Eminentoes
Liberal Lion in Winter
Ted Kennedy’s constituents would be best served by his resignation, 40 years ago and today.
Forty years ago today, the world fixated upon Apollo 11’s lunar landing. But in Massachusetts, an incident highlighting humanity’s depths rather than its heights relegated one of the biggest stories of the 20th century to below the fold. “Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the only surviving brother in a family pursued by tragedy, narrowly escaped death early yesterday when his car plunged into a pond on a sparsely populated island off the coast of Martha’s Vinyard,” read the lede in the July 20, 1969 Boston Globe.
The story, of course, was not that the Bay State’s senior senator had “narrowly escaped death,” but that the occupant of the passenger seat, Mary Jo Kopechne, hadn’t. “She didn’t drown,” John Farrar, the diver who retrieved Kophechne’s body from Kennedy’s Oldsmobile, later pointed out. “She died of suffocation in her own air void. It took her at least three or four hours to die. I could have had her out of that car in twenty-five minutes after I got the call. But he didn’t call.” At least he didn’t call somebody who could have helped Kopechne — between the time of the accident and surrendering himself to the police the following morning, Senator Kennedy charged 17 long distance calls to his credit card.
Such questions as “What was the senator doing alone so late with a woman other than his wife?” and “Why was the senator driving after partying all day?” yielded to one even more troubling. Why did Senator Kennedy work so hard to save his political skin when he could have done something to save the life of the former aide to his late brother Robert? Outraged Americans wanted Kennedy’s resignation. Enamored Massachusetts voters reelected him the next year.
Four decades later, the issue of a Ted Kennedy resignation is again discussed, albeit in more hushed tones. The lawmaker’s battle with brain cancer has made it difficult for him to perform his duties in Congress. Kennedy has been absent from the Senate, his workplace for nearly a half century, for 14 months. He has participated in just 4 percent of the votes in the 111th Congress, missing roll calls on the stimulus package, the tobacco tax hike, the budget, and virtually every other issue of consequence that has come before the Senate.
The constituencies — Bay State voters and liberal Democrats — that would benefit most from his resignation are the most adamantly opposed to it. But the price of Kennedy retaining his title is high: Massachusetts gets half of the Senate representation as other states and Senate Democrats are denied the opportunity to break filibusters without the aid of Republicans.
When Alaska Governor Sarah Palin tendered her resignation because she reasoned that frivolous ethics complaints and other distractions had undermined her effectiveness, a torrent of negative press followed. But in keeping a title without performing the duties, Kennedy has experienced no such criticism.
HBO has been running a fawning documentary, “Teddy: In His Own Words,” that, as its title suggests, tells the story of Ted Kennedy’s life through his own words. This fall, the senator’s memoirs hit bookstores, with electronically-signed, leather-bound editions fetching $1,000. On Friday, the New York Times ran a hagiographic article on how much the Senate misses its second-most senior senator. “What would Teddy do?” Senator Patty Murray explained to the Times of the guiding principle on health care reform. “We’re all working to do what we think he’d want us to do.” Newsweek features the ailing senator on its cover and an accompanying article authored by him. Kennedy writes, “For four decades I have carried this cause — from the floor of the United States Senate to every part of this country.”
The irony here is that by treating his office as a family legacy Senator Kennedy risks undermining his political legacy. The health-care legislation widely seen as the exclamation point to Kennedy’s career faces a tough slog, made more arduous by the medical woes of Kennedy and his friend and former rival Robert Byrd. In an atmosphere in which every vote counts, there are two votes Democrats can’t count on. Apart from providing inspiration, the biggest impact Kennedy can have on ensuring the passage of a government-run health insurance program would be to resign and allow Democrats another reliable vote.
But if his reprehensible behavior surrounding the death of Mary Jo Kopechne didn’t prompt Senator Kennedy to resign 40 years ago, it’s unlikely that missing all but a handful of votes for more than a year will prompt him to resign today. For perhaps the first time in almost 47 years, Republicans are better off with a Kennedy inside the Senate than outside it.
About the Author
Daniel J. Flynn is the author of Blue Collar Intellectuals: When the Enlightened and the Everyman Elevated America. He blogs at www.flynnfiles.com.
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Cris Worth| 7.20.09 @ 6:54AM
Just think how much better this country would be if it started to enforce existing laws. Three points: Massachusetts authorities enforce state laws ending up with Ted convicted of multiple felonies and removed from office. Congress enforcing Gramm/Rudman eventually eliminating federal government debt and W. Bush enforcing immigration laws post 9/11 ridding us of this illegal immigration plague...pure simplicity.
