The Legacy of Ted Kennedy under Assault »
Posted By Spadecaller 2 months, 3 weeks ago in Political OpinionAmong those of us who are celebrating and memorializing the life of a great public servant, there are also some who have decided to take this opportunity to judge the liberal Senator, to recount his darkest moments, to denounce his life work, and to demean the value of the causes to which he was so deeply committed. While it is disgusting to observe these shameful displays, how much impact will these bias judgments actually have over the course of time? Will the Chappaquiddick scandal be the defining moment of Senator Ted Kennedy’s entire life as his enemies insist, or will it be a truth that reflects all the years and deeds of a man who devoted his life to serving others? Here's one man's opinion.
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Spadecaller
Welcome to my profile. About me: I'm an artist of several kinds; from bull to painting. I don't spare too many words. Most ...
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Spadecaller2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Though I have not been burdened or privileged with the responsibilities of a life of public service, my darkest moments and regrets had also come during a period in my life when I chose what I thought was the easier and softer way. When the courage of my convictions gave way to fear and drunkenness, I hurt those who cared the most for me. And, I too, had once thought that was also the defining moment of my life. But, I was wrong.
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Thirty-one years later come this September, I will celebrate the gift of recovery from alcoholism. Over the course of those sober years I made every effort possible to amend those harms done to others - trying to bring resolve and peace to the lives I had affected, and to practice to the best of my ability a way of life that respects and cherishes the rights of others. The imperfections and virtues of my personality are looked fondly upon by the vast majority of people who know me today. The real victory over any life comes as a result of love and forgiveness. In viewing the modest scope of my own life, I can see and appreciate the story of the man we knew as Senator Ted Kennedy. I believe he deserves the honor of all Americans regardless of political differences.-
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Endoscopy2 months, 3 weeks ago
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To me the defining point in Ted Kennedy's life was the point where he led the fight and won to prevent the promised money for weapons and ammunition to South Viet Nam when we pulled out. The result of that stoppage of money had North Viet Nam look on and plan what happened. As we left they were right behind us and they also went into Cambodia and the result was the killing fields where over a million lost their lives and in South Viet Nam there were hundreds of thousand in concentration camps. He remained proud of the victory even after the result.
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Over a million dead and hundreds of thousands in camps. To me that is a major part of his legacy since he was proud of it.
The South Viet Nam Ambassador said "With friends like the US breaking their promise we do not need any more enemies." He went home to wait for his execution by the North Viet Nam army.
Kennedy's legacy.
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Eagle_Eye2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Senator Kennedy did way more for this country in devoting his life to serving the American people then all the GOP who is damming him. He had a tragic accident in his early career that he is still being judged for which is sad. I am sure he felt a lot of guilt for what happened to Mary Jo and his failures but every one according to Jesus has the ability to be forgiven.
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Did Lizbit get banned again?? I can't find the horrific story she posted the other day after he died.-
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Spadecaller2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Thanks EE. I have not been reading or posting any comments for about a week since I had run into some problems with my lower back. So I have no idea about lizbit's bit, but having followed the news, I discovered some pretty sorry attacks against Ted Kennedy after his death. Only people devoid of character and principles would justify such conduct at this time. I felt compelled to write this story because I believe he has faced his demons, served his nation, and deserves the respect of those who know better than to use the tragic episode to judge him. Their contempt is purely motivated by political bias and should be exposed for what it is.
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Georgia502 months, 3 weeks ago
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Eagle_Eye2 months, 3 weeks ago
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That is not what I read in your post under another story.......
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http://www.propeller.com/story/2009/08/28/the-ghos...
HYPOCRITE -
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Spadecaller2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Well if Georgia says it does not exist it must be so... right?
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As usual, Georgia is misinformed...
This is one of many right wing assaults that have come forward since Kennedy's demise:
Andrew Breitbart Unleashes A Torrent Of Invective Against Sen. Ted Kennedy’s Legacy On Twitter
Andrew Breitbart Early this morning, news broke that Sen. Ted Kennedy had passed away after serving in the U.S. Senate for nearly 50 years. Soon after, conservative commentator Andrew Breitbart began a sustained assault on Kennedy’s memory, tweeting “Rest in Chappaquiddick.”
