MSNBC's "Morning Joe" recalls the triumphs and tragedies of the last surviving Kennedy brother - omitting Chappaquiddick and the July 18, 1969 death of Mary Jo Kopechne.
Acclaimed novelist Joyce Carol Oates's Pulitizer Prize-nominated 1992 novella "Black Water" - about the final thoughts of a young lady as the water slowly crept up in the car abandoned by "The Senator" is a thinly disguised account of Chappaquiddick.
One of the funniest lines ever came from then-Senator Howell Heflin after Ted got caught by a foetog with his bare ass bobbing over a woman in a boat - I think in France in the 1980s. Heflin said something like "Ted Kennedy gives new meaning to offshore drilling."
I guess Ted Kennedy had his "stupid" moments but he was the only of Joe Kennedy's boys who lived long enough to have an impact on society.
ReplyDeleteAgree with him or not you had to respect the man who never sold out his conviction for a cheap political advantage.
The man could deliver one Hell of a speech without having to be attached to a teleprompter.
This morning I wrote the headline, "Ted Kennedy is reunited with Mary Jo Kopechne".
ReplyDeleteThen I stifled and moved on.
I thought the same headline, Jim. You're right about Ted's legacy, Bobcat. He really is the only one who had an impact. And a good one given his impressive legislative record.
ReplyDeleteOld saying: If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all - so Teds dead.....I hope this is the snap shot in time, August 26th 2009, the Progressive wave broke and is now receding from the American shoreline.
ReplyDeleteTed was in the process of undoing legislation he put in place to Block then Governor Mitt Romney from appointing a Republican to Senator John Kerry's Senate seat. ( A special election would be held) It really doesn't matter anymore, Ted has a bigger critic than me judging him now. May God have mercy on his soul.
Ted will be remembered by history, along with Webster, Clay, Norris, Benton et al.
ReplyDeleteShriver a few weeks ago and now Teddy guess that the final curtin call on Camelot? We have moved from Camelot to Chicago.....
ReplyDeleteI prefer the older musicals.
the media in my state (MA) is making him out to be a "saint"
ReplyDeleteHe was no saint, but he was a giant influence. Gotta give the devil his due.
ReplyDeleteOld saying: If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything at all - so Teds dead.....I hope this is the snap shot in time, August 26th 2009, the Progressive wave broke and is now receding from the American shoreline.
ReplyDeleteTed was in the process of undoing legislation he put in place to Block then Governor Mitt Romney from appointing a Republican to Senator John Kerry's Senate seat. ( A special election would be held) It really doesn't matter anymore, Ted has a bigger critic than me judging him now. May God have mercy on his soul.