Kennedy
Someone has to do the ghoulish job of analyzing the political fallout from Ted Kennedy’s death. So here are some possibilities, in no particular order:
* Kennedy’s death serves as a rallying cry for Congressional Democrats to back ObamaCare and damn the consequences.
* The Democrats screw up the Kennedy funeral, like they did Paul Wellstone’s funeral, and alienate the country.
* While voters are sympathetic to the Kennedys, they still oppose ObamaCare. Politicians know this, and ObamaCare dies anyway.
* Kennedy doesn’t get a replacement vote in the Senate for 5 months, while Massachussetts elects a new senator.
* The Massachussetts state legislature changes the law, and allows the governor to appoint an interim senator immediately.
* Without the presence of Kennedy, Democrats feel berieved, and give up on ObamaCare.
Which of these outcomes are likely? Heck if I know! Death is one of God’s ways of messing with the best-laid human plans.
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August 26th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Democrats are beside themselves since no other senator has the media presence that Kennedy commanded for articulating and supporting his liberal idealogies
August 26th, 2009 at 9:31 am
I don’t know what will happen about the politics of the situation. I do know that Michael Jackson and Walter Cronkite have a new roomate in their little corner of hell
August 26th, 2009 at 9:37 am
Lest we forget amidst all the mournful encomia over the death of Senator Edward Moore “Ted” Kennedy and the expected idolatrous obsequies to follow that the man murdered a young girl 40 years ago.
He never, publically, admitted that murder.
I won’t prance about singing, “Ding, dong, the bastard’s dead, the bastard’s dead” as if he were the wicked warlock of Massachusetts. Nor will I scream in exultation over his passing as Blacks did over the exoneration of a murderer in California 15 years ago.
But, I do hope Teddy fessed up to his God before he expired.
After a long and no doubt painful lingering and suffering from the effects of brain cancer, at age 77, Ted, Uncle Teddy to many, succumbed to that insidious disease Tuesday night at his home in Hyannisport, Massachusetts.
His family’s statement: http://bit.ly/6c82Z.
I know that any negative comments about someone who has just died would be grossly inappropriate.
I come not to castigate Ted Kennedy and his life but to bury him, hoping his funeral and burial are devoid of the circus atmosphere we all recently witnessed with another American icon.
Ted Kennedy was indeed an icon to his liberal constituents and supporters and he will be missed by them.
However, if we disregard and forget his various foibles, and crimes, we do not do justice to his memory. We would then be praising a saint, something he was not, by any stretch of any imagination.
I was never privy to Ted Kennedy’s deepest thoughts, regrets, and anxieties, but I would hope that, before the end, he repented his (hopefully) most grievous crime, his merciless escape as Mary Jo Kopechne was screaming for help in his sinking Oldsmobile, vainly hoping Ted would save her from drowning: http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1138.
By now, Mary Jo may have re-made her acquaintance with Teddy. By now she may have bid him adieu as he is reassigned to his proper and eternal venue.
My guess is that it will be very hot where he went.
May he rest in peace or roast in agony. That call is in the hands of God.
God will weigh Ted’s use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize the Big Dig and abortion and all his other leftist policies against Ted’s soul.
My guess is that Ted will lose any defense he may think he has.
If Mary Jo testifies for the prosecution, Uncle Ted is literally cooked.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:57 am
The first, and the “consequences” you speak about will hopefully be that the Corporatists will be really upset with the outcome.
August 26th, 2009 at 9:58 am
The media will desperately try to pump this up as an event, to boost ratings, with all of us playing our part in respectful mourning.
But those ratings will tank horribly, unless they dig into the sordid nature of this guy’s life, and controversy. Nobody cares, otherwise.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:25 am
“August 26th, 2009 at 9:57 am
The first, and the “consequences” you speak about will hopefully be that the Corporatists will be really upset with the outcome.”~~~warner
“corporatists” ????? WTF ???
