Free Republic

As the nation prepares for President-elect Barack Obama and his family to move into the White House, many Americans can't help but notice clear parallels between them and the family of the late President John F. Kennedy. His was a presidency filled with idealism, glamour and excitement, observed co-anchor Harry Smith on The Early Show Friday. "The torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans," Kennedy said in his inaugural address. A young senator had been elected to lead his country. Now, 47 years later, the nation has chosen another young senator. "Change has come to America," Obama...

by Mark Finkelstein May 22, 2006 "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty." JFK Inaugural Address, 1961 "We can do just as much by withdrawing our troops." John Murtha, Winner, Profile in Courage Award, on Today Show, 5/22/06 The Kennedys have come a long way since JFK gave his inaugural speech. Pres. Kennedy was a cold warrior, not only in the words of that speech, but in...

It's hard to imagine that Patrick Kennedy would have gotten elected to Congress a dozen years ago without his last name. It's equally hard to imagine that the media would be going wild about his late-night car crash and prescription drug addiction if he weren't a Kennedy. The only lingering mystery is why national news organizations didn't pounce earlier on the Rhode Island Democrat's long history of alcohol and drug abuse, depression and a series of downright embarrassing incidents.

CNN reports Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) will hold a press conference today at 3 p.m. in Washington, D.C. to discuss his recent traffic incident on Capitol Hill.

Ted Kennedy's brother-in-law pleads guilty to bank fraud charges Thursday April 21, 2005 NEW ORLEANS (AP) A prominent political consultant who is Sen. Ted Kennedy's brother-in-law pleaded guilty Thursday to fraud charges in a scheme to cheat banks out of money. In a plea bargain, Raymond Reggie admitted to one count of bank fraud and one count of bank fraud conspiracy. Judge Carl Barbier set sentencing for Oct. 26. The conspiracy count carries up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the bank fraud charge carries up to 30 years in prison and a $1 million fine....