July 18, 1969


Mary Jo Kopechne died 40 years ago today. And today Ted Kennedy plots our deaths at the hands of an inferior healthcare system.

Consider this an open thread.

Category: ,

RSS feed

36 Comments Leave a comment

Mary Jo

SouthernCross Saturday, July 18th at 8:16AM EDT (link)

May she rest in peace…..

Perhaps, we can put a smile on her face by banding together and bombarding our Reps with oppostion to this “Death to Health Care” Act.

Hit the phones and email folks and don’t let up!

SouthernCross

gjpruden Saturday, July 18th at 12:44PM EDT (link)

SouthernCross is right! Let’s not wallow in past defeats! Let’s instead send Ted to his eternal reward with the knowledge that his “healthcare” bill has failed!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 
 

You first Obama and Congress

fisk2521 Saturday, July 18th at 9:09AM EDT (link)

I always feel anger when I remember the ‘pass’ given to Ted Kennedy for the tragedy he was responsible for that night. I remember watching his subsequent ‘explanation’ with his tragic 1st wife, Joan seated next to him, wondering what in heaven she was thinking as he ‘explained’. I was then a ‘died in the wool’ Democrat, liberal and even then turned and told me husband he better never try and sell me a story like that. No one listening could honestly have said they believed him.

Anyone else who had behaved in such a manner, leaving the scene of this accident, no doubt caused by driving and drinking, would have escaped jail time.

Instead our Democratic party is allowing Ted Kennedy to revamp and literally destroy the best healthcare system in the world…a system that is no doubt doing all that is medically possible for Ted. Ted wants to replace it with one that doesn’t do that for all and like his ‘busing’ advocation, it will exclude the Ted Kennedy’s of the world. They will, of course, continue to have access to the Harvards, the Hopkins, the Mayo Clinics. Ted, of course, never ‘bused’ his kids to urban schools, they went to private ones.

Personally I think any healthcare system ‘crafted’ by Obama and his cabal, should absolutely be required immediately for him, his family and the entire Congress and Judiciary. The American public should start a campaign, petition to make it so.

LDavis

There is one big problem with forcing a new "public" plan on Congress:

Flagstaff Saturday, July 18th at 2:17PM EDT (link)

If they know they’ll be depending on it, it’ll be so full of bells and whistles we’ll go broke in two years instead of four.

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
Vote John McCain!–Sometimes Better Than a Democrat.
“It’s quite satisfying to call someone an insulting colloquialism, even when it’s not accurate!”–Temperance Brennan, Bones

 
 

Wow, talk a about "media cover"!

Next93 Saturday, July 18th at 9:58AM EDT (link)

I hadn’t realized the proximity of the Kopechne event and the moon landing. I’m surprised some conspiracy theorist hasn’t come up with some nonsense about JFK creating the lunar program in order to create cover for Teddy.

I have to wonder if the country wouldn’t have been better off if Teddy had become president. I mean, could he have possibly done as much damage to the country in four years as president as he has as a lifetime congressleech?

Constitutional limits on the powers of the federal government:
It’s not just the law, it’s a good idea!

Perhaps timing is important.

Flagstaff Saturday, July 18th at 2:39PM EDT (link)

He might have kept Reagan out of the White House. Then where would we be now?

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
Vote John McCain!–Sometimes Better Than a Democrat.
“It’s quite satisfying to call someone an insulting colloquialism, even when it’s not accurate!”–Temperance Brennan, Bones

 
 

In the News: Above and Below Sea Level

SoFiMil Saturday, July 18th at 10:17AM EDT (link)

I’m definitely not qualified to answer this question and don’t have the necessary background research. I also wasn’t born yet so can’t give my personal recollections. At that time (40 years ago), was Chappaquiddick a big media story, or did it get lost in the attention rightfully paid to the moon landing?