August 26th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Rest in peace, Senator Kennedy. Nothing else needs to be said at this time.
August 26th, 2009 at 10:52 am
Look it up, “IP727″…
August 26th, 2009 at 11:22 am
THERE ONCE WAS THIS FAT USELESS PRICK,
WHILE TRYING TO HIDE HIS SAUSAGE IN A YOUNG CHICK ,
TOOK THE WRONG TURN AT THE RIVER,
WHERE THIS SHANTY IRISH CHICKEN LIVER,
FAILED TO PUT ANOTHER NOTCH ON HIS DICK.
~~~~ ~~~~
August 26th, 2009 at 11:44 am
IP727′s obsession with penises leads him to defame Mary Jo Kopechne by including her in a limerick.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
If celebrity is reshaping American politics, there is no better example than Patrick Kennedy. Wealthy and famous, he is the archetype of legacy politics
August 26th, 2009 at 12:52 pm
The Democrats will rename ObamaCare to KennedyCare and claim Teddy drank the hemlock to set the proper example for the geriatric class. Sen. McCain then leads the RINO herd off the cliff to give “his dear friend Teddy” a bipartisan healthcare bill. And once again the American people get to pay back another Trillion dollars.
August 26th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Sigmund Freud was a closet homo.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
IP727 would know.
August 26th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
My guess is that it will be very hot where he went.
If you believe in Hell. If I believed in Hell I wouldn’t be guessing what will be the judgment of God.
God will weigh Ted’s use of taxpayer dollars to subsidize the Big Dig and abortion and all his other leftist policies against Ted’s soul.
Again, who are you to say what God will and will not weigh?
If Mary Jo testifies for the prosecution, Uncle Ted is literally cooked.
How did you gain this insight?
August 26th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Oak Leaf’s contribution to Polipundit:
Ted Kennedy dies – yet only
15 comments by 5PM EST
Nice job destroying your site Poli
Tsk. Tsk. Tsk,
August 26th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Treasonous Teddy Kennedy
I’ve been chastised! By my 29 year old daughter, no less!
She admonished me about “speaking ill of the dead” because of my previous article, “Ted Kennedy, ‘Liberal Lion’ and Murderer is Dead.”
And here I thought I was being fairly gracious in that piece, taking some pains to avoid detailing the events of 40 years ago when Ted ran his car off a bridge and into a murky tidal channel on Chappaquiddick Island and swam or walked away, leaving 29 year old Mary Jo Kopechne to drown.
I even offered the sentiment that I hoped Ted had made peace with his Maker before he succumbed to brain cancer.
Apparently, generally relating the factual and sad tale of the death of Mary Jo at this point in time is considered by some to be unkind to the memory of Senator Kennedy.
I would have to disagree and, in fact, there was much more I could have written about the personal and political life of the senator, but I chose not to.
Others have been less discreet than I and, on second thought, there were other Kennedy “incidents” which demand mention, namely his subversive machinations with the Soviet Union. They reflect dismally on the career of the senator, almost on a par with the curious circumstances surrounding the death of Mary Jo.
Indeed, from a political and perhaps moral, perspective, they were worse.
Those incidents won’t be discussed in liberal media retrospectives on Ted Kennedy which have a vested and emotional interest in the Camelot Era of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy and which studiously avoid tarnishing its image in any way, including citing any negativity surrounding the last remaining Kennedy brother.
Case in point was Wednesday evening’s coverage of Ted Kennedy’s death on ABC.
No mention was made of his expulsion from Harvard for cheating, his legendary philandering, or his more legendary imbibing. Regarding Chappaquiddick, ABC merely referred, twice, to “a female” who died in his car that fateful night.
ABC cares much for Kennedy memories but when it came to according recognition to that female, her name wasn’t worth mentioning.
As for ABC and other networks referencing his treasonous activities, are you kidding?
On his own, Ted himself greatly tarnished–disgraced is a better word–the Kennedy mystique when he conspired and collaborated with the leaders of the Soviet Union against his own country.
