God rest his soul. He did so much good for this country and it's citizens. He wasn't out to make money as so many other politicians we have seen in the last eight years. When he arrives at the heavenly gates, St. Peter will welcome him with open arms.

I wonder if that girl and child that he murdered will be waiting for him. They have been waiting a long time to see him. And so has God.

Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord

SuperDave-

And only God can judge.

It's very sad. My prayers are with the family : (

I feel no remorse for Ted the Terrible. He lost his moral and political compass 50 years ago. … a new-deal dinosaur and worthless non-intellectual buffoon.

I will morn soon for our countries passing but NEVER for the passing of this idiot’s flagrant unconstitutional participation and assisted destruction of my country into Socialism and Fascism.

Rest in Peace for a tad Ted… because soon you will meet your maker and be toasting your Liberal buns in Hell.

and the lord said to Ted Kennedy,,,47 years as a senator in hell is enough,,,, welcome to my kingdom .... bless you my son.

Indeed.....what a loss to our nation. Ted Kennedy, the epitome of political liberalism - a hero, a historical figure. Your presence shall be missed. Thanks for all that you did for this nation. The Last Kennedy standing.

Got to wonder if the inheritence tax on his estate will be waved or will the federal government take their full amount?

We are less today…No Man is an Island…The country is diminished

Farewell old friend, a friend to his countrymen, in our family we will raise our glasses to you and bide you a final farewell. As you said in your eulogy to your brother, so we may say the same of you. I adapt the eulogy he gave at his brother’s funeral.

Senator Kennedy need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; the petty slings and arrows cannot hurt you now, to all decent people you will be remembered simply as a good and decent man. You always thought it wrong that the people of this great nation had no national health as so many of our allies and even foes enjoy. You, also, saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw a war and tried to stop it. We all know What you wished for us and others will some day come to pass.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams

Shall never die.

RIP: Edward M. Kennedy

Yeah, I remember all the comments from the liberals last week when Robert Novack passed. So it's O.K. for the libs to bash someone in death.

The country is diminished

Maybe due to his time in the Senate, not by the news today.

He got away with murdering his mistress while in a drunken stupor so while I have remorse for the family, I have none for him.

Afghanistan is still a war zone and Obama hasn't pulled out of Iraq, has he. "Abuse" is still going on at Bagrham in Iraq, away from prying reporters eyes, so tell me what has changed.

It's one thing to kill in a war zone that the liberals continued to fund despite their rhetoric, it's quite another to drive off a bridge in a drunken stupor and drown your mistress while you save your own behind.

Kennedy a hero? LMAO wow you must be smoking something. Let go of the liberal talking points and actually pay attention to his record.

Now for another human to die well that sucks, but to actually call this guy a hero. Come on.

Hey Cons?

Control yourselves.

We're not slathering hateful libs, OK?

Have some respect for the Senator and his family.

He's dead for Pete's sake.

Compared to the liberal freaks of today?

Ted Kennedy was a neocon. I'm serious!

The guy didn't stutter, didn't slur, was heterosexual, wasn't hateful, didn't scream or whine, wasn't a commie, wasn't preoccupied with the weather and big cars, and he liked hard liquor. He's a freakin stud when you look at the grand scheme of today's liberal fabric!

C'mon!

Why? Did the Senator respect Mary Jo's family after he left her to die to save face? This is how much Pelosi thinks about his death...she is already trying to gain political advantage on Government Health Care as a result of his death...lol

And Teddy never hated America.

Again. Contrast him to the nose-pierced limp-wristed androgynous moveon.org freaks and Obama's communist radical czars.

America lost a good moderate. The last of the Kennedy Boy's. JFK and Bobby would be republicans if the were alive today.

Cut the family some slack, OK?

We're better than that.

Don't act like a slathering lib!

KVAM... Bush "Got away with killing tens of thousands of men and woman in Iraq"...huh??? last I checked we had lost 5,081 troops in Iraq... think you are being a typical Liberal liar here pal?

Saddam killed 12,000 in one week while having a temper tantrum in 1987...... I think He was the criminal.... and perhaps you also.... tell the truth or stay off the comment pages.... If you get an opportunity... tell Obama I said the same to him about being truthful concerning hiring Communists as "Green Jobs Czars" also....

Sorry to here this about Mr. Kennedy... I despised his politics but he did many fine things for our community here in West Palm Beach. Nothing political but he did give quite a bit of money to some very good charities and fund raisers here. His politics as a liberal were abysmal however I am certain he cared about his Country...

God Bless Him and His family at a tough time.

The only thing about Edward Kenndey that was great was his great lack of courage and morale fiber. His actions during and after the untimeluy death of Mary Jo have shown the shallowness of this persons( I hesitate to dignify him by calling him a man) character.

After cheating his way through Harvard , this episode surley shows what Edward was made of.

Ted... Rest in Peace, share laughs with your loved ones who went before you.

Bless those who are left behind and help guide them during this sad time for them. You fought a long hard battle as only you could.

Rest in Peace, Teddy.

Hey people, come on cant we bury our hateful and partisian feelings to offer the Kennedy's our condolences and prayers? The Kennedy's have endured more hardship if a few short years than many families endure in a generation.

