Sen. Ted Kennedy dead at 77

[SmootSmack]

You're an idiot

Seriously though, let's leave the political vitriol (I don't get to use that word often enough) out of this thread.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

You're an idiot

Seriously though, let's leave the political vitriol (I don't get to use that word often enough) out of this thread.

It's sad that a family lost someone. I sympathize with the family, especially so soon after losing another and the painless losses they've endured over the years.

However, why should we throw away facts and anything negative about someone and blindly praise someone who honestly doesn't deserve the praise?

Honesty is on the road to extinction. It's un-PC to be honest I guess. We just went through this after Micheal Jackson died and we ignored the children's lives he wrecked, now we'll ignore the family this man took a daughter from after a night at the bar.

I'll bow out of this now, let the lovefest resume.

[Slingin Sammy 33]

R.I.P. Sen Kennedy. Condolences to his family. He was fortunate to not lose his functionality and quality of life until the very end. I lost my father to a brain tumor several years ago and he was not as fortunate.

[BringBackJoeT]

Originally Posted by Buster

It's sad that a family lost someone. I sympathize with the family, especially so soon after losing another and the painless losses they've endured over the years.

However, why should we throw away facts and anything negative about someone and blindly praise someone who honestly doesn't deserve the praise?

Honesty is on the road to extinction. It's un-PC to be honest I guess. We just went through this after Micheal Jackson died and we ignored the children's lives he wrecked, now we'll ignore the family this man took a daughter from after a night at the bar.

I'll bow out of this now, let the lovefest resume.

I think that's a little bit dramatic. I will at least say, though, that I'm not sure it's entirely unfair to evaluate what particular events in his life most define his legacy, seeing as how he spent the better part of forty years in a very powerful position, one in which he was able to drive policy in this country. From my own political vantage point, he was a policy hero and I consider his death a great loss to the Senate and country as a whole. However, if we were discussing Richard Nixon's death in its immediate aftermath, I don't think it would be unfair to bring up Watergate, so I think it would be similarly not-unfair to, in a thread on Senator Kennedy upon his death, question the degree to which some of his less-than-stellar personal moments overshadowed his accomplishments.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by BringBackJoeT

I think that's a little bit dramatic. I will at least say, though, that I'm not sure it's entirely unfair to evaluate what particular events in his life most define his legacy, seeing as how he spent the better part of forty years in a very powerful position, one in which he was able to drive policy in this country. From my own political vantage point, he was a policy hero and I consider his death a great loss to the Senate and country as a whole. However, if we were discussing Richard Nixon's death in its immediate aftermath, I don't think it would be unfair to bring up Watergate, so I think it would be similarly not-unfair to, in a thread on Senator Kennedy upon his death, question the degree to which some of his less-than-stellar personal moments overshadowed his accomplishments.

Of course, had this been Nixon, I doubt Buster would have approved of anyone making any negative comment.

Fair points though. It was really Buster's last line that was especially unnecessary in my opinion.

"Now I just fear, and predict that the Democrats led by the President will attach his name to any bad healthcare bill...or bill of any kind...so they can push their plans through using the death of one of their own. It would not be the first time they've exploited a death of one of theirs."

That's really just a 3-0 fastball down the middle to start up another political debate, and fortunately no one is taking him up on it.

Senator Kennedy need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life...but can we just refrain from turning into every other poltiical thread for at least a little bit?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Of course, had this been Nixon, I doubt Buster would have approved of anyone making any negative comment.

Fair points though. It was really Buster's last line that was especially unnecessary in my opinion.

"Now I just fear, and predict that the Democrats led by the President will attach his name to any bad healthcare bill...or bill of any kind...so they can push their plans through using the death of one of their own. It would not be the first time they've exploited a death of one of theirs."

That's really just a 3-0 fastball down the middle to start up another political debate, and fortunately no one is taking him up on it.

Senator Kennedy need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life...but can we just refrain from turning into every other poltiical thread for at least a little bit?

That is kind of tough to do with the time he and his family has spent in office. I went to the health care thread and said that I thought they would change the name of the health care bill like he stated.