Don't Pass Health Care Because Of Kennedy

I am so mad at the 24/7 media I could scream. They are the ones pushing for the passage of legislation that hasn't even been completed to honor Ted Kennedy! That would be the most stupid, irresponsible reason in the world to pass it and would hardly "honor" the man.

I'm no fan of Ted Kennedy, nor any of them for that matter. More poor little rich boys getting passes throughout life for behaving badly. I cannot give Ted a pass for the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. A death that could possibly have been prevented had he gone to the first house across that bridge and called for help - or mustered the help of those who lived there. To have waited 10 hours was criminal. But he was a Kennedy. All the motions were gone through but everyone knew what the outcome would be. Pass.

In another sense, he took the life of of another individual too. The career of Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. His campaign against Bork has to be one of the most venomous in the history of politics. It destroyed Bork's nomination and reputation. That too drained a life.

His bad boy behavior behind the scenes could be repulsive too. Take for example the "waitress sandwich" story that's making the rounds on talk radio today. It would seem he and his great friend Chris Dodd (D-CT) were dining in one of D.C.'s more posh restaurants with a couple of sweet young ladies that were not their wives. In a private room known as "The Teddy Kennedy Fun Room". Everyone was very drunk. When the sweet young things took a ladies room break, Kennedy grabbed a waitress, threw her on a table then threw her onto the sprawled Dodd and piled on top of the two of them. The details of the incident are disgusting.

So we lionize the man for his years of service and the fact he was a Kennedy. It was expected and will play itself out after he is interred in that most sacred of ground at Arlington; the final resting place of those who died for their country. Truly for their country.

I doubt, if the legislation is passed without serious revision, our narcissistic President, who wants health care reform to be his legacy , will allow another name on it. If he does, however, maybe it's fitting.

Just remember, you who are making your views known while you can, what happened to the country after the last major piece of legislation was pushed through without thought after 9/11? The Homeland Security Act has negatively impacted so many aspects of our lives! Our rights have been trampled. As a small example, we can't cross what were once friendly borders without hassle, we can't fly without physical intrusion or the risk of our names being on a terrorist watch list for no reason. We can be listened to with impunity. Our e-mails can be scrutinized. What will happen to our privacy this time?

Maybe Kennedy devoted himself to a lifetime of public service as a self-imposed penance for past transgressions. I'd have an easier time believing that had others, less serious in that a life was not taken, had not been a benchmark of his private life. Rather it had been behavior deserving the kudos his senatorial tenure seems to muster.

As Bill Clinton said, in effect, when asked about why he did what he did in the oval office with a young intern, "Because I could". It would also seem to be the case with Senator Kennedy.

Now. What about Chris Dodd? Another man who would be President. I'm beginning to wonder if we have a choice any more. I'm learning one thing. The moral standards of public figures are far different than mine. No matter. I still factor it into my opinions with no apologies.