I am a conservative republican and believe in conservative principles but to plunder Ted's death because of his political ideals and beliefs is not only wrong but cruel. Ted fought long and hard for his beliefs and his life and if it weren't for one mistake, he would have probably been president instead of the patently usless Jimmy Carter. Plundering his death and shouting hurah, one liberal down a few more to go is inconsistant with any conservative value or principle. While Ted Kennedy certainly drew the ire of some, he also drew the praise and admiration of many, many others. His shining moment and maybe his legacy was that in a time of terrible sorrow, his passionate eulogy of his brother Robert was one of the best oratairies ever given.

We have to remember that in the end, we are all americans and while many of us, including myself, violently disagree with the current policies of our president and the direction of our country, cheering Ted Kennedy's death is NOT the way to express our displeasure. In fact, we republicans have only ourselves to blame for the election of Barak Obama as some 4 million registered republicans didnt bother to vote in the last election. To add to that, republicans treated John McCain and Sarah Palen with so much indifference that republicans deserve exactly what they got; a president more liberal the Kennedy and Carter combined. Our children and grand children will spend years paying for OUR mistake.

Dewinter your completely braindead! I hope you choke to death on your steak.

The truth doesn't come dressed for dinner.

If this country is fractious, hatemongering and divided, it has everything to do with some select pieces of legislation Kennedy sponsored going back to 1965.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_Act_1965

Kennedy deserves no more respect in death than he showed that gal he murdered.

Give the guy credit, 77 years of whoring, drinking, eating.... pontificating in the Senate...I kind of wish I had the morals and money that let me do that and live that long.

I just have this guilt complex that going to church just wont cure...but with a few million bucks...perhaps. I envy him.

Stan 893178, I too am a conservative republican, and while I agree that bad-mouthing the man after he's dead isn't the thing to do I also will never understand why someone becomes " the greatest guy", EVERYONE LOVED HIM", etc, after they've passed. He will answer for ALL the thngs he did in this life just as we each will. He will be judged according to what's written in the Bible. I'm sorry for his family's loss because I know what if feels like to lose someone very close to you.

I feel the same as many other who have posted. He got away with murder and lived off this brothers legacy. He was an SOB six feet above the ground and he will be an SOB six feet below.

Good bye to bad rubbish, he should be all warmed up now in the heat of HELL. I really liked his brothers but he wasn't even close to John and Robert.

Despite my politic I pass my condolences to the Kennedy family. Anytime there is a death in a family it's difficult.

Some of the comments here are somewhat shameful, yet considering the situation our country is in it shows how deep our political divide has become. This division is what is causing many of the problems we are facing right now. Despite the needs of the citizens, all of our politicians are again neglecting them.

The only way out of this quagmire of a depression is to clean house in the the Senate and the House starting in 2010 and 2012. This and only this will return our country onto the correct path of "change".

Vote out all incumbents in 2010 and 2012!

Demand term limits, 2 terms for the senate and 4 terms for the House!

Demand TRUE line item veto.

Demand Sunlight Before Signing of 30 days.

Keep reminding your politicians,

IT'S THE ECONOMY STUPID!

Now we have to put up with constant television coverage telling us how great the idiot was---

Wow! Just about every comment has been collapsed. It's the simplest evidence of how poisoned newsvine is with hateful political bickering and insults.

My thoughts are with his family. Sen. Kennedy, regardless of political views, was a public servant--the fact that he served for so many years speaks to his commitment to public service.

RIP Senator.

This is truly amazing. I am listening to one conservative Republican elected official after another right now, talking about how Ted Kennedy called one of his constituents when he heard the family's child had Asperger's and offered to help, about how he attended Arlington services for conservative Republicans, just ordinary people, who had lost children in the various military actions, abut the many veterans' associations he generously supported while railing against the wars on the floor of the Senate, the number of bills written by new, young, and nervous conservatives, in both the House and the Senate, that he offered to co-sponsor so they could get the experience he knew they would need, the people like Nancy Reagan, both George Bushes, Pat Buchanan, and even Trent Lott who are proudly and humbly saying how much their families valued his friendship even while disagreeing with his politics.

These are the conservative Republicans Kennedy obviously saw and I was hoping our country actually still had as a base for the loyal opposition party we need at this time, and I am glad to see they are still here.

For most of you on this vine, I don't know what party you are from. You are not conservative Republicans. You are not any kind of Republicans or Democrats or Independents or anything patriotic Americans can recognize. I know of no party in this country that would be proud to have you as a representative of their standard.

He was a man, a human being, who gave his life to the service of what he believed in, and, unlike you, he loved this country, under five different administrations. Like Ronald Reagan, with whom he was friends, he was a purist in his politics, whether people liked that or not. He did what he thought was right, and he did it well. He was a flawed person in many ways, but it appears none of you are in an way, and so cannot relate to those of us who are not perfect.

I am saddened for this country, that we can have in our midst so many people whose only emotion is hate and childish disrespect. To wish upon any man, as though deserved, all the terrible things, the loss of one brother in the service of his country, the assassinations of two brothers in the service of their country in a different way, the death of his nephew and his bride in a plane crash, the loss of his nephew's leg to cancer, his own life of pain for decades after the plane crash in which he broke his back, and even his speeches from his stretcher, his life-long support of the family of the staffer who died in his car from his stupidity, and his own unimaginably horrible death from brain cancer, all because your life is not what you want and what you think you have the right to impose on others without even going through the motions of being actively involved in our great political system, is incomprehensible.

