like i said, the responses from the right in this thread are very 1984.

and the assumption is that the conservatives control the debate, too, which is funny. flailing about in the politics of sleaze when you can reasonably expect to control the debate is one thing: staying there when you don't is just an embarrassment.

i am sure that none of the conservatives have ever done anything really fucked up in their lives--it's their purity that makes them o so admirable. i am sure that no conservative has ever done anything irreversible and questionable in the whole of their lives. it's that purity that gives them moral high ground in this, as in all matters.

one thing is interesting, though: the effects of the grouphate with kennedy is to erase almost entirely the human being behind the pinata head---it's pretty easy to see how this maps into other areas. witness the purchase that the idiotic huntington thesis had amongst conservatives back in the day. it's much easier to deal in a world of cartoons than to deal with human beings.

o yeah: in the interest of full disclosure, i am neither a fan nor not a fan of ted kennedy as a politician. but for fucks sake, he;s a human being with a malignant brain tumor. what difference does it make when making judgments about that what you might have made of his political career?

and as for newsworthiness---well, we live in a tabloid television world which condenses democratic processes onto the figures of individuals--given that, it follows that this is a newsworthy item. if there's a problem, it's with the entire system of television news coverage itself.
and your grandmother with a similar condition would be newsworthy as well, or would have been once upon a time when the press was decentralized and locally oriented information could circulate within small communities.

To say I don't think much of the current VP would be a mild understatement. Yet I don't break out in a "happy dance" every time he has another heart episode.

I won't break out in a "happy dance" but I feel no sympathy for someone who is finally going to face death when he escaped it at the expense of another forty years ago.

Grand overarching human empathy -- like the cake -- is a lie. Old Ted meant nothing to me, so his impending death is not sad or joyous, it simply is.

There's nothing to see here but apologists rewriting history and guilt-ridden finger-wagging. :rolleyes:

After reading some of the callous comments here, a relevant quote comes to mind:

"In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican."
~ H.L. Mencken

My wife and I were watching tv news last night and this morning, and it was pretty much nonstop Ted Kennedy stuff. We both had the same reaction - the man is still alive, getting treatment - why are they running what in effect are obituaries? It's macabre and distasteful. He has time on this earth yet, they shouldn't treat him like he's dead. I would imagine he'll get the best medical care available, and will be kept as comfortable as he can, and I hope he can retain his dignity (no small matter for a sick elderly person). But sakes alive, he's not dead yet.

Last time I gave him more than a couple seconds' thought was when I voted for him for Pres in the NY primary in 1980.

Except Laura Bush who killed her high school friend when she ran a stop sign. Will people be dancing on her grave, too?

Did she leave her friend in the car to die while she went home to sleep off her buzz and plot how to cover it up?

I find it unfortunate that he has a brain tumor and hopefully he won't have severe pain during his last months, but if he does then I am sure he would prefer death than what he may experience.

I am curious to find out what happens to a person's mind and body when the tumor is in full force.

No but her husband started a war and took over another nation and lied about his reasons for doing so.

That's probably worse ...

My brother in law's mother died of a malignant tumor of the brain.
In her final year, she was walking dead, not unlike that of an Alzheimer's sufferer. No idea where she was, a blank look on her face and mostly silent.
Malignancies take over the body functions-the body whithers to a bony shell and food consumption is impossible-there are special liquid meals that patients drink to keep up what strength they have left. This is true of most any cancer acceleration, but for those whose brain does not have the malignancy, they go thru this fully aware.
For those that are lucky enough to get it, marijuana is a godsend. It stimulates the appetite and lessens pain.
A friend of the spouse's was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in his early 40's-some might call him lucky-he died of a brain hemmorhage six weeks after his diagnosis.

RedState is a far right-wing political website that, in my opinion, couldn't be more wrong on every issue if they tried. Whenever I happen upon the website, the level of discourse often appears to be juvenile at best, and sometimes, bigoted (although that's admittedly more on the comments than the articles).

But here is what they had to say about Ted Kennedy:

If they can do, folks, so can you.

I don't believe in kinship with another simply based on their species.

It's not an issue of kinship, Seretogis. It's basic human decency. I hope you also don't mock the little children with harelips in those ads asking for contributions.

I do remember seretogis getting kind of irate when I pointed out that Reagan's alzheimer's made a convenient excuse for "not remembering" the decisions he had made involving selling weapons to Iran.

Perhaps he doesn't think Kennedy is human?

You'd make a horrible socialist. Just sayin.

anybody remember this guy?

A horrible socialist is better than an efficient fascist.

Sympathy toward other living creatures isn't merely a focus on someone other than yourself; it is a reflection of you as a being and your capacity for doing good. I wish Mr. Kennedy well on his trying time.

As far as I am aware, it's not going to affect my life (though I hear from friends that he was involved in and influential on many, many areas of life that I care about, so...), so I'm not personally horrified.

But it sure does suck. I've lived through family dying of cancer - it's not pretty. It won't be here, either. I hope things go well for him, as much as I generally don't send the whole world of strangers at large random hostilities.

As for all your car accident discussions... Yep, it was shady. And? It's clear from the nasty comments that if you *did* have the money and power to do so, you would have done the same thing in his place. Why do we all think we're better people? We're not. I can tell you that I would have been horrified if something like that happened, and I would be having nightmares of guilt for the rest of my life. But I'd still fight like hell to stay out of jail. Hey, it's not like I would have killed that girl on purpose, and would see very little point in my being in jail for it. But I'm more willing to admit to my general selfishness than you self-deluded folks, I guess.

Count me in as willing to admit to the same selfishness.

well, most people would prefer to escape the consequences of their own decisions.

That's why I laugh when people rag on me for what I do for a living (I'm a lawyer, doing business litigation). Fact is, if they ever got into trouble they'd be thrilled to have me push every button I could to get them out of it. (within ethical limits, of course)

Yup, it's human nature, isn't it?

I'm the last one to talk, but seems like there's a whole herd of very high horses prancing around in this thread.

His whole family is tragic, but I hold a lot of respect for their political importance.

Love the FMJ quote Hal. :)

It's too bad that some people lack the decency and respect when others are in need. Doesn't matter if you like or dislike the man, the amount of scorn directed by some will in due time be shared by them or their loved ones.

It is interesting also how for some so brash and disrespectful, that their greatest contribution is adding their small, insignificant opinions to an internet forum, anonymously, and thinking they are actually contributing something of worth.

At least Kennedy did something with his life to help others. Obviously those so critical haven't.

Let me set your straight there Percy, you dont know me from Adam, I retired from the Marine Corps with 22 years in, I did enough with my life so little internet bitches can spout from their little hole in the world in freedom.

Today I marched in a Memorial day parade, then went to a VA home to hang out with MEN who gave more than most for this country. As I do every week.

Tomorrow I am going to place new flags on the graves of veterans whose families have long since forgotten them.

What are you doing Percy to make this world a better place?

Thank you Mike

Another POV:

mike, can you name any major action in the past 50 years that President Eisenhower would have ordered?
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27x25sdW9wQ&feature=related">Buffy Sainte-Marie performs "Universal Soldier" for Veterans</a>
We've both been fed a bill of goods, mike. You either refuse to recognize, or you do, and you won't admit it.

A Neurologist friend of mine posited 18 months at the max. Although I disagreed with Kennedy often, I still respected him for the courage of his convictions. I wish him peace and serenity in his last days.

Why, thank you! :icare: