DCist: Sen. Ted Kennedy Diagnosed with Brain Tumor

sordid

Wed, 21 May 2008 13:15:05 -0500

Damn, I missed out on all of this after I made my post yesterday...but I stand by what I said. I don't care that he's a Kennedy, or he if was anyone else famous. Just b/c someone is popular or famous does not make this a matter that one should care about more than if someone they knew, or didn't know, were subject to the same type of event. I think excusing the murder of someone b/c he's a great senator, is laughable. No, I'm not a republican. Finally, the last time a bunch of guys with Boston accents showed up at my door we were celebrating the Red Sox win the world series. P.S. Boondoggle, sorry for the typo, grammar-cop.

Bethesdaist

Wed, 21 May 2008 10:15:29 -0500

And the guy can drink Shane MacGowan under the table. That's gotta count for something. And he still has his teeth (or good dentures.) Shane could learn something from him. Having lost my father to cancer last year, I don't wish it on anyone - not even Dick Cheney.

Politburo

Wed, 21 May 2008 09:31:18 -0500

I was confusing Robert Jr. and Patrick. Obviously I didn't literally mean the last Kennedy. I just don't think Patrick will ever attain the level that JFK, RFK, and Ted have. I'd be happy if he proves me wrong.

drew in adams morgan

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:29:24 -0500

"and his status as the last Kennedy" Uh, his son Patrick is a Congressman from Rhode Island, and can very easily win a Senate seat in that state, regardless of whether he crashes his car into a Capitol barricade while doped up on Ambien. I wouldn't consider Ted the last Kennedy. Regardless of anyone's opinion, Ted Kennedy is a political force in this country. And this news is horrible, regardless if you are a political force or an average American. My thoughts are with his family.

DCster

Tue, 20 May 2008 17:03:39 -0500

For me it's not just his happening to be the last Kennedy brother that's impressive but the fact that he has been such an accomplished legislator. Among the legislation he has authored or passed - COBRA, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Civil Rights Act of 1991, Family and Medical Leave, reducing the voter age to 18, raising the minimum wage, and No Child Left Behind. I've personally benefited from two of the above. For me, deficiencies in the man pale in comparison to the good works he has done for the country.

frothr

Tue, 20 May 2008 16:38:20 -0500

yes everyone, please - you must first apologize about what might be said towards cheney BEFORE you say anything remotely resembling nice towards kennedy. even if it's just that you dislike brain tumors. you'd think you people would know how this works by now

voteprime

Tue, 20 May 2008 16:22:14 -0500

Bollocks! Let there be a post about Dick Cheney dying of a brain tumor and watch the snarky posts pile up on DCist.Sadly, I think hillrat is right. I do think that most people of my liberal persuasion would be kind enough to comment their condolences, or at least take their mother's advice and not say anything. But there would definitely be a significant number of people posting the snark. Though this is true for both sides, I gare-un-tee. As Politburo pointed out, sometimes political hatred knows no bounds.

guest number 10

Tue, 20 May 2008 16:09:22 -0500

hah, so true @ hillrat [25]

hillrat

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:58:39 -0500

Given I'm an survivor of one (Ependymoma-Grade II-III),though, a brain tumor diagnosis trumps politics for me. OK, that I understand.

Politburo

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:54:18 -0500

If you want to be sick and tired, be my guest. The emotional attachment to the Kennedy clan isn't that hard to understand. I don't think I need to explain it to an otherwise intelligent person.

Big L

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:53:39 -0500

I disagree with everything about him but I can still wish him well. Brain Cancer is a terrible thing.

sabine01

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:50:33 -0500

Sure. He's more liberal than I am. Sure. There's Chappaquiddick... Given I'm an survivor of one (Ependymoma-Grade II-III),though, a brain tumor diagnosis trumps politics for me. Easily. (and that would apply to Cheney, if one were to befall him. I do not wish that fate on *anyone*). Both tumor and treatment suck. Hard. His age may be a factor, but his activity relative to age may very well be one too.

hillrat

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:41:31 -0500

his status as the last Kennedy WTF does that have to do with anything? I think I'll just quote Reid here, "I'm incredibly sick and tired of the Kennedy-fetish that infects too many otherwise intelligent people."

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:39:58 -0500

Agree with Reid above. About the mixed emotions, not the under the table stuff.

AMDCer

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:39:20 -0500

Oh, well, Dick Cheney - that's another story...

Reid

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:34:46 -0500

"And the guy can drink Shane MacGowan under the table. That's gotta count for something." That's not much of an accomplishment. Shane MacGowan starts most nights passed-out under the table.

