The American Spectator : Honoring Teddy By Opposing Health Care

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Another Perspective

Honoring Teddy By Opposing Health Care

By Jeffrey Lord on 8.27.09 @ 6:08AM

The Lion of the Senate would expect his opposition to roar.

(Page 2 of 2)

The last time I saw him was a year or so ago, walking through the Dirksen Senate Office Building, accompanied by a clutch of aides and deep in conversation. I resisted the urge to say something, but the visual contrast between the man I saw that day and the man I first met that summer day in 1963 was startling.

With one exception. The smile was still there.

We all are making this earthly journey, and suffer the fates and frailties of being human along the way. Ted Kennedy's were generally always in the spotlight. Sometimes I think that the absolute worst disservice done to him was the rush to protect him from the consequences of his actions in the Chappaquiddick affair. In July of 1969, Kennedy-mania was still riding high. The emotional impact of the assassination of his two brothers, a year and six years distant then, had not yet subsided. Indeed, the very weekend of the accident coincided with America's first landing on the moon, with a rapt nation and world glued to television images not just of the moon but of JFK -- his challenge to go to the moon replayed over and over again. But it was clear that Ted Kennedy's actions had cost the life of a young woman -- and also clear that had anyone else been in that situation they would have faced sterner consequences with the law. Certainly, had that someone-else also been a sitting U.S. Senator, that career would have ended quickly.

Life teaches us all, and we all try and figure out in some way what it is we learn from those other lives we encounter. Certainly that was true of Teddy Kennedy, who managed the not inconsiderable accomplishment of making friends with his opponents, even being loved by many of them, while being a tough leader of the opposition.

For me, in a political sense, moving from a Kennedy-crazed kid to a Reaganite conservative, what I learned from Ted Kennedy are two things.

First, his liberalism wound up helping to make me a focused conservative. If you were going to combat the ideas he had you needed first to know your own, and know them well. It wasn't enough to think him wrong -- and by extension his supporters -- you had to understand why he was wrong. Then, with all the zest and zeal you can manage, just sail into the teeth of the opposition, just as Ted Kennedy did. He certainly did that, and expected no less from his opponents.

Waiting to join the White House staff, I remember President Reagan heading over to Teddy's house to raise funds for the John F. Kennedy Library. The President gave a wonderfully Reagan-esque speech, crafted in part I believe by Peggy Noonan. Somewhere along the line, in appreciation, Ted Kennedy gave Ronald Reagan an eagle bookend that belonged to JFK and had sat on the famous Resolute desk that both men had occupied in the Oval Office. Reagan, ever the gracious patriot, had accepted the invitation in tribute to a former president whom he had opposed in life, a president who had been unable to raise funds for his own presidential library because of the tragedy of his death. There is a wonderful picture of Ronald Reagan and Ted Kennedy admiring the bookend, the photo itself a tribute to a pair of legendary American ideological bookends.

That picture sums up for me what the best of politics should be in America. The well thought out ideas, the fearless willingness to do political combat, pulling no punches. And, as President Reagan always liked to say, after six o'clock, it was time to get together and lift a glass to friendship.

As with us all, Ted Kennedy's life will speak for itself. But here in this corner, on the occasion of his death, condolences go to his family -- for whom he was such an amazing patriarch. As with all figures in history, his legacy will be debated for eternity. The legacy I most appreciated was the ever-present idealism, the commitment to his principles -- and the lasting lesson that you should not just find your principles but fight for them as vigorously as he did for his.

Right about now, Ronald Reagan is welcoming Ted Kennedy home. And after the pleasantries, I have no doubt Reagan is saying, "Teddy, about that health care reform, well…"

Rest in peace, Senator.

Now, as to that health care business that the rest of us have to settle? It would be both untrue to the facts and unwise in the moment to tiptoe around the truth that one of the things Senator Kennedy took great joy in -- and was in fact a connoisseur of -- was hardball politics. He reveled in it. He gave full political measure to his political opponents and expected nothing less in return. Senator Kennedy's death is already being used by his allies as a reason to support the Obama version of health care. Wherever he is at this moment, the Senator is doubtless cheering them on.

But to be really true to the Kennedy view of politics, he would expect from his conservative friends nothing but the best opposition to this in what he knew to be a fierce debate. He would expect -- demand -- a sharply reasoned and passionately delivered conservative response.

