Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the longtime Mass. lawmaker whose personal and family tragedies along with his political triumphs and losses unfolded in the public eye, died of brain cancer at 77 shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannisport, Mass.

Love him or totally dislike him, Teddy's death is an end of an era.




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My prayers are with Senator Kennedy's family. He was indeed "The Lion of the Senate" much beloved on both sides of the aisle. He will certainly be missed.

May he rest in Peace.
Lets hope the dream he had of Health Care for all Americans with pass.

Here's hoping the first persons he meets at the Pearly Gates are the Kopechne family.

I'm sure all who served in Korea in his place due to his father's influence getting him stationed in Paris from 1951 to 1953 wish him nothing but the best as well.

Originally Posted by Topper1

May he rest in Peace.
Lets hope the dream he had of Health Care for all Americans with pass.

Let's hope not. I don't want everyone getting sentimental and making KennedyCare his legacy. It wasn't worth passing when he was alive and it still is not worth passing.

Originally Posted by SteveZ

Here's hoping the first persons he meets at the Pearly Gates are the Kopechne family.

I'm sure all who served in Korea in his place due to his father's influence getting him stationed in Paris from 1951 to 1953 wish him nothing but the best as well.

SteveZ, this is probably the saddest post you've ever written. I've probably never agreed with you, but I always respected you... until now. This is a terrible thing to say about a man that devoted his life to this country.

The Kennedy Family have given the lives of 4 of their children in service to this country. And Ted Kennedy devoted 47 years to the senate. Not to mention the Special Olympics from Eunice Shriver and the countless charitable organizations and people they've helped. Ted Kennedy left his mark on every major piece of legislation for almost a half a century. I KNOW your Republican leaders would agree with me. It's become clear that you have no respect for anyone that is not in tune to your way of thinking. You really should be ashamed of yourself.



p.s. Don't bother to answer me with one of your tirades, I've put you on Ignore.

Originally Posted by chelsea24

Ted Kennedy left his mark on every major piece of legislation for almost a half a century.

Just look where we are today. Thanks Ted.

Yoda

I lived my life in Massachusetts under Ted Kennedy.

Originally Posted by Yoda

Just look where we are today. Thanks Ted.

Yoda

I lived my life in Massachusetts under Ted Kennedy.

...And yet, he kept being voted back in. You clearly are in the minority.

I always heard if you can't say something nice about somebody, don't say anything. SteveZ I like your post. Too close to the truth.

Originally Posted by chelsea24

SteveZ, this is probably the saddest post you've ever written. I've probably never agreed with you, but I always respected you... until now. This is a terrible thing to say about a man that devoted his life to this country.

The Kennedy Family have given the lives of 4 of their children in service to this country. And Ted Kennedy devoted 47 years to the senate. Not to mention the Special Olympics from Eunice Shriver and the countless charitable organizations and people they've helped. Ted Kennedy left his mark on every major piece of legislation for almost a half a century. I KNOW your Republican leaders would agree with me. It's become clear that you have no respect for anyone that is not in tune to your way of thinking. You really should be ashamed of yourself.



p.s. Don't bother to answer me with one of your tirades, I've put you on Ignore.

Your choice - I grew up in Massachusetts and saw the Kennedy clan use money and influence to live like SouthEastern Mass. was their private fiefdom - exempt from the laws and mores imposed on the peasantry. He may be your hero from watching him at a distance, but he's not mine. To me he was just another rich kid who abused the system and got extra-special treatment thanks to daddy's money. He was the epitome of the incumbent with the unlimited campaign treasure chest who would never leave, and having a title was all that was left.

Many times you got "upset" when anyone not from the Chicago area made any comment about Chicago politics and politicians. I guess it doesn't go both ways....

Originally Posted by SteveZ

Here's hoping the first persons he meets at the Pearly Gates are the Kopechne family.

I'm sure all who served in Korea in his place due to his father's influence getting him stationed in Paris from 1951 to 1953 wish him nothing but the best as well.

Lets see, the father was a man who made his fortune as a rum runner who tried to buy his way into politics. He raised his privileged sons to pursue dads political dreams. The sons grew up with dads financial megabucks enabling them to have campaign chests capable of getting them elected. Their only real job in life was to be a politician push their own social agenda. They pursued social agendas that they themselves needn't worry about paying for, being independently wealthy on dads trust funds. John and Ted were both philanderers. Ted committed manslaughter at Chappaquiddick and the family bought his way out of it. The Kennedy's have been a privileged, dysfunctional egotistical family. I for one hope that this is the end of the so called political "dynasty".

BTW My own dad, now 88 years old and a staunch liberal, with a family who grew up and still lives in MA, dislikes the Kennedy's as much as I do.