If his actions did not constitute treason, they came damned close.
Ted didn’t like Ronald Reagan any more than he liked Jimmy Carter. He also didn’t like Reagan’s foreign policy toward the U.S.S.R. and detested Reagan’s plan for the SDI. Ted came from the rapprochement school of international relations, a variation on the peace at any price, make nice to thine enemies, school in hopes they will reciprocate in kind.
The SDI, the Strategic Defense Initiative, derided by the media as “Star Wars,” was probably the single most significant strategical move that brought down that wall in Berlin, leading to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The Soviets tried to counter SDI but its corrupt communist society and moribund economy couldn’t compete and the U.S.S.R. went bankrupt trying.
It was only after KGB archives were made public that it was revealed that Senator Ted Kennedy, during the height of the Cold War, had conspired against his own country. . . .
(Read the rest at http://genelalor.com)
August 27th, 2009 at 4:50 am
detested Reagan’s plan for the SDI.
How is that SDI working out? How many 100s of billions of dollars? Tax dollars spent are A-OK if it is a Republican idea.
Now, if there were perks, such as the invention of TANG or Space Food Sticks, then I would be interested.
I even offered the sentiment that I hoped Ted had made peace with his Maker before he succumbed to brain cancer.
Albeit, your prose was snarky.
No mention was made of his expulsion from Harvard for cheating, his legendary philandering, or his more legendary imbibing.
Translation: typical politician. As you know, bizarre behavior is non-partisan, such as long weekend hiking trips in the Appalachians.
August 27th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Pluto – “How is that SDI working out?”
Worked out great, moron. In case you missed it, the Soviets caved and the Cold War ended. So while your boy Teddy was writing letters to Andropov looking for a political way he could undermine Reagan in the 1984 election, the rest of us were saved trillions by continued “detante”.
Are you a complete tool, Pluto, or were you born after 1990?
August 27th, 2009 at 9:40 am
In case you missed it, the Soviets caved and the Cold War ended.
A hilarious set of myths:
(a) Reagan ended the cold war.
(b) He brilliantly foresaw that SDI would be the straw that breaks the USSR’s back.
Both are true… in the minds of the tin foil hat far right. “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear down this wall!”…and it was done…in tin foil hat myth.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Pluto, thank you for confirming my suspicion. Rather than play the liberals favorite game, “let’s move the goalposts”, let me illustarte how it is played:
THE COLD WAR, 1980′s
The Left- We need to play nice with the Soviets or else they will get mad at us. The Right-We have been doing this crap for 40 years, it is not working. Democracies are falling. The Left- If you say mean things about the Soviets they will walk out of negotiations. The Right- Look, we are in tough negotiations, let’s show the Soviets that we are united. The Left-Regan is a warmonger. The Right- We need to show them we have the political will. The Left- Lets get the nuclear freeze movement going to show the Soviets that there is a deep divide in the US. We can have huge protests across the world, liberal members of Congress can write Soviet leaders and illustate the division, the media can make made for TV movies like the “Morning After”, liberal pop scientists like Carl Segan can drone on about Nuclear Winter. We can have 24/7 coverage on TV about how scared kids and moms are about a nuclear war. Hey, we can even use that Reagan as grim reaper costume!..etc
Reagan perservers and a coalition of Republicans and moderate Dems deploy Pershings to Europe, Reagan assumes the moral high ground (yes…..”tear down this wall”), Star Wars is the centerpiece of Reagan’s stategy, Soviet human rights abuses are championed by Reagan and the Soviet Empire crumbles prematurely.
2009 Pluto talking point……”It’s a myth”. Would have happened anyway! You can’t prove that Reagan helped cause it.
Whether it is the Cold War, Welfare Reform, the Surge or the CIA interrogation technigues, the left always falls back to the same “you can’t prove what came first, the Chicken or the Egg” argument when they have been proven dangerously wrong.