For conservatives to be intimidated into silence on this issue out of respect for Senator Kennedy would show, as Senator Kennedy himself would understand, nothing but disrespect to the idealism he cherished and the political clash of ideas he loved. The Lion of the Senate became that because he roared.

So now should the opposition to Senator Kennedy's position -- President Obama's position on health care -- roar. Loudly.

Ted Kennedy would expect no less.

Page: < 12

topics:
John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Ted Kennedy

About the Author

Jeffrey Lord is a former Reagan White House political director and author. He writes from Pennsylvania at jlpa1@aol.com.

Letter to the Editor View all comments (65) | Leave a comment

Rocco| 8.27.09 @ 6:50AM

The Liberal Lyin' in the Senate.... I knew it wouldn't be more than an hour after his death that congressional lefties would exploit his death to pass this health care monstrosity...."we gotta pass it for Kennedy..." The shamelessness of these people knows no bounds.

God help any Republican who allows himself to be flim-flammed into signing on to Obamacare because of this bullshit emotional appeal!!!

drudge ette obama| 8.27.09 @ 7:04AM

Jeffrey Lord: You're still under the spell. Be careful. Don't look at the light.

The conversion from "Obamacare" to "KennedyCare" is either a brilliant rebranding effort or a last ditch, "step away from what stinks" effort by Obama to distance himself from the eventual loss. I hope it is the latter because that means they know it's a goner.

GringoBob| 8.27.09 @ 9:03AM

Ted Kennedy had a great career as power broker of the Senate due to his perpetual elections back to back forever -

OJ Simpson had a great career as a running back in football due to his extrodinary individual talents and skills -

both men snuffed out the life of a former lover - neither man saw any jail for their homicide - one never even saw a court room -

two great careers and two dead women - is this the American dream ?

Mary Jo Kopechne and Nicole Simpson Brown could not be reached for comment -

GringoBob in the republic of Costa Rica - remember those days ?

Glenn Beck - Fox news channel - Monday thru Friday - 5:00 pm EST

here is the Voting matrix = [url]http://Group912.org[/url]

help stop the EPA = [url]http://StopEPA.com[/url]

Joe| 8.27.09 @ 9:09AM

I agree let's oppose it for Teddy.

Oldefarte| 8.27.09 @ 9:48AM

I have absolutely NO respect for the man, his party or their hypocritical policies. Hard working, tax paying Americans [mostly conservative or at least moderate] have the financial burden of PAYING FOR SAME. Indeed, now is the time to increase the political pressure, beginning with the 2010 elections, and begin the process of reversing/defeating this socialistic, liberalistic insantiy that we're faced with presently!!!!!!!!!!!

Paul McGrath| 8.27.09 @ 10:59AM

You're a treasure, Mr. Lord. An absolute treasure.

Rocco| 8.27.09 @ 11:13AM

Oldefarte, you have me on board. Let's hammer a stake in its heart and kill it!!!

Tim| 8.27.09 @ 11:21AM

Interesting tribute. It reminds me why it is important not to hate political rivals. You can see some of Ted's humanity in your piece, at a time when even his allies are just pimping the stereotyped images.

gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com| 8.27.09 @ 11:30AM

El Rushbo is now pushing the idea that if konnedy-kare is revised so that absolutely every American Citizen gets exactly the same medical plan teddy-boy enjoyed in his spirited battle to defeat death, then just maybe it will pass. Unfortunately, while this is what they will promise, what we’ll get is a lengthy wait on the street for an ambulance which will finally arrive a minute too late. Not hope and change; despair and chains.
Gill O’Teen ✝✡
gill.Oteen07041776@gmail.com
Don’t Tread on Me!!

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 12:19PM

Mr Lord --

Excellent piece. This is the kind of essay that the death of an important national figure ought to prompt in a writer, and I appreciate your personal reminiscences.

I'm sorry to say I wish your some of your colleagues had either followed your lead or remained silent for a day or two. Some of American Spectator's response to Sen. Kennedy's death has in general been nasty and actually really dishonorable.

Alan Brooks| 8.27.09 @ 12:39PM

hath been nasty nasty, and quite really dishonirible-- oh those nasti nasti boys at AS!
BOO HOO

Alan Brooks| 8.27.09 @ 12:42PM

some of de response hath been dishonerable nasty in genewal, and quite nastily nasty.

oh heavens to Betsy!

