Ted Kennedy

[rain_gryphon]

The last of the Kennedy brothers has finally died. It's no surprise, but it's still unfortunate. I seldom if ever agreed with the man's politics, but I always respected his patriotism, and the depth of his convictions. He remains one of the few politicians I ever admired.

Comments

[whitetail.livejournal.com]

You were not a particular fan of Ronald Reagan, if I recall correctly. I never quite forgave Teddy Boy for his divisive run against Carter in 1980, which made Ronald Reagan a virtual shoe-in. Carter was a bad enough President that he was capable of losing all by himself, but Kennedy weakened Carter's support within his own party to such an extent that he never stood a chance against Reagan.

I also still consider E. M. Kennedy to be guilty of negligent homicide. The press and the justice system gave him a complete pass, which was a disgrace and a travesty, IMHO. If a prominent Republican had done such a thing, their political ass would have been grass, and they'd've been tossed in jail for years. Equal justice under the law, my foot.

Frankly, I'm glad the Kennedy show is finally over. I cried for JFK and RFK, but I say good riddance to Ted.

[xolo.livejournal.com]

I voted for Anderson, knowing that he couldn't win, and having campaigned for Carter four years earlier. Carter was unelectable at that point. Had he stepped aside for Kennedy, as I think he should have done, we'd have avoided the Reagan administration. More to the point, had Kennedy contested the Democratic nomination in 1972, instead of standing idly by while the Democrats picked the one man in all of America who couldn't beat Richard Nixon, then we've have avoided the whole Carter-Regan debacle altogether, and I think that much of the bitterness and divisiveness that marks modern American politics could have been averted.

I never considered Chappaquidic much of a blot on the man's record. I don't think a Republican would have been held to any different standards. It was a different time, with different expectations.

In the end, I think Ted's greatest failure is going to be remembered as having sponsored Barack Obama. It was plain that he expected Obama to reach out to his opponents, and to try to end the vicious partisanship that's tearing the government apart. Obviously he misjudged him.

I spent much of last night, and part of today crying and mourning him. Despite his flaws, I still consider him a great and honourable man who spent his life in public service.

[whitetail.livejournal.com]

had Kennedy contested the Democratic nomination in 1972, instead of standing idly by while the Democrats picked the one man in all of America who couldn't beat Richard Nixon, then we've have avoided the whole Carter-Regan debacle altogether, and I think that much of the bitterness and divisiveness that marks modern American politics could have been averted.

That's a really good point - one I honestly never even considered. Thinking about this a little, I think Ted probably could have made a good President had he been elected early on in his career. I think he might have been more about continuing his brothers' legacies rather than inflating himself politically as most of his Senate career seemed to be about. There's also something about the office of President that tends to ennoble some people, and I think Ted Kennedy might have been one of those, like playboy Jack was before him.

As things turned out, though, Ted became pompous and full of himself, and I really dislike vain people fundamentally. He had none of Jack's charisma, decorum and level-headedness, or Bobby's passion and idealism. He was the least of the 4 brothers in terms of character, IMHO. Maybe if he'd been elected President, he'd've turned out differently. I think our whole nation might have been better off if that had been the case...