Once again, Tool, you were and are on the wrong side of history. If you can show facts that contradict the volumes of KGB reports illustarting that the arms race was bankrupting the Soviet Government or that Gorbachev didn’t walk out of arms talks because of his fear of Star Wars, please!. In the meanwhile, the rest of the world will go on thanking God that there was someone who had more character and integrity in his Last Stool than you and your revisionist mentors had your entire lives.
August 27th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
By the way, I’m with “Embrace the Fringe blog status Poli” as it pertains to JokeLeaf. BE THE BALL, DANNY!
August 27th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
If you can show facts that contradict the volumes of KGB reports illustarting that the arms race was bankrupting the Soviet Government or that Gorbachev didn’t walk out of arms talks because of his fear of Star Wars, please!
The right’s favorite game, make outrageously funny claims and, rather than prove them correct, challenge the left to prove them wrong.
Sorry pal, you are claiming that Reagan and his beloved SDI ended the Cold War. But rather than prove it, you merely continue to babble on the myth of Reagan.
I can play your game though: Truth is, Reagan was suffering from dementia and had no clue what he was doing…prove me wrong.
August 27th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Kremlin officials, along with Western and Eastern leaders have repeatedly stated and written that Reagan’s policies helped undermined the Soviet government, bankrupt the country and hastened its fall (if you want quotes we can go there?). Also, we have 20 years of Detante to compare Reagan’s new approach with. Along with millions in Eastern Europe who know what worked (have you been to Romania or Hungary lately, Pal? I travel there regularly). On the other hand, we have a guy named Pluto who says that everybody has it wrong……hummmm, who to believe?
And just so you have it straight, Reagan and his policies played a leading, not unilateral, role in the demise of the Soviet Union. YOU, and I am saying “you”, because you are clearly a “butt boy” for the revisionist left, were grossly wrong then as you are now. And because you put the politics of your world view before the human suffering of others, help enable and contribute to the suffering of unknown millions.
Got it, Tool?
August 27th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Pluto – “The right’s favorite game, make outrageously funny claims” –
Considering your statement that Reagan had no “clue” what he was doing throughout his negotiations with the Soviet Union, the only “outrageously funny” claims seem to be coming from you.
Are you seriously contesting that Gorbachev didn’t walk out of Reykjavik because of Reagan’s adherence to Star Wars, that Reagan’s arms build up didn’t help bankrupt the Soviet Union or that that the highest former Soviet Officials now state that Reagan’s decision to deploy of Pershing II missles in Western Europe was the turning point in arms negotiation?
On the other hand, you can always just state, “he’s stupid”, again in a different way.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Are you seriously contesting that Gorbachev didn’t walk out of Reykjavik because of Reagan’s adherence to Star Wars, that Reagan’s arms build up didn’t help bankrupt the Soviet Union or that that the highest former Soviet Officials now state that Reagan’s decision to deploy of Pershing II missles in Western Europe was the turning point in arms negotiation?
I love Reagan mythology. It is so complex to the initiated. He was President, what 20 years ago, but for the far right the love affair continues like it was yesterday.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Should be “uninitiated”.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Still nothing factual on your end. Just a retreat and talking points about myths and dementia. Lots of emotion, no logic. As far a Reagan’s legacy, you brought it up in the first place. For all your talk, thought you had better game and could back up your bravado with something.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:37 pm
Still nothing factual on your end.
Like I said, it is the far right’s strategy to make outrageous claims (“Reagan ended the Cold War”) and then counter with…”Still nothing factual on your end.”
To reiterate: It is YOUR job to provide facts regarding the Reagan Myth. You might yet get his image on the dime or nickel.
…back up your bravado…
I have no bravado, just mirth at any Reagan Mythology.
Why was Reagan against big government yet his name graces the Reagan NATIONAL Airport?
August 27th, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Ron Reagan didn’t do squat.