You lack the courage and fortitude of any of the people who serve in elected positions now or have ever so served, going back to the days of our founding fathers. You hide behind a computer screen, and cast stones at those who are willing to do so. You have had no hand in making this country great, but you are a great part of what is so very wrong with this country.

When you can come out of the shadows and actually put your name and your reputation on the line in public to serve the ideals you believe in, no matter which side of the aisle they are on, then you will have the right to mock and wish ill and even death on those who do.

Rest in peace, Ted.

Pinch....Well said!

Senator Kennedy....Rest In Peace.

I agree that we have lost a great one, he will be missed, he was always for the poeple.

This man was a coward who left a poor woman dead in a submerged car alone for twelve hours...he avoided negligent homicide charges because of his family name (you or I would have been a convicted felon)....he fought for the rights of others as long as it was convenient self aggrandizement....he lived a priviledged, self indulged life. Example... he supported wind power as long as it didn't obstruct the view from his Hyannis Port retreat. He was a pale shadow of Bobby and John. This apotheosis is disgusting!

Death is always difficult on those that remain behind, but Ted Kennedy was a despicable human being. I life of luxory bought by a father that earned a fortune as a boot-legger gave him a false reality of society in general. His only desire was to twist society into something that gave him, and those like him, more power and to keep the rest of us in servitude. How can anyone think that he was looking out for the best interest of the "common man" -- he was only looking out for himself!

I'm all for recognizing the loss for this idiot's family members but think critically about all that he did and his real intentions and stop glossing over it all by the fact that he was somehow a public servant. He served no one but instead abused each and every one of us through his massive abuses of power and by the fact that the citizens of Massachusetts elected him for so many terms!

Pinch@1.52--Great post and well said.

Another lying, cheating, do as I say-not as I do bleeding heart socialist with way too much baggage that America won't have to deal with anymore!

How utterly curious that we are apparently playing a game of "who can collapse the most comments the quickest"!

As I am on the West Coast, I awoke this morning to find that Ted Kennedy had died, and felt that an era had also ended. An era when it was considered noble to the son's of the wealthy to serve in the military, and for the wealthiest families to use their wealth to serve others, and I don't mean simply getting dressed up in their finest and throwing a ball to congratulate themselves on their "good works". I am reminded of old man Walton who used to go to all his stores to check on how things were going, just so he could actually talk to his employees, although none would recognize him in his overalls and unassuming manner. Today we have family like Schultz who started and again runs Starbucks, and the Nordstrom family who paid a bunch of homeless folks to get signatures on a petition to repeal the so called "death tax" in the state of Washington, then were surprised when many of the signatures were bogus!

I am reminded of Barbra Bush who thought the folks who had been evacuated from Hurricane Katrina to a stadium in Houston were living better than they had in their lives. Or I look at the Bernie Madoff's who think absoulutly nothing of bilking not only trustfundees and wealthy actor's, but also retirees who just happen to have invested in the wrong fund, for every penny they can get; or the folks at Goldman Sachs who are still rolling in more money than many of them could spend in a lifetime, and I saddened by where we are today as a society.

We all know Senator Kennedy's mistakes in life, because you see unlike most of us, they were plastered on newsstands around the world, yet this man still kept his head up high, and fought the good fight. And while I might not have agreed with everything that he did, I have often applauded this man for carrying on a family legacy, without buckling under, and for having the courage of his convictions. He is a person so many law maker's today could learn something from, yet most will never have a strong enough character to be able to live up to the legacy he is leaving behind.

God bless the Kennedy family, at this time of loss. Please know that the world is behind you with love and prayers, and we will forever be grateful for all you have given us.

A era pases; one American family gave it's sons in defense of their country, joe,jack,bobby and now ted reunited again; never have so many owed so much to so few.

Schwannomin -

Don't sit around pointing fingers when you are guilty of the same venomous rhetoric. I agree with you though. Newsvine is indicative of the growing divides throughout the U.S. I think we need to be very careful over the next year and a half or so until we have a more balanced congress. This war of words could transform into something far more sinister and although we both are obviously very passionate about our respective political views (me being about freedom and choice for the individual and you being about entitlement and envy for those individuals who have used that freedom and choice to accomplish more in life), I seriously doubt that either one of us want that transformation. Here is the problem I have with healthcare reform the way it is currently, the way ole Teddy wanted it. Your side screams and moans about healthcare being a right. Here is the problem with demanding from your government that it provide its people with a right outside of the inalienable rights outlined in the Declaration of Independence and those prescribed by the Bill of Rights. When you do so, you turn over individual responsibility with respect to that segment of your life, in this case, healthcare. When you no longer have responsibility, you also relinquish choice, because you no longer have to make them. The problem comes when a circumstance arises, once you have given over those responsibilities, that would cause you to want to have the ultimate power of decision. When it comes to my body, I do not want some bureaucracy instructing me on what procedures and/or medicine I can or cannot have (due to costs; I understand the FDA controls some of the available medicine already, but I'm talking about control due to costs here). The government can't afford this, so for now, they increase taxes on the wealthy. Once they realize they don't have enough money to maintain this monstrocity they begin making cuts, until the people, now fully reliant on the government system, rise up and complain about it (this could be long after Obama). Now in order to placate the riled masses they increase taxes even more on the wealthiest Americans and maybe even add a little increase to the upper middle class; no biggie, right? Of course, this isn't sustainable, you've increased the tax burden on those that provide jobs causing their profits to diminish, thus inhibiting them from expanding their enterprises and creating new jobs which would subsequently produce more taxable income that could be exploited for liberal entitlement programs. The money dries up from the private businesses which are obviously too big to fail, God forbid they be forced to go through legal bankruptcy procedures, so the government steps in to bail them out, thus becoming owners within that specific business. Now that the government partially or fully owns these businesses, when they do poorly, moronic members of congress can voice their anger and threaten to set salary caps for executives, because afterall, the once private company is the property of the true elitists in Washington and if anything those monies should be used to fund the pensions and premium healthcare plans for those fat bastards sitting on their asses in congress. And now you say, how many times do they have to tell you, You Can Keep Your Current Healthcare Insurance. The fact is, most of us working Americans who choose possess insurance, are provided it by our employers; at least subsidized by the employers. Apparently under the current proposal those employers choosing to maintain a private plan will face additional taxation. Where is the incentive for the employer to keep the plan that they say we can keep? They say we can keep our plan, but then turn around and put obstacles in the way of the sponsering organization. Okay, I'm done.