Over the course of the next three hours, Breitbart unapologetically attacked Kennedy, calling him a “villain,” “a big ass motherf@#$er,” a “duplicitous bastard” and a “prick.” “I’ll shut my mouth for Carter. That’s just politics. Kennedy was a special pile of human excrement,” wrote Breitbart in one tweet.
When Politico’s Michael Calderone highlighted Breitbart’s attacks in an article called, “Not all Kennedy critics hold fire,” a pleased Breitbart tweeted:
Andrew Breitbart tweets about Politico covering his tweets.
But Georgia says there are no attacks. Yep... -
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Spadecaller2 months, 3 weeks ago
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My goodness, Georgia. Your lack of integrity is shameful. This is one of your comments regarding Senator Kennedy:
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"Hmmm....mourning both Kennedy and Saddam Hussein."
How pathetic and disgraceful. I will not be reading Geogia's comments anymore. -
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aceofspades12 months, 3 weeks ago
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This is a post I previously made on another thread, but I believe it deserves to be re-posted here----
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Sometimes blessings come in strange ways - If not for the Mary Jo incident there would have been a very strong possibility that Ted would have become president. While Mary Jo's life was a tragic price to pay I believe America was saved from the disaster another Kennedy in the White House would have been.
Kennedy, his presidential desires dashed went on to argueably be one of the finest, progressive senators for several decades.
He sponsored over 100 of the most important bills passed by the senate.
He has left a legacy far greater than any resurrected "Camelot" would have been -
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not2needy2 months, 3 weeks ago
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BUT on the flip side, they not only want respect for theirs, they demand it, and tell us what "hate filled" people we are when we don't give it..
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Hate filled,, their favorite 2 words, it covers so much territory, but never any of their own territory..
Georgia, rbiii, Mannix, Mutainia, and a host of others are "HATE FILLED" because they can't find one decent thing to say about one single Liberal..
Hate filled, the term suits the Propeller bottom feeding cons! -
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orndorffter2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Very good article Spade, yes there have been many attacks on Senator Ted Kennedy. There is not one person on here that can say once in their lives they have not done one mastake that they are sorry for makeing.
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Senator Ted Kennedy was a great man and stood for what he heleived in, and has changed the lives of many people and became the man that all in congress and senate trusted.
The attacks should stop, Senator Kennedy is dead now let him rest. He well awys be the man who never gave up on us and changed many. He has my love and respect.R.N.P Senator, I am proud that my gradchildren well read about him in their History Books, they well learn of the one great Lion who went down in History. -
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Radiofreeeuropa2 months, 3 weeks ago
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There is no question that Kennedy's legacy, recorded by history will be that he was the single most influential Senator of the last century. It must be pointed out that Laura Bush killed someone while driving under the influence and there was not one condescending word from these people who are attempting to define an entire life from unfortunate events of a single day.
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Senator Kennedy was the last of his kind, a true champion of labor,civil rights, and virtually every cause relating to improving the human condition. He became remarkably good at his role of Senator, able to actually get things done and regardless of heated debate in the Senate on the issues of which he was so passionate, he remained friendly and well regarded by those politicians with differing views. This is what we will likely not see again. His generation of politicos were far more independent, able to think and act individually instead of as a group whose actions were decided in committee at a party luncheon. When Tip O Neil retired, that was his lament, that there was no more affable social beers after a session... no more co-operation. Modern politics is more like the Hatfields vs. the McCoys...with much the same outcome and much the same validity.
Ted Kennedy defined liberalism, yet his political adversaries were not his personal adversaries. He regarded them with respect and they regarded him in like. There is so much to be learned here. -
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simonsez2 months, 3 weeks ago
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I don't dis-respect the passing of any man.
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He was a flawed individual (as we all are) who tried to overcome his demons and do the best he could.
