Posted on 08/21/2009 5:36:25 PM PDT by Starman417
My heart goes out to Massachusetts senior Senator Ted Kennedy as he battles fatal brain cancer. No one should have to suffer slowly toward their demise. That said, Kennedy's latest--and perhaps his last--major act as a senator constitutes nothing short of blatant political corruption.
Usually, politicians try to keep their wrongdoings shrouded from view in darkened rooms. It's easier to get away with what you want when the lights are off. For example:
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford went to Argentina to have an affair.
John Edwards fathered a child out of wedlock while his wife had cancer and convinced a loyal aid to initially take the fall. Cue the National Enquirer and federal grand juries.
Congressman John Murtha met in private with undercover federal agents posing as Middle Eastern businessmen during the ABSCAM scandal 30 years ago but avoided prosecution by testifying as an unindicted co-conspiritor. When asked about accepting $50,000 in bribe money, Murtha said he was not interested "at this point" but could be later as they got to know each other.
Former Congressman Mark Foley resigned in disgrace after it was discovered he had sent sexually explicit messages to a former page.
Congressman Barney Frank's former "roommate" was running a gay prostitution ring out of their DC apartment.
There are many others on both sides of the aisle who've had their private sins exposed. Some committed crimes while others committed only acts of paramount stupidity. But all were done in a clandestine fashion for obvious reasons.
That's what makes Senator Kennedy's impolitic public pronouncement that he is seeking to change his state's senatorial succession law in anticipation of his death so shocking in its brazenness.
Democrat-controlled Massachusetts changed the state's senatorial succession law in 2004. Previously, the state's governor had the power to appoint a replacement senator until an election could be held. You'll recall, however, in 2004 the state's junior senator, John Kerry, was the Democrat nominee for president but the governor at the time was a dastardly Republican: Mitt Romney. So, in an effort to deprive Romney of this power in the event of Kerry's election, the state legislature changed the rules to require a special election for the replacement.
Fast forward to 2009. Massachusetts now has a Democrat governor and Senator Kennedy's condition will soon render him unable to serve and the end of his life is hastening. The timing couldn't be worse for Kennedy because of his career-long interest in the issue of health care for all Americans--unless, of course, your last name is Kopechne.
(Excerpt) Read more at floppingaces.net ...
When I was about 9 years old I shook his hand at a parade in South Boston.
Sometimes I actually look at my hand and wonder how I ever could have been so ignorant.
Nothing but contempt from here.
AMEN!!!
Come on. He’s a Kennedy. Corruption is all they have.
Intellect? Nope.
Integrity? Nope.
Honesty? Nope.
But sleeze, nastiness, and a tendency to be political since they have not the brains to do anything else? Yup.
Adios.
Ah, Kennedy. Krook til the very end. Hope you enjoy hell, Teddy baby.
There are rules to live by and he being Catholic ordains his place in the afterlife.
"The Official Fatboy Ted Website!!"
No one has seen Teddy in awhile as far as I know. He may even be unable to think coherent thoughts by now.
There’s always the possibility that others in his family are saying things in his stead.
[Spell check is doing it’s little ‘putting every word in blocks’ thingie again!!]
Not feeling a lot of love on this thread for Teddy this evening.
But this constant changing of the rules to grease the wheels for his political agenda ought to be unacceptable to the citizens of Massachusetts. I know it won't be. Alas, our republic is long gone, and our political class is seen as "royalty" by too many of our people.
Elegantly and accurately said!
Doesn’t look like it, LOL. I wish him well but he brought all of this on himself.
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