Bob Miller| 8.27.09 @ 1:54PM

In the great beyond, Ted probably realizes by now how wrong his liberal program was. Let's honor this realization by acting accordingly.

Nick| 8.27.09 @ 2:01PM

Mr. Lord,

I almost always enjoy your essays, but (monkey), I'm sorry to see you also were corrupted by the Kennedy spell.

The Swimmer knew all he had to do to get conservatives to say nice things about him when he died, was to throw them a bone here and there so they would feel special.

Better put - he knew what they were, and as long as he left $10 on the night-stand, he would have their unending gratitude.

We like to politely call it "inside-the-beltway-itis", but I call it political prostitution.

Splash was a person of low character, personally and professionally. But, hey, he did you a favor and helped get your friend on the third circuit. I guess he wasn't that bad after all.

You disappoint, Mr. Lord.

Jeffrey Lord| 8.27.09 @ 2:24PM

Nick....

"I'm sorry to see you also were corrupted by the Kennedy spell"

Gee, Nick...when I first learned about the Kennedys I couldn't spell "corrupted"! But I'll give you a pass on your childhoold if you give me one on mine! Not to fear: I believe strongly in principle, and I have, as Churchill once said of Shakespeare, the grammar of conservatism in my bones. But I also believe when a public figure passes from the scene...we will have eternity for the debate. But on the few days in which families grieve, whether I agree or not with the politics, silence and/or respect is in order. Remember that when I go! Then get back at it!

Tim| 8.27.09 @ 3:11PM

Dear Mr. Lord:
I have noticed that you only respond to posters who insult you, am I correct, you stupid F*ck?

Nick| 8.27.09 @ 3:18PM

Mr. Lord,

"Gee, Nick...when I first learned about the Kennedys I couldn't spell 'corrupted'!"

Ditto also for myself.

The Kennedys were saints, as far as I was concerned growing up. When I was 4 or 5, my mom took me to a suburban Detroit mall to see the Swimmer in...must have been '71 or '72. All I saw was the top of his head, my mom could only lift me so high. But I knew he was Jack's little brother.

I also grew up believing the President and Senator Kennedy were both killed by conspiracies. And that Chappaquiddick was probably a setup too, thanks to the stupid movie "Blow Out" with John Travolta. I even refused to believe they were philanderers.

Luckily, my parents were pro-life Reagan-Democrats. By the time I was in my mid-to-late-twenties, the curtain had been pulled down and I saw The Great Oz's for what they were- rich playboys, who probably never heard the word "no" growing up.

I have even tried to convince my parents that JFK was killed by Lee Harvey Oswald. I'm still working on my dad, but my late mother was starting to turn, I think.

I didn't mean to imply you were less conservative by sharing your personal anecdotes. But Teddy's smile shouldn't blind you to the fact he shouldn't have been blocking your friend's nomination in the first place, unless you're omitting something pertinent?

How much time did you have to waste with this political theater to get a just result?

I'm not cold-hearted, by the way. I pray for his family and for the repose of his soul. I hope he saw the light before he finally saw the Light.

But, like Michael Jackson, I'm not going to pretend Splash was someone he was not.

White Biker Trash| 8.27.09 @ 3:19PM

Imagine, Teddy Kennedy under view of the "Health Care Board" That Obamacare will spawn. The first board member would say "He's to old, treatment should not be paid for." The second, "The cancer is more than likely terminal, treatment should not be payed for." The third, "Give him a pain pill and wait"
He got the best treatment avalable here and now in the United States! This, that I have described will be the best avalable, if Obama Care passes!

Dustoff| 8.27.09 @ 3:26PM

Lib reader
Sen. Kennedy's death has in general been nasty and actually really dishonorable.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yeah and Teddy was so nice to others. I bet you can say Bork, Thomas and yes even Reagan. This souless man had no problem using what ever words he could find to smear others, but that was ok by people like you. Well guess what. What comes around, goes around.

Mary Jo isn't here because of this pig. And that will never change.

Shame on you and people like you.

Jeffrey Lord| 8.27.09 @ 3:30PM

Nick...