Rocco| 7.20.09 @ 6:56AM
Cris Worth: My thoughts exactly!
Robert Rosencrans| 7.20.09 @ 7:23AM
The worst part of it was, he got off with a traffic fine. Now he's looked upon as a paragon of virtue within the Democratic Party. Perhaps he figured it was simply a vehicular "abortion."
JP| 7.20.09 @ 7:32AM
There is something very strange amiss inside the Beltway. Is it "The Life" one lives as a powerfull senator or Justice on the High Court that keeps one anchored there when common sense and decency dictates otherwise?
I will let others opine about the "incident" 40 years ago. But Senator Kennedy now joins Senator Specter,the late Chief Justice Renquist, Justice Ginsberg and Stevens, and Senator Byrd. They would rather die than give up their power and authority. Renquist, Kennedy, and Specter all suffered or are currently suffering from debilitative and painful disease. Ginsberg is over 70 and if rumours are true has advanced colon cancer. Stevens is near 90.
I mean WTF, it's not like they are an intergral part of some ancient monarchy of bygone days where the soverign's rule was paramont. I can only think of a few instances in recent history where one person's life was so indispensable to the future of his nation. And that person, Admiral Collingswood, died aboard his flagship from exhaustion during the later years of the Napoleanic Wars. The King refused his pleadings for retirement after 60 years at sea.
We supposedly live in a democracy. No one is indispensable. The power these people wield must truely be awesome, as not even cancer and old age will force it from thier fingers.
Melvin| 7.20.09 @ 7:35AM
I know my opinion isn't very Christian, but I rejoiced the day that that bastard was diagnosed with brain cancer. That low down dirty rotten SOB of a human being was going to finally get his due where the name of,"Kennedy would not come to save his lousy carcass as it had so many times before.
He allowed that poor woman to die and unspeakable horrific death by drowning and that Cretan toddled off to save his political hide.
And now the Senate wants to name the Health Care Reform Bill after him in a tribute to his legacy.
Ted Kennedy likes enjoy the Liberal moniker of, "Liberal Lion," Lion hell, more like, " Skulking Coward."
"When the Demons of Hell come for your lousy hide Ted Kennedy, may you enjoy the company of murderers who before you let their victims drown as well."
Ran| 7.20.09 @ 8:17AM
Mary Jo's child is not available for comment.
WRTolkas| 7.20.09 @ 8:35AM
Dear Melvin,
Come on Melvin, tell us what you really think. Fortunately, I share your opinion of the "Hero of Chappaquiddick." I wonder how ol' Teddy feels - this is one mess he can buy, lie, bully, or use his political contacts to get out of. Karma can be awful.
WRTolkas
ds80| 7.20.09 @ 8:37AM
Been a great 47 year ride, huh Ted? Did that Mary Jo thing affect your performance as Senator? Which do you think is worse: cancer, or suffocating as you watch a "friend" swim away?
In any case, I'm sure you're pondering this: pretty soon you'll have to account for your actions with your Creator - where no amount of Kennedy political calculation will help. Oh, you'll make reparation Ted that's for sure. The cancer is just the beginning.
Doorgunner| 7.20.09 @ 8:51AM
Edward Kennedy is the archetypal contemporary male democrat; a cowardly, dissolute, irresolute, hypocritical, secretly resentful, grandstanding, preening beta. In sum, something far short of a man.
His admirers are all of a piece; those who cannot act without group assent.
Aaron| 7.20.09 @ 9:18AM
If they pass a health care bill I hope they name it after Kennedy. The damn thing will be a tragic Hindenburg of an abomination anyway, why not give it a name to reflect such masterful work by his colleagues.
R Martin| 7.20.09 @ 9:24AM
That our society seems to celebrate the lives and memories of scoundrels (M. Jackson, T. Kennedy) is alarming. Still, I can't wish ill of someone who is suffering a fatal disease. But here's what I do wish: When Sen. Kennedy gets to the pearly gates, St. Peter is sitting there with Mary Jo Kopechne by his side. St. Peter turns to Mary Jo and says, "Whaddya think?"
Mattled| 7.20.09 @ 9:26AM
Today should be Mary Jo Kopechne Day ever July after.
I was in Boston around October 2001 and the cab driver was listening to a Conservative talk host and I asked him why in the land of Kennedy he was listening to a Conservative.
His response was "we all need to stick together after 9/11".
Too bad Obama didn't get the memo as his undoing is happening before our eyes. Not.
BTW--that same day in Boston, James Earl Carter was on my flight and walked around shaking hands before take-off----if I had seen him coming (I was in bulkhead) I wouldn't have offered mine. What a pitiful excuse for a man.
