RIP Edward Kennedy

[garbon]

I'm glad that Obama called him the greatest senator of our time.

[BuddhaRhubarb]

Last of the "Greatest Generation of Kennedys" RIP

[Sheilbh]

I'm glad that Obama called him the greatest senator of our time.

I can't think of many other candidates.  Part of it's longevity, but it's difficult to think of an area of American political life without legislation written or sponsored by Kennedy.  In terms of real impact (as opposed to myth and cultural impact) I think he's by far and away the most consequential of the Kennedy clan.

[Habbaku]

Ted Kennedy's life was about a driving need to cross bridges to make connections.  It was about plunging deeply into the river of experience and leaving the dead weight behind.  It was about drinking in fully the heady brew of politics, speeding widly into the hurly-burly without a care, taking some hard knocks, picking oneself up and heading into the twilight with no regrets and without looking back.  Sure Ted was a big spender, but he had a big heart, and he knew you can't get anything worthwhile done without spending a few Kopechs.  Who knows - he might have been President, if only he had hit the breaks.

[Jaron]

I'm glad that Obama called him the greatest senator of our time.

Who else even comes close?

[Jaron]

He was a despicable human being and a coward, and I will remember him as such.

What nerve.

[Barrister]

Let's try to remember the positives.

Ted Kennedy's life was about a driving need to cross bridges to make connections.  It was about plunging deeply into the river of experience and leaving the dead weight behind.  It was about drinking in fully the heady brew of politics, speeding widly into the hurly-burly without a care, taking some hard knocks, picking oneself up and heading into the twilight with no regrets and without looking back.  Sure Ted was a big spender, but he had a big heart, and he knew you can't get anything worthwhile done without spending a few Kopechs.  Who knows - he might have been President, if only he had hit the breaks.

Bravo.

[garbon]

I can't think of many other candidates.  Part of it's longevity, but it's difficult to think of an area of American political life without legislation written or sponsored by Kennedy.  In terms of real impact (as opposed to myth and cultural impact) I think he's by far and away the most consequential of the Kennedy clan.

Oh that's fair. I just have in my head that "greatness" has a connotation of one worthy of respect and/or admiration.

[DisturbedPervert]

Reunited at last!

I think they went to different places

[Razgovory]

He was a despicable human being and a coward, and I will remember him as such.

And yet a better man then you.

[Berkut]

He was a despicable human being and a coward, and I will remember him as such.

And yet a better man then you.

Not at all - I would certainly not have abandoned someone to their death. So no, not a better man than I - probably not even a better man than you.

[The Minsky Moment]

I'm glad that Obama called him the greatest senator of our time.

Who else even comes close?

Depends on how you define "our time" but Mitchell and Dole were contemporaries with pretty good claims.

[alfred russel]

Let's try to remember the positives.

Ted Kennedy's life was about a driving need to cross bridges to make connections.  It was about plunging deeply into the river of experience and leaving the dead weight behind.  It was about drinking in fully the heady brew of politics, speeding widly into the hurly-burly without a care, taking some hard knocks, picking oneself up and heading into the twilight with no regrets and without looking back.  Sure Ted was a big spender, but he had a big heart, and he knew you can't get anything worthwhile done without spending a few Kopechs.  Who knows - he might have been President, if only he had hit the breaks.

Hilarious. 

Does anyone want to post the tribute on another forum (I'm thinking Huffington Post). 

[Berkut]

I am totally going to steal that and post it on facebook.

JR can sue me later if he wants.

[garbon]

I am totally going to steal that and post it on facebook.

I'll make several tweets!