I'm going to say what a lot of conservative pundits are scared to say. America is much better place with Senator Edward Kennedy dead.
Conservative writers, talk show hosts and amateur thinkers (such as myself) have been shouting for years that this man should have at least been in prison, at worst been on death row for the events at Chappaquiddick.
Conservatives finally have what they want. The man that got away with murder is dead. What puzzles me are the talking points I've been hearing on the radio from my fellow conservatives. The common theme is the outrage over the democrat's use of Senator Kennedy's name to push the healthcare bill through. Honestly, I don't understand the outrage. It's a perfectly acceptable strategy considering the man himself would have had no problem what-so-ever with that, and easily would have done it himself. He was a liberal politician and huge proponent of the healthcare bill until the day he died. It's only fitting that it wouldn't stop just because he's dead.
What doesn't make sense from a strategic standpoint is using the dead man who used expensive private insurance to extend his life to push through a limited public option that would have killed John-Q-Public much more quickly. I'm not sure if it's oversight or spin, but the fact is that it's a terrible strategy. A much better strategy would be to lie. Use Ted's death as an example of the kind of care the public option would allow for under the healthcare bill.
I don't have much more to say on this topic, besides my personal opinion. I'm fairly certain that it's not the first time it's been said, but I think the cause of his death was actually very appropriate. We've been saying he's nuts for years and now we find out he really did have brain problems. Go figure, in an Alanis Morissette kind of way. On another positive note, young blonde women will no longer shiver in fear near bridges.
For more reading on famous victims and survivors of brain tumors, please click here. And on a final, silly note, the author of
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On a serious note, a good friend of mine (who disagrees politically with me frequently) recently lost her mother to cancer. They participated in the Livestrong Challenge and my hopes and prayers are with her and her family. While the event in Philadelphia is over, it appears they are still accepting donations. In respect for her privacy, just type in "A" for the first and last name and find someone to donate to. It's for a good cause, people.
"A much better strategy would be to lie."
ReplyDeleteSpoken like a true conservative. ;-)
I call it like I see it, buddy. If we're talking straight strategy, and if his death is going to be part of the liberal playbook, cut the double-think arguement about public healthcare being the answer when private healthcare is what he used.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes down to it, it sucks when anyone dies. I would never wish death on anyone, nor would I rejoice in someone's death. He lived 77 free (politically and correctionally speaking) and expensive (in terms of lifestyle) years. He was a head case (no pun intended), and has caused more nearly-irreversible trouble in our country (areas such as the education system) than most others could hope to cause (except Obama, he just might be able to screw things up even more).
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that he died. My prayers are with his family. That being said, nowhere in the unspoken rules by which I abide does it say that you can't speak the truth about someone who is dead, so long as you would have said it while s/he was alive. So, I'll make clear that, as sad as his death is, his career in politics was even more sad. Not because he didn't accomplish his goals - on many fronts, he did. Instead, it was sad because he DID accomplish many of his goals, and the vast majority of people are worse off for it.
RIP Ted Kennedy. May the health care/insurance bill that will assuredly bear your name never destroy the lives of millions of Americans by offering care that was so inferior to that which you enjoyed, even in your last days.
Notice the difference in our view points though. For those of you who read comments, this is the kind of thing to expect out of Nick and myself. Debate on things we agree about. ;)
ReplyDeleteNick you viewed him as a senator and seem sad that his political ambitions (with the exception of his presidential run) came to fruition.
I viewed him simply as a criminal for his actions that I know were OH so long ago. I spoke virtually nothing of his political career aside from a strategic standpoint (my particular interest). If I were to bring his political causes into the conversation, the article would have been much longer.
Time doesn't heal all. If it did, there'd be a statute of limitation on murder (2nd and 3rd degree included) in Massachusetts.
But since this is probably the last thing I'll ever write about Ted Kennedy, I wanted to go out with my final thoughts on his character : murderer first, bad senator second.
Teddy Kennedy's crap-stained seat in the Senate now has an "R" in it. Who woulda thunk it?!
ReplyDelete