I feared when I came here that I would find people of such terrible attitudes that they would attack this man in death without one iota of compassion for him or his family.

I say shame on you and may God give you insight into your own mind and state from his prospective.

Love , hate or respect or not Ted Kennedy was a national figure for all of his life and none here can make that claim.

Rest in Peace Senator Kennedy

Yes, we lost a great fighter. I wish to extend my condolences to his entire family and his friends. He shall be greatly missed. Senator Kennedy may you rest in peace. You are greatly appreciated. Though not always agreed with you were always respected for standing your ground.

Rest in Peace Ted. For those who are bashing him, even if you had no respect for him as is your right, please respect his family that lost a loved one so closely on the heels of Eunice. I hope you feel karma come back to you in disrespecting those in his family who loved him.

I lost 5 family members in 14 months within the last two years, two of them children within four days of each other. I feel the family's pain. My thoughts go out to them.

Many people loved Ted Kennedy and many did not. Regardless of ones feelings regarding the man either personally or politically, the level of anger and vitriol posted on this site is stunning to me. There are a lot of stones being cast by people who apparently have never fallen short in their lives (at least until today). Ted Kennedy may have done things in his life that were wrong, but then who hasn't? The level of discourse demonstrated today in some of these posts illustrates a sad truth about our society today and shows that not only is Ted Kennedy dead, but so is common decency. I mourn the passing of both. Just sayin'

R.I.P Well that depends on how the big guy upstairs deals with Ted's transgressions. He may have been found not guilty by our courts. I think the Boss wont let him off so easy. He has also the worst Anti 2nd Amendment record in History.

Here are some quotes from true real American Hero's

George Washington

"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the people's liberty teeth keystone... the rifle and the pistol are equally indispensable... more than 99% of them by their silence indicate that they are in safe and sane hands. The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference. When firearms go, all goes, we need them every hour." This guy is amazing I wish we had free thinkers like this great and honorable man.

THOMAS JEFFERSON (Author of Declaration of Independence, member Continental Congress, Governor of Virginia, Minister to France, Secretary of State, Vice President, 3rd President )

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms."

To SuperDave and everyone else here who didn't like Ted and/or the Kennedys and in that spirit, evidently have no respect for the dead - Judge not lest thou be judged.

Here's the plan for you Democrats and a legacy in Ted Kennedy's name:

You make sure that if you want a health care plan that we can all be proud of that you make sure that ALL AMERICANS GET THE SAME BENEFITS, CARE AND OPTIONS, That Ted Kennedy had before he passed on.

That would get any of you a pass out of hell......RIP TED.

Collapse this you sissies.

All this outpouring for murderer. Makes ou question our countries moral compass doesn't it.

I bet you mary jo is pretty happy that he has passed. I am glad there is one more diehard liberal out of congress. There should be no way one person could serve 47 years in congress. There should be term limits on them also.

In "good" MSNBC-tradition on learning of the death of a notable figure, it is perfectly clear (to those of us not drinking the liberal Kool-Aid) his personage would have been higher elevated had there been no Achilles Chappaquiddick Incident in his past.  Que sera, sera.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/26/edward-kennedy-chappaquiddick-kopechne

I saw a nice quote in Maureen Dowd's column today. It is quite appropriate for what we are seeing on this board.

Leon Wieseltier, the literary editor of The New Republic. “The Internet is like closing time at a blue-collar bar in Boston. Everyone’s drunk and ugly and they’re going to pass out in a few minutes.”

Peace Senator Kennedy. A greater legislator and advocate this country has never seen.

Ahhh... Maureen Dowd. Never has such nonsense been more eloquently stated, aside from maybe Nicolo Machiavelli. She's just angry because in recent years people have found their voice and many times their views of the world do not correspond with hers. I suppose she assumes that she speaks for the masses. How very naive of her.

Oh and your last sentence couldn't be a bigger joke, Schwannomin.

Most of these comments are vile and disgusting! The poor man died, and you people cannot restrain yourselves! He has family and frieds that could be reading this for crying out loud! What goes around comes around, and while I hope these same hateful things are not said about you and your loved ones when you pass on, some here would seem to deserve it. RIP Ted, you will be missed by many. To the hateful here, you need to grow up.