Bill Carson| 7.20.09 @ 9:58AM
I was 18 at the time Kennedy killed that girl. Eventually, her parents accepted an undisclosed amount of money in a buy-out of their daughter's life. For 40 years, I've wondered how Kennedy's life might have worked out if her parents had refused the money and raised hell.
I guess they didn't for the same reasons I'll never understand about why this country prefers to worship such selfish people as all those Kennedys. I despise every last one of them.
macaroni| 7.20.09 @ 10:20AM
It's like, you know, I can't, you know, figure out, you know, this country's, you know, fascination with this stupid spoiled family either, you know? And, you know, why do they, you know, keep re-electing him and crooks like Marion Barry, you know?
Bill Hussein O'Stalin| 7.20.09 @ 10:28AM
This should be a standard math question at all colleges.
If a Kennedy is driving down a dark road with a passenger and attempts to drive across a bridge and ends up in the water, and the Kennedy gets out of the water, and there were two people in the car, how many people survived?
Anthony| 7.20.09 @ 10:35AM
The stench from this Kennedy cover-up still stinks to hell today, which by the way, is where our hero is headed. As ds 80 points out, no phalanx of aides, lawyers, lobbyists, and media hacks will be there when the naked, porcine senator meets his Maker, one can only hope. I wonder if the Kennedy clan will auction off Teddy's famous neck brace, that he wore once to Mary Jo's funeral, and quickly disgarded after this staged photo farce was over. Let the bidding start at a cool 1 Mil, after all, it was only used once.
Cris Worth| 7.20.09 @ 10:54AM
Chappaquiddick Tongue & Cheek:
Just think if Ted had pulled that car flipping act with Jane Fonda as his passenger. A national hero proclaimed paving the way to the White House.
Anthony| 7.20.09 @ 10:54AM
Macaroni reminds us that neice Caroline Kennedy Schlossburg waits in the wings to deliver Uncle Teddy's eulogy.
It should be, ah well, you know, kinda like a tribute like thing for Uncle Teddy, ya think? Maybe the senate Democrats will follow the eloquent Caroline by sending their representitive clown in chief, Senator Al Franken, to wish their fallen hero a bon voyage, as Sen. Kennedy goes to his Maker. Surely God must have a sense of humor, after all, he did create humans ....... and liberals.
Brad| 7.20.09 @ 11:29AM
@ R Martin (et al): "here's what I do wish: When Sen. Kennedy gets to the pearly gates, St. Peter is sitting there with Mary Jo Kopechne by his side. St. Peter turns to Mary Jo and says, "Whaddya think?"
While I find his politics abhorrent and my gut reactions are the same as most here, I can't help but think that if Mary Jo is with St. Peter, she'll say "Forgive him." I know if the Lord can forgive him, then I, too, have hope.
Richard Baker| 7.20.09 @ 11:40AM
Ask the waitress in DC years ago what she felt like as Teddy and Chris D0dd created the "waitress sandwich" on the floor of the restaurant. Kennedy portrays himself as some sort of feminist supporter but he is just a groper like his Old Man. He gives the word disreputable a bad name.
Doctor Right| 7.20.09 @ 11:41AM
Ted Kennedy is emblematic of today's Democrat Party:
Bloated, fat, corrupt, lying, scheming, self-righteous, hypocritical, drunk with power, past it's prime, and, despite their recent electoral success...dying.
And they, like ole' Ted, don't seem to notice.
The only people who will miss Fat Teddy are bartenders in Hyannis.
When he dies, so dies much of the Kennedy's political clout, as the third generation has proven themselves to be largely stupid (just listen to ANY speech by Robert Jr. to understand...).
Good riddance.
Cicero| 7.20.09 @ 11:57AM
The substitute religion of American Leftism already has its sacrament in the sacred rite of abortion. It needs saints too. I nominate Ted "The Baptist" Kennedy as its first one.
Old Texican| 7.20.09 @ 12:29PM
A dog is not doing wrong when he craps in your front yard.........He is just being a dog.
I BLAME THE VOTERS OF MASSACHUSETTS!
Just like I blame US voters, (or fail to voters, or dumbcrap third party voters), for the hell we are going to go through in this country.
Bill Pearce| 7.20.09 @ 12:29PM
Mark Shields of the Capital Gang openly boasted that Senator Ted Kennedy was the “ Tyrannosaurus of Sex “. Senator Kennedy has demonstrated a profound lack of morals from day one. Also consider the Kennedy's could not survive without a large and powerful circle of enablers. The sad fact is the Democrat Party is the home of the corrupt and amoral.
PS::: How long has the Senator been brain damaged. As I recall, the Senator has been slurring his speeches for decades.