"How much time did you have to waste with this political theater to get a just result? "

Enough ...infuriatingly enough...that I wrote a book about it. Senators are entitled to oppose. (I'm warming up here so I will control myself!) But Teddy's Borking of Bork basically launched an epidemic of borking that filtered all the way down to the lowliest federal judge. The system, in my view, was turned over to liberal special interests. But in the specific event, knowing he would vote "no" I wanted him to go through the process himself and treat the nominee with due respect. He did, indeed, do just that. By doing so he sent a signal to his fellow Democrats -who were in control -that they were on their own in opposing the nominee. We needed one vote and got three. Senators Kohl of Wisconsin...and...drumroll please...John Edwards of North Carolina and someone named Joe Biden.
But it was work....and it shouldn't have been.

Tim...I'd respond but you need to insult me first.

Big J| 8.27.09 @ 3:44PM

Liberal Loser:

If you were h*ll bent on reading / hearing a slobbering review on the wonders of Dear Teddy's career, might I direct you to a certain Chris Mathews over at MSNBC, or any other alphabet news outlet on the lower channels of your idiot box? You shouldn't have a problem finding one.

Us "nasty boys" over here at TAS are quite comfy, thank you very much.

"...the death of an important national figure..."

Snort.

You liberals are a thick-headed bunch, aren't ya?

Tim| 8.27.09 @ 4:26PM

"You blocks, you stones, you worse than senseless things!
O you hard hearts, you cruel men of Rome,
Knew you not Pompey? "

W. Shakespeare, Julius Ceasar.

Jeffrey Lord| 8.27.09 @ 4:38PM

Tim for Senator from Massachusetts!

Todd| 8.27.09 @ 4:59PM

Interesting for the most part but you lost me big-time Mr. Lord when you said that Ronald Reagan will be welcoming Ted Kennedy home since these men will be in two different places and Ted Kennedy will be inconsequential. I am not his judge but I can see the evidence before me and justice will be served.

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 5:16PM

Todd --

Tell me. How do you reactionaries acquire this absolute knowledge of Almighty's plans and intentions?

You've somehow acquired information about the ultimate destiny of a man's immortal soul.

How?

Are you just wiser than everyone else? Are you special? Do you hear voices?

Or are you privileged in some other way?

Or are you just a fearful, resentful, angry man looking for someone on whom he can project his faults?

Josie| 8.27.09 @ 6:11PM

All I know, LR/Jeremiah--we Conservatives are a lot closer to the Good Lord than you Liberals struggling under the monstrous moral burden of 51 million aborted babies.

Sucks to be you, sinner.

Todd| 8.27.09 @ 6:42PM

Liberal Reader,
You ever read the Bible and see what it says about unrepentant adulterers? It says they will be cast into hell where they will will and gnash their teeth. Now you undoubtedly think the Bible is outdated and Jesus was probably just some well-meaning guy like Ghandi except with long hair. Go ahead and call me judgmental but I am not doing the judging, Christ will but I know what he taught about unrepentant sinners.

Todd| 8.27.09 @ 6:43PM

Should be will weep and gnash their teeth, in a bit of a hurry.

Quartermaster| 8.27.09 @ 6:51PM

From his actions, Kennedy is in the hot place without a fan. His Christianity was Catholicism and cafeteria at that. There was no sign of true contrition for his various sins. Heaven? Not if scripture has any meaning at all.

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 7:01PM

Dear Mr Lord.
I admire your thoughtful and eloquent prose. However
I wonder if there were any touching tributes to THE Ronald Reagan upon his passing by liberals who had grown up vicariously next to him. I certainly never read any of them.
The late Sen Kennedy was a despised icon to the majority of the conservatives that I know. I disagree with you that Mr Kennedy would have wanted a strong opposition from the Republicans simply for the sake of opposition. He would have wanted us to roll over and capitulate like the good little moderates he had grown accustomed to.
Sen Kennedy was a career politician and reveled in his power-player role for far to long. I will never forgive him for his supporting the murder of countless unborn children. I will never forgive him for the many times he heaped scorn and ridicule upon our country only to serve his own purpose. I will never forgive him for being a part time Catholic. I will never forgive his treason to the United States by seeking support from the Soviets to oppose the very man you worked for.
He was a pig. I hope he rots in Hell for all of eternity.
Perhaps you should be a little more introspective in your convictions sir. In case you havent realized it yet ,our country is locked in a fight to the death for its very survival. If you wish to help then maybe you should open your eyes to whom the enemy is( progressive/liberal/socialists like Mr Kennedy) and save the nostalgia for later.

