How wall-to-wall Chappaquiddick would have changed history -- for the worse --(bigtime barf alert)

Chicago Tribune ^ | 28 aug 09 | Eric Zorn

[rellimpank]

Of course every network would have had special logos featuring bridges, water, wrecked cars or portraits of the main players. And each would have had a snappy title for their non-stop coverage:

"The Bridge Too Far," "Tragedy on the Vineyard," "Teddy in Trouble," "Camelot Submerged" and so on.

If we'd had insatiable 24/7 cable news networks in July 1969, the accident on Chappaquiddick Island in which a passenger in a car driven by Sen. Edward Kennedy drowned would likely have dominated the national consciousness for months.

Special programs every night devoted to nothing but pundits bickering over the depths of the 37-year-old Kennedy's responsibility for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, 28.

[Godwin1]

A reminder. People like Zorn have a totalitarian gene. If they get their way, talk radio, the internet, and non-liberal cable TV will be history. The same free speech canals that would have destroyed Kennedy have blown the whistle on the authoritarian Obamacare drive.

[<1/1,000,000th%]

In fact, shouldn’t all liberals be left somewhere to asphyxiate over several hours?

If it’s such a good thing, why not?

[Nervous Tick]

>> I really resent the word “lion” being associated with Kennedy.

I hate READING about the “lion liberal of the senate”. It’s discordant to the eyes.

But somehow, that same phrase SOUNDS OK to me when I HEAR it. If you get my drift.

[andy58-in-nh]

Just when I am trying to find a reason to be respectful of Senator Kennedy and his family, along comes another insipid, solipsistic article from a goo-brained liberal that makes me want to fly to Arlington, drink half a case of beer, and piss out the Eternal Flame.

[Dahoser]

I'll make you sicker with some front pages from around the country as compiled by Newseum.org:

• Times Daily (Florence, AL)—“Kennedy Clan Was America's Royal Family”
• Daily News (Los Angeles)—“Heir To A Legacy”
• Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA)—“Liberal Beacon Lost—Part warrior, part mediator, Kennedy left legacy”
• The Washington Examiner (Washingont DC)—“The Last Lion Roars No More”
• State Journal Register (Springfield, IL)—“Kennedy Reflected Upon As True Patriot, Statesman”
• Herald Mail (Hagerston, MD)—“Kennedy Remembered As Legendary Legislator”

There are plenty more if your barf bag isn't quite full after those.

[crazyhorse691]

Teddy would have faced a trial and justice have would been served...instead, we got a cover-up and Teddy was merely inconvenienced.

[freekitty]

Yes, yes and Yes.......

[Paisan]

It may have happened except Kennedy drove of “The Bridge” the night before Americans landed on the moon.
In Boston, Kennedy stole the headlines. Elsewhere, we were concerned with other things.

[jessduntno]

"I hate READING about the “lion liberal of the senate”. It’s discordant to the eyes."

How's this;

the “lyin' liberal of the senate”.

[Nervous Tick]

>> How’s this; the “lyin’ liberal of the senate”.

Yeah! That’s the ticket!

[Maverick68]

Demons walk among us.
If you have any doubt as to the existence of evil, look at idiots like the author of this piece...

[Billthedrill]

Hmm..."Sure, we applied two sets of rules and spiked the story, but you see, that was a good thing because he was a really special individual." Spare us.

[Mjaye]

The dems had a field day going after Laura Bush for the fatal accident she was responsible for when she had just turned 17 (she ran a stop sign). Some rumors alleged that she deliberately tried to crash into “boyfriend” (the boy killed in the other car was her classmate). She didn’t hit and run, and though no charges were filed, she didn’t dodge any consequences.

Kennedy deliberately failed to get help for Mary Jo in time to save her, instead plotting to save himself from any responsibility. That he was given a pass demonstrates the enormous hypocrisy of the Left.

[uncbob]

The moon landing helped keep it from major headlines

[wastoute]

Zorn is being disingenuous and doing so apparently with a straight face. He surely knows full well that Kennedy could have murdered anyone in broad daylight in public as recently as last week and the Brown Shirt Media wouldn't have peeped.

Μολὼν λάβε

[libstripper]

I suggest the Senate retire his seat. Let’s not sully his legacy by electing what would undoubtedly be a less worthy replacement. Massachusetts would just have to do with one less senator.

Instead of an eternal flame there ought to be a perpetually renewed pile of horse manure topped by an empty Chevas bottle.

[GOPJ]

I don’t get it when the media fawns like that - it’s tacky.

[Dahoser]

There has been Kennedy worship for as long as I can remember. I was four when JFK was assassinated and it's been non-stop in my mind. I think you could say the worship coincides with the rise of the liberal media who were younger and found themselves thrilled with a young President and a stylish First Lady. When he was assassinated, it was like they had their life's work to finish his term and build the legacy he was prevented from doing himself. With the Kennedys being rich and snooty, the media elites found themselves with the perfect vehicle for pontificating on high because these were important people with money and power, the same as they viewed themselves. Meanwhile, the average person who was torn apart by the assassination of a President was happy to have everything in sight named for JFK because it salved the wound. Of course, it also allowed the media cover to build the Kennedys into America's royal family with almost no notice because they always referenced JFK.

We've also seen this fawning for the Clintons because the media saw in him a fellow traveler plus he had that JFK handshake at the White House thing. Of course, that was nothing compared to how the media are beyond fawning with Obama. When Obama decides to discredit the Secret Service so he can use his own personal security force, the media will happily destroy the Secret Service but then they'll be extremely disappointed that it won't be them running alongside the Presidential limo.

It's probably too early for me to do this subject justice, but I think you get the idea.

[abb]

The Kennedy Worship started in the 40’s. Papa Joe was a master at PR, having been an owner of a major movie studio. He knew who to buy and what the going price was.

One of the more memorable quotes from the old Bootlegger when JFK was running for office: “We’re going to sell Jack like soap flakes... “

[Dahoser]

Ah, I knew I wasn’t doing it justice. Thanks.