Senator Ted Kennedy Dead at 77

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From his Senate web page:

Statement from The Kennedy Family
August 26, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

“Edward M. Kennedy – the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply – died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port. We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all. He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it’s hard to imagine any of them without him.”

A review of Kennedy’s legacy below the fold.

As soon as cancer was found in Ted Kennedy, it was noticed the immediate attempt at canonization of old Teddy by the main stream media. They are saying what a “great American” he is. I say, let’s get a things clear and not twist the facts to change the REAL history.

1. He was caught cheating at Harvard when he attended first attended the school. He was expelled twice, once for cheating on a test, and once for paying a classmate to cheat for him.

2. While expelled, Kennedy enlisted in the Army, but mistakenly signed up for four years instead of two. Oops, the man can’t count to four. His father, womanizer Joseph P. Kennedy, former U.S. Ambassador to England (a step up from bootlegging liquor into the US from Canada during prohibition), pulled the necessary strings to have his enlistment shortened to two years, and to ensure that he served in Europe, not Korea, where a war was raging. No preferential treatment for him like “he” charged former President Bush of receiving.

3. Kennedy was assigned to Paris, never advanced beyond the rank of private, and returned to Harvard upon being discharged. Imagine a person of his “education” NEVER advancing past the rank of private.

4. While attending law school at the University of Virginia, he was cited for reckless driving four times, including once when he was clocked driving 90 miles per hour in a residential neighborhood with his headlights off after dark. Yet his Virginia driver’s license was never revoked. Coincidentally, he passed the bar exam in 1959, amazing!

5. In 1964, he was seriously injured in a plane crash, and hospitalized for several months. Test results done by the hospital at the time he was admitted had shown he was legally intoxicated. The results of those tests remained a “state secret” until in the 1980’s when the report was unsealed. Didn’t hear about that from the unbiased media, did we?

6. On July 19, 1969, Kennedy (another notorious womanizer like his dad and brothers) attended a party on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts. At about 11:00 PM, he borrowed his chauffeur’s keys to his Oldsmobile limousine, and offered to give a ride home to Mary Jo Kopechne, a campaign worker. Leaving the island via an unlit bridge with no guard rail, Kennedy steered the car off the bridge, flipped, and into Poucha Pond.

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7. He swam to shore and walked back to the party, after passing several houses and a fire station. Then two friends returned with him to the scene of the accident. According to their later testimony, they told him what he already knew, that he was required by law to immediately report the accident to the authorities. Instead Kennedy made his way to his hotel, called his lawyer, and went to sleep. Kennedy called the police the next morning and by then the wreck had already been discovered. Before dying, Kopechne had scratched at the upholstered floor above her head in the upside-down car. The Kennedy family began “calling in favors,” ensuring that any inquiry would be contained. Her corpse was whisked out-of-state to her family, before an autopsy could be conducted. Further details are uncertain, but after the accident Kennedy says he repeatedly dove under the water trying to rescue Kopechne, and he didn’t call police because he was in a state of shock. It is widely assumed Kennedy was drunk, and he held off calling police in hopes that his family could fix the problem overnight. Since the accident, Kennedy’s “political enemies” have referred to him as the distinguished Senator from Chappaquiddick. He pled guilty to leaving the scene of an accident, and was given a SUSPENDED SENTENCE OF TWO MONTHS. Kopechne’s family received a small payout from Kennedy’s insurance policy, and never sued. There was later an effort to have her body exhumed and autopsied, but her family successfully fought against this in court, and Kennedy’s family paid their attorney’s bills a “token of friendship”?

8. Kennedy has held his Senate seat for more than forty years, but considering his longevity, his accomplishments seem scant. He authored or argued for legislation that ensured a variety of civil rights, increased the minimum wage in 1981, made access to health care easier for the indigent, and funded Meals on Wheels for fixed-income seniors and is widely held as the “standard-bearer for “liberalism.” In his very first Senate role, he was the floor manager for the bill that turned U.S. immigration policy upside down and opened the floodgate for immigrants from third world countries.

9. Since that time, he has been the prime instigator and author of every expansion of and increase in immigration, up to and including the latest attempt to grant amnesty to illegal aliens. Not to mention the pious grilling he gave the last two Supreme Court nominees, as if he were the standard bearer for the nation in matters of right. What a pompous idiot!

10. He is known around Washington as a public drunk, loud, boisterous and very disrespectful to ladies. JERK is a better description than “great American”.

Let’s not allow the spin doctors make this jerk a hero by short-memory Americans lest we forget what his real legacy is.

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@Aye Chihuahua:

You fact was indeed correct. Your spin as to why… as you say, “not so much”. Nor does it refute the fact that healthcare is a cause he long championed.

You’re welcome.

Ace of Spades HQ at http://ace.mu.nu has posted a GQ article written by Michael Kelly in 1990 titled “A Sober Look at Ted Kennedy.” It can be found by scrolling down to the “Overnight Open Thread” section, Item #1.

@Aye Chihuahua:

Funny, I was just thinking the same about you. Ironic.

Greg: Of course you expressed the same sentiment at those who spoke evil of Tony Snow and Bob Novak when they passed right?

