Posted on 03/04/2009 10:36:50 AM PST by Free ThinkerNY
Veteran U.S. senator Edward Kennedy is to be awarded an honorary knighthood in a move which drew immediate condemnation from Conservative MPs.
The Queen has agreed to the honour for the 77-year-old Democrat - brother of assassinated U.S. president John F Kennedy - for services to the British-American relationship and to Northern Ireland, Downing Street said.
Gordon Brown will announce the award formally during his address to both houses of Congress today.
But the decision to honour a man closely linked to the Irish Republican movement astonished Tory MPs.
One frontbencher said: 'I don't think it's appropriate. He hardly had the British interests at heart.'
Former Home Office Minister Ann Widdecombe said: 'It seems to me a bit of an odd choice, but diplomacy has no bounds.'
The senator was an influential figure in the Northern Ireland peace process, capable of swinging Irish-American opinion as head of the Kennedy family - descended from an emigré from County Wexford.
Ted Kennedy was pilloried by Loyalists after he compared the British presence in Ulster to America's involvement in Vietnam in 1971.
That year he called for Britain's immediate withdrawal from Ireland, declaring that Protestants who could not accept a united Ireland 'should be given a decent opportunity to go back to Britain'.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
Any comment from Mary Jo?
Ha! Not THIS Irish American's opinion.
One frontbencher said: ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate. He hardly had the British interests at heart.’
Former Home Office Minister Ann Widdecombe said: ‘It seems to me a bit of an odd choice, but diplomacy has no bounds.’
Gotta love the British art of understatement! LOL!
wonder how this plays on his inner moat?
"No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state."
A CTD isn’t an honorary knighthood.
without the consent of the Congress... that shouldn’t be hard...
Dittos!
How much Irish Whiskey do you have to personally drink to get one of these?
Teddy obviously has drank his share...
Mary Jo could not be reached for comment.
The only award this pompous, fatso is entitled to is the Long Distance Chappaquiddick Swimming Cup.
Not this one’s either. Spit.
“Glub, blub, glug.”
Congress will give its consent. Bank on it.
Mountbatten must be spinning at redline RPM in his grave.
“I now declare thee a member of the Knights of the Submerged Oldsmobile”.....
Sir Teddy Duke of Drowning
We need to make them pay for it. After all, the Kennedy’s have been trying to be an historical dynasty since the 30s, up to and including the ridculous consideration of Princess Caroline for the NY Senate seat.
What is it about libtards that they just LOVE dynastic dictators?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.