Bram| 7.20.09 @ 12:35PM
Brad you are far too generous, the Lord only forgives those who repent - something old Ted is far too arrogant for. Instead he will be judged - a good long roasting will burn the pride out of him.
Dolores Inferni| 7.20.09 @ 12:37PM
This time, conservatives are better served with an ailing and hapless Ted Kennedy.
Locomotive Breath| 7.20.09 @ 1:05PM
How will the Democrats in Congress handle the massive debt they're imposing on us? Not to worry, they'll follow their idol Ted and drive off that bridge when they come to it.
Roscoe| 7.20.09 @ 1:18PM
I'm with Dolores. May he live a long and miserable life.
Marc Jeric| 7.20.09 @ 1:45PM
Teddy was born with brain cancer. He let Mary Joe to die a painful death through many hours of increduble suffering, while he spent 17 hours calling his lawyers and getting sober.
Jack Neidlinger| 7.20.09 @ 1:56PM
What about the "It's time to save another Kennedy idiot from himself" industry?
The lawyers are going to miss this steady job for sure.
Grzmlyk| 7.20.09 @ 2:22PM
What would Teddy do?
1) Have a couple of scotches;
2) Spend taxpayer money profigately;
3) Have a couple of scotches;
4) Find a willing female in which to deposit the old Kennedy DNA;
5) Have a couple of scotches;
6) Spend his hold man's money profigately;
3) Have a couple of scotches;
4) Make a waitress sandwich with Chris Dodd;
5) Have a couple of scotches;
6) Prattle on about social justice and equality even as he feeds at his father's and the public trough to live like royalty;
7) Have a couple of scotches.
Yeah. A real friggin hero. Wish he hadn't been able to swim.
robert e. hord, jr.| 7.20.09 @ 2:45PM
The Kennedy family are the most dispicaple family of Irish to ever reach these shores . It is too bad that some gynocoligist didn't tie Rose's tubes after she had JOE as a baby.
LarryK| 7.20.09 @ 3:06PM
When the SOB dies, he better be buried with a cup on his jock strap. Mary Jo will be aiming for his balls!
Tim| 7.20.09 @ 3:08PM
Timothy 6:7-12 (New International Version)
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
M. T. Wallitt| 7.20.09 @ 3:09PM
Some years ago, I was working in NYC and briefly talking about Ted with a couple of co-workers. Almost everyone in the office was liberal; but as we talked, one of them walked by and, hearing Ted's name, muttered "That murderer."
Made me feel good to know that at least SOME liberals can think.
Oldefarte| 7.20.09 @ 3:14PM
Old joke that sums up my feelings on him: Democrat [Arkansas] Wilbur Mills and stripper Anna Battistella are drunkenly cavorting in a DC water fountain at 2 am; and Mills calls Teddy and asks, WELL, I'VE GOT HER IN THE WATER---- NOW WHAT DO I DO WITH HER?
Oldefarte| 7.20.09 @ 3:24PM
PS----He SHOULD HAVE been prosecuted for manslaughter; but because of his 10 lawyers [that he was on the phone with after the event] and the political corruption in Massachusetts, he 'CHICAGO/BOSTON WAYED' his way free!!!!
Northern Rebel | 7.20.09 @ 3:48PM
When this murdering bastard finally assumes room tempature, the accolades, and the ceremonial bullshit, will easily eclipse Reagan's funeral.
The libs will call him the greatest American since George Washington, and Taxachussetts will rename itself "Teddy's Playground."
Barney Frank will bring a bunch of Irish transvestites to dance at the wake, and they will serve Kennedy-Dodd sandwiches, with the scotch.
The funeral will feature a 69 gun salute, and they will catch his dog Splash crying uncontrollably, on video.
The sooner it happens, the better the air in America will smell.
ds80| 7.20.09 @ 4:14PM
Bram: "the Lord only forgives those who repent - something old Ted is far too arrogant for."
No way for us to know. Actually, there's the grace of final repentance, which the good Lord offers to everyone. So Ted still has that chance ... which is not to say he won't make reparation afterwards, and justifiably so.
Pingback| 7.20.09 @ 5:44PM
VIDEO: Miami to Protest Against Taxes & Gov. Spending – 7/21/2009 (Miami Protesta Con links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
William| 7.20.09 @ 6:19PM
I kept hearing Simon and Garfunkle's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" while I read this. I thought a little bit about Vince Foster and Chandra Levy too, and contrasted it with the recent media furor over the Govenor Sanford, and the snide remarks from them about Reagan's divorce and Gingrich's affair back in the day.
