Senator Edward Kennedy Dead at 77
It will come to no surprise to anyone familiar with my viewpoints that Senator Kennedy is a personal hero of mine. I believe that he showed us all that a flawed person can indeed become a force for good in this world.
The Liberal Lion of the Senate is gone. He shall be missed.
The Boston Globe: Kennedy dead at 77The Boston Herald: Senator Edward M. Kennedy dies at 77
The New York Times: Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies
The BBC World Service: Senator Edward Kennedy dies at 77
14 comments:
I agree
Even though I didn't agree with many of his views, he has done more good than most men ever will.
PI,
Curios to know where you stand on the hypocrisy of the State legislature in regards to the succession law?
I was against changing it before (to suit those against Romney) and I would rather see it returned to what it was instead of tinkered with yet again.
That being said, we all just watched Minnesota being deprived of a Senator for months (at least in MN it was for a good reason - the need to determine an actual winning candidate) and I would not like to see Massachusetts lose a voice on ALL the important issues of the day.
OG says...
Caroline Kennedy for Senate !
Maybe there should just me a law that states if a Dem is governor they get the power to appoint and if a Reb is governor there is no such power.
OG says...
The Ted Kennedy story is surely an eye opener when you hear of the many personal acts done by this man...his story at least makes you feel that some politicians can actually do some good things beyond raising money and weakly represent their constituents...hats off to you Ted Kennedy...you have been unique and a rare breed.
Yeah OG, like plunging into the water (drunk off his mind) and leaving a woman to to die! Real fine, selfless man he was!
To Anon (September 2, 2009 1:13 PM):
Are you saying that each and every life is defined simply by the very worst thing that ever happens in it?
Obviously this was a terrible action on his part. No one knows all the facts, but we all know it wasn't good.
But does one act in one's younger days delete a lifetime of doing good for others, for fighting for those who can not and for making a huge difference to every single person in this Country (and probably more still)???
Are you going to be judged by the worst thing in your life? Or by the totality of what you did during your life?
I choose to remember Chappaquiddick, but I also choose to honor the man and his great accomplishments for us all.
PI, I honor his public service. The Kennedy story is an interesting one. But beyond that, I feel his politics have done more to ruin our country than move it forward. Even from his death bed, he pedals this government healthcare take over that will for sure kill medicine as we know it in this country. Massachusetts has been long identified as the laughing stock for electing Kennedy (and Kerry for that matter), time and again.
You certainly have a right to disagree with his politics.
I think you are dead wrong about health care in this country.
ALL the rest of the industrialized world has universal health care, and ensures that all of their citizens get full and complete health care simply by virtue of their being alive. The United States is NOT the leader in heath care any longer, and hasn't been for quite a while. Yes indeed, many very very rich and powerful people choose to come to the US for their specialty health care needs - but not because they are seeking the normal level of medical treatment for the average American... they are seeking the special level of care reserved for the rich, famous and powerful in this world.
And because we are the only country that feels that medical treatment is a privilege, and not a basic human right, we have many many many doctors and corporations who will indeed cater to these most rich individuals.
Why isn't heath care just like the police or fire departments? No one asks for your credit card number when you call because someone is breaking into your home? The Fire Marshall doesn't need to call an 800-number on the back of your fire insurance card to see if your coverage includes a second fire truck allowance before he orders another to show up to put out your house fire.
Basic human rights.
And one more thing... Do you notice who is fighting this? It is almost entirely the insurance companies, the HMOs and the hospitals and doctors. Notice who really isn't against it so much? Business! In fact, the largest cost of business (and the fastest growing) has been the health care costs for its workers. They will welcome a partial shift from private to public option health care because it will mean a huge increase in the money available to them to do business and grow their companies (and the economy.)
Unless you have felt the cruel sting of watching people you know and love suffer needlessly because of an inhumane health care system it might be difficult to understand just how broken the system is.
PI, I agree the healthcare system needs improvement. Is government the solution? Look at the problems those "industrialized nations" are facing, with their government run programs. Search Canada; Good article on UK.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/6127514/Sentenced-to-death-on-the-NHS.html
PI
I also agree that the health care system needs improvement, but something is wrong when Congress itself will not participate in this "public option". If they think it's not good enough for them, then I don't want it.
PI
So no comment on the above post.
OG says...
many others would have crawled under a rock and disappeared if they had experienced some of the issues that Ted Kennedy faced in his lifetime....and he could have easily faded out of sight and not bothered to fight for what he believed...but he did....so with all his warts and baggage he still gets my respect....we will never see another one like him....no one will stay or last in the political arena as long as he did...wouldn't it have been interesting to see what would have happened if he didn't lose to Jimmy Carter???
I agree OG.
To Anon:
Comment on the fact that Congress has a, no THE Cadillac health care plan in the country right now?
OK.
The President and Congress, the 2nd most important elected officials in our country (and maybe even the world) have frankly THE BEST HEALTH CARE PLAN IN THE WORLD. If I am remembering correctly (and I may be wrong) they pretty much get 100% coverage and get access to anyone at anytime - and most likely can get bumped ahead of practically anyone else out there.
That's what they have right now.
Do they deserve it? Well... I would say that while it is a good thought that those people should suffer through the same daily trials and tribulations that we do... that would be naive of me. They are a privileged class in America, but unlike so many who simply are born into it or buy their way in... these people have earned it by asking for, and receiving our support every 2 or 6 years depending on the position.
So I don't have a problem with this just like I don't have a problem that they get from postage or a parking space on Capitol Hill.
So now your thinking goes something like this... 15% of the country has NOT health care coverage (most are women and children), About 45-60% are getting fewer health care benefits than they did 5 years ago (so their health care is falling... with no end in sight), of the remaining 35%... almost all of them have been getting hit with double digit increases in the cost of health care PLUS increase access fees, exclusions and "pre-existing conditions" clauses - which in effect have drastically reduced the quality and amount of health care they receive.
All at the same time the the health care industry and the pharmaceutical industry are making RECORD PROFITS! In fact, businesses are suffering under the burden of the need to cover employee health care costs - employee health care costs are the fastest rising business expense - they are being forced to cut their costs by passing on these costs to the employees... but despite that, these companies are still losing money during the most difficult economic time in the last 8 decades.
So... I have no problem saying that a plan to improve health care for all Americans should include a government OPTION which will provide for a reasonable level of health care access for anyone who needs it. Even if it means that the President and Congress get to have a better plan.
I mean... do you think that the school lunch program (that subsidizes the cost of school lunches for children) is a BAD IDEA because Congress gets to have better food in its cafeteria?
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