Yeah, it was a big media story back then.

janis Saturday, July 18th at 10:50AM EDT (link)

Due to the double assassinations of JFK and RFK, a Kennedy couldn’t blow his nose without the media being all over it. They did as they usually do, however, and gave him every single pass they could afford to give. I was 17 at the time and couldn’t believe even then that this guy was going to walk away from the responsibility of letting a woman drown just to save his drunken sorry ass. Looking back, it is not surprising in the least that the MSM focused so much attention on the bum’s brothers instead of him, all in an attempt to milk sympathy for Teddy instead of the condemnation that he so richly deserved.

Teddy owes his entire career and all the free passes he has received to his two dead brothers.

 

The coverup machine went to work immediately.

Vladimir Saturday, July 18th at 10:52AM EDT (link)

IIRC Kennedy got a lot of cover from the local cops, etc.

The news media did look into Chappaquiddick, but it took some time for the story to get pieced together. I remember in particular pictures of the bridge, the houses, etc. in Life Magazine, which was more photography-oriented than the “newsweeklies”.

Everyone was focused on the moon landing that weekend. It was almost as big a story at the time as Michael Jackson’s funeral was recently…

There is no opinion, however absurd, which men will not readily embrace as soon as they can be brought to the conviction that it is generally adopted. - Arthur Schopenhauer

Vlad, your juxtaposition of those two makes one

janis Saturday, July 18th at 11:01AM EDT (link)

realize just how low the press has sunk. The coverage of the moon landing was superb and highlighted repeatedly the exceptionalism of America and Americans. The coverage of the Jackson freak show underscores the very low bar that is in place to qualify a person or event for that kind of wall to wall attention.

 
 

HIS Version Was A Big Story

Swamp_Yankee Saturday, July 18th at 10:59AM EDT (link)

I wasnt around either.

The old media was slow in those days. Teddy gave his mea culpa, sort of. He asked the people if he should resign. He even cited Profiles in Courage. He gave his testimony which time revealed was full of holes , but at the time it was largely accpeted. According to Teddy, he tried to rescue Mary Jo a bunch of times. He was busted for basically being irresponsible and leaving the scene of an accident. But the cover-up took years to reveal.

It was only due to a small, but hard core group of conservatives and journalists like Leo Damore that we learned the truth about such detail as the Dike House, the air bubble, his morning routine,….

And yes, the moon landing wiped it off the front page.

 

Lessee... I was 25 and a brand new father.

Flagstaff Saturday, July 18th at 3:39PM EDT (link)

I was a lot more interested in the moon landing than in the adventures of the Kennedy Klan.

In that day, there was no cable where most of us lived, no 24-hour news cycle. It took a day for the local police to investigate, another day for the news to reach Topeka. It took a while longer for the details to be reported.

The Chappaquiddick story must have broken on moon-landing day, which was being anticipated every day with important news stories. And there are only two top quarters to a front page.

Moon landing took most all of the front page. Teddy’s Swim may have made below the fold a few days later. Timing IS everything. I don’t even associate the two events as being in close proximity timewise.

The moon landing took heat off of Teddy, and Michael Jackson took heat off of Mark Sanford. So it looks like they have TWO personal events in common.

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
Vote John McCain!–Sometimes Better Than a Democrat.
“It’s quite satisfying to call someone an insulting colloquialism, even when it’s not accurate!”–Temperance Brennan, Bones

 
 

You guys know [Edited because I'm bored and tired]

mcspence1212 Saturday, July 18th at 10:24AM EDT (link)

G’bye – NS

how to to keep it classy. I’ll give you that. :- )

Why actually have a real discussion when you can just lob sophomoric
comparisons that are so distanced apart it would take a super computer running 24/7 for 5 years to just see the connection.

PS - this is the part where you come in and tell me 1. I haven’t logged in a while and 2. that I’m a ragin’ liberal that has no business being here further solidifying the fact that the need for real discourse is something sorely missed.

Spence

2 years and 3 months?

David Hinz Saturday, July 18th at 12:14PM EDT (link)

Wise use of his resources, wasn't it, David?

janis Saturday, July 18th at 12:22PM EDT (link)

I’m assuming that he was using a computer at his local library because he got foreclosed on and can’t figure out how come.