Wow. I will say he led a, um, "colorful" life. But where is the common decency here? Ever heard the saying be the better man/woman?

At least give it a day folks. Best wishes for his family, friends, and loved ones grieving over their loss.

SKVAM

Valhalla Phil: And so murdering young American soldiers, maiming over 30,000 of them for the chicken hawks like Bush who served in the front lines of Texas and Cheney who didn't serve at all, these cowards, these murderers, is alright? No wonder Jim Webb of Virginia had contempt for Bush whose daughters didn't join the army, but Jim Webb's son did, another possible victim of Republican black hearted "patriotism." Funny, Kennedy was found not guilty, and the guilty blood mongers in the Bush White House, they are lilly white? Obama will have to clean up this murderous mess in which our boys and girls die uselessly. Bring the war criminals Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and all the other chicken hawks to trial. They, unlike Kennedy, will be found guilty. Shame on you.

_____________________________________________________________________

So this is what this country of my party versus your party has come to. Every time we have a party change in Washington you want to go back over the previous party and find everything you can to try and charge them with. The in fighting in this country is getting nauseating and all of you (no matter what party) make me sick because you are going to be the down fall of this once great country. You all sound like a bunch of school yard bullies that demand everyone think like you or you will try to squash them like a bug. Well, I hope you all grow up and stop your grade school, my party is better than your party, before this country is gone. Seems to me a lot of you backed President Bush following 9/11 just like a lot of you are backing President Obama in his part in the middle east wars. Hope his stance on Afghanistan come out as well or better than Iraq. Most of you probably don't remember the Viet Nam war when all the politicians in Washington put in their two cents and really cost our guys with their lives. The draft was still in effect and lots of our troops had no choice but people in this country treated returning Vets like trash and most Washington politicians never lifted a finger to help. Now in the first ladies words I was not proud of my country at that time. I'm afraid that is what President Obama is doing so prepare yourselves, especially if he lets the likes of Reid and Pelosi have a say in all of it. After all you are forgetting these are the politicians that won't even read a bill before they sign it so why would they bother to check the facts on what is happening in another country before they decide what to do, like give our troops the support and equipment they need to fight a battle.

I was a big fan of JFK but have had lots of different views from Edward Kennedy but I still say R.I.P. and my thoughts and prayers are with family and friends. This family has had far more tragedy than any one family should have to endure.

Well he should have been in jail,now he will stand before a judge that we all must endure someday.

Kennedy had impressive list of achievements, not something we can say of any republican politicians, that's for sure !

iloveshnoodles

Is that like a schnauzer/poodle mix or are we talking pasta?

Pinch -Stan -bsbfankaren and other decent people - I ask of you

I have seen a little tribute which kindly spoke of Senator Kennedy which was collapsed. I asked myself for what sane reason. I understand and support collapsing filthy, stupid comments that deface and degrade the site. But, is that process being abused when a tribute is collapsed? The little people that seem to be streaming here to spew hate is truly an absurd spectacle, and they should be eliminated, but these kind of, what are they? Are they trying to use the system to collapse honest tributes?

There should be a screening process so the system can not be abused by the very, I guess they can be called people, that the system is set up to collapse? These are children pretending to be adults, children locked in an adult body. NewsVine - MSNBC should look into this , and I will contact them and point this flaw out in their system.

Why do they come to MSNBC and not go to the FOXNEWS site or the Limbaugh site? One would think that would be their home, and they would not be collapsed and be able to interface with one another. WHY ?

Why go to a "leftwing" media outlet? I can only guess to wreck their little havoc and post mindless drivel and thus feel good of themselves. If not, why come to this site? There are so many sites to spew hate, It is a loss to me, they must be obsessed with MSNBC.

MSNBC get a tighter grip on this site, the degraders migrating here like I have never seen before, it is amazing to read and amusing to watch. The outcasts do their little dance.

Why do they migrate, To MSNBC ?

Pinch,

Great comment, very well stated. I see the news and read the blogs and find it truly troubling at how rampant hatred has seemed to become such a pervasive and routine part of so many fellow citizens' lives. Really quite scary and sign that our society is in decline.

Kennedy represents an era when despite radically different political views, at the end of the day, people still respected each other. Sadly, that basic principle, has seemed to have nearly vanished from the political scene as well as our daily lives.

Personally, I often found the Senator's positions a bit too liberal for my tastes but Kennedy was always working toward achieving some middle ground in the name of progress. He spoke passionately on his views but always respected his opposition. His goal was always to convince them and not defeat them by simply steam rolling them. The whole fabric of debate has changed and it's no longer about swaying the opposition and seeking compromise that both sides can live with. That was debate governed by the underlying principle of mutual respect. Today it has become about humiliating you opponent in defeat. Many today seem to believe that you can't achieve a victory unless you totally destroy your enemy.

I have watched this transition in American behavior happen and yet I can't find an explanation for how or why it has happened. I sometimes think that we have allowed business and economic interests to set the pattern. Greed has become the driving force with no longer any consideration for all the employees' lives. It is entirely possible though, that business is only reacting to a public the accepts and in some cases advocates the behavior. The situation with Unions is a good example of this.

Somehow we seem to be living a with a mentality of "every man for himself." It seems that "screw you, where's mine?" has become the moral test that people use to make decisions. It's ironic too that many with these attitudes are also quick to claim some religiously based moral authority for their positions.

