dmr
Registered Abuser
..........kknox
kknox
Hard week for the Kennedy family with two deaths. Personally I did not care for him, but he did make a big impact on the US. My thoughts & prayers are with the family.
Spoks
Well-known
Another of my favourite Americans. A great loss for America.
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
Feels like the end of an era. Carrying the Kennedy legacy could not have been easy, and he stumbled along the way, but he also fought for worthy causes and claimed a few victories. How many in Congress are willing to say they are proud Liberals? It's to his credit that Conservative colleagues like Orrin Hatch and John McCain called him their friend.
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Olsen
Well-known
Liberals..? We would call Edward Kennedy a social democrat. A socialist, really. How many would dare to call themselves socialists in USA today?
Last time I saw Edward Kennedy in action was when he questioned Ben Bernanke in a hearing on the Hill. Bernanke looked like a mobster just before 'taking the fifth', quite a show.
Last time I saw Edward Kennedy in action was when he questioned Ben Bernanke in a hearing on the Hill. Bernanke looked like a mobster just before 'taking the fifth', quite a show.
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
Many Americans are in a state of denial about socialism.
Older Americans will tell you how happy they are with the Social Security and Medicare programs, but they want no part in Socialism or Socialized Medicine.
If advocating for Health care reform makes one a Socialist, so be it. I'm sure if you accused Chinese President Hu of being a Capitalist, due to his monetary and trade policies, he would be highly offended.
Olsen
Well-known
I am not in denial about being a socialist.
By this I am very much main stream in European politics. The Social Democrats are the largest political movement in Europe and one of the largest in the world, (- with the exception of The Communist Party of China and the Congress Party in India). We are going to have parliament election next month here in Norway. I am gonna vote for the social democrats, - who have been in government and have done a fairly good job.
By this I am very much main stream in European politics. The Social Democrats are the largest political movement in Europe and one of the largest in the world, (- with the exception of The Communist Party of China and the Congress Party in India). We are going to have parliament election next month here in Norway. I am gonna vote for the social democrats, - who have been in government and have done a fairly good job.
Spoks
Well-known
You suprise me, Olsen. People of your kind, with a net worth of a couple of million Euro's and an income in the hundred thousands usually vote conservative.
Olsen
Well-known
I am deeply sceptical about a political system that keeps people in important offices at an age of 77. He should have left politics 10 years ago. How could this happen?
Spoks
Well-known
Now everybody talks of what impact Ted Kennedy had on US politics. But the tragic thing is that he had none, or very little influence on US politics.
Since his brothers were assassinated USA has been turned into a facist state. The Kennedy's stood for the opposite values. Now USA has hundreds - that we know of, people held in consentration camps for years and years without trail. American secret agents participate in torture. Big business, facists really, has launched a war against ordinary working people in USA, which they have won. USA attacks and occupies countries that represents no threat to them in violation of international law.
I could go on....
Since his brothers were assassinated USA has been turned into a facist state. The Kennedy's stood for the opposite values. Now USA has hundreds - that we know of, people held in consentration camps for years and years without trail. American secret agents participate in torture. Big business, facists really, has launched a war against ordinary working people in USA, which they have won. USA attacks and occupies countries that represents no threat to them in violation of international law.
I could go on....
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Maybe at 77 some can be smarter and more effective than others 30 years younger. Maybe with age some people actually grow more self-aware and have some amount of wisdom.
What do you have against age?
ebolton
Number 7614
It's hard to reconcile the Ted Kennedy I read about now with the one I heard about locally while growing up on the Massachusetts coast (from the pilot of the New Bedford-Martha's Vinyard float plane, among others). I think it is a misfortune for the USA that he did not 'settle down' at a much younger age. His positive impact could have been much greater if he had.
Spoks
Well-known
I agree with Olsen. Still, I have nothing against age and experience, but much above 70 is no age for a politician. Nor is it representative for the average American that a American politician shall represent.
That said, look at who the enemies of the Kennedy's were. Because they won. Most of the individuals are dead today. Like Howard Hughes, Bunker Hunt, John Foster Dulles, John Birk, J. Edgar Hoover etc. But the forces they represented, Big Business, are still alive and kicking. They have 'kicked over' the whole American society over and run the country bankrupt.
It is sad that politicians like the Kennedy's were not winners in the American political struggle. With the Kennedy's loss most of - all of, the ordinary Americans lost out too.
That said, look at who the enemies of the Kennedy's were. Because they won. Most of the individuals are dead today. Like Howard Hughes, Bunker Hunt, John Foster Dulles, John Birk, J. Edgar Hoover etc. But the forces they represented, Big Business, are still alive and kicking. They have 'kicked over' the whole American society over and run the country bankrupt.
It is sad that politicians like the Kennedy's were not winners in the American political struggle. With the Kennedy's loss most of - all of, the ordinary Americans lost out too.
Trius
Waiting on Maitani
Spoks, I agree with a lot of what you said except
Why not? whether you "have nothing against age and experience", really you do, because 70 is an arbitrary number, isn't it? What if I said 80 ... or someone else said 55? Who sets the limit? It's a slippery slope.
Why not? whether you "have nothing against age and experience", really you do, because 70 is an arbitrary number, isn't it? What if I said 80 ... or someone else said 55? Who sets the limit? It's a slippery slope.
ebolton
Number 7614
Everybody ages differently. Some of us are still capable well into our 80's, and some should be all done at 55. Unfortunately, you can't rely on anyone to know when to quit for themselves. At least, for our politicians, elections give the public at large a way to get them out, or at least to move other politicians in.
Spoks
Well-known
As mentioned, I agree with Olsen on this. 77 is just too old for a politician. It tells of a system failure. Old politician reminds me of Winston Churchill's last term (blocking the chances of Anthony Eden), or of Andropov of Sovjet Union. Old leaders are more typical of one party states.
Still I regard Edward Kennedy among the few normal people in US politics. Compared to Phil Gram, the Bush'es, Reagan - etc. But the latter came out as winners.
How come?
Still I regard Edward Kennedy among the few normal people in US politics. Compared to Phil Gram, the Bush'es, Reagan - etc. But the latter came out as winners.
How come?
crawdiddy
qu'est-ce que c'est?
I object to your declaration of those persons, especially Phil Gramm, as winners. Phil Gramm is a loser.
His positions (supply side economics, trickle-down theory, tax reductions for the wealthy, less government except in matters of morality or abortion, etc.) have been repudiated by the voters, and by the actual economy of 2008-2009.
His positions (supply side economics, trickle-down theory, tax reductions for the wealthy, less government except in matters of morality or abortion, etc.) have been repudiated by the voters, and by the actual economy of 2008-2009.
Spoks
Well-known
Phil Gramm was a powerful figure in US politics that had - together with others, like Wall Street, enormous influence. With this influence they have destroyed the US economy and the public sector. It could be argued that there is more traces of Phil Gramm-influence in USA today than anything that can be traced to Edward Kennedy. Sad.
Olsen
Well-known
the acid test for Obama - but also the US democracy
the acid test for Obama - but also the US democracy
- That's the health care reform that Obama is proposing. If this is not passed as a law it will set USA years back. We are holding our breaths over here.
the acid test for Obama - but also the US democracy
- That's the health care reform that Obama is proposing. If this is not passed as a law it will set USA years back. We are holding our breaths over here.