Senator Ted Kennedy

Marco · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 12:15 pm

Sad that he died. He was a legend and will be missed forever.

How do you think US politics will be after his death?

Adbot · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 12:15 pm

Earth · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 12:28 pm

Long message from Obama

Friend --

Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy.

For nearly five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well-being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.

His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected in millions of lives -- in seniors who know new dignity; in families that know new opportunity; in children who know education's promise; and in all who can pursue their dream in an America that is more equal and more just, including me.

In the United States Senate, I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth and good cheer. He battled passionately on the Senate floor for the causes that he held dear, and yet still maintained warm friendships across party lines. And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy.

I personally valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've benefited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.

His fight gave us the opportunity we were denied when his brothers John and Robert were taken from us: the blessing of time to say thank you and goodbye. The outpouring of love, gratitude and fond memories to which we've all borne witness is a testament to the way this singular figure in American history touched so many lives.

For America, he was a defender of a dream. For his family, he was a guardian. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today -- to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family.

Today, our country mourns. We say goodbye to a friend and a true leader who challenged us all to live out our noblest values. And we give thanks for his memory, which inspires us still.

Sincerely,

President Barack Obama

'With Kennedy's death, the Senate Democratic Party caucus has lost its 60-seat supermajority in the US Senate.'
Bad things.

Rune Beast0 · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 12:36 pm

...It doesn't really change American politics that much. He was a big Democrat but with a Democratic President it's not as big a deal. Like Earth said, the Democrats in the Senate lose supermajority but the party still has the power. The passing of laws and such will for the most part stay the same.

Anyway, dying of brain cancer is fairly sad, but I think the recent death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver (his sister, who basically invented the Special Olympics and was a huge supporter of the disabled) was worse.

Magicjarvis · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 1:09 pm

Rune Beast0 wrote:

...It doesn't really change American politics that much. He was a big Democrat but with a Democratic President it's not as big a deal. Like Earth said, the Democrats in the Senate lose supermajority but the party still has the power. The passing of laws and such will for the most part stay the same.

Anyway, dying of brain cancer is fairly sad, but I think the recent death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver (his sister, who basically invented the Special Olympics and was a huge supporter of the disabled) was worse.

Personally, I don't think you can really call one person's death any worse than the next. I don't think death is a quantifiable thing like that. Regardless of that though, he will be missed.

Dokter Bob · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 1:23 pm

I don't understand what the big deal is. He's a senator, and he was JFK's brother. He was old. Old people die.

Magicking610 · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 2:33 pm

The big deal is how long he was a senator. He was a senator since the 1960s. All I can say is expect congress to waste a few months fighting over who has the majority in the Senate. Seems like everyone is dying this year.

Adbot · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 2:33 pm

Rune Beast0 · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 2:47 pm

Magicjarvis wrote:

Personally, I don't think you can really call one person's death any worse than the next. I don't think death is a quantifiable thing like that. Regardless of that though, he will be missed.

Usually I believe the same thing. However, Senator Kennedy got into a car crash, saved himself, then didn't report the incident. It was only discovered when the passenger of his car was found dead, and after that he used his family's wealth and power to cover it up.

Marco · **Posted:** August 27th, 2009, 7:47 pm

Dokter Bob wrote:

I don't understand what the big deal is. He's a senator, and he was JFK's brother. He was old. Old people die.

He was a senator for 47 year strait I believe, and he lived through lot in his life, losing 2 brothers, a sister, brain cancer, coming to the US into a conservitive area as a liberal Irish-Catholic, which I am myself, was no easy task back when he first moved to Massachuttes.

Rune Beast0 wrote:

Magicjarvis wrote:

Personally, I don't think you can really call one person's death any worse than the next. I don't think death is a quantifiable thing like that. Regardless of that though, he will be missed.

Usually I believe the same thing. However, Senator Kennedy got into a car crash, saved himself, then didn't report the incident. It was only discovered when the passenger of his car was found dead, and after that he used his family's wealth and power to cover it up.

As most news casts said today, his early years were not his greatest. After that incident, he did more good than most people do in thier lives. I believe he had over 1500 votes in the senate. I met him before he was diagnosed with brain cancer, and you wouldn't be able to tell he was a politician. He came by as an accomplished retired man, not the one who barks at your for stepping on his lawn, but the one that would walk down the street helping people.

