My Thoughts on the Passing of Ted Kennedy by guest author Skyagunsta
Filed in General U.S. News, Politics on Aug.27, 2009
MY THOUGHTS ON THE PASSING OF TED KENNEDY
For my part, I can neither grieve the passing nor honor TK. Perhaps my heart has grown bitter over the many disappointments it experienced these past few years in viewing the field of politics.
1) I was disappointed and embittered when Ted Kennedy chose to support Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for the presidency of the United States.
2) I was disappointed and embittered when Ted Kennedy went along with the Bush Boy, his many lies, and unending paranoia in supporting the twisted policies of a (supposedly) fellow recovering alcoholic.
3) I was and still am disappointed that Ted Kennedy chose to support the side of “anAmerican Way to do Health Care Reform” as Barack Obama has often put it (all of which means support for the insurance companies) over rendering any kind of true support for the true health care reform we need in this country, which, as Dennis Kucinich has said, “the only true health care reform is universal health care for all.”
Can I join in, in the cacophonous chorus of what a great man and politician TED KENNEDY was? Well. Sorry. To tell the truth. I can’t.
Skyagunsta
August 27th, 2009 at 10:51 am
You can’t grieve for Ted Kennedy because he didn’t fully support your version of the liberal agenda?
How obtuse.
Sage Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 11:24 am
Can’t you disagree without being insulting?
Desert Sage Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
One person’s insult is another person’s observation. I take it you must agree with the premise of the post, and thus see it as an insult. I merely think the comments are in poor taste, meaning some things are better left unsaid.
Even conservatives can agree that Ted Kennedy was an congressional icon, but at the same time disagree with just about everything he stood for politically. For now I hope the pundits, both liberal and conservative, can keep their critical thoughts to themselves and let the family grieve the loss of their loved one. There will be plenty of time later to critique his legacy.
Sage Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
Calling someone obtuse is an insult.
skyagunsta Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
If Obtuse is what you think I am, then that is what I am to you.
If I can’t grieve for Ted Kennedy, or idealize him, or idolize him, then I am pretty much out there with a crowd who can see things and have no need to distort, idealize, or idolize. Funny though, how very often the people around me have called me, “perceptive.” Whatever is your pleasure, I do not intend to change your mind. I do intend to keep my stance, even while conceding that his going to the funeral of every soldier who came home from Iraq in a casket was a balm to the families who grieved their losses as caused by an immoral invasion and occupation of a country rich in oil which did us no harm. And as for healthcare, yes TK dedicated his life to healthcare but in the end, it is reported, had said no to universal healthcare, and no to the public option. And, had he opposed republicans more oftent than not, I wonder if they would be singing his praises, as you say they are. From my POV I question, are they singing TK’s praises because they value the man, or because they value the lack of opposition they received from him. Obtuse or not, that is your problem to discern.
Desert Sage Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Since you brought it up, I’d be the last person to suggest anyone idealize, idolize, or distort Kennedy’s legacy. I merely suggested it is not the right time to vent. Your prerogative to do so, but expect that some may disagree.
I don’t want you to change my mind, nor did I ask you to. I am figuratively a moderate conservative fish in a liberal pond here, and yes, sometimes I can be a little acute, i.e. direct.
And FYI, I don’t agree with any conservative that is piling on the Kennedy legacy right now either.
And really, the Bush lied, people died thing is getting to be a really worn out liberal ad hominem.
skyagunsta Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 5:30 am
“Bush lied, people died,” … a liberal ad hominem attack? Do you mean to say that to say that Bush lied, and people died is a FALLACY? You must value the blood spilled on Iraqi soil by those who died because of A BUSH LIE very little. What a poor defense of a man who has lied to get his way… the very thing criminals and sociopaths frequently do: LIE.
Desert Sage Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Yes it is a liberal ad hominem.
And yes, I believe that most of the accusations are meritless given the context of the situation at the time. Hindsight is always 20/20.
“You must value the blood spilled on Iraqi soil by those who died because of A BUSH LIE very little.”
Another typical liberal attack method… and just for the record you obviously don’t have a clue about the sacrifices we’ve made for Iraq.
I’m comfortable agreeing to disagree.
Sage Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
You have no way of knowing what anyone knows about the sacrifices the U.S. made for Iraq.
skyagunsta Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
“Another typical liberal attack method… and just for the record you obviously don’t have a clue about the sacrifices we’ve made for Iraq.”
Yes. Bush shed a lot of American blood in Iraq. Needlessly so and only because of his narcissism as well as his greed for oil.
Ask Cindy Sheehan, who, by the way, lost her son there and perhaps you can discern some truth in what she is saying. By all means, don’t just take it from me.
Desert Sage Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Cindy Sheehan… Now I understand.
And Sage, you openly chastise me for “not knowing what anyone knows”, but excuse the very similar comment towards me.
“You must value the blood spilled on Iraqi soil by those who died because of A BUSH LIE very little.”
That’s simple hypocracy.
Sage Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:32 pm
Frankly I didn’t read that comment yet, I’m trying to catch up. I was up until 8:30 a.m. and then again at 11:00 a.m. and then again at 12:30 so I’m not quite with the program. My apologies.
I was trying to do two things at once. A reader of Mountain Sage that I know well is in the hospital today and I was on the phone sending her flowers.
August 27th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I found out something I didn’t know about Ted Kennedy that raised him in my estimation:
And, even when he was out-voted, Kennedy was willing to take unpopular stands. He was one of the first politicians to oppose the 2003 American invasion of Iraq.
But Kennedy supported the soldiers who served in Iraq, and their families -
especially those from his own state.
“He’s gone to the funeral of every soldier who’s come home from Iraq in a casket, whether it’s up in Massachusetts or at Arlington Cemetery. And it’s hard. But he knows it pays respect for giving the last full measure that these young soldiers have given. And after he goes to that funeral, he goes up and visits the graves of his brothers,” according to long-time Kennedy aide Melody Miller.
SOURCE
Desert Sage Reply:
August 27th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
When I read that claim it sounded a bit far fetched. Now there are a few vets and families that take exception to CBS News claim that Ted Kennedy attended every soldier’s funeral…
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/08/ted-kennedy-cbs-needs-to-do-some-fact-checking.html
Maybe not as true as originally advertised…
Sage Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 12:38 am
That’s not a very legitimate article. A few soldiers emailed some guy really doesn’t quite cut it as far as proof. Maybe the claim is untrue but at least it was attributed to a person by name….Melody Miller.
Desert Sage Reply:
August 28th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Understood… waiting for more to materialize, but typically the Blackfive G2 is pretty accurate.
Even if Kennedy did not attend ALL funerals, he did make an effort to honor our fallen. What I’m not sure of is why CBS would feel the need to trump it up…
August 27th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I remember pulling a book and perusing it in the college library in 1971 about proposed health care reform. The author of the bill was Ted Kennedy. He’s been studying on this for at least that long.
It was something I had never considered, being a healthy 18 yr old.
My take on him was that of extreme patience and sense of duty to his constituents, his family and the family of his brothers. I wasn’t suprized that he backed Obama at all. Because he wasn’t a flaming mouthpiece of a Senator I assumed he was busy doing what he was elected to do. Working. As someone that knew the ins and out of politics on the Senate floor, he was invaluable. He knew how to work with opposing views and the limits of his willingness to compromise. Not a cookie cutter kind of guy.
August 28th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Bottom line, Ted Kennedy was probably the most scrutinized Senator ever. Nixon was pretty threatened by him
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/elections/2009/08/28/nixon-dug-deep-dirt-ted-kennedy/