. One for people with catastrophic illnesses. One was for soldiers who returned to Iraq several times. One amendment was to cap interest rates at 36 percent. Every one was voted down by a repub majority. But the point was a very rich man continued to fight for the disadvantaged. He drank too much and probably caroused too much. But politicians are famous for that. His heart was for the people . Or maybe it was a case of his being rich so none of the legislation that he championed would ever affect him in any meaningful way? Put another way, he was a “man for the people” because it cost him nothing to be such a man. Kennedy pushed a liberal agenda. He was no better or worse than a committe conservative Senator. He is being lionized because of his last name, the length of his tenure and by a media populated by many who shared his views. I, for one, cannot get too far past the killing he was directly involved in. That aside, I welcomed his role in Irish politics and his ability to “cross the aisle”. Beyond that there was nothing particular good about this man. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/147 "2009-08-28T15:45:53Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > You cannot dismiss his political support for pro-nationalism with a hand wave because he later involved himself in the peace process. > > By giving his name to the cause he certainly drew American dollars toward the conflict. It was a different time when Kennedy spoke out on behalf of Irish Catholics in the North. I don’t think he should be condemned for a knee jerk reaction. He never supported the likes of Noraid or any of their offshoots. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/148 "2009-08-29T07:36:21Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > It was a different time when Kennedy spoke out on behalf of Irish Catholics in the North. I don’t think he should be condemned for a knee jerk reaction. He never supported the likes of Noraid or any of their offshoots. How was it a different time when Kennedy spoke on behalf of Irish Catholics in the North? His public speeches occurred in the early 70’s, which coincided with the renewed level of violence. He was roundly criticized for this. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/149 "2009-08-29T08:02:39Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > At least we have a worthy successor in Caroline. > > What? I really have to commend her. She gave a speech last night . . . without saying “y’know” even once. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2009, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/150 "2009-08-29T20:22:46Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > How was it a different time when Kennedy spoke on behalf of Irish Catholics in the North? His public speeches occurred in the early 70’s, which coincided with the renewed level of violence. He was roundly criticized for this. Because at the time there was a perception, a reasonable one at that, that the Catholics were under tremendous and direct harm from both the Unionists and the British armed forces. He reacted to that perception. Kennedy most certainly never supported Noraid or gave them or their ilk even tacit support. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/151 "2009-08-30T05:30:34Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Because at the time there was a perception, a reasonable one at that, that the Catholics were under tremendous and direct harm from both the Unionists and the British armed forces. He reacted to that perception. Kennedy most certainly never supported Noraid or gave them or their ilk even tacit support. And he was chastized for doing so because of the volotile nature of the situation. he held the political rank of a British MP and his public statements were a rallying cry of support by Irish-American Catholics. ---
**Author:** ![Morkfromork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Morkfromork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morkfromork)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/152 "2009-08-30T16:15:09Z")
Because of money raised in the us by this man and his irish american buddies British Troops died including mates of mine. he was not a very nice person he left a woman in a car for hours after an accident she was tapped in an air pocket and could have yaken up to 8 hours to die i bet her family are celebrating now, ---
**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 30, 2009, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/153 "2009-08-30T16:20:13Z")
Thank you for introducing a totally fresh viewpoint to the discussion. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/154 "2009-08-30T16:51:41Z")
Is there now peace (generally speaking) in Ireland? Did Kennedy help bring that about, or did he help prolong the Troubles instead? FWIW, both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were at the funeral yesterday. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/155 "2009-08-30T16:56:00Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Put another way, he was a “man for the people” because it cost him nothing to be such a man. Quite a few other rich men have held office and done virtually nothing for anybody but their fellow rich men. But there are other wealthy families that do make a point of _noblesse oblige_, that from those to whom much is given, much is expected. One might say that the most good for the common man done by 20th century American pols was done by Franklin Roosevelt of the Hyde Park Roosevelts and Ted Kennedy of the Hyannisport Kennedys. ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/156 "2009-08-30T17:15:07Z")
[Dems Push For Nationalizing Health Care at Teddy Kennedy’s Funeral](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T75L9KvTlcY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redstate.com%2Fsnarkandboobs%2F2009%2F08%2F29%2Fwhat-would-jesus-do-promote-liberal-policy-using-a-child-at-a-funeral-natch%2F&feature=player_embedded). Using a kid. ---
**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 30, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/157 "2009-08-30T17:46:27Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Is there now peace (generally speaking) in Ireland? Did Kennedy help bring that about, or did he help prolong the Troubles instead? > > FWIW, both Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness were at the funeral yesterday. Both. He was originally a voice for the republican movement, and his name and influence undoubtedly boosted awareness among Irish-Americans, who were by far the biggest donors of both money and weapons to the IRA and its splinter groups. On the other hand, he also helped Sinn Fein become less a public front for the IRA and more the core of the republican movement in its own right, later on. Difficult to say whether he was a net benefit or hindrance to the peace process overall, but he was most definitely a hindrance in the early going (even though he didn’t support the use of violence). That’s sort of how the peace process has been through and through, though; before he became a politician, Martin McGuinness was in all probability a bomb builder. Ian Paisley established (but does not appear to have participated in) at least two loyalist paramilitary groups. There are very few political figures connected with Northern Ireland who don’t have _somebody’s_ blood on their hands (and that includes a number of senior British politicians). > [@athelas](#): > > [Dems Push For Nationalizing Health Care at Teddy Kennedy’s Funeral](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T75L9KvTlcY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redstate.com%2Fsnarkandboobs%2F2009%2F08%2F29%2Fwhat-would-jesus-do-promote-liberal-policy-using-a-child-at-a-funeral-natch%2F&feature=player_embedded). Using a kid. Are you seriously suggesting that the DNC hijacked his funeral? You’re an idiot. ---
**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 30, 2009, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/158 "2009-08-30T17:49:24Z")
> [@athelas](#): > > [Dems Push For Nationalizing Health Care at Teddy Kennedy’s Funeral](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T75L9KvTlcY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.redstate.com%2Fsnarkandboobs%2F2009%2F08%2F29%2Fwhat-would-jesus-do-promote-liberal-policy-using-a-child-at-a-funeral-natch%2F&feature=player_embedded). Using a kid. You say that like it was a bad thing… ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2009, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/159 "2009-08-30T18:28:34Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You’re an idiot. This is not the BBQ Pit. Knock it off. [/Moderating] ---
**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 30, 2009, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746/160 "2009-08-30T18:48:40Z")
All these Kennedy threads are running together. My apologies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ted-kennedy-is-dead/507746.md?page=9)