Earth · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 10:04 am

Rune Beast0 wrote:

Magicjarvis wrote:

Personally, I don't think you can really call one person's death any worse than the next. I don't think death is a quantifiable thing like that. Regardless of that though, he will be missed.

Usually I believe the same thing. However, Senator Kennedy got into a car crash, saved himself, then didn't report the incident. It was only discovered when the passenger of his car was found dead, and after that he used his family's wealth and power to cover it up.

On July 25, Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and was given a sentence of two months in jail, suspended.That night, he gave a national broadcast in which he said, "I regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately", but denied driving under the influence of alcohol and denied any immoral conduct between him and Kopechne. Kennedy asked the Massachusetts electorate whether he should stay in office and, after getting a favorable response, he did so.
He didn't cover it up.

CreepyPirate · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 11:36 am

Earth271072 wrote:

Rune Beast0 wrote:

Magicjarvis wrote:

Personally, I don't think you can really call one person's death any worse than the next. I don't think death is a quantifiable thing like that. Regardless of that though, he will be missed.

Usually I believe the same thing. However, Senator Kennedy got into a car crash, saved himself, then didn't report the incident. It was only discovered when the passenger of his car was found dead, and after that he used his family's wealth and power to cover it up.

On July 25, Kennedy pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and was given a sentence of two months in jail, suspended.That night, he gave a national broadcast in which he said, "I regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately", but denied driving under the influence of alcohol and denied any immoral conduct between him and Kopechne. Kennedy asked the Massachusetts electorate whether he should stay in office and, after getting a favorable response, he did so.
He didn't cover it up.

Dude killed a man, didn't report it which is just as bad as covering up I'd go as far as to presume he was under the influence of drugs/booze cause of that and he only got 2 months? lol wtf. What do you have to do to get a year?

jointntoday · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 11:40 am

pfft, wonder if i would only do 2 months if i killed a man?

oh no, i forgot...im not special #-o

Kenny · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 1:04 pm

Dokter Bob wrote:

I don't understand what the big deal is. He's a senator, and he was JFK's brother. He was old. Old people die.

What makes him so different from that news reader guy that died the other month? You seemed pretty gutted when he died.

Mushroom Queen · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 2:48 pm

You know what? You can debate how his death will or will not affect the Senate, or how he had a few bad spots in his past but nothing could possibly change the fact that Ted Kennedy has done more in his life than you, me, and most people in the world. He fought for equality for women and minorities in the US. You can thank him for the fact that schools have to provide equal funding for women's sports as they do with men's. He is played a huge role in helping to outlaw discrimination against minority voters. His efforts weren't just contained within the borders of the US. He fought for human rights in third world countries, pushing for aid to alleviate poverty in some of the most war-torn regions of the world.

The fact that most of you are "Oh, he was old, so what?" shows exactly that you don't care or don't understand what a truly extraordinary person he was.

In short, read a book. :roll:

Rad · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 3:03 pm

R.I.P
but i didn't know who he was tbh

Iron Maiden · **Posted:** August 29th, 2009, 3:29 pm

Mushroom Queen wrote:

You know what? You can debate how his death will or will not affect the Senate, or how he had a few bad spots in his past but nothing could possibly change the fact that Ted Kennedy has done more in his life than you, me, and most people in the world. He fought for equality for women and minorities in the US. You can thank him for the fact that schools have to provide equal funding for women's sports as they do with men's. He is played a huge role in helping to outlaw discrimination against minority voters. His efforts weren't just contained within the borders of the US. He fought for human rights in third world countries, pushing for aid to alleviate poverty in some of the most war-torn regions of the world.

The fact that most of you are "Oh, he was old, so what?" shows exactly that you don't care or don't understand what a truly extraordinary person he was.

In short, read a book. :roll:

^True that. I couldn't agree more.

He surely changed the world, if he wasn't around in past, so many things would have been different today. But I'm sure he will be remembered for a long time, Legends like him are never forgotten.

Quote:

I don't understand what the big deal is. He's a senator, and he was JFK's brother. He was old. Old people die.

What if you grand parents both died tonight? Will you say ''They were old. Old people die'' ?
No? Just as I expected. You dont have to be old to die of a tumor you know, You can be 80 and in perfect shape and physically very active or be under 50 and die of tumor right now. These kind of things are random, You can't know when or to whom they'll strike. Not because you're ''old'' means you are expected to die.