Jeffrey Lord| 8.27.09 @ 7:16PM

Bydand76...

"He would have wanted us to roll over and capitulate like the good little moderates he had grown accustomed to."

Ahhhhhhhhhhh...but if he's being lauded as a fighter for principle....there's nothing wrong with fighting for principle, is there? Keep fighting!

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 7:22PM

Liberal Reader,
Its called the bible, I suggest you read it and attempt to understand it. You will find the answers to your questions there.

Yes, I am fearful. Because Liberals have run amok for far to long and are destroying the things that I hold dear. Not only that but you would have me finance it as well!
Yes, I am resentful. I have stood by and let the liberal socialist pigs ruin America, with out doing enough to stop them.
YES, I am very angry. Liberals seek to bring about the end of the most prosperous and generous nation ever to exist. I will not allow that to happen while I have a shred of resistance left in me. Molon Labe!

Perhaps a better question to ask yourself would be. "Why arent YOU angry Liberal Reader?"

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 7:26PM

Todd --

You're knowledge of the Bible is truly impressive, and I'm sure holiness itself was born with you.

I seem to remember something else, though .... about adultery. What was it?

Wait ... please, your holiness, just one moment while I think back ... because it's been so long, and the years of exuberant fornication and wine drinking have dispelled my memory ...

But wait! Oh yes, I remember:

John 8 ... What was it? Ah, yes. Here we go: John 8:7.

"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her."

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 7:41PM

Bydand76 --

Exactly which part of the Bible are you referring to?

Todd was very interested in adultery. How about you?

CS Lewis| 8.27.09 @ 8:00PM

Principles... Teddy's Principles? His whole life was one big lie. His conscience was dead and he was every bit the walking dead but he didn't know it. A sad waste of a life.

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 8:13PM

One does evil enough when one does nothing good. ~German Proverb

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 8:19PM

Liberal Reader,
No. I not interested in adultry. Happily married for 15 years and counting thank you. You can keep the topic for yourself if you dont mind.
As far as the bible goes, I was referencing the book of Genesis and Revelations. And pretty much everything else in between.

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 8:32PM

Is there not some chosen curse, Some hidden thunder in the stores of heaven, Red with uncommon wrath, to blast the man Who owes his greatness to his country's ruin? - Joseph Addison

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 8:33PM

So ... for example, Bydand76, you are "referencing" Exodus 4:24:

"And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him, and sought to kill him."

Do you remember this story?

What does it mean to you, and how might you apply it to the Kennedy, whom, in your view, the ENTIRE Bible stands ready to convict?

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 8:41PM

Senator Kennedy began his career fighting on behalf of those citizens of this country who were being denied voting rights.

He then worked closely on a variety of landmark civil rights cases, a cause he championed throughout his career. He even managed an expansion of civil rights legislation in the early 80s when Republicans controlled the government and initially opposed the act.

Kennedy is personally responsible for the quadrupling of government spending on cancer research conducted in public universities. This research has made the US the leader in cancer treatments in the world. No, Kennedy did not "cure cancer," but he did help fund research that led to cures.

Kennedy worked with Orrin Hatch on SCHIP, a government program that guarantees CHILDREN from poor families medical insurance.

Kennedy never worked on behalf of corporations; Kennedy never championed war; Kennedy worked for what he believed were the best interests of the poor.

You can disagree with some or all of his policy positions, but you will be a dwarf nipping at the heels of a giant.

The man attended mass 3 or 4 times a week, and a priest heard his confession regularly. How so many of you can be so certain about the condition of his soul at the hour of death is beyond me.

But you people specialize in factlessness.

If Rush said it, it must be true, which is why so many of your postings echo his phrases, jokes, predictions, and so on.

I like Rush too; but slavishly imitating him is unmanly.

You have -- I'm saying -- no BALLS.

And I'm certain some of your irrational, paranoid, and debased hatred for Kennedy is motivated by that lack.

Alan Brooks| 8.27.09 @ 8:47PM

we are mean at AS to counterbalance squishy liberals such as yourself.