Reid

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:33:03 -0500

I'm torn on this. On one hand I'm incredibly sick and tired of the Kennedy-fetish that infects too many otherwise intelligent people. On the other, I feel sorry for anyone who gets malignant brain cancer. Then again, he basically killed a girl and never truly paid the price for it. But he's been a strong senator in the best tradition of that chamber, even though I frequently disagree with his unreformed liberal positions and grandstanding. So I guess I'll just give my polite respect to the man, and leave it at that. And Boondoggle, you ought to double check your own spelling before getting too snarky about others' spelling.

hillrat

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:33:02 -0500

You don't have to agree with or even like someone to wish that they don't die of a brain tumor. It's called compassion. Bollocks! Let there be a post about Dick Cheney dying of a brain tumor and watch the snarky posts pile up on DCist.

Politburo

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:31:25 -0500

hillrat - When you weigh Chappaquiddick against his legacy in the Senate, and his status as the last Kennedy (sorry, Robert Jr.) as jen209 mentioned, it seems a lot less important. While there are some questions about the incident that will never be answered, and Sen. Kennedy certainly is not blameless (by his own admission), it was almost 40 years ago. Authorities declined to press charges after several inquiries. For some, it seems like forgiveness only applies to people they like.

hillrat

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:29:00 -0500

@mellbell I'm shocked that someone like yourself who, as far as I can tell, seems to be a reasonable and decent person would profess this kind of admiration for Ted Kennedy.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:28:27 -0500

And the guy can drink Shane MacGowan under the table. That's gotta count for something.

AMDCer

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:26:52 -0500

You don't have to agree with or even like someone to wish that they don't die of a brain tumor. It's called compassion.

mellbell

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:23:10 -0500

@hillrat: For me it's borne out of my deep admiration for RFK, and the belief that Ted, for all his flaws, has helped advance and, more to the point in today's political climate, perhaps, protect the progress that RFK and others like him helped set into motion all those years ago.

hillrat

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:21:11 -0500

@Politburo I understand that Rush Limbaugh hating something makes it very attractive to liberals, but Kennedy is a tough horse for me to get behind. Chappaquiddick anyone?

TLB

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:19:48 -0500

Get well soon. Sordid - that's low.

Kez

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:15:34 -0500

Since when does wishing someone wouldn't die from a brain tumor equal love anyway?

boondoggle

Tue, 20 May 2008 15:03:30 -0500

@sordid: The man had two brothers assisinated; karma 'cath'-ed up with him a long time ago.

jen209

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:59:04 -0500

Re: why all the love for Kennedy? For me, it also has to do with the fact that he's the last of that generation of the Kennedy clan. We hang onto JFK & RFK via Teddy now.

Politburo

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:55:45 -0500

hillrat - Generally, I think the love for Teddy K from the left is in response to the intense and deep hate that comes from some people on the right. See the first comment.. there are thousands upon thousands of comments like these all across blogs and news sites today.

hillrat

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:49:46 -0500

Why so much love for Kennedy? I don't get it.

jen209

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:46:15 -0500

Sordid, don't be surprised if a couple of nice-looking young boys with Boston accents show up at your place tonight...just to have a little chat... Maybe don't open the door. Or maybe do, for the rest of our sakes.

DCster

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:41:27 -0500

Terrible news - perhaps the end of an era.

Phil

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:31:59 -0500

This both sucks and blows. I hope he pulls through.

erincarly

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:29:00 -0500

my goodness, i hope he'll be okay. one of my roommates and a few of my friends work in his office. they say he's pretty awesome, on top of his impressive tenure in office.

TimmyTucker

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:20:09 -0500

Very sad. My old boss died from a brain tumor, and it was really scary, especially because it can happen to anyone, good health or bad. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Also, when was this picture taken? He seems a bit younger here.

guest number 10

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:19:49 -0500

well crap. this could potentially have huge political ramifications, like, in the mass this could be bigger than a presidential election. (granted, in mass anything is bigger than a presidential election because we all know the outcome)

McGillicuddy

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:15:30 -0500

if you're reading this blog senator, erra, erra, get well soon.

Big L

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:09:19 -0500

Good Luck Senator and Godspeed.

flapjack

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:09:06 -0500

That's sad to hear. Hope it doesn't turn out as bad as it sounds.

Bethesdaist

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:59:46 -0500

Ah, crap. Best wishes for a successful recovery, Senator Kennedy.

jaybeascorpus

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:57:40 -0500

@sordid: Wow. You're a dick.

sordid

Tue, 20 May 2008 13:53:10 -0500

It took way too long for karma to cath up to this blow-hard.