Despite the more vile elements on the Right who couldn’t resist Ted Kennedy’s dire situation, the response to the man with the scythe closing in on him have been mostly kind.
Man?
How do we know it’s a “man?”
Guess we don’t.
Despite some issues: like blocking wind turbines off Cape Cod, I am probably a bigger fan than most. Indeed, what I am about to type will drive some absolutely, friggintivinly, bazonkers. My respect for Ted came when he ran against Jimmy. Oh, he was wrong to make Carter chase him around the stage, but I found he had a habit of saying things that needed to be said: that no one wanted to hear. I admire folks like that, even when they’ll probably never get to be president. I surprised he got as far as he did. But then again… “Kennedy…” answers that puzzlement with ease.
I didn’t like Bobbie. What a snit. Plus, I didn’t trust him after working for Jackass Joe. I can’t be rational when it comes to anyone who willingly worked for that man, I absolutely admit.
JFK I found somewhat noble, but the whole fascination with his wife and his kids gorfed me out. I also thought whatever brownie points he made with me were lost after the Bay of Pigs. His presidency wasn’t a successful one, His presidency wasn’t a successful one, His presidency wasn’t a successful one, but the answer to question: “if it could have been,” was lost forever in Dallas. Hard to judge.
Teddy, on the other hand, always interested me. The fact that he went on TV and did apologize to the voters in Mass: despite what Kennedy haters keep saying, and said, “I’ll understand if you don’t vote for me,” was far more classy than anything George Bush the present, Bill Clinton, or damn near any other pol caught up in a web created in large part by their own idiocy ever did. Those who keep referring back to that fatal day have selective memories when it comes to a First Lady killing an ex-boyfriend, presidents who not only supported the training of those who attacked us on 9/11; but traded arms to those they later claimed to be against, or ignored multiple warnings about 9/11 and Katrina… and never have the courage and decency to admit to doing either.
“Plausible deniability” is most often a shield used by cowards who love themselves more than their country.
And those who proclaim Barack O’Bama a great speaker have really missed something if they haven’t had a chance to hear Ted’s words weave their way through the ear-ie canal when he gives a speech.
So I hope all turns out the best it can. Unfortunately that probably only means “with as little pain as possible.”
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Inspection is a column that has been written by Ken Carman for over thirty years. Inspection is dedicated to looking at odd angles, under all the rocks and into the unseen cracks and crevasses that constitute the issues and philosophical constructs of our day: places few think, or even dare, to venture.