Senator Edward Kennedy, the liberal lion of the US Senate, has died aged 77, after battling a brain tumour.
For nearly a half-century in the Senate, Kennedy was a dominant voice on health care, civil rights, war and peace, and more.
To the American public, though, he was best known as the last surviving brother of a legendary political family.
Edward Kennedy was elected to the Senate in 1962, when his brother John was president, and served longer than all but two senators in history.
Over the decades, he put his imprint on every major piece of social legislation to clear the Congress.
A family statement said: "We've lost the irreplaceable centre of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all."
Senator Kennedy lost two of his brothers - John and Robert - to assassins' bullets, and his own hopes of reaching the White House were damaged, perhaps doomed, in 1969 by the scandal that came to be known as Chappaquiddick, a car accident that left a young woman dead.
Senator Kennedy - known to family, friends and foes simply as Ted - ended his quest for the presidency in 1980 with a stirring valedictory that echoed across the decades: "For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die."
The third-longest-serving senator in US history, he was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour in May 2008 and underwent surgery and a gruelling regime of radiation and chemotherapy.
His death comes just weeks after that of his sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who died on August 11.
The Kennedy family were a bunch of philandering crooks. The only thing they loved more than money and philandering was power.
This love of power took JFK into conflict with the banking system - he wanted to abolish the Federal Reserve - therefore he was assassinated. So was his brother. Getting rid of the FED was the only really good thing they tried to do - even if it was for their own potential gain.
I think the loss of this guy is a closing of a dark chapter. Shame we can't get rid of a few more congressmen and senators.
The Kennedy family were a bunch of philandering crooks. The only thing they loved more than money and philandering was power.
This love of power took JFK into conflict with the banking system - he wanted to abolish the Federal Reserve - therefore he was assassinated. So was his brother. Getting rid of the FED was the only really good thing they tried to do - even if it was for their own potential gain.
I think the loss of this guy is a closing of a dark chapter. Shame we can't get rid of a few more congressmen and senators.
Ben.
hard words, but well said, easy to forget the other side to people.
Why is that Brits always look on the negative side of life.
No wonder, the UK is in such a mess.
And I am guilty of it too but less so since I became a regular visitor to the USA.
1) He was a champion of Liberal causes in the Senate
2) Backed Obama over Hillary Clinton due to Barrack's opposition over the Iraq war
3) He campaigned for better rights for immigrants in the USA and tighter gun control
4) Worked with Republican opponents to get laws passed like a jobs training Bill
5) Abandoned an opposition to abortion and allowing women the right to choose
Yes he had his bad moments in his younger years, but who hasn't.
He also was blessed with a family that had many dark moments and he was ill advised by them especially over the Mary Jo Kopechne death.
He became a highly respected elder statesman and aspiring Democratic Presidential candidates sought his endorsement like John Kerry who was robbed in 2004 by the corrupt Republican George Bush and his cronies.
1) He was a champion of Liberal causes in the Senate
There aren't many liberal causes left in the states any more. It is descending into fascism at a rate of knots now. Not long to go before 'enforced' swine flu vaccinations etc.
2) Backed Obama over Hillary Clinton due to Barrack's opposition over the Iraq war
Obama is a shill. Just another proxy for the FED and others. Exactly the same as Bush was. They do a few things different on the surface, to keep up the premise - but there's absolutely no difference. I'm glad Hillary didn't get in because her voice is incredibly annoying. I can ignore Obama quite easily - Hillary I can't.
3) He campaigned for better rights for immigrants in the USA and tighter gun control
Immigrants are wanted as slave labor in the U.S. - They have no rights in the real world. They are slaves to the corporatocracy. The 'soon to be arriving' North American Union will prove this - racism, ghetto's and slavery will heighten when the Amero currency comes in to replace the Dollar, Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso. That currency is arriving within 2 years.
As for tighter gun control. There was a reason the founding fathers prescribed citizens rights to bear arms - so that the government couldn't get out of control and oppress them. Gun control supporters are lackeys of an emerging fascist state. I support the argument for better legislation on licencing and enforcement of licence rules - not general removal of guns.
4) Worked with Republican opponents to get laws passed like a jobs training Bill
There is no such thing as Bi-Lateralism in the states. The two parties are batting for the same team - the corporatocracy. So it's not hard to cross the so called divide. Jobs training bills are great - but they have no support on the ground, so they don't get anywhere. It's all puff and no grunt.
5) Abandoned an opposition to abortion and allowing women the right to choose
He 'abandoned' opposition to abortion? That's not something you just 'abandon'. His political environment in his constituency demanded it. He follows whichever way his constituents tell him to go - the bible bashers don't like abortion, atheists and agnostics don't give a crap. Whichever one is in prevalence at the time wins. Women should always have the right to choose - all he 'abandoned' there was a religion on it's last legs.
If you want to admire a stateman in the U.S. - pick someone worth admiring.
Ron Paul of Texas is a legend. He is one of the few true U.S. statesmen that is in it for the people - not for himself.
Unfortunately Ben, Ron Paul was seen as a complete moon bat on this side of the pond. Not by me though. Personally, he had the only fiscal policy that made even one lick of sense, and with this recession, he would have been the only candidate with a leg to stand on.
'91 Miata, BEGi s2 turbo kit (GT2560r), 2.5" exhaust, Torsen LSD, AEM WBO2, 460cc injectors, MegasquirtPNP, Tein flex, Hyperflex bushings, 15x8 949Racing 6UL's, 225/45/15 Hankook RS2's, HDHCDDHT rollbar. Only SOME of this is actually installed on the car right now though. lol. Dang procrastination!
I can understand why he was seen as a 'moon bat' - the things he says are so alien to the common american. Not surprising given the quite frankly disgusting grade of the information supplied by the mainstream media over there, and the fact that the other members of congress over there were only too aware of the shortcomings they had that he would expose.
Have you ever read or listened to any of Gerald Celente's work? The guy, and his team, are very, very good at what they do. They form the Trends Research Institute. "Current events dictate future trends."
That's the part that worries me. They've predicted fascism in the U.S., and a further global meltdown. I've studied economics, and keep up with world events. I agree with them.
The more of these old guard corrupt politicians going down the swanny, the worse things will get as the new and improved (negatively) versions of them come into play.
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