To go into a bit more detail, we live in a world of Darwinist segmentation. In economics this translates as market segmentation. You are in the squishy lib segment; some of us are in the conservative segments. Yet there are many subsegments of conservatism: everything, that is, everyone, from neoConfederates Northeast Rockefeller Republicans.

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 9:05PM

Liberal Reader
Sorry, Due to my location I can't listen to Rush, Glenn, Sean, or anyone else. (Afghanistan, US Army)
You left out some important details regarding Mr Kennedy's legacy.
You forgot the part where he sought out the support of the Soviet Union in order to undercut a sitting United States president. You forgot the part where he raised money for the IRA (Terrorists). You forgot the part where he opposed school choice for minorities. Civil rights my ass! The list can go on and on. I havent started on taxes yet which your so called precious quadupling of cancer reasearch relied on. You forgot to mention that the majority of the money that is raised for cancer research is gotten from PRIVATE DONATIONS !!!!

I didnt like Kennedy because he was a gross, bloated, Goverment fat cat who never had a real job for one day other than living off of his families wealth which his anti-semite father made and who stood opposed to everything I believe in! Every Goliath has his David!

Oh yeah one more thing
It not just the bible who speaks about douchebags like Mr Kennedy
The evils of the body are, murder, theft, and adultery; of the tongue, lying, slander, abuse, and idle talk; of the mind, covetousness, hatred, and error.”
(Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.)

Eat a Richard you FAQing POS!!

Sue| 8.27.09 @ 9:05PM

Perhaps someone could point to a web site where I can find "Kennedy Scholarships" for the poor, downtrodden masses?

I thought not. Maybe point me to his trust funds?

The only thing Mr. Kennedy accomplished was spending your tax dollars on programs he championed. I don't believe he spent his own money on anything but booze, women, and sailboats.

If so, please correct me.

JFK Peace Corps, Kennedy Americorps?, and on and on.

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 9:08PM

Sue --

What's wrong with booze, women and sailboats, you cantankerous, purse-lipped celibate?

Sue| 8.27.09 @ 9:10PM

Nothing as long as you're pretending you're something you're not.

Like remorseful about leaving a woman to drown in a car - reporting it 10 hours later and blaming it on the "Kennedy" curse.

Sue| 8.27.09 @ 9:13PM

Besides, the comment was he used "taxpayer" funds to make himself look good.

Why do you liberals always miss the point? You don't get the point, or you're incapable of getting the point, or you learned somewhere in your childhood that if you change the point, you will succeed?

That's it. That's what Kennedy was successful at!!

Sue| 8.27.09 @ 9:14PM

Kennedy's last prayer: Lord, may I be in heaven a half hour before the devil knows I'm dead.

Sue| 8.27.09 @ 9:17PM

I'll take that from a humorless, dip-your-wick in anything that moves, crabby liberal.

Nobama| 8.27.09 @ 9:25PM

Jeremiah/LR, you tough little Beta Boy B!tch, you!

Good job, Sue, you ran the little "Richard" (LMAO, Bydand76; oh, and thank you for your service, doll!) off like the mangy little poodle he is. Love it!

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 9:29PM

Sue --

That's EVERYONE'S last prayer, my dear.

Nobama --

Hush. I told you, dog. No more barking.

SoCon| 8.27.09 @ 9:32PM

Jeremiah, the verbal slaps are coming at you so fast and furiously your head must be spinning--kinda like Linda Blair in the Exorcist.

Did you projectile vomit green puke all over your computer screen, too, little Lucifer?

Nobama| 8.27.09 @ 9:35PM

LR/J, just make sure "everyone" is over ten years of age, okay Lib? We know all about you liberals' proclivities and such.

Liberal Reader| 8.27.09 @ 9:38PM

It's a cliche I've always tried to avoid, but I find it impossible to reading this website today:

Conservatives lack heart. The reactionary ethos is tight-fisted, vindictive, and without compassion.

What are you about? Consumption, aggression, and ceaseless self-congratulation in the form of meaningless patriotic bathos.

You literally fear a country that took care of its sick and gave all people the opportunity to have a first rate education.

You hate Kennedy because you hate political idealism.

Nobama| 8.27.09 @ 9:56PM

LR/Jeremiah, I don't hate anyone--that's what you liberals do best.