He was not the most effective Senator of the last century, but he was probably in the top ten. -
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not2needy2 months, 3 weeks ago
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That was a great testimonial to Senator Ted Kennedy, Spadecaller. Thanks for sharing it with us, it's like a breath of fresh air after all the terrible things conservatives have said about him on here since he passed away.
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Personally, i think the reason the conservatives can't find a good thing to say about Ted OR any Kennedy OR any Liberal is that they don't have even ONE political leader who compares. ANY con they try to come up with falls short in comparasion.
In no way will Chappaquiddick define Senator Kennedy through out history. I'm sure it will be mentioned, but he won't be defined by it, the only people who do that are the neocons, while they overlook the evil that exists in their own party, and expect everyone else to follow suit. A truly sick bunch of bottom feeders!-
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Spadecaller2 months, 3 weeks ago
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n2n. Thanks for sharing that. Like the animosity against anything that Obama attempts or the democratic congress attempts, these mean-spirited conservatives will do anything to pull down those who represent the hope of health care change or any change that might threaten the power structure that stands behind these nutjobs.
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krapache128Comment removed: Hard Banned1 Reply
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reallypsst2 months, 3 weeks ago
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With the passing of ted comes an end of a era in america that most of us knew,now i cant tell what the hell is going on in our country with all the nut jobs who have to much freedom,and protest against everything under the sun,enough of the bs lets respect the man and honor his service RIP TEDDY !
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Tcaros2 months, 3 weeks ago
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There are ample facts and room to question Republican motives, but there is not much room to question Ted Kennedy. He championed for those without a voice, the poor, the elderly, and those who the promise of the American dream of self-determination had been stalled.
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JustTrollKingComment removed: Hard Banned3 Replies
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scott42612 months, 3 weeks ago
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Chappaquiddick happened 40 years ago. Now what he did WAS wrong, but he pled guilty and received a suspended sentence. Now that certainly isn't enough, ...but then, I believe that the incident haunted him the rest of his life..... The mind can be a worse prison than the actual bars for some people.
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Don't misunderstand me. I am not making excuses....but I DO think that Senator Kennedy has been an outstanding senator, just the same...
The senator died of brain cancer. It took 15 months from the date of his diagnosis. I don't know how many of these right wingers have been affected by a loved one dying of brain cancer, but it is a slow and debilitating death. ....But they got what they wanted....Senator Kennedy died of an incurable disease. I hope their black hearts find some relief in that knowledge.....
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Sen. Ted Kennedy devoted his life to making the world a better place. Perhaps it was to ease his conscience. Perhaps it was to bring honor to a soiled family name. Who knows? But I believe he had true convictions and I admire that he has so tirelessly defended my core beliefs in his years in the Senate. He was a voice for the voiceless. I pray we find another "liberal lion." His are huge shoes to fill.
RIP, Senator. -
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Spadecaller2 months, 3 weeks ago
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Since it was Kennedy's dream to have meaningful health care reform, the GOP will give a pass to their radical right wing base to destroy that dream by politicizing Kennedy's funeral.
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Will the Democrats preemptively fight back, will they blow the Republicans out of the water on this one? Or will we all sit back and scratch our heads in a week and say "gosh, how did we lose that one?" Paul Wellstone II - where the GOP accuses of us doing what they're actually doing, and we get the blame. Let's not forget - we still have Hitler references and gun-toting GOP constituents out there who have yet to be fully taken advantage of by the Democrats. What do I mean? Well imagine had the top progressive bloggers, during a debate on key legislation, published photos of George Bush as Hitler. Do you think the Republicans would come up with all sorts of great ideas on how to bash us and, even better, use us to destroy Democrats? There'd be a resolution condemning us on the floor of the US House and Senate faster than you can sing "proud to be an American."
What's to believe that things will be any different when the GOP tries to spin Ted Kennedy's death? We have taught the Republicans that nothing is too low, and that the dirtier they get the more we flinch. Unless the Democrats, and the White House, figure out how to stop this cycle, it's just going to get worse and worse. -
sonofreasonComment removed: Hard Banned1 Reply
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