Patrick Kennedy’s new cause: the brain

Boston Globe ^ | 6/7/11

[raccoonradio]

The Edward M Kennedy Institute For Senate Studies, or something like that, is about to be built but they had a bit of a snag in obtaining some govt funding. Teddy also was lionized in books and articles before and after his death, including in what is usually considered Boston’s right leaning paper, the Herald.

Cal Thomas, just after Ted’s death (Cal on Kennedy-worship; can be applied to similar figures being worshipped in that way)
http://www.crosswalk.com/news/cal-thomas/kennedy-worship-continues-11608030.html

>>Get ready for an all-Kennedy weekend by the networks and newspapers. It will be mostly worship with his flaws easily excused.

I have written about the man and his humanity, but today it’s about his politics and the policies that flowed from them. The Boston Globe’s Jeff Jacoby has written a good column about some of those policies. In it, Jacoby says Kennedy failed to take seriously the Cold War. In 1968, the year the Soviets invaded Czechoslovakia, Kennedy said the Soviet Union’s only satellite was East Germany. He described Soviet dictator Leonid Breznev as “a warm individual completely committed to peace.” He fought to cut off aid to South Vietnam and Cambodia that might have prevented the communist bloodbath and, of course, he opposed both Gulf Wars.

Will any of the major media hold him accountable for his political mistakes and misjudgments? Of course not. That’s because for liberals, it isn’t the results that matter, but the intentions. Liberals believe conservatives have bad intentions, so they never examine the outcome of conservative policies.

So get ready for the hero worship and the ignoring of any mistakes Kennedy made. Even Chappaquiddick is dismissed as something other than what it was. This is a standard that was not used when Ronald Reagan died.

---

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks for the post, very nice. I appreciate the comments concerning Kennedy’s free pass(es), agree with your summary, and agree with your predictions.

All humans have human frailties. Starting with Papa Joe, the Kenndys raised them to an art form, dedicated their lives to it, and every Leftist said, “Amen”.

Take care.

[sickoflibs]

RE :"I have spent decades observing and being disgusted by the Left. I have made it a point to NEVER EVER become a fawning fan of some human figure."

?????? but if that person was out there who said all the 'words' you wanted to hear you would, right? Like suppose he could lower gas prises and bring back our exported factories with a phone call? Or he could beat Obama by demanding some paperwork during TV interviews? Suppose he had a TV show and the media followed him around ? Just hypotheticals, would ya jump?.

[Kenny Bunk]

Hey. ‘coon. I just met the future governor of New Jersey! ¡Ay Chihuahua, Bro, Pass the Watermelon!

[Kenny Bunk]

Doughty, your sensitive appreciation of young Kennedy has won you a very scarce invite to the wedding.

In fact, you may be the designated driver. O yeah, Patches wanted to know if you could pick up a case of O'Doul's on the way to the reception. For you.

[Erasmus]

You always want what you can never have.

[DoughtyOne]

    Support: Rough Draft

        I jump or not based on this.  How much of this does or can a public figure favorably conform to?  What are the circumstances, the benefits vs costs?

1. I try to maintain an awareness of what Conservatism is, and judge every public figure by these standards.

2. If a political figure on either side of the isle does the right thing, I try to acknowledge it and explain why.

3. If a political figure on either side of the isle does the wrong thing, I criticize it and try to explain why.

4. I take more than these decisions/judgements into consideration, in the overall scheme of things.  Do they say one thing and do another.  Do they seek to make people believe they are one thing, then advocate for or introduce things in public that make it clear that isn't the case.  Are they doing the right thing for the wrong reasons?  Are they doing the wrong thing for the right reasons?

5. What policies across the board are they comfortable supporting?  Are those policies supportive of who they say they are, the goals they say they want to attain.

6. How do their policies square with the policy of known Leftists?  Is it 180 degrees off center of what Leftists support, or is it fairly similar to what Leftists support?  Does it compliment Leftist policy?  Will it enable other Leftist policy?  The closer their policy comes to that of the Leftist, the more the warning alarms go off for me.  Are they doing this on purpose?  Do they realize it's true impact?  Will Leftist be happy this is being implemented?  Does this person know or even care?

7. Who do they associate with in public.  Who are they backing?  Do those people support policies that conform to this person's stated beliefs? 

8. Do the associates of the people they are comfortable being seen with in public, conform to the image they are trying to reflect?

9. Would I be happy if this were being implemented by a Clinton or Obama figure?  Would I be happy if our side what pushing this?  Will I be happy if we implement it, with the knowledge a Leftist will rule in time?

10. How does this impact our citizens, their children, our families, their communities, their state?  Does this empower the U.S. government over the citizens improperly? What are the implications for 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, and 100 years into the future?

11. How does this impact our national security?  How does it impact our military, our economy, our R&D, our ability to be the premier nation of the 21st century and beyond?

12. Does this compromise us in any way shape or form?  Will it, in time?

13. Is the policy good for our nation and it's allies?  Could it hobble the U.S. or it's allies?  Does it or could it sacrifice any sovereignty whatsoever over time?  Could it's long term ramifications affect the independence of the U.S.?  Could it empower a foreign entity, or a globalist power entity improperly?  Does it help to create or strengthen a nation or entity that may in time grow to threaten us?  Does this decision hinder us in any way shape or form from making future independent decisions?

[DoughtyOne]

LOL

I’m not going, and if it involves a bridge, I’m moving to a closet or bathroom located in the middle of my home right now.

[tlb]

In the past he’s been the definition of the useless heir to a powerful family dynasty. All the same this sounds like a worthy action. I’ll withhold judgment for a while on the chance maybe he is finally finding a grownup focus.

[stephenjohnbanker]

” None the less, there but for the grace of God go I. I have never seen a perfect politician, and a rational debate on the merits should never be considered inappropriate.

Otherwise, we are well represented by the attendees at that event. Please God, help me avoid ever becoming like them, and if I already am in the slightest, please help me to change. “

Not an injudicious request.

I second it.

[x]

Why, anybody can have a brain. That's a very mediocre commodity. Every pusillanimous creature that crawls on the Earth or slinks through slimy seas has a brain. Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have. But they have one thing you haven't got: a cause.

[dead]

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks SJB, I appreciate the comment.