One by one the icons of an age pass away.
:bouncegiggle: Time marches on.
This is sad news. However, as a lifetime resident of Massachusetts, I'm pretty tired of the Kennedys being treated like royalty. Ted Kennedy won election after election without even trying . . . Massachusetts voters just kept voting for him because he was Ted Kennedy. I think he was like a security blanket or comfort food or something. But he put his foot in his mouth during many speaking engagements . . . including when he referred to baseball players Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa as "Mike McGwire and Sammy Souser." The major Boston sports radio station plays this sound clip at least a couple times a day.
I posted a link to a news article on this in the News section.
Like him or not, you can not deny his influence on the US political landscape for the last 40 years. In fact one of the biggest issues which he was a proponent for was healthcare reform which is a hot button topic in the US today. I know in the past few weeks several people have said they wish he was available for the debate which is currently happening regarding it.
I too am a lifelong MA resident. I am not a big fan of ted kennedy ESPECIALLY the way he walked away from that accident when the girl was drowning.
positives:
He voted againat the Iraq war and I have to say as someone who used to drive for a living here, the big dig tunnel was a big improvement over the artery. No, it was not a flawless operation but of all the things our government can spend money on, improving the flow of traffic is actually important . for the economy, for the air, for peoples nerves mainly!!
an assessment (http://gawker.com/5317300/ted-kennedy-an-assessment) from the nominal left
RIP
I am at the opposite end of the political spectrum from Senator Kennedy, and I found some of his personal behaviors rather disgusting . . .
that being said, he was one of the most effective legislators in the history of the Senate, with over 300 laws bearing his name. He was the last of the four ill-fated brothers, and outlived them all by 3 years.
RIP, Senator. May you find mercy.
Quote from: lester1/2jr on August 26, 2009, 04:23:40 PM
I too am a lifelong MA resident. I am not a big fan of ted kennedy ESPECIALLY the way he walked away from that accident when the girl was drowning.
positives:
I have to say as someone who used to drive for a living here, the big dig tunnel was a big improvement over the artery. No, it was not a flawless operation but of all the things our government can spend money on, improving the flow of traffic is actually important . for the economy, for the air, for peoples nerves mainly!!
an assessment (http://gawker.com/5317300/ted-kennedy-an-assessment) from the nominal left
I'm not a big fan of the big dig. It did improve traffic to some degree, but not enough for how long it dragged on and how much money was poured into it. Plus it was steeped in corruption and poor workmanship. I mean, part of it already caved in and killed a woman and several contractors have been busted for using inferior concrete and other shady practices. But that's Massachusetts for you . . . the "screw thy neighbor" mentality.
Mary Jo Kopechne could not be reach for comment.
I hear Mary Jo is giving Ted a ride to his final destination :twirl:
I'm olld enough to remember that there was some consideration given to the idea of a Kennedy dynasty. John would serve eight years as President. Then his younger brother Robert would serve eight years as President. And then even younger brother Ted would serve eight years as President. Who they'd get to run next is anybody's guess, as John, jr. would still be too young to run, once Ted served his eight years
Of course, that idea came to nothing with Robert's death and Ted's legal troubles.
We did get a political dynasty of sorts. It's just not one people expected. Instead of a Kennedy dynasty. We got a Bush dynasty.
RIP