 
 
 

What's the difference between Mary Jo and health care?

NeoKong Saturday, July 18th at 10:41AM EDT (link)

Answer: Mary Jo at least got to go to a party before she was killed.

Photobucket

“We will not rest until we find all who were involved”
- President Barack Obama, on the failed terrorist attempt to blow up a Delta Airlines plane on Christmas Day as he vacationed in Hawaii.

Ted Kennedy only ruined ...

6eorge Jetson Saturday, July 18th at 12:51PM EDT (link)

Oops, that would be a similarity


    Click to see enlarged image

 
 

Yes, Chappaquiddick was bad...

harlan Saturday, July 18th at 11:35AM EDT (link)

but I’m sure that there are republican politicians out there who have done something equally as horrific…

…like maybe fired an abusive employee, (a union member no less!!!)

…or sent emails to an eighteen year old page,

…or played footsies with the guy in the next stall,

…or (OMG!), had an affair!

Luckily, there was no pass, no media absolution for these miscreants.

Let's see, how many died from these?

ceili_dancer Saturday, July 18th at 12:06PM EDT (link)

I think that's his point (nt)

Neil Stevens Saturday, July 18th at 12:11PM EDT (link)

Want to run for conservatives? Give.
There Is No Crisis

I’d rather everyone get along, but I’ll settle for everyone united in hating me for being a jerky moderator.

 
 
 

The Libral Media protected teddy the unconvicted murderer back then.

bobojake Saturday, July 18th at 11:56AM EDT (link)

I was in Newport Rhode Island in the service from 1962-1965 and had a belly full of the librals. When teddy broke his back in the airplane crash you would of thunk he was an icon in an outhouse then. In 1969 I was back home in the Midwest when he got away with murder and the media protected him just like they are protecting obama the icon in basement of the outhouse now.

 

I don't get it

mom2oneson Saturday, July 18th at 12:14PM EDT (link)

The entire police/detectives, pathologist/hospital, DA office, his wife/family/friends, everyone involved covered for him? Not one detective or uniform officer or attorney was willing to speak out? They should be liable too.

It's a Fascinating Story

Swamp_Yankee Saturday, July 18th at 12:20PM EDT (link)

Not all were corrupt, but enough were. And those who weren’t were intimidated.

They were on an island off Cape Cod, they’re home base. That’s why they waited a day to call the cops. They got all their ducks in a row, got their stories straight, got their guys in and flew people out.

There were some straight shooters like Sheriff Huck Look, but no one would cooperate, evidence was gone and the prosecutors were in Kennedys pocket.

All Kennedy stories are interersting. When they are all dead, there is going to be some interesting reading about thirty years from now.

 
 

LOL: Jeff Session and Crack Cocaine

Swamp_Yankee Saturday, July 18th at 1:42PM EDT (link)

How do you know if you are an uptight conservative, you are if you cant laugh at this:

Sessions

Swamp_Yankee Saturday, July 18th at 1:44PM EDT (link)

Great clip and I wholeheartedly agree with reducing the sentences as well - nt

Mike gamecock DeVine Saturday, July 18th at 1:57PM EDT (link)

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson

 
 
 

Open thread: Unemployment fact to remember:

Flagstaff Saturday, July 18th at 4:28PM EDT (link)

If unemployment is 2.5 million people and 9.5%, that’s one thing. But if federal tax receipts or borrowed dollars are being used to pay the salaries and benefits of any new worker in America or elsewhere, that worker is part of the problem (making it worse), not part of the solution.

If he were just unemployed, he’d get some unemployment benefits costing $X. But on the federal-paid payroll, he gets a salary that is greater than $X, benefits worth even more, and he’s paying his SocSec tax with our money, adding even more to the SocSec liabilities and ultimately to its demise.

So in reality, unemployment figures effectively should include all the new workers hired as a result of the porkulus package (and there are a lot of them). They aren’t employed, they’re on welfare.