"Might makes right" and revenge have become the rules of the day. People use hatred to strengthen their positions. The man that passed away early today, as flawed and passionate as he was, never used these tactics to achieve his goals. Agree with his politics or not, our society lost a good leader today.

I was brought up to respect my fellow man. And that when an "enemy" suffered a defeat or a tragedy, if you you couldn't bring yourself to say anything respectful, then say nothing at all. It would seem that principle has gone the way of the dinosaur.

Another tragic death from Glioblastoma. RIP Ted.

My brother died in 2003 from his Glioblastoma. He was initially biopsied and resected in 2001. He received 6000 rads of radiation and two more resections in the next 12 months.

He quite likely was the longest survivor on Temodil, 24 months.

His death resulted from bone marrow arrest- yes, his oncologists were giving him chemotherapy in his 24th month !!! Knocked out his platelets and white cells.

He hemorrhaged from his stomach as the final event.

He likely would have lived another six months, since he only suffered from a mild hemiparesis of his right side. His memories and speech remained intact until the end.

Two days before he died, he called all his family and said "Good-bye." I will never forget that conversation. He taught all of us how to die with dignity, at home, with his family.

I miss him every day.

Did you hear? They're getting the band back together! What band? The Dead Kennedys!!!!! Yeah, I know. It needs some work.

You know, for him to be buried with people who gave their hearts souls, and even lives to to defend this country, I just can't agree with it.

Kevin in Texas

Super Dave...you are sick! The man was found innocent, remember?

O.J. was found innocent also, however there seems to be a lack of support for his not guilty verdict and mainly among white America. It's funny when the shoe is on the other foot how one class of people tend to look the other way.

And no, I'm not racist. I just call bullsh!t when I see it, from every color spectrum. I have called out blacks for their ignorance, I am Puerto Rican and I called out Sonya Sotomayor for being the racist that she is, and now I see how f#%ked up white America can be and simply choose to speak my mind. If none of you people like it then b*#% me.

Persevere-
So are you saying you're for censorship? Are you saying those with dissenting opinions should be kept out of Newsvine? Are you saying that if something is written that might offend a liberal we should castigate the perpetrator and deny them access to the site? Are you saying that in order for a conservative to participate in the discussion they must capitulate their individual thoughts and beliefs and jump on board the liberal bandwaggon so that everyone is on the same page, kissing each others' a$$es and patting each other on the back? I bet you are a Bill Maher fan. This site would lose all credibility if it disallowed certain segments of the population.

KVAM... Bush "Got away with killing tens of thousands of men and woman in Iraq"...huh??? last I checked we had lost 5,081 troops in Iraq... think you are being a typical Liberal liar here pal?

Ever heard of Iraqi men and women?

His life was an example of what money and power could accomplish. To think that he never spent any time in prison for what he did and then went on to be on the Ethics Committee. How ironic!!!!

Not a fan of Ted Kennedy, never have been. I think his sister Eunice did more for individuals who were truly in need then Ted did. But it is an end of an era and my prayer are with the Kennedy family who have lost two of their love ones back to back.

Peter-741281

As far as I know there haven't been 10,000's Iraqi men and women killed at our hands either. I don't think the suicide bombers have killed that many either. Guess you should do some more research before you throw numbers out.

A great what??? A drunken Liberal Murdering POS! Teddy is finally gone and none too soon. He was the last of the Kennedy mob and we all can be much happier today. You gotta love it. Rest in Hell ted!!

I hold no judgement on the man and do not consider myself a democrat or republican, but I feel that he did make a contribution to this country through hard work and determination in "bills" he felt passionate about. I do feel he was dedicated to the people he represented and in this world as we know it, his work is done.

There aren't many I can say that about b/c there are many clowns up there on capital hill just there to collect a paycheck and benefits without caring one ounce about the people they represent!

St. Peter has been waiting for Ted. I wish I could be a fly on the wall when the "Lion" is asked by St. Peter what happened to Mary Jo. This man was a murderer and a bag of wind. He paid off Mary Jo's family and got rid of any evidence that this event ever happened. Sorry, I have no use for a person that never answered questions about this murder. I also wish that these jerks that praised him were aware of this killing.

In your opinion.

let open a teddy theme park in maratha's vineyard you have to drink a quart of scotch and drive a car into a pond

As I said before why don't you haters of justice and freedom go take a plunge with your car in the nearest lake and see how it feels, if you ever get lucky enough to get out of it ! Oh and don't forget to take one of your love one and in case you survive that plunge, don't forget to get him/her out of the driver's seat "! You are such freaking retards ! Bush killed close to a million innocent people, where are you to denounced him?? Typical republicans, mentally, intellectually and morally bankrupt!!

THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT, ACCIDENTS LIKE THIS HAPPEN EVERYDAY. He could not save her, so what do you care what he did after ?? Where you there ?? He was foud innocent by the court, remember ??

'Important Chapter in Our History' Ends

THANK GOD!

Flagwaver.

I'd like to show a little respect for the dead by not attacking Senator Kennedy's memory, so I'll hold my tongue on that level.

But you say that Saint Peter is surely flinging the gates of heaven wide open to receive Kennedy for all the good he's done.

