R.I.P. Senator Kennedy

[impressive]

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Thank you Jesus! The world is suddenly a better place.

 

[Handley_Page]

The family of that girl who died at Chapaquidick (?) might have different views.

 

[Pure]

a sad day

a fine senator.

--after 40 years the right wingnuts will have to focus on something besides Chappaquiddick-- hey, there's the phoney Kenyan birth certificate, not to speak of the legislation with the " Plan to Kill your Granny" (which Kennedy, were he alive, would be leading the fight for).

 

[sadangel]

RIP Ted Kennedy.

I may not have agreed with everything, or even most things you did, but you did do some good. I'll not besmirch your memory by dredging up the past to rake you over the coals yet again.

My thoughts are with his family. It is a sad day for them.

 

[Tricialen]

I never agreed with anything that he stood for but as a father and uncle...he seemed above average...for that alone may he rest in peace...

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I'm sorry, but there will be no mourning here. And I will say nothing more.

 

[sr71plt]

It is nice that "we" let one of the Kennedy brothers die in bed.

 

[Aimii]

Being international and centre left. Kennedy's effect globally hasn't been super potent, but where it was felt it was generally positive. Compared to others he had a good career. And a peaceful end to a dynasty that held a lot of power if nothing else.
He played the game, but at least he wasn't that dirty.

 

[3113]

I'm sorry, but there will be no mourning here.

Really? You do the man a real disservice then given what you usually stand for:

The man whom many in the LGBT community consider their greatest friend in the U.S. Senate has died. Senator Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who fought for equal rights for gays on many fronts and was an early defender of people with HIV, died late Tuesday night, Aug. 25....

“Our community has had no greater champion in Congress,” said David Smith, who worked as the senator’s Director of Communication from late 2003 to early 2005.
Smith, vice president for programs at the Human Rights Campaign, said credited Kennedy with taking on some of the community’s worst adversaries, including the late Senator Jesse Helms, during its toughest battles.

“From early days of AIDS crisis, he was there for us,” recalled Smith. “He was battling for us, taking on a then very powerful Jesse Helms, who wanted to see us in concentration camps. God only knows what would have happened if Senator Kennedy hadn’t been there.”

Bolds are mine. Full story here.

For this alone, I'll mourn him and say, RIP

 

[impressive]

I'm sorry, but there will be no mourning here. And I will say nothing more.

That's okay, VM. There's quite enough mourning here for both of us.

Not only for the reasons 3113 mentioned, but because my son's life -- and the lives of thousands of kids with disabilities -- is improved as a direct result of this man's service.

He was one of the most gracious people I've ever had the privilege to meet.

We're all human. We all have our faults, and we all make mistakes. I choose to sing about his many good works - spanning decades. If I can make but a tiny fraction of his positive impact before I leave this world, I'll consider my life a success.

 

[Belegon]

A man who gave nearly 50 years in the service of our nation when he could have been kicking back on a yacht and cursing the nation that murdered his brothers has passed with his most passionate wish still unfulfilled.

I disagreed strongly with most of the policies of Reagan, yet I found the moral courage to save my complaints for other days when he passed, out of respect for his service.

I would suggest those of you who choose to speak ill of this man on this day examine your own lives and think of who might rejoice in your own passing.

We are none of us perfect.

In my opinion, the good this man did and the courage he showed when he must have often wondered when the next bullet, the one for him, was coming? Those are more than enough to earn my respect.

I don't know what happened on the one night that, even now when he is dead, still haunts him. And the fact of the matter is that none of you do either.

I for one am not so willing to condemn a man based on that.

Edward Kennedy worked his ass off in the service of this nation. Even if you feel that the objectives he strove to achieve are counter to what you wish, you should at least respect that.

I mourn him.

 

[Pure]

in remembrance

from wiki

More than 300 bills that Kennedy and his staff wrote have been enacted into law. He was known for his ability to work with Republicans and to find compromises among Senators with disparate views. Kennedy played a major role in passing many laws that have affected the lives of all Americans, including

the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965,

the National Cancer Act of 1971,

the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986,

the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990,

the Civil Rights Act of 1991,

the Mental Health Parity Act in 1996 and 2008,

the State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997,

the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002, and

the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009.

In the 2000s, he was a leader of several unsuccessful efforts at immigration reform. Over decades in office, Kennedy's major legislative goal had been enactment of universal health care, which he continued to work toward during the Obama administration.
===

kimberley krautter remembers:




The first time I met The Lion of the Senate, I was not nearly as in awe of him as I was of then House Speaker Tip O'Neill. I was about eleven years old, four-foot nothing, and the Speaker was enormous to me. In truth, he dwarfed most. Being precocious and a political junkie even then, I was of course aware that both were giants, and I was eager to sponge every essence of the meetings. I was impressed for all of the obvious reasons but also because both gentlemen had a twinkle in their eyes, a mirthful laugh and massive paws that enveloped mine into a generous but gentle handshake that pulled me into a hug.

I also remember being so proud of my dad whom I was shadowing as he made visits on The Hill, championing his dream -- and an official project of the State of Georgia -- of helping Americans learn as much about citizenship as they know about baseball. Each listened to my dad, agreed it was important, pledged their support, and I believed them. Neither let him down. The dream and the project live on.