Originally Posted by gnu

Lets see, the father was a man who made his fortune as a rum runner who tried to buy his way into politics. He raised his privileged sons to pursue dads political dreams. The sons grew up with dads financial megabucks enabling them to have campaign chests capable of getting them elected. Their only real job in life was to be a politician push their own social agenda. They pursued social agendas that they themselves needn't worry about paying for, being independently wealthy on dads trust funds. John and Ted were both philanderers. Ted committed manslaughter at Chappaquiddick and the family bought his way out of it. The Kennedy's have been a privileged, dysfunctional egotistical family. I for one hope that this is the end of the so called political "dynasty".

BTW My own dad, now 88 years old and a staunch liberal, with a family who grew up and still lives in MA, dislikes the Kennedy's as much as I do.

First, let me say, you can have all the megabucks in the world and not get elected or re-elected, so that argument doesn't hold water and JFK NEVER took a penny of his salary as President... it was donated to charity. Joseph Kennedy Jr. completed his 25 combat missions and was eligible to return home, he volunteered for an Operation Aphrodite mission in which he died on August 12, 1944. Yes, fighting for YOUR country. Kathleen Kennedy, who could have easily remained a socialite, devoted all of her time to the Red Cross before being killed in a plane crash.

Did JFK use his family's influence? Yes -- "Kennedy had used his family influence to get into the war quickly. The Allies were in a campaign of island hopping since securing Guadalcanal in a bloody battle in early 1943. Kennedy was assigned PT-109 upon arriving at Tulagi. By August 1943, the Allies had captured Rendova and moved PT boat operations there. The US Army was driving the Japanese out of Munda airfield at New Georgia by August. All of the islands around Blackett Strait were still held by the Japanese."

Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his lifesaving actions following the collision; it was established in 1941 for heroic actions at risk of the person's own life but not involving actual combat. During his presidency, Kennedy privately admitted to friends he didn't feel he deserved the medals he had received, because the PT 109 incident had been the result of a botched military operation that had cost the lives of two members of his crew. When asked by interviewers how he became a war hero, Kennedy's grim reply was, "It was involuntary. They sank my boat."

Profiles in Courage is a 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winning book attributed to John F. Kennedy, describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators from throughout the Senate's history. The book profiles senators who crossed party lines and/or defied the public opinion of their constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions.

I could go on through Robert, Eunice, Teddy and more. All children born into wealth that didn't have to do a damn thing but sit back and count their money, but instead fought and worked everyday of their lives to make YOUR country better. Were they perfect? No, none of us are. Were they flawed? Yes, all of us are. But your should thank God everyday that the Kennedy dynasty was and will live on through their children. Why? Whether it's Civil Rights or boosting the minimum wage, or getting in the trenches to fight for freedom -- they made this country better. If you can't respect that, there's something reeeeallly wrong.

But it has become apparent that there is great division in this country. And it's not the left and right. And it's not between clear thinking Repulicans and Democrats. It is between the logical, thinking, hopeful, God loving, constructive, caring people and the chest bumping, bible thumping, gun toting, yelling, destructive extremists.

I noticed that both you and SteveZ listed Vietnam in your profiles. I'm guessing you both must have served there and I can't even imagine the hell you must have gone through. My own Godfather served and has had to date 26 operations on his leg to try to reconstruct it. In fact, he was just in a coma a few weeks ago from a medication that went wrong. Thank God, he is fine now.

I have the utmost respect for our service people. A dear friend, young man that used to work for us is in Iraq as we speak. I didn't like or admire George Bush one iota, but after 9/11 I gave him my complete backing and I will always back our young men and women that serve our country. You might want to give Teddy Kennedy some respect for his many years on the Armed Services Committee, where he continually and passionately fought for the rights and care of our armed forces. Or you just might want to show some respect for a good man that died.

If George W. Bush were to pass away tomorrow, I wouldn't say things like "Well, I hope the 5,000 young men and women that were killed in Iraq are waiting at the Pearly Gates to meet him". How juvenile and disgusting. I would simply say prayers for his soul and his family.

I was 15 when JFK was assassinated. I was sitting in freshman English when a note came our teacher Mr. Mahoney. He was visibly shaken and he then announced that our President had been killed. One smartass kid laughed and said something stupid (well, he was 15) Mr. Mahoney literally jumped across two desks, picked this kid up by the throat, threw him into the hallway and told him never to return to his class again.

Oh boy, you have no idea how I wish Mr. Mahoney was here right now.

Originally Posted by chelsea24

First, let me say, you can have all the megabucks in the world and not get elected or re-elected, so that argument doesn't hold water and JFK NEVER took a penny of his salary as President... it was donated to charity. Joseph Kennedy Jr. completed his 25 combat missions and was eligible to return home, he volunteered for an Operation Aphrodite mission in which he died on August 12, 1944. Yes, fighting for YOUR country. Kathleen Kennedy, who could have easily remained a socialite, devoted all of her time to the Red Cross before being killed in a plane crash.

