Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

So Teddy has died, the last of the 4 Kennedy brothers and the only one who didn't die violently. I have always associated him with the Chappaquiddick incident, which must have always been a shadow over anything he did, but to his credit he worked hard to sort out the IRA problem.

His sister Eunice died very recently, too, so I'm not sure there are any of that Kennedy generation left. A most remarkable family, in every sense of the word.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

The man did have a good influence on what are now supposed to be Democratic ideals..health care.. social security..fair wages...decent housing.
Apart from "Chappaquiddick" (copy and paste LOL)..he could have been a US President..he seemed a decent bloke.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

Many say that it was Kennedy's defeat in the race for presidential nomination that spurred him on to do all the good work within the senate that made him such a respected man.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

I always knew that there was another son but didn't know what had happened to him. I did a search on wiki earlier and was really shocked. Joseph P Kennedy jnr was so brave and lost his life in the second world war aged 29.

Such a tragic family.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

"Tragic" .... a much overused term ... and don't forget Joe Sr. was yanked from England as the US ambassador during the Battle of Britain for comments like "Democracy is finished in Britain" .... Kennedys are overated .... The positive thing about JFK's assassination is that it rescued his image. Bay of Pigs, escalation of the Viet Nam war, taking the world to the brink, screwing Marilyn Monroe .... what a sterling record as President! And Ted, a great date, but don't let him drive you home.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

I'm waiting to see what Bullseyebarb's views are , I'm sure she will be kind and not speak ill of the dead ;) :D :D

the Funeral will be interesting to see how many of his IRA friends turn up :rolleyes:

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

If they do show up, they will probably show up drunk ... which will be appropriate.;)

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

Did'nt hear to much from any of our "American" friends during the bombings of women and children by the IRA over here....Clinton did at least try to sort it out.. the Americans only learned what was going on after 9/11.. to late for anyone ...and if this man was part of the IRA then he is off my list of good blokes.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

Family and friends of Mary Jo Kopechne probably don't think too much of him either.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

Yes, definitely inappropriate to comment at the moment. Let's wait until the old boy has been planted.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

are you serious when you say that?
the guy supported and had sympathy with the IRA ffs!
the man was a fool, he also tried to commit suicide by driving his car off a bridge - with his innocent wife in it - the car hit the ground - he broke his arm and ran off - leaving his wife for dead - in which she died.

wont be missed in my eyes.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

The women, Mary Jo Kopechne, who died in his car, wasn't his wife. He wasn't attempting suicide, he was drunk after a party, and ran off like a coward.

I agree.

This active supporter of terrorism, and fundraiser for Sinn Féin, wasn't a person I admired.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

thanks for correcting me on that one - I always thought it was his wife:confused:....

still a coward and sinn fein supporter...

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

No not his wife.

Like his brothers he liked to cheat on his spouse.

I was reading just yesterday an article from 1991. Teddy was riding around Washington in his chauffeur driven limo, he stopped two sixteen year old girls, and tried to lure them for a ride with the offer of wine, from the bottle he was holding. Stupidly all this was witnessed by the journalist who was trying to interview him at the time.

Classy.

Kennedy Snr. was a bad apple, and little apples don't fall far from the tree.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

I am deadly serious. I'm sure he was an IRA supporter, certainly initially, but he did a lot to get the two sides talking in recent years, whatever his motives were. I only mentioned this because, as I said, he always had the shadow of Chappaquiddick over him. I see Garinda has already given you the proper account of that particular incident which, may I say, I remember well as I was a grown woman when the media were full of it. Ted proved himself a spoiled, rich brat and Kennedy money got him off the hook.

I hold no brief for Teddy Kennedy, I merely commented that the family was remarkable. That is not to say that I liked them (though I had a regard for President Jack). Their father was a crook, a bootlegger and a womaniser and they were all flawed to whatever degree but their story is fascinating.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

[quote=West Ender;740480]I am deadly serious. I'm sure he was an IRA supporter, certainly initially, but he did a lot to get the two sides talking in recent years, whatever his motives were. I only mentioned this because, as I said, he always had the shadow of Chappaquiddick over him. I see Garinda has already given you the proper account of that particular incident which, may I say, I remember well as I was a grown woman when the media were full of it. Ted proved himself a spoiled, rich brat and Kennedy money got him off the hook.

I hold no brief for Teddy Kennedy, I merely commented that the family was remarkable. That is not to say that I liked them (though I had a regard for President Jack). Their father was a crook, a bootlegger and a womaniser and they were all flawed to whatever degree but their story is fascinating.[/quote]

I await the hollywood movie of it all...sounds good..:cool:

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

They did make a mini-series for TV about the Kennedys. It was very interesting and, for once, didn't whitewash them too much. I'm sure Hollywood would love to get in on the act but there is too much Kennedy influence still around for that to happen. ;)

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

I agree. A totally fascinating political dynasty, and with hindsight we see things in a different way now, but you can't take away from the youthful charisma that President Kennedy had, and the hope for a brighter future, that he made the world's youth believe might be possible.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

You are dead right, Rindi. I was 17 and there was a debate on the telly between Richard Nixon, who I had heard of, and Jack Kennedy. I wasn't really interested, I knew nothing about American politics, but as soon as Kennedy started speaking I just knew he would be the next president. His youthful good looks grabbed my attention first but it was the charisma that hooked me.

They say everyone remembers where they were when Jack Kennedy was shot. I certainly do, I was 7 months pregnant with my first child and sitting with my feet up, just after my tea. I can still visualise it coming on TV when Mike Scott interrupted the programme with the news. I cried all that evening.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

To me, Platell of the Daily Mail summed it up perfectly with her comments :-

"Tony Blair said on the death of the sex-crazed, deceitful, binge-drinking Senator Edward Kennedy: 'My prayers are with his family and friends as they reflect on the loss of a great and good man.' Great indeed, but good ? Even by Blair's standards, that's taking spinning to a new level of deceit"

I never saw any of the Kennedys as good men .. bottom half always ruled the top grey matter in my opinion.

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

Yeah, okay, but JFK, would you have accepted an internship from him?

:D

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

Not my type .... :p

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

one Irishmans view of the Kennedys,
Kennedys were leaders of the most nauseating and sentimental of any ethnic minority in US - Kevin Myers, Columnists - Independent.ie

from the Irish Independent newspaper

Re: Senator Teddy Kennedy
 

So, if rich, handsome, and powerful isn't your type .... what is:confused:;):D:D:D