Posted on 07/17/2009 6:53:56 AM PDT by jimthompsonworstpersoninworld
NOTE: At the time a hero was walking on the moon, a coward was walking away from a woman trapped underwater in an airpocket. It was only 6 feet of water. Because the anniversary falls on the weekend, if you want to acknowledge the anniversary with a call to the Chappaquiddick Lifeguard's office, you need to do it today. Doug from Upland will be doing what he usually does on this date - calling the office and gurgling water - (202) 224-4543. Be creative and have fun!
===================================================
40th anniversary of Mary Jo Kopechnes drowning at Chappaquiddick...Kennedy's story still doubtful July 17, 6:02 AM1 commentShareThisRSS Email Print Mary Jo Kopechne
Sometime around midnight, on July 18, 1969 Kennedy drove his Oldsmobile 88 off of a small bridge on Chappaquiddick island, into eight feet of chilly water. The vehicle landed upside-down. While Kennedy managed to free himself from the wreck and swim to safety, his passenger, 28-year-old Mary Jo Kopechne was left in the car to drown.
Once he reached shore, Kennedy claims to have made seven or eight attempts to rescue Kopechne, but could not free her.
Kennedy then walked back to the cottage where he and four other men, were partying with several young women known as the Boiler Room Girls who had worked on Robert Kennedys campaign. Though Kennedy passed by a fire station and a private home to return to the cottage, he never stopped to ask for help for the trapped Kopechne.
He returned to the party and according to Kennedy himself, informed his cousin and a friend of the situation. The two men, Joseph Gargan and Paul Markham claim to have returned to the scene of the accident and made several unsuccessful attempts to free Kopechne.
Then Kennedys story takes an even stranger turn.
After the failed rescue attempts, Kennedy claims to have jumped back into the water and made the 500-foot swim across the channel back to Edgartown. He then walked back to his hotel and spent the night. He even took the time to change clothes and pay a visit to the front-desk, to complain about a noisy party--no doubt Kennedy's sloppy attempt at securing an alibi.
The next morning, Gargan and Markham around 8:00 a.m., and were supposedly shocked to discover that Kennedy never reported the accident to police. According to Kennedys own testimony, he told them: "about my own thoughts and feelings as I swam across that channel ... that somehow when they arrived in the morning that they were going to say that Mary Jo was still alive"
The two men along with Kennedy went back to Chappaquiddick, where Kennedy spent some time making phone calls, seeking advice from various individuals as to how to proceed.
Meanwhile, two fisherman had discovered the submerged car and notified police. At 8:45a.m. a diver recovered the lifeless body of Mary Jo Kopechne.
It was not until 10a.m., over nine hours after driving-off of the bridge that Ted Kennedy went to the police station in Edgarton to report the accident.
Kennedy then gave the following prepared statement to police: On July 18, 1969, at approximately 11:15 p.m. in Chappaquiddick, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, I was driving my car on Main Street on my way to get the ferry back to Edgartown. I was unfamiliar with the road and turned right onto Dike Road, instead of bearing hard left on Main Street. After proceeding for approximately one-half mile on Dike Road I descended a hill and came upon a narrow bridge.
The car went off the side of the bridge. There was one passenger with me, one Miss Mary [Kopechne], a former secretary of my brother Sen. Robert Kennedy. The car turned over and sank into the water and landed with the roof resting on the bottom. I attempted to open the door and the window of the car but have no recollection of how I got out of the car. I came to the surface and then repeatedly dove down to the car in an attempt to see if the passenger was still in the car. I was unsuccessful in the attempt. I was exhausted and in a state of shock.
I recall walking back to where my friends were eating. There was a car parked in front of the cottage and I climbed into the backseat. I then asked for someone to bring me back to Edgartown. I remember walking around for a period and then going back to my hotel room. When I fully realized what had happened this morning, I immediately contacted the police
In a move which must have been rather tortuous for her parents, Kennedy attended Mary Jo's funeral, wearing a neck brace (which he reportedly never wore again) and looking rather pathetic.
The diver who recovered Kopechnes body, John Farrar testified at the official inquest that her body was found where the air pocket would have formed. He said: Had I received a call within five to ten minutes of the accident occurring, and was able, as I was the following morning, to be at the victim's side within twenty-five minutes of receiving the call, in such event there is a strong possibility that she would have been alive on removal from the submerged car.
A week after the incident, Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a suspended two-month sentence. Kennedy then went on national television to repeat his rather implausible story, and to ask for the publics prayers.
The ensuing scandal and questionable details given by all of those involved is now left to speculation. It was obvious to most people that Kennedy had allowed a young girl to drown, in a desperate and self-serving attempt to protect his political career.
The incident all but guaranteed that Kennedy could never be a serious candidate for President of the United States.
Mary Jo when Teddy croaks we are going to visit your grave and let you know!
Was, is and always will be a crock.
This story still p!sses me off that he got away with murder.
Mary Jo DESERVES a Federal Holiday in her NAME...
if ONLY for saving us from a Teddy Kegger ..err ... Kennedy Presidency.
I, for one, remain grateful!
Welcome to FR.
Oh, I see. You can have “nom de plume” but we can’t. ;o)
I would have received 10 years for manslaughter and 30 years for coming up with such a pathetic alibi.
Welcome aboard! Thanks for the reminder.
R.I.P. Mary Jo.
We will not have to, God will grant her permission to deliver Teddys’ sorry soul to Hell.
If you ever watch a video of Teddy’s address to the nation wherein he “apologizes” for Chappaquiddick in a hailstorm of doublespeak, you can see it was the primer that Bill Clinton learned upon.
Ted Kennedy is not only a murderer, but he is also a traitor. He supported the anti-Vietnam War movement, voted to cutoff arms and supplies to South Vietnam when it was invaded by the North in 1975 in spite of our pledge to support them in such an instance,created the 1986 amnesty bill which led to the mess we have today, and he actively communicated secretly with Soviet premiers during the Reagan administration, while Reagan was trying to win the Cold War.
Teddy has never been a patriot. When he kicks off his mortal coil at long last, the wailing and gnashing of teeth by the libtards will be more than I can bear.
Kennedy Endorses Water Dog For Obama Family
WBZTV.Com ^ | January 13, 2009
Senator Ted Kennedy made an important political endorsement Tuesday [January 2009]. Massachusetts' Senior Senator endorsed the Portuguese water dog as the perfect pet for the nation's new first family.
[snip]
"A Portuguese water dog is the perfect choice for first dog," Kennedy said in a written statement. "The Obama girls -- and their parents -- will love a Portuguese water dog. They're loyal, smart, loving and they became a real part of the family. And they definitely do not shed."
Senator Kennedy and wife Vicki have three Portuguese water dogs of their own. Sunny and Splash often accompany Kennedy to the Senate. "They love being around people and being part of the action," he said.
The Kennedy's just added a third Portuguese water dog to the family, a puppy named Captain Courageous or 'Cappy' for short. ..."
Senator Ted Kennedy's
Portuguese Water Dog puppy,
"Captain Courageous".
http://wbztv.com/watercooler/obama.family.dog.2.906743.html
_____________________________________________________
"The black-and-white puppy is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy"
Barack Obama's family pick first puppy, a Portuguese water dog named Bo
April 12, 2009
"file picture of a Portuguese water dog, the breed Barack Obama's family has picked as the first puppy"
THE family of US president Barack Obama have chosen a Portuguese water dog to be the first pet.
In what was one of the White House's most tightly kept secrets, the Washington Post revealed Mr Obama's daughters, 10-year-old Malia and seven-year-old Sasha, have settled on a pup named Bo.
The Post published photos of the presidential puppy meeting Mr Obama's family. See the photos here.
The black-and-white puppy is a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy. Bo is scheduled to make his big debut to the American public early next week.
Mr Obama's daughters chose the name Bo because first lady Michelle Obama's father was nicknamed Diddley, the newspaper reported.
White House aides told The Associated Press that the office of the first lady arranged an exclusive deal on the dog story with the Post.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,25324305-38198,00.html?from=public_rss
_____________________________________________________
Ted "Water Dog" Kennedy...
Chappaquiddick:
"On Friday night July 18, 1969 around midnight a married man, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, was driving his oldsmobile on the island of Chappaquiddick with a single woman named Mary Jo Kopechne aboard when he, allegedly drunk, drove the car off a bridge and into a pond. He was leaving a party attended only by five married men and six unmarried women. Kennedy escaped the car and swam to shore. Mary Jo Kopechne was not quite so lucky. She died in the car, in the water.
Kennedy failed to even contact the police for a full nine hours, after he was told the car and body had been found.
The Kennedy family chartered a plane to immediately fly the victim's body to her hometown, Wilkes-Barre. No autopsy was conducted.
“The incident all but guaranteed that Kennedy could never be a serious candidate for President of the United States.”
But Senator for life... That’s quite another story. After all, we don’t have a very high standard for Senator.
And this worm is honored and revered in liberal land. When he leaves this world will the media refer to the Mary-Jo death as a “controversy?” Will they paint it over and give him a free pass?
The story I heard was that Mary Jo was sleeping in the back seat of the car when Teddy went off with another gal. They were out of the car and in the sand dunes when the car rolled down an incline and off the bridge.
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.