Pat Oliphant by Pat Oliphant

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  1. believecommonsense

    believecommonsenseGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    ” Quality care shouldn’t depend on your financial resources, or the type of job you have, or the medical condition you face. Every American should be able to get the same treatment that U.S. senators are entitled to. This is the cause of my life. “ — Sen. Edward Kennedy

  2. Fairportfan

    Fairportfan said, 2 months ago

    He’s not going anywhere with the sail luffing like that.

  3. travel65

    travel65Genius_badge said, 2 months ago

    RIP, Ted

  4. mike salvatore

    mike salvatore said, 2 months ago

    he was a good man who tried to do the best he could.
    even with all his faults and short-comings!
    hope his family is there to greet him when he gets to the other side of the lake.

  5. stealth6948

    stealth6948 said, 2 months ago

    Amen Salvatore, Travel65. What your opponents say about you after your gone shows how much you really did.

  6. mivins

    mivins said, 2 months ago

    Nice work, Mr. Oliphant.

  7. cartwrights

    cartwrightsGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    RIP, Senator.

    And well done, Pat.

  8. Takiniteasy

    Takiniteasy said, 2 months ago

    Maybe he’ll see Mary Jo again …

  9. algurka

    algurkaGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    Too bad Mary Jo Kopechne didn’t die as peacefully.

  10. WestTex13

    WestTex13 said, 2 months ago

    Why is he a swine? Because he doesn’t see Ted as a visionary and prefers to see him as a drunken lush who cost a woman her life? The least of attrocities that Ted performed in him life.. Just because someone is bitter about a man killing someone and getting away with it doesn’t make them a swine..

  11. Simon_Jester

    Simon_Jester said, 2 months ago

    WestTex…yet when Laura Bush did the same thing, the righties made EXCUSES for her.

    Give it up, you guys never REALLY cared about Mary Jo Kopechne. It was always just another excuse to ‘git them durty lib’ruls!’

  12. big G 3469

    big G 3469Genius_badge said, 2 months ago

    Amen to that Simon…Jester & Dr C. Ted’s going to be reunited with Eunice, John, Bobby & the rest of his clan in the “Camelot in the Sky”!

    Don’t let the “Righty-Uptighties” make meanspirited comments about Ted Kennedy, Just let the poor man rest in peace.

  13. deadheadzan

    deadheadzanGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    Ted Kennedy attoned for his sins by a lifetime of service for those in need of health care. That includes children who otherwise would not have access to health care, cancer research, and working toward the goal of universal health care.

  14. James Bettag

    James BettagGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    I’ve known a lifetime (64) of hatred and hypocrisy from the Religious Right having come from such a family. Ted K. made mistakes for which he may be judged. He was also a very good politician who fought for the poor and the downtrodden. Thanks, Ted, for all you did. Good luck at The Gate.

  15. WestTex13

    WestTex13 said, 2 months ago

    Actually I have nothing against him being kicked out of HArvard for cheating.. Enlisting then getting his enlistment shortened while being assigned to Paris away from the fighting.. Strings being pulled to readmit him after his service. I have nothing against his four citations for reckless driving including 90 in a residential after dark with no head lights one or even the mishap when he went and checked into a hotel to sleep off the booze before calling the police.. What was his quote? “There a blonde in every pong.” I just don’t think he’s woth canonizing as a saint when he has such a long list that could drag him from such a lofty title.. Anyway.. Right wrong or otherwise.. He’s dead and what is done is done.. but you can’t praise him as something he’s not without others detracting from such statements..

    In his defense he was a good negotiator and worked well for bi-partisan measures and introduced some good programs into the system..

    For the record, I’m not a fan of the Bush Legacy either..

  16. dtriedel

    dtriedel said, 2 months ago

    Let the guy rest in peace for one day, anyhow, for cripe’s sake!

  17. cdward

    cdward said, 2 months ago

    algurka, too bad many people didn’t die peacefully. I think of the thousands of Iraqis (not fighters, just folks who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time), who became “collateral damage.” I think of Afghanis in similar situations (wedding parties that get bombed, for example).