The media bias is so clear. At least in a failed relationship with a Republican politician the former lover isn't KILLED.
Such nice people on the left. It is hard to save the planet when you are so busy stealing money and killing people.
Patriot| 7.20.09 @ 7:26PM
"..stealing money and killing people," including 50 million babies since roe v wade.
Kat| 7.20.09 @ 7:30PM
Not many fans of the 'swimmer' here.
Poor Mary Jo, may she RIP.
Tailgunner| 7.20.09 @ 9:36PM
Hell is waiting for Teddy Kennedy.
May they not have to wait long.
occamsrazor| 7.20.09 @ 10:29PM
He is doing stellar work in holding his Senate seat and keeping his posterior away from Congress. May he never vote again, and keep the seat for 100 years. Massachusetts contributes nothing to political discourse in this country worth anything.
Patriot| 7.21.09 @ 12:59AM
Boston pwns all your sorry redneck asses.
"..stealing money and killing people," including 50 million babies since roe v wade.
If only it was 100 million, or 23,000 million. Get your priorities straight, redneck.
GWB| 7.21.09 @ 1:01AM
Kill babies today, and they wont grow up to be republicans tomorrow. Duh.
FeralCat| 7.21.09 @ 1:09AM
Ted Kennedy's MySpace entry, although it does not appear to have been updated for a while:
Hi there fellow bloggers. My name is United States Senator Edward Moore Kennedy from the Great State of Massachusetts. You can call me Ted if you want. I was born on February 22, 1932, although people tell me that I look at least 20 years younger.
I graduated from Harvard in June 1956 in the top 10% of my class. I also passed my law bar on my very first try.
I am one of the most senior members of that grand and much loved and respected institution known as the U.S. Senate. All my colleagues respect me and very often come to me for my wise council and advise. I must admit though that when John and Lindsey ask me to turn around and pull my pants down so that they can kiss my ass it does get a little much, but it’s gratifying anyway!
In fact I am so powerful now that I am, in many ways the defacto President of the United States. How’s that for a boy who had to work his way through college?
I am handsome and tall with a muscular build. The ladies just can’t get enough of me. Sometimes I think it is almost a curse.
I sometimes like to chill out after a long day of serving the American people by having a double martini. Contrary to what some of my very few enemies say I never have more than one drink at a time. Well sometimes one for each hand, but that’s it, never two glasses in each hand, except on special occasions like the arrival of 6PM.
I am a lot of fun after work. I am an excellent driver and sometimes I like to go on long drives and see how many bridges I can cross without getting wet. It’s a lot of fun! All the women tell me that I am just too much!
I would like to think that I am open minded, honest, polite, and trustworthy. And I appreciate the same qualities in others.
Who I’d like to meet:
…other progressive bloggers. People who like to rock out. Cool people who live close to Washington D.C. so that we can get together and talk about how my niece Caroline will become duchess senator from New York. That way Kennedy's will have 2 out of 100 senate seats and as I always figure it's a start. I figure Patrick should be number 3 and then we can really get going from there.
Real Patriot| 7.21.09 @ 2:36AM
Funny libtroll(s), don't you know that your liberal women have many more abortions than conservative women? Your adoration of abortion is decimating YOUR population numbers; perhaps you idiots will abort yourselves out of existence!! One can only hope.
Silly fascist liberals: The joke is on you, numb-nuts losers. Too friggin' funny.
Aksyusha | 7.21.09 @ 5:11AM
Very intresting!
Alan| 7.22.09 @ 12:58AM
Excellent article, as always.
Anthony A| 7.22.09 @ 11:56AM
Lost in the mists of time is the fact that the car wasn't in deep water. Teddy speaks of "diving down" to try and rescue MJ, but at low tide the bottom of the car was exposed.
No. Teddy WANTED MJ dead. Plain and simply. The "accident" was apparently very fortuitous for him. MJ may not have been preggers, but she may have had a story to tell the next day.
Two "rules of law" indeed!
Don| 7.22.09 @ 12:47PM
It will be a day to celebrate when Kennedy croaks.
Petusya | 9.8.09 @ 10:58AM
Thanks for share such excellent article!
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poptropica | 4.9.10 @ 10:31PM
I’ll have a full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale
You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. Poptropica I’ll have a Poptropica full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
Getting Hercules to Help You
Hercules won’t help you until you have all five items from Zeus’ quest. Once you have the five items, bring them to Athena. Zeus will appear and steal them. The big jerk! Once this happens, talk to Athena and she will tell you that Hercules will help you. You’ll need to have the magic mirror from Aphrodite because Hercules doesn’t want to have to walk. He’s so lazy!
Getting the Hydra Scale
You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need