Sure I would. Does two wrongs make a right? I never said anything back about Tony Snow, nor Bob Novak as it relates to their deaths… that would be wrong. If I saw someone say something inappropriate about them, I would say the same thing I did about Sen Kennedy.

Madalyn: Just because he died does not mean we should all at once idolize him.

Ummm… I am not idolizing him. I said I did not know the man… I just find all the vitriol about him on the day of his death, and the day after… just low. very low. Right now it is up to God to make his judgment of Kennedy and your voice is meaningless, outside of showing how low you will go.

For OLDPUPPYMAX:

You are really a sick old puppy if you think Ted or myself are not REAL American Patriots just because of not being a righty!!!
Change my name because YOU want me to? Sorry old dog

Cary: As I said, we don’t definitively know anything. As you later state, there was no investigation by local authorities, or the FBI, so all you have is an opinion based on how you perceive what you know.

Obviously, Cary, you did not follow the links of the FBI investigation I gave you. The police did do a half hearted investigation, but showed no inclination to pursue a powerful and popular Kennedy family. My opinions happened to be based on police reports and FBI. Therefore, you could not be more wrong.

I personally don’t believe he is guilty of “killing” anyone – perhaps a sexual indiscretion, or even alcohol abuse (which would explain her taking over the driver’s seat), but I don’t believe murder.

Remind me to never be in a car accident with you, where you will abandon me, never calling for help but having the wherewithall to call your political handlers instead.

I personally don’t believe he is guilty of “killing” anyone – perhaps a sexual indiscretion, or even alcohol abuse (which would explain her taking over the driver’s seat), but I don’t believe murder.

Unbelievable! Cary excuses the behavior because ole’ Teddy was drunk or maybe in shock. The man never called for help while she was still alive! He walked by houses he could of called for help from as he wandered home. He called politicos to help him get out of the situation, but never for help.

And you excuse this as alcohol abuse or “sexual indiscretion!”

Amazing.

Roger Simon noted that Ted Kennedy was 37 on the night of the accident. It’s not as if he was a teenager on prom night who panicked due to youth or inexperience.

Blast #109 – We would consider ourselves to be ‘low” if we were lying. Just because he dies does not mean we now need to rethink how we feel about him. That would be hypocritical. That I am not. He was not a nice person, and he killed someone and refused to take responsibility for it. In my book that makes him an a**hole. I make a lot of mistakes, and I take responsibility for my actions, and I hope I have made amends to anyne I have hurt by my actions. I try to be a good person. Unfortunately, history has shown that Ted Kennedy relied too much on the name and not enough on the character he should have had. Not my fault. His and his alone. We all need to take responsibility for our actions. Too many politicians are getting passes and not owning up. It needs to stop.
Just my opinion
Madalyn

@MataHarley:

Obviously, Cary, you did not follow the links of the FBI investigation I gave you. The police did do a half hearted investigation, but showed no inclination to pursue a powerful and popular Kennedy family. My opinions happened to be based on police reports and FBI. Therefore, you could not be more wrong.

You are correct, Mata, I did not click on your links; because, as I clearly stated in comment #29, I am already familiar with the FBI files you refer to. As for the rest of your comment, you are by definition admitting that you have formed a strong belief based on incomplete facts, which you present as definitive truth.

If you want to pretend that you have a monopoly on truth, and that anyone who may see things differently is somehow mentally or morally defective, fine. It’s your blog.

@Curt:

I thought I was clear that I in no way excuse his choices for how he handled whatever happened that night. Simply that I do not believe he was malicious, nor that he was guilty on level many believe here, that it was a horrible accident which he reacted quite poorly to, and that I admire him for what he’s done in the 40 years since. My position is hardly unique, in spite of your incredulous reaction to it. I understand that the causes he fought for were probably not ones you agreed with. That’s fine. But it is my opinion that he was a great American whose contributions made this country better. Say whatever you want to that, it’s your blog as well.

I’m eager to find out if he mentioned the incident in his soon to be published memoirs.

Simply that I do not believe he was malicious

Nothing at all malicious about walking by houses you could of called for help for and never looking back. Going home, sleeping it off, calling handlers to help him lessen the damage to his reputation.

Naw…nothing malicious about that.

In-freakin-credible.

there I am, once again in the filter. This is getting to be funny.

@Cary: Some of my comments get caught in the filter, but if you give it time they will ‘fish’ them out, without you making an additional comment.

@Robert Kelly:

Gotcha. Thanks. I was previously told to “raise my hand”, which I took to mean leaving a comment.

Cary…raise your hand and let us know all you want but snide comments about “this is getting funny” isn’t doing you any favors. Plenty get caught by the filter, they are fished out pretty quickly….deal with it or don’t comment.

@Curt:

You know what, Curt? I was doing as I was instructed. Sorry you interpreted my comment as “snide”, but I was honestly amused by it. If you chose to see the worst in me simply because you don’t agree with my views, that’s fine. I noted Roberts comment, thanked him, and intended to follow it. If you don’t want me to comment, just say so.