Did JFK use his family's influence? Yes -- "Kennedy had used his family influence to get into the war quickly. The Allies were in a campaign of island hopping since securing Guadalcanal in a bloody battle in early 1943. Kennedy was assigned PT-109 upon arriving at Tulagi. By August 1943, the Allies had captured Rendova and moved PT boat operations there. The US Army was driving the Japanese out of Munda airfield at New Georgia by August. All of the islands around Blackett Strait were still held by the Japanese."

Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for his lifesaving actions following the collision; it was established in 1941 for heroic actions at risk of the person's own life but not involving actual combat. During his presidency, Kennedy privately admitted to friends he didn't feel he deserved the medals he had received, because the PT 109 incident had been the result of a botched military operation that had cost the lives of two members of his crew. When asked by interviewers how he became a war hero, Kennedy's grim reply was, "It was involuntary. They sank my boat."

Profiles in Courage is a 1955 Pulitzer Prize-winning book attributed to John F. Kennedy, describing acts of bravery and integrity by eight United States Senators from throughout the Senate's history. The book profiles senators who crossed party lines and/or defied the public opinion of their constituents to do what they felt was right and suffered severe criticism and losses in popularity because of their actions.

I could go on through Robert, Eunice, Teddy and more. All children born into wealth that didn't have to do a damn thing but sit back and count their money, but instead fought and worked everyday of their lives to make YOUR country better. Were they perfect? No, none of us are. Were they flawed? Yes, all of us are. But your should thank God everyday that the Kennedy dynasty was and will live on through their children. Why? Whether it's Civil Rights or boosting the minimum wage, or getting in the trenches to fight for freedom -- they made this country better. If you can't respect that, there's something reeeeallly wrong.

But it has become apparent that there is great division in this country. And it's not the left and right. And it's not between clear thinking Repulicans and Democrats. It is between the logical, thinking, hopeful, God loving, constructive, caring people and the chest bumping, bible thumping, gun toting, yelling, destructive extremists.

I noticed that both you and SteveZ listed Vietnam in your profiles. I'm guessing you both must have served there and I can't even imagine the hell you must have gone through. My own Godfather served and has had to date 26 operations on his leg to try to reconstruct it. In fact, he was just in a coma a few weeks ago from a medication that went wrong. Thank God, he is fine now.

I have the utmost respect for our service people. A dear friend, young man that used to work for us is in Iraq as we speak. I didn't like or admire George Bush one iota, but after 9/11 I gave him my complete backing and I will always back our young men and women that serve our country. You might want to give Teddy Kennedy some respect for his many years on the Armed Services Committee, where he continually and passionately fought for the rights and care of our armed forces. Or you just might want to show some respect for a good man that died.

If George W. Bush were to pass away tomorrow, I wouldn't say things like "Well, I hope the 5,000 young men and women that were killed in Iraq are waiting at the Pearly Gates to meet him". How juvenile and disgusting. I would simply say prayers for his soul and his family.

I was 15 when JFK was assassinated. I was sitting in freshman English when a note came our teacher Mr. Mahoney. He was visibly shaken and he then announced that our President had been killed. One smartass kid laughed and said something stupid (well, he was 15) Mr. Mahoney literally jumped across two desks, picked this kid up by the throat, threw him into the hallway and told him never to return to his class again.

Oh boy, you have no idea how I wish Mr. Mahoney was here right now.

Again, having lived in Massachusetts and watching the Kennedy machine run rampant makes for a different view.

Your commentary was one of idolizing a royal family, and that the offices they held were their birthright. There is no doubt that JFK and Ted were two very different people, and that they used their positions in radically different fashion. As far as Ted goes, I just saw a privileged kid who got thrown out of college for cheating, getting golden-gloved to a posh assignment by virtue of family money, getting a suspended sentence for a crime where a death occurred (where anyone else would have been charged with manslaughter), and by privilege keeping his law license when anyone else with such a conviction would have been disbarred. That's a hero?

Sorry, but I owe him nothing.

Kennedy's "many years" in the Senate was the perfect example of a well-oiled political machine which minimalized opponents and was so flush with money that it could buy whatever was necessary to win.

You may have loved him for his politics - I disliked him for the person he was.

Originally Posted by SteveZ

Again, having lived in Massachusetts and watching the Kennedy machine run rampant makes for a different view.

Your commentary was one of idolizing a royal family, and that the offices they held were their birthright. There is no doubt that JFK and Ted were two very different people, and that they used their positions in radically different fashion. As far as Ted goes, I just saw a privileged kid who got thrown out of college for cheating, getting golden-gloved to a posh assignment by virtue of family money, getting a suspended sentence for a crime where a death occurred (where anyone else would have been charged with manslaughter), and by privilege keeping his law license when anyone else with such a conviction would have been disbarred. That's a hero?

Sorry, but I owe him nothing.

Kennedy's "many years" in the Senate was the perfect example of a well-oiled political machine which minimalized opponents and was so flush with money that it could buy whatever was necessary to win.

You may have loved him for his politics - I disliked him for the person he was.

It's funny how some people still believe in the Fairytale "Camelot"