Firstly, I doubt that you actually believe that. I think you're merely making a euphemistic comment in order to express your regard for the Senator. It's also possible that you're trying to rankle Catholics.

But to take your comment literally, we mere mortals cannot know who goes to heaven or who goes to hell or who goes to purgatory. Nor is it our place to wonder of such matters, as these are questions for God. To borrow President Obama's expression; It's above our pay grade.

But the Church has declared that abortion is a seriously grave evil, and Senator Edward Kennedy was a life-long supporter of abortion "rights".

Maybe Kennedy confessed his sins to a priest before he passed away. Since the Lord's mercy is infinite, it's possible that St. Peter did as you say and flung the gates wide for him.

But I hope that Kennedy did not forget to confess the manslaughter of Mary Jo Kopechne, as that might keep those gates soldered shot to Teddy, as well.

I could say more, but out of respect to Kennedy's recent passing, I'll leave it at that.

Tell you what; I'll say a prayer for the Senator and for you.

God bless.

Some of these responses are plain heartless...let the man rest in peace for heaven sakes.

As I am on the West Coast, I awoke this morning to find that Ted Kennedy had died, and felt that an era had also ended. An era when it was considered noble to the son's of the wealthy to serve in the military, and for the wealthiest families to use their wealth to serve others, and I don't mean simply getting dressed up in their finest and throwing a ball to congratulate themselves on their "good works". I am reminded of old man Walton who used to go to all his stores to check on how things were going, just so he could actually talk to his employees, although none would recognize him in his overalls and unassuming manner.

bsbfankaren - re: 1.62 - part of which is above.

WELL SAID. I did not agree with everything Sen. Kennedy did or said but I sure as heck respected him.

If Orin Hatch can respect him, so should all of us.

God rest his soul.

Ted Kennedy disparaged and destroyed so many Americans he disagreed with on political issues. He ravaged Robert Bork, Judge Hanesworth, etc.

No, this was not a "good man", this was a partisan, mean spirited and viscious man who cheated on his wife, left a young girl to drown, cheated on exams, was a drunk, and lived a life of double standards and hypocracy.

Planet BeBop

God have mercy on your sorry soul and those who worshiped you and your inherited wealth.

It is an insult to every veteran of america to bury that piece of filth in arlington, he should be put in the new york public cemetary were the drunks can worship him, glad he is dead,

Pinch......THANK YOU for a great post.

Sorry, but a drunken murderer is dead, and it is a crying shame that he will be buried with military heroes. The spirits of Arlington are in shock at his inclusion among them. My condolences to his family for their loss, BUT maybe Mary Jo's family will find some closure after only 40 some years. I am sure my opinion will anger some, and for that I am sorry, but apart from being a loss for his family, he is no loss to America.

Teds motto, "A blond in every pond".

Ted...You got a bad rap but you were a good Man.. we will miss you..really the end of Camelot..:( Rest in Peace.

Ted...You got a bad rap but you were a good Man.. we will miss you..really the end of Camelot..:( Rest in Peace.

Why Are You Here ? Really ?

I just want to post an observation that I think MSNBC should take a look at the rampant repugnant and loathsome comments that are masked as a thoughtful constructive input to an educated exchange of ideas. What MSNBC has named a “post”, if you have read the gibberish that I have the thought must come to you as it come to me; is this a site for decent and thoughtful citizens to exchange debate or has the site deteriorated into a cesspool for those that offer up “posts” of no substance, contribute nothing to the issue which the link “discuss” the participants hit on their keyboards for access.

Someone asked me if I was for censorship, if you are referring to censor the repulsive, vulgar and almost inhuman, certainly uncultured to the utmost degree, my answer is yes. The so-called uncultured vulgar slob has plenty of places to go: Limbaugh, Fox, Glenn Beck, “Freedom Works, The C street and Family Council sites among so many others. I could list as long as your arm postings that strike and viciously attack the Senator. Absolutely devoid of good taste but more important is off the subject of the “discuss” icon. Which would be acceptable if prefaced so as the reader has a sense what is “going on” diverting from the issue of the article.

I must ask you why? Why would those with nothing to offer except disdain, vagabonds, vagrants from the conservative blog sites find it irresistible to come to MSNBC? Please read some of these posts and see the malicious maligning of the Senator and ask yourself what contribution they provide to the “subject” the discuss icon indicates will be discussed. This gross aberration of civilized human behavior we must accept? If so MSNBC standards, no, MSNBC is devoid of standards. The lowest of the low is the standard. If MSNBC can accept these degenerate, reprehensible even vicious persons and say they have standards….No you do not MSNBC, you have something called the community that is being abused by the most abusive. What kind of standard is that? One can say it is at best half a donkey. I have seen meaningful thoughts expressed in a few lines, great.

If the post is many lines fine. I suppose the key is meaningful, on point, expressing a view, only one little example from a cesspool of posts “ I’m glade he is dead, it’s called term limits.hey Ted.Mary Jo is waiting”. You can blame my parents, pastors, priests, nuns, our military, Sunday school teachers, teachers and my family and so many others, but that is not the way I was molded into a man, or if you like a person. Why do these vagrants from their home websites, I mentioned above, come to the Vine but to wreck their havoc? I would not go to the conservative websites to annoy without discretion and post vile and vengeful posts, I just wouldn’t. Why would I want to do that? Have these people been bussed to the Vine by United Health Care? The people in the shadows merely have to direct the minions, give them the talking points and off they go.

