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Posted on 08/31/2009 5:01:29 PM PDT by GoldStandard
Like many Americans, I watched as Senator Ted Kennedy was laid to rest over the weekend after his year-long battle with brain cancer. The day marked not only the end of the Camelot era, but seemed to signal the final passing of many things politically. I certainly didn't agree with Senator Kennedy's politics on many issues, but as I listened to his friends, family, and Senate colleagues—including my father—tell stories of the man they knew, what was so evident was that Ted Kennedy always believed you could find compromise on the really important matters.
I remember meeting the senator around age fourteen, going into his office with my father and thinking what a larger than life figure he was. Broad, booming voice, wearing a bright blue suit—he looked exactly the way you picture a Kennedy in your mind. His personality took up the entire room.
Growing up, I remember my father often speaking highly of Senator Kennedy during town halls and his stump speeches, always mentioning their relationship as an example of a Republican and Democrat working constructively together to bring about change. One memory that my father recently spoke about was when he and Senator Russ Feingold were given the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award, but the weekend of the ceremony happened to coincide with my little brother Jimmy's birthday. So my father called Senator Kennedy to explain that he wouldn't be able to attend because of my brother’s birthday. Senator Kennedy told my father to bring Jimmy along and promised him they would celebrate his birthday in a memorable way. My brother and father still talk about that birthday because the Kennedy family went over the top with multiple cakes, lots of presents, and several renditions of “Happy Birthday.” It was obvious that Senator Kennedy understood the importance of family and balancing those duties with the complications of political life.
Above all, I know my father regarded Senator Kennedy as an old school politician who brought a sense of camaraderie to the Senate floor. Alas, this era of collegiality and respect, the era of Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan, is over. The recent reaction in the blogosphere to Ted Kennedy’s death proves that. After reading some of the discourse online, I was both surprised and disgusted at what was being written. I was shocked that even in death, people were having partisan quarrels about his legacy which led me to writing a Tweet saying, "I just don't know what kind of life of anger you lead if you can't put politics aside for a moment to respect a man’s passing..." Immediately, this post was used yet again by some as an example of my "secret liberalism." Because what—apparently I can only respect a politician who had served nearly five decades in the Senate if he was a Republican? I don't know how or why we got to this place in politics. Why death is used as yet another excuse for mudslinging and party rhetoric. It is depressing to think that we have come to an age where you can only mourn a man's service to his country if he abides by every single political tenet you believe in.
Whenever people ask me if I want to run for office, my answer is always no. Among the many reasons is that I don't want to go into an industry where there seems to be a complete inability to meet in the middle on issues. Why would anyone want to work in an us-versus-them environment? This is why I have always had tremendous respect for politicians who are willing to fight for what the believe in but understand how to compromise to get something done. When I talked to my father on the phone this weekend after Senator Kennedy's funeral he said to me, "Those that don't believe there are second acts in politics didn't know Senator Kennedy".
If nothing else, I hope that the death of Ted Kennedy inspires high school students in civics classes and political science majors in colleges all across the country. If they listened this weekend to all Senator Kennedy was able to accomplish in his remarkable life, they too will realize why public service—in any capacity and for either political party—is and should continue to be a worthy calling.
Where’s the thermonuclear barf alert???
Lord :please let it mean the end of the Camelot era and the end of the Kennedy’s in politics.
The only compromise Kennedy was involved in was “progressing” centralized power and the far Left’s social agenda and culture. McCain loves compromising in that direction.
Where was all wise Moderate leader McCain as the Banks were passing out loans to people who could not afford them in the name of expanding home ownership? He was “compromising” with Teddy, Bawney and the Congressional Black and Hispanic Caucus to crash the banking system. He should have been raising hell about this scheme and stopped it but rescuing the country would have been immoderate.
Where was moderate man when the Congress was spending like drunken sailors when Bush was in power? Where is the moderate now that Obama has wracked up a most immoderate deficit of 9 trillion dollars?
Moderate means never rocking the Left’s Teddy Love Boat so Meg does not spill her champaign.
The Swimmer was an evil man. I do not see how anyone can have a sense of camaraderie with someone you know is evil, unless you also have the same traits.
Don’t you have anything better to do with your life than this?
Lordy, did you see this?
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F U, Meghan. F U, Juan
No, I didn’t. But this definitely deserves a massive barf alert.
Complication like driving women off bridges, accessory to sexual shenanigans, and public drunkenness. Have another Bud Lite Maggie. You're brain dead. The swimmer was a self-serving azzhat.
“F U, Meghan. F U, Juan “
Yeah, I’d say that about covers it;-)
Just another of a long series of stupid comments from the daughter of a professional politician!
When will we learn that politicians are NOT to be voted into a lifetime job! We have to figure a way to get them out of office before they tend to think that they belong there.
They actually think that they are doing something good for America when they continue to vote other peoples money for their own ideas of what’s good for America. Until we begin to despise politicians instead of worshiping them, they will continue this downward spiral.
When you let these professional politicians become entrenched, even their offspring think that they are part of the political elite. If we can’t at least vote them out of office (hard thing to do with all of their privileges), at least we can keep from enthroning their offspring.
What is becoming of our America... You would think that we elect only those from the elite families - Kennedys, Bushes, Clintons, etc... Please folks, get these elitists out of office and let’s get back to the ideals of the original Constitutionalists - part time legislators.
Can you imagine the good that that would do for our legislature! Look longingly to the yesterdays of a locked up legislature. No laws, no damage...
If they actually both agree then, it is almost surely a good law...
I wonder if Teddy and Chriss Dodd ever tried to make a “Meghan Sandwich”.
Meghan just shut up and eat your Cheetos!
Thank heaven for small favors.
I hope it inspires them to never get in a vehicle with a Kennedy. Not even an elevator.
In addition to the aforementioned incredible scent, he was surrounded by a really, really, really large group of people, which I can only describe as a "caravan." Most of them smelled like opportunists.
Well, sure, even if I finished this story, it doesn't make as compelling reading as MeggieMac's story. So, I'll stop...
Meghan, if you really want to be inspired, be at the U.S. Capitol on 9-12, and as your daddy sez- SIT DOWN, LISTEN and STFU.
Is this woman even a Republican?
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