If only Democrats felt as much compassion for the two million or so aborted babies every year.
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.
. . . and off the reservation we go
Well Bob started it by posting that virtual flamebait.
No, Bob continued it.
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.
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?
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:
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.
Erm… yeah. You were doing so *well *until that last line.
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.
Erm…yeah, when I need your approval for my posts I’ll let you know. Expect a call sometime after “never.”
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.
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.
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. 
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.
What about as I’ve said above the two million fetuses aboted every year in America alone?
Indeed.
When was the last time a Republican actually did something about abortion?
President Bush appointed pro-life justices to the Supreme Court.