OT: I just saw a hepatic tanager at my bird feeder. No joke. First ever.

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
Vote John McCain!–Sometimes Better Than a Democrat.
“It’s quite satisfying to call someone an insulting colloquialism, even when it’s not accurate!”–Temperance Brennan, Bones

 

Open thread: Remembering Walter Kronkeit.

Flagstaff Saturday, July 18th at 4:32PM EDT (link)

A long career. Lots of big stories. The biggest story of all (the Vietnam War and its prospects) he got wrong. And he got it wrong in a way that affected its outcome, to the detriment of the United States.

Now, back to Michael Jackson.

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
Vote John McCain!–Sometimes Better Than a Democrat.
“It’s quite satisfying to call someone an insulting colloquialism, even when it’s not accurate!”–Temperance Brennan, Bones

Boy, did I misspell "Cronkite." nt

Flagstaff Saturday, July 18th at 4:34PM EDT (link)

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!
Vote John McCain!–Sometimes Better Than a Democrat.
“It’s quite satisfying to call someone an insulting colloquialism, even when it’s not accurate!”–Temperance Brennan, Bones

 
 

The way I see Ted Kennedy

avgamerican Saturday, July 18th at 6:53PM EDT (link)

God must be trying to give him every opportunity to repent as He plucked him from certain death from a brain tumor. Or at least extended his life. This man has outlived all his brothers and many younger Kennedys.

 

Open Thread question pertaining to WordPress

TNJim Saturday, July 18th at 8:52PM EDT (link)

How do you add a subtitle to your diary? Yeah, I’m not the most prolific writer here, one in 41/2 months, but I would like to know for future reference.

image

“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
“He’s such a charming liar” Air America host Christiane Brown referring to Barack Obama

Subtitles

George Claghorn Saturday, July 18th at 9:18PM EDT (link)

In the New Diary form, scroll down to the “Custom Fields” box.

In the “-select-” dropdown, pick subtitle, and put your subtitle in the “subtitle” text field. Then click “Add Custom Field.”

“Victory comes, though we know not when. We must be happy warriors until the end.

For those of you who struggle with what goes on, who see retreat and capitulation, and who feel like not just your political opponents, but those who hold dear all those things you hold as blasphemous — be cheerful. Be happy. Victory is already yours.

You must just have the courage to not get discouraged and have the will to fight on.” – Erick Erickson at RightOnline

OK, subtitle is not available under select

TNJim Saturday, July 18th at 9:36PM EDT (link)

Only select and is_featured. There is a box to the right labeled Key with the word “or” between it and the select dropdown, and another to the right of that labeled Value. I see the Add Custom Field button below the select dropdown. In this case would I add subtitle to Key and then the subtitle text to value?

Thanks, George, for the help so far.

image

“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
“He’s such a charming liar” Air America host Christiane Brown referring to Barack Obama

Yes

George Claghorn Saturday, July 18th at 10:03PM EDT (link)

Try putting “subtitle” (sans the quotes) in for “Key”.

“Victory comes, though we know not when. We must be happy warriors until the end.

For those of you who struggle with what goes on, who see retreat and capitulation, and who feel like not just your political opponents, but those who hold dear all those things you hold as blasphemous — be cheerful. Be happy. Victory is already yours.

You must just have the courage to not get discouraged and have the will to fight on.” – Erick Erickson at RightOnline

OK George, thanks.

TNJim Saturday, July 18th at 10:10PM EDT (link)

I’ll try it next time inspiration hits me :)

image

“No. You can’t” -Moe Lane
“He’s such a charming liar” Air America host Christiane Brown referring to Barack Obama

 
 
 
 
 

Is there any question that the Devil is Democrat?

Tbone Saturday, July 18th at 11:25PM EDT (link)

Only a Democrat run Hell could diddle around for 40 years preparing a special place for Ted Kennedy.

Envisioning when all that is Left is the Right.

 

Leave a Comment

 

Be respectful, or be banned. No Profanity.