Posted on 08/29/2009 8:09:32 PM PDT by kingattax
America will pay for Ted Kennedy's legacy.---
By now almost everyone has weighed in on the legacy of Sen. Ted Kennedy, who passed away this week after a year-long struggle with a cancerous brain tumor. Liberals eulogized that Kennedy's legislative legacy is unquestioned and has now transcended partisan bickering. In their postmortem acclamations, Kennedy was recognized as a larger-than-life senator who charmed his Senate colleagues on both sides of the aisle for nearly a half-century, while astutely pushing through legislation aimed at protecting the weaker, the poorer, minorities and the most vulnerable through constant expansion of federal entitlements and civil rights. In his honor, several senators have vowed to enact health care reform in his spirit and his name.
Conservatives acknowledged, even envied, Kennedy's political skills--especially his astounding 47-year Senatorial tenure--and good ol' Irish schmoozing in Senatorial corridors. But they pointed out that Ted Kennedy was wrong on many of the key issues of the last five decades--school busing, the nuclear freeze, welfare reform and the surge. He was left behind not only by the Reagan revolution with its emphasis on smaller government and lower taxes, but also by Clinton's balanced budgets and acknowledgment that the "era of big government is over."
But there was another, less remarked upon legacy of Ted Kennedy that has had effects on the country in general, and the Democratic Party in particular. There had always been a tradition of noblesse oblige among America's blue-blood liberals. But Ted Kennedy redefined the notion of the aristocracy simply helping the poor, and took it to cynical ends in the manner of a Roman tribune. He assumed that almost none of his own humanitarian rhetoric applied to himself, almost as if godly intentions gave him a sort of exemption from moral behavior.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
August 28, 2009
"Edward Klein, speaking to WAMU guest host Katty Kay, said one of Kennedy's 'favorite topics of humor was, indeed, Chappaquiddick.'
"He would ask people, 'Have you heard any new jokes about Chappaquiddick?' said Klein, a former Newsweek foreign editor and former editor in chief of the New York Times Magazine."
http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=108256
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YouTube video: Kennedy liked to joke about Chappaquiddick
"This isn't an accusation from Ted Kennedy's political opponents, but a nostalgic remembrance by one of his friends. Ed Klein, former Newsweek editor, tells the Diane Rehm Show:
"I dont know if you know this or not, but one of his favorite topics of humor was indeed Chappaquiddick itself. And he would ask people, have you heard any new jokes about Chappaquiddick? That is just the most amazing thing. Its not that he didnt feel remorse about the death of Mary Jo Kopechne, but that he still always saw the other side of everything and the ridiculous side of things, too."
The thing Kennedy never got and for that matter neither do liberals is that when you set up entitlements to help the very poor, you do them a grave disservice in the end by making them dependent, in other words, slaves to the government and the government then becomes the overseer to the slave. Whereas conservativism helps minorities to become more self-sufficient, self sustaining, independent from the government, The only thing conservatives ask in return is to meet them half way, to take responsivility for their own lives, to make the effort to get a job, stay in school instead of dropping out, to learn, to study, not to do drugs or join gangs, to become a productive member of society and as a result make a better life for themselves and their families.
Such dumbasses. Kennedy cared no more about minorities than to make sure his lawn was mowed and his toilets were cleaned
Former Washington DC Cardinal McCarrick even pushed “universal health care for all” at this evenings burial of Ted Kennedy.
Moreover, McCarrick read a response to Kennedy’s letter to the Pope that Obama delivered recently. Interesting how the response was not written by the Pope but by someone else in the Vatican.
Liberals are scum and will use any opportunity to pollute the world with more liberalism.
Clinton’s budgets were never balanced and there were never any surpluses.
Unless of course payroll taxes for social security and medicare are counted as general tax revenue, which in fact both Clinton and the Republicans did.
I think the author nailed it.
Cliff-Note eulogy:
He was a drunk.
His Pontiac sunk.
His polictics stunk.
Actually, most of his liberal, progressive ways turned out to be as immoral as he was.
Let me say, about his charm, I believe Satan has huge power (but ultimately subservient to God) and can exert great charm and persuasiveness, thus so many converts.
For all that teddy had, I find that he did not leave the world a better place than he found it. Both his brothers, with their own personal frailties, were better men than he was.
vaudine
can someone tell me if this response from the Vatican means that kennedy is in heaven.
“The Holy Father has the letter which you entrusted to President Barack Obama, who kindly presented it to him during their recent meeting. He was saddened to know of your illness, and asked me to assure you of his concern and his spiritual closeness. He is particularly grateful for your promise of prayers for him and for the needs of our universal church.
“His Holiness prays that in the days ahead you may be sustained in faith and hope, and granted the precious grace of joyful surrender to the will of God, our merciful Father. He invokes upon you the consolation and peace promised by the Risen Savior to all who share in His sufferings and trust in His promise of eternal life.
“Commending you and the members of your family to the loving intervention of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Holy Father cordially imparts his Apostolic Blessing as a pledge of wisdom, comfort and strength in the Lord.”
Indeed. The fat nasty drunk was also an elitist pig. What wonderful atributes!
No, it’s merely a message of hope, blessing and inspiration to the dying.
I would agree with that when they understand that “public service” does not mean what they say. Can you understand that our politicians are overpaid, over-control the populace, and are certainly over-privileged! They actually belong just below Used Car Salesmen and should be treated as such!
We haven’t had an actual “Public Servant” in several decades!
So, the Pope didn’t persoanlly reply to Kennedy’s 10 page tome!
In my excitement to learn that His Holiness did NOT personally reply to Kennedy, I neglected to answer your question. IMO, even the Pope cannot send himself to Heaven, let alone the likes of Kennedy.
Wasn’t Teddy a major force behind the 1968 gun control bill?
I'm saving this column. Thank you, kingattax.
youre welcome. hanson’s writing is always a great read.
not my God’s standards but whom am I to judge?
I am so sick of the Kennedys.
We must make sure that no other Kennedy holds a political position.
If that means digging up dirt on them- so be it.
I know you Freepers can do it. You did it to Dan Rather.
The people who hold political office should be of utmost integrity.
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