The second time I met Senator Kennedy it was on a political junket with "The Dean's List," a group of high donor fundraisers for Governor Howard Dean's Presidential Primary campaign. We had been invited to participate in the "Unity" events that aimed to get all Democrats and party backers on board for the John Kerry nomination. Our friend Terry Lierman put together an amazing day of small group meetings with Democratic Party luminaries from both congressional chambers, and we were all very impressed and honored. But THE man we were most excited and abuzz to meet was Senator Ted Kennedy.
He did not disappoint.

The broad, welcoming grin, the twinkle in the eye and the mirth I remembered were there, but our group was treated to something entirely different. There was an urgency in his message to us that day. We must be unified. Our young people were dying in a senseless war while our enemies were being emboldened and multiplying as our military endeavors were distracted from the real perpetrators of 9/11. And if we didn't unify on the matter of health care reform, our entire economy would face collapse and the government would go bankrupt. We had to get together.

I remember thinking, wow. This is one man who can use 10,000 words to say something so simple. The thought was one of admiration for how earnest he was and how he spoke, not as a grizzled, jaded and fading political vet. Rather, he spoke with the vim and vigor of a young pup candidate, a true believer.
And so, we believed him. I wonder if we'll let him down?

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Teddy will be old news by Monday.

He was a drunk. He killed Mary Jo. Teddy's another Michael Jackson style carnival freak certain to be soon forgotten.

 

[Pure]

nah,

james,

he was just a bit too pro-Black, pro-disabled, and pro-gay, for your liking.



[same applies to volupt and handley. 'fess up.]

 

[Belegon]

james,

he was just a bit too pro-Black, pro-disabled, and pro-gay, for your liking.



[same applies to volupt and handley. 'fess up.]

on the former, I feel that he has been given more than enough rope.

On the latter two, I refuse to judge more harshly than in the manner I already have.

Their convictions are their own. I may disagree but they have the right to their own feelings.

And while my exposure to Handley is small enough that I would have to guess, I am going to speak out in dismissal of your opinion of VM. He has never shown himself to be racist or homophobic in my presence, which includes the times I have shared the same air with him.

You owe him an apology, in my opinion.

And Mr. Kennedy would not have chosen a thread in the memory of any public servant to be used as a place to throw such unsubstantiated accusations around.

You do him a disservice as well.

 

[Liar]

All I can say about the man is that he seemed to be an idealist. In a world as cynical as this, that deserves a nod.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

james,

he was just a bit too pro-Black, pro-disabled, and pro-gay, for your liking.



[same applies to volupt and handley. 'fess up.]

Teddy's admirers are few. He couldnt get elected President, and he couldnt get a Cabinet position. He was radioactive till the end. He'll be forgotten a week from now. I forgot to add that he was thrown out of Harvard for cheating.

 

[sr71plt]

Teddy's admirers are few. He couldnt get elected President, and he couldnt get a Cabinet position. He was radioactive till the end. He'll be forgotten a week from now. I forgot to add that he was thrown out of Harvard for cheating.

We also have unfond memories of him here at UVa for arrogance, drunkeness and disregard for the traffic laws. But the interesting thing to me is that he grew up and that both sides of the aisle in the Senate--the folks who actually had to work with him--are paying him homage for what he accomplished as a senator. I give him props for not just withdrawing into his money and position and, instead, plugging away as he did for the good of society (and, yes, I'm biased as seeing what he worked for as being for the good of society)--all of this, as others have said, while not knowing if the next bullet was for him.

He was brave and worthwhile in ways that you couldn't possibly fathom in your pettiness and tiny worldview, JBJ.

 

[sadangel]

on the former, I feel that he has been given more than enough rope.

On the latter two, I refuse to judge more harshly than in the manner I already have.

Their convictions are their own. I may disagree but they have the right to their own feelings.

And while my exposure to Handley is small enough that I would have to guess, I am going to speak out in dismissal of your opinion of VM. He has never shown himself to be racist or homophobic in my presence, which includes the times I have shared the same air with him.

You owe him an apology, in my opinion.

And Mr. Kennedy would not have chosen a thread in the memory of any public servant to be used as a place to throw such unsubstantiated accusations around.

You do him a disservice as well.

What I bolded...I agree. Bear has never seemed to be homophobic or raciest in my opinion. He differs in opinion here, but that's okay. He made it short and sweet. He didn't feel the need to air all that he saw wrong. I respect Bear and his opinions, even when I disagree with him. I too think he is owed an apology.

As to handly...I don't know. I think what he wrote is true...the girl from Chappaquiddick parent's might have a different view on Senator Kennedy's passing. I don't see that as being racist or homophobic either. It was a short opinion.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

SR71PLT

I'm sure youre correct in the last paragraph; I'm certain I dont care to know why rats live in shithouses, and it seems to me that the esteem of the US Senate is reason enough to hang Teddy. And if all of them express honest sentiments, why!, dont waste good money on a new rope!

 

[voluptuary_manque]

james,

he was just a bit too pro-Black, pro-disabled, and pro-gay, for your liking.



[same applies to volupt and handley. 'fess up.]

What part of "I will say nothing more" have you failed to understand?

 

[oggbashan]

We Brits and the Irish owe Senator Kennedy our thanks for his efforts to bring peace to Northern Ireland.

He may have been one of many who tackled that seemingly intractable problem but he was respected by both sides. His contribution was helpful in ending the impasse on IRA weaponry.

Tributes have been paid to him by all three main political parties in the UK, particularly for his help to this country.

Og

 

[sr71plt]

What part of "I will say nothing more" have you failed to understand?

Well, saying anything was making a statement. The class act would have been to post nothing to such a thread.

But you have a right to your opinion.

 

[Freefall_mc]

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