It just happened on his watch. And if he would have continued to fund Afghanistan after the ruskies left. 9/11 might not have happened.
He also raised taxes. He’s the one who taxed your EDD checks.
He’s the one who taxed your disability checks( if you make over a certain amount jointly.)
He’s the one who went Rambo with the Iran Contra thing.
He’s the one who struck a deal with the Iranians, to keep the hostages until after the election.
Helluva guy the Ronnie was.
Then we had Herr Dumbya.
Nice guy. Cripples the country with so much debt. It’ll take Years to get out of this.
I didn’t here you teabaggers whining about Dumbya on his spending spree.
Sure, maybe in the last year. But by then it was too late.
Keep up the hostility and the insults.
It’ll make the 2010 mid term that much easier.
Thanks again. See ya in the next election.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Boy Pluto, you sure are shrill. After 8 hours on why Reagan was a major influence in ending the cold war you come back with: “well why was Reagan against big government yet his name graces the Reagan NATIONAL Airport?”……Hummm…Well, Pluto, in 1998, ten years after Reagan left office, or about the time you were born, Congress named Washington Airport in honor of him. He had nothing to do with it. You can look it up. But that would be changing the subject, wouldn’t it Pluto?
As far as facts, you have been given hours of them 1) The deployment of Pershing 2′s hastened the collapse of the Soviet Union (source Soviet Foreign Minister Andre Gromyko memoirs), Gorbachev walked from the Reykjavik negotiations out of fear of Star Wars (Source Gorbachev own book). All you have repeated for 8 hours is to stomp you feet and say it is a myth, it’s a myth, it’s a myth, Goebbels style, or is that Beavis?
This isn’t hostility and insults, Mudshark. Your boyfriend started an argument he wasn’t equipped to fight and is getting a good beating.
.
August 28th, 2009 at 6:38 am
Thanks for playing, Spike, it is always fun to watch the far right nutters burnish the myth that Reagan was anything other than an empty suit. Like the Soviets, the far right loves to airbrush history.
August 28th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Didn’t know where you went. Thought you must have wet your diaper. Your Reagan Airport question was priceless.
Hell, if I can expose a nitwit like you to 5 readers, I consider it a success. ………..We all do our part.
August 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I was one of those Reagan Democrats and I can tell you that Reagan was exactly the reason that the cold war ended. I also voted for Clinton twice, Bush once, and now Obama so you can’t use this “extreme far right” crap.
However, I won’t be voting for Obama in 2012. Once again the Democratic party is getting hijacked by extreme super far leftists.
August 28th, 2009 at 3:06 pm
I was one of those Reagan Communists and I can tell you for a fact that Reagan had a sideline role in the fall of the Soviet Union. It is well known in my country that Gorbachev pretended to fear SDI in order to convince Reagan to waste money on it. Sakharov stated that SDI could not work, so why worry about it. Indeed, Gorbachev told Reagan the same. The Soviet Union collapsed from the inside, there was no nudge from Mr. Reagan.
August 29th, 2009 at 1:44 am
LOL….when all else fails.
August 29th, 2009 at 7:46 am
How could anyone with a shred of patriotism vote for Obama?
August 29th, 2009 at 4:18 pm
How could anyone with a shred of patriotism vote for Obama?
How could anyone with a shred of patriotism not vote for Obama?
August 29th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
If there is a particularly “hot” place in hell for Teddy, based on what happened with Ms. K., there must be a freaking blast furnace waiting on Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney. You already seem to have amnesia about what they have done, and left to us, but remember so clearly what happened when TV was only in black and white.
August 30th, 2009 at 6:42 am
So typical………got your doors blown off…….can’t provide facts…….now…..”hey, lets change the subject and talk about Cheney!”. “Yeah, that’s the ticket.” “Halibuton!” EPIC FAIL, LIBERAL DIMWITS. PS- the major networks went to color in the late 60′s….you should look it up.
November 28th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
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