I disliked Kennedy because he was a HYPOCRITE! Moron. And so are you. You blithely announce you're a "Catholic" as you savagely pimp for a party that pushes partial birth abortion.

All of your bleating and braying about liberal compassion and tolerance are lies, you sleazy scum bucket of a human being. Heartless monster.

Bydand76| 8.27.09 @ 10:07PM

Liberal reader.
You Sir are nothing more than a trivial little boob who would'nt know the meaning of "patriotism" if your life depended on it.
You now NOTHING of heart other than your own apparent lack there-of.
Do not speak to me about something which you would have no way of knowing with out having met me or seeing who I am.
My patriotism is the very basis for my dislike of Mr Kennedy. My patriotism is what has taken me on 3 different deployments to fight in 2 different wars only to be defecated on by those very people who you would hold up in such high regard.
I fear a country where eventually the resources will be used up due to the constant re-allocation by people who steal in the name of the unfortunate. I fear a country where I am to be ridiculed because I love my country. I fear a country where mindless morons will eventually reduce me to a second class citizen simply because of my race or my religion.
Perhaps you should turn your jaundiced eye towards the party of consumption, aggresion, and self appreciation. The DFL.

You could not be more wrong LR
It was precisely because of my political idealism that I disliked Mr Kennedy and people of his ilk so much!
and just for the record I live my life by the Warrior Ethos look it up!

Todd| 8.27.09 @ 10:08PM

Liberal Reader,
I thought you would bring that up, I was going to bring that up but I had somewhere to be. The pharisees there were guilty of adultery as well, that is how rotten they were. What was it that Jesus told the women after they left? Go and sin no more. Now if Ted had done that after killing Mary Jo, maybe I would think there was hope for him but he continued down the same path of sin.

Interesting to read about what happened to his ex-wife Joan, she is as much a victim as Mary Jo. I was very upset that Andrew Cline seemed to think it was her fault for being an alcoholic and ruining the marriage when it was Teddy's serial adultery that led her to that misery.

The only reason to feel sorry for him was him having a truly despicable Father who was a serial adulterer as well along with being a bootlegger and a rabid anti-Semite. Face it, the myth of the Kennedy's and Camelot was built on lies that dopes like you have bought into all these decades.

Nobama| 8.27.09 @ 10:52PM

Lies and hypocrisy lie at the heart of liberalism; if liberals had a heart.

Kakis| 8.28.09 @ 12:57AM

For those of you who seem to be impressed with Ted's humanity, may I remind you as to how Russians wept and despaired over the death of their beloved father and leader Joseph Stalin. One could supply necessary number of those stories about humanity of those leaders, Lenin, Stalin, etc. Of course, no one compares Ted to Joseph, but the damage to this country he did is commensurate to his statue, please spare me from all this humanity syrup.

Curtis Rasmussen| 8.28.09 @ 1:43AM

The left talks of compassion and charity yet they selfishly work to destroy the middle class and the future of my child through excessive debt and forced taxation. What a bunch of effin hypocrites.

Yeah, I used to believe that the government should be more involved as a means to standardize specific aspects of society, that is until I listened to the entire Hillarycare speech in the early 90's. Within 2 hours, I went from politically neutral to hardcore conservative while listening to this disgusting shrill demon and her Marxist utopian ideal.

Curtis Rasmussen| 8.28.09 @ 1:51AM

Where in the heck does the ubiquitous lib reader get all the time to troll this site?

No friends?
No job?
No hobbies?
No sanity?

hans meiser| 8.28.09 @ 3:45AM

Curtis Rasmussen,

"Within 2 hours, I went from politically neutral to hardcore conservative".
No matter what the trigger, if it only takes 2 hours to turn you around "hardcore", that's a sad statement about your convictions.
And mind you, I have no love in me for Hillary or Bill Clinton. That didn't stop me from considering that those two clowns do not define a political compass.

Josie| 8.28.09 @ 4:53AM

hans meiser--you're wrong! Curtis had a flash of brilliance elucidate his mind; sometimes that's all it takes to crystallize your thoughts into hardcore beliefs.

The Holy Spirit works in mysterious ways.

Why does everything have to be slow and plodding? Dullsville.

chen| 8.29.09 @ 1:26AM

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