See these eyes? Dry eyes. Look.
Aug. 26th, 2009 08:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
redneckgaijinSo, Ted Kennedy is dead.
I am NOT mourning.
To me, Ted Kennedy will always be Chappaquiddick Ted, a man who essentially got away with murder because of his family's political power.
Ted Kennedy will be the man whose 1980 run for President weakened an already troubled President Carter, probably opening the door for Reagan.
And finally, Ted Kennedy is the man who, knowing he had a brain tumor and had only a short time to live, and knowing that Massachusetts law does not provide for any speedy replacement of U. S. Senators, ran for re-election ANYWAY.
It might be true that Ted Kennedy believed in helping the poor, healthcare for all, etc. etc. etc. But the fundamental truth is that he believed first and foremost in power and privilege for himself, power and privilege for its own sake, and not for what power could do to advance his agenda.
Here's hoping the Mass. legislature can get its act together long enough to get that Senate seat filled with someone who won't be an absentee Senator. Otherwise, the only thing Ted Kennedy's done in the past year is to make healthcare reform one Senate vote harder to achieve.
I am NOT mourning.
To me, Ted Kennedy will always be Chappaquiddick Ted, a man who essentially got away with murder because of his family's political power.
Ted Kennedy will be the man whose 1980 run for President weakened an already troubled President Carter, probably opening the door for Reagan.
And finally, Ted Kennedy is the man who, knowing he had a brain tumor and had only a short time to live, and knowing that Massachusetts law does not provide for any speedy replacement of U. S. Senators, ran for re-election ANYWAY.
It might be true that Ted Kennedy believed in helping the poor, healthcare for all, etc. etc. etc. But the fundamental truth is that he believed first and foremost in power and privilege for himself, power and privilege for its own sake, and not for what power could do to advance his agenda.
Here's hoping the Mass. legislature can get its act together long enough to get that Senate seat filled with someone who won't be an absentee Senator. Otherwise, the only thing Ted Kennedy's done in the past year is to make healthcare reform one Senate vote harder to achieve.