You know what Cary? You were instructed to let us know you were in spam….as most do without:

“Wow this filter doesn’t stop, does it?”

“I’m sure you’re just as frustrated, but it’s like nearly every single comment.”

“Trying to bear with you.”

“I grow weary of this spam filter.”

And when a reader says “Are they trying to tell you something????”

you say “perhaps.”

That’s what I’m tired of. I’ve been trying other spam filters to no avail…they all have problems of some kind or another. I could moderate ALL comments but then no comment will appear immediately, and I would rather not do that. Everyone sooner or later gets caught in spam so all these extraneous comments are not doing you any good and just getting me peeved. Now this:

If you chose to see the worst in me simply because you don’t agree with my views, that’s fine.

So let me get this straight. I’ve told you, along with many others, about the spam problem and said raise your hand when your caught. You come along and make all kinds of extraneous comments about being put in spam including one that says “perhaps” we are doing it on purpose…and the whole reason I got upset is because you and I don’t agree on anything politically?

Give me a break.

Either quit the whining or stop commenting. Your choice….but if you keep it up with all these snide and extraneous comments about the spam filter I will decide for you.

@Curt:

Well, Curt – when I leave a comment just saying I’m in the spam filter, I get a notice saying my comment is too short. Not my fault.

As I said, I’m sure you get just as frustrated as I do with it, I also said that I understand. My expressing that frustration is not personal towards you. But when it’s every single comment I leave, and someone suggests it’s personal, how can you blame me for my response? I didn’t bring it up. Aye assured me it wasn’t, and I respectfully took his word for it, and said so. As much as we disagree on nearly everything, I do feel his respect on a personal level, and therefore believe what he tells me in this regard.

Now I’m just told told that I don’t need to leave a comment to be fished out, and agree to go along with that, and you still blast me? I’ve never shown you personal disrespect and have followed the procedure I believed I was told to in regards to the spam filter, so I’m very sorry that my expressions have so offended you.

I’m sure the whole situation must be driving you nuts, and perhaps my comments come off in a tone other than intended. But trust me when I say that I was doing as I thought was asked, and expressing myself non- maliciously.

Still, it’s your blog. If I’m pissing you off for any reason at all, intentionally or not, you’ve every right to ask me to leave. Just say the word, and I’m out.

when I leave a comment just saying I’m in the spam filter, I get a notice saying my comment is too short. Not my fault.

Nope…doesn’t happen. I have nothing set to deny short comments and I just tried a comment with “test” only, both logged in and not logged in, and that short comment went through without any warning that the comment was too short.

Now I’m just told told that I don’t need to leave a comment to be fished out, and agree to go along with that, and you still blast me?

I blasted you for your latest unneeded comment about it being funny. I did not “blast” you for agreeing to say nothing.

Last time….quit whining and either do as other do which is “my post is in spam” or don’t comment on being spammed at all….we fish them out. I don’t need anymore explanation about the reasons you put those extraneous comments out. Just quit them.

Back on topic…I still think no matter how much ‘good’ you think this man did, it still doesnt make up for the role he played in killing someone. Raising minimum wages didnt bring her back. Allowing more illegals into this country didnt raise her from the dead. He should have spent time in prison for his part in her death, as any other ‘regular’ American would have. He was not a great American, just a privileged a**hole.

Curt, I really don’t want to keep this going, but you just accused me of lying. It happened three times. I’m not perfect, but I’m not a liar.

I’m done with you…bye

Cary: You are correct, Mata, I did not click on your links; because, as I clearly stated in comment #29, I am already familiar with the FBI files you refer to. As for the rest of your comment, you are by definition admitting that you have formed a strong belief based on incomplete facts, which you present as definitive truth.

Cary, don’t be play acting with reality on me here. First of all, if you are “familiar” with the FBI files, then you will know the the *facts* that I base my opinion on are exactly as I laid out above:

1: He passed several homes (including one 150 yards away from the accident site with a light on) without calling for help, and headed for the party cottage instead to talk to his handlers.

2: They can say they “dove” all they want against the currents, but the maritine reports for the currents say the only currents that would affect their dive were surface currents… which were “slack” that evening

3: He wasn’t too out of it to get his handlers from the cottage, nor did any channel current bother him when he swam to Edgartown and the hotel… where he met witnesses who say he was quite calm and “with it”. In fact, even complaining about a noisy party.

4: He did not call the police until after the car and body had been found the next day. Phone calls are documented multiple times thru the night to political handlers and friends… but no police.

None of these are questionable, and all are found in the FBI report. If that’s all we know about that night… and it isn’t… then I, the jury, say manslaughter.

As I said, I will never ride in a car with you. For if you feel it’s just fine to abandon a passenger (or even the driver) and go take care your own political ass instead of calling for police and emergency aid, I’ll make sure you get charged with manslaughter. Because guess what… your name ain’t Kennedy, and you wouldn’t have a prayer.

Aye, you finding this was amazing, Kennedy making jokes about the death of Mary Jo is Not amazing at all, downright cold, evil. Never had a high opinion of Kennedy, he discusted me. A drunk, a womanizer, traitor and a partisan hack, the Liar of the Senate.