    Millions of people die every year who one would hope did not. And many of them died because of someone else’s mistake or even malice. And yet, if you are a believing person, then you believe in redemption and forgiveness. If you believe in those, then you must acknowledge that whatever happened on that one occasion is between Ted Kennedy and God, it is none of our business. But given the totality of his life, the innumerable hours he put in to help people he would never know (and who were so far out of his social class that he’d never have to encounter them if he did not want to), I’d say the guy deserves more than a snarky and self-righteous snipe.
    Unless you are sinless, you will do better to hold your poison pen.

  18. ChuckTrent64

    ChuckTrent64Genius_badge said, 2 months ago

    Show me the “perfect” politician, left or right, and I will show you someone few people will vote for. It’s out system.

  19. fennec

    fennec said, 2 months ago

    cd, very well put. Your cool and rational replies are a welcome change from the cacophony that has accompanied many of these cartoons.

  20. wminfield

    wminfieldGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    He should be allowed to RIP without being ravaged for his many indiscretions. He should also not be raised to levels of sainthood or the most effective politician ever just because he passed. There are many politicians that were as effective or more effective over the years.

    I did not agree with much of his politics, but my thoughts and prayers go out to the Kennedy family and may he RIP.

    He is held in high regard by liberals for always sticking to his principles, but yet when a Repub does the same they are criticized by liberals for being stuck in the past and not able to change from their supposed wrong views. I am just tired of the partisanship (both sides) and double standards that dominate politics anymore. Sadly I agree with Chuck.

  21. lindz.coop

    lindz.coopGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    Gee, tho he could have done better in the Mary Jo case, I think his transgressions could never come any where near those of the folks that have caused the last 3 wars in this country and the thousands (maybe millions) of dead on their hands. He at least tried to make the world better for children (education and medical coverage), working folks (family leave), disabled folks (disability act), and all of us who are or will soon be in need of healthcare coverage when the bidnesses opt out of it.

  22. churchillwasright

    churchillwasright said, 2 months ago

    SIMON_JESTER: Is this the latest talking point making its way around the left wing blogs? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and just say you aren’t informed.

    (I hate to repost, but ignorant statements make me crazy. And I mean no disrespect to Kennedy, at least until he’s in the ground)

    Laura Bush (nie Welch) was an inexperienced driver who had just turned 17. She drove though a stop sign. Police were at the scene. She was treated at the hospital. No charges were filed. It was an unfortunate accident.

    Ted Kennedy was 37 at the time of his accident. He left a party with Kopechne at ~ 11:15pm, and had probably been drinking, although he denied that. After the accident, he walked past 4 houses (the first one was only 150 yards away and had lights on) without stopping to call for help, on the way back to the party house, where he still didn’t call police. After going back to the scene with 2 friends, and unable to do anything, he told his friends he would take care of it and call authorities. He swam across the river to his hotel room where he “collapsed on his bed”. Hearing noises, he put on dry clothes and “asked someone what time it was” (2:30am). He tossed and turned all night, complained to the hotel owner about a noisy party (2:55) , talked casually at 7:30 with the winner of the previous days sailing race, again argued with his friends about why he didn’t call authorities (8:00),took the ferry back to Chappaquiddick and made a series of phone calls asking for advice. Still no call to police.The car was discovered at 8:20, Kopechne’s body at 8:45. Kennedy could see the body discovered from the pay phone. He then went to the police (10am).

    PS: The diver believed Kopechne “lived at least 2 hours down there”.

    Kennedy plead guilty to “leaving the scene of an accident after causing injury”. 2 months jail (the minimum), suspended sentence, because of his “age, character and prior reputation”. 6 months DL suspended. Did I mention he was a Kennedy?

    Those are the facts from the police report, the witnesses and the inquest.

    Does that sound like the same thing to you?

    http://tinyurl.com/yqvhqj

  23. WestTex13

    WestTex13 said, 2 months ago

    Careful with the facts Churchhill.. They don’t like that..

  24. Justice22

    Justice22 said, 2 months ago

    West Tex, Since he was only 13 years old when the big war ended, I think it was only right that he be reassigned to Paris. The early discharge may be a bit much though.

  25. omQ R

    omQ RGenius_badge said, 2 months ago

    ^ (Korean War)

    Church: While we’re on about facts, read my reply to your facts on Ted Rall’s 27th Aug ‘toon.