Finally, someone said Mr. Novack was treated terribly on the Vine after his death, I had seen the article, and for a brief moment I thought to post, then in the next moment I thought better of the idea. I did not have a great dislike of Mr. Novack. I enjoyed his laughter as he was attacked on the television programs and just laughed away his critics with graceful manner. I had seen Mr. Novack, a real conservative, for thirty years and can say non of you attack dogs could even shine Mr. Novacks shoes. What I have seen of Mr. Novack, if he could rise or speak from the grave he would surely say ENOUGH. STOP.

Senator Kennedy’s contributions to legislation is so numerable to list, briefly though, that minimum wage that so many are paid he fought over and over to raise, the health care for children and on and on. His friends Senators Hatch and Simpson surely would give all those that posted onto the Vine these repulsive posts their back hands, I’m sure of that. In one of the interviews with Senator Hatch he admitted to having a signed photograph of the Senator Kennedy in his office. I’m waiting to see his old friend Senator Simpson and Senator Hatch comment.

He had riches, and said he never entered politics for the money, what is it 48 years? He had the connections to go into the business world and build a mountain of wealth. On the backs of the American people, families, children, workingmen and woman. He chooses public service. I need say no more, watch the media tributes and see for yourself. Try to emulate the national political conservatives in your demeanor. Rise above the gutter.

RIP: Edward M. Kennedy

Post Script:

That something that holds you back and restrains you is called parentage, class upbringing.

Persevere-A thoughtful post. I wonder, though, if you would like to read only posts lauding the good side of a man who had murdered YOUR DAUGHTER? As a father of 4, including a daughter, I find the entire concept that Edward M. Kennedy was permitted to walk the streets after his crime a travesty. This is not a conservative thought, merely an intelligent one. Did Teddy do good? If you are a liberal, all the time. A conservative, sometimes. But, at least for me, His abhorrent actions in Chappaquidic must overshadow any good he did, because he was never forced to pay the price for his crime.

Buried at Arlington?

He must have suffered from his pocket book wound at Chappquidic....I hope the real heroes won't mind.

You talking about the liberal Ted? Take a look at Massachusetts today, A liberal roach nest. Where the Raid when you need It?

I did not respect Kennedy for his "sorted" past but with that said his wife and him did do some good.

Interestingly the man died and the Republican vultures come on here attacking. Sickening and typical of the New Republican Hate Party.

I will be surprised if they do not have Nazi signs and carry guns to his funeral sickening freaks.

You talking about the liberal Ted? Take a look at Massachusetts today, A liberal roach nest. Where the Raid when you need It?

Are you actually trying to suggest killing individuals because of their political leanings?

Got to be kidding. Teddy boy was a spoiled drunk who should have spent 20 years in jail for murdering Mary Joe.....rest in peace....

Mr. Novack – Was he a Traitor ?

I will attempt to succinctly make clear my feelings concerning Mr. Novack, but today is about Senator Kennedy. I did not care for Mr. Novack’s views in nearly every topic that he discussed on the network programs in which he appeared. Was he a traitor? An un-indicted traitor? A co-conspirator? I don’t have the answer to those questions. He could have been indicted if the special prosecutor had the evidence to proceed. Did he still abet those that did commit treason? He was not charged as doing so. Did he still act in unseemly act and deserve censure by the American people, yes. But, wait. He was an old beat reporter with the instincts of the beat reporter; which he was for so many years. When I looked at this at the time my conclusion was the instincts to get the inside story, and he was an insiders insider, took over his good judgment. He was duped by Scooter, and Cheney was hiding in the closet. Oh yes, look at the way he was “leaked” too. Then told so and so already knew and you can call so and so to confirm on the TQ. The old man was suckered, a sucker punch. He faded away after that, the fire and gleam for battle was gone after all those years. Cheney and Scooter stole his good name near the end of his life. No excuses that the agent was only a desk jockey, if so, tell that to the grand jury and jury that found Scooter guilty. I was not involved in the guilty verdict.

All this leads me to this. I felt sorry for Mr. Novack, I hardly ever agreed with him, but I could see how he was used. That’s right used. They, Cheney and Scooter, knew which of the beat reporters instincts would get the better of him. If we could dig him up from the grave and have him speak to us, I would bet he would say in his entire career if there were one thing he could take back.

So yes, I was tempted to post concerning Mr. Novack, and it would not have been a tribute to him. But, I only gave that thought a moment’s notice, how could I post something negative when he had just died. There is a difference between some of, many of, you out there, which is inexplicable. Maybe your inhumanity, or maybe you’re, human all to human

CBW...

Again, more death wishes on people with whom you disagree. Regardless of one's political persuasions, I fail to see where this behavior came from in a country where people used to be able to respectfully disagree with out being disagreeable and especially without wishing harm and even death on one's opponents.

But that said, and on a completely diferent topic, I would respectfully suggest that those who have a problem with Ted Kennedy being buried at Arlington National Cemetery need to check the criteria so they could relieve their distress on this subject. He does, in fact, meet the prescribed criteria.

Kevin in Texas-
"The man was found innocent, remember?"

Is that how you remember it, Kev? The mutt didn't GET the sentence
a "John Q" would have. But, the "Kangaroo Court" verdict was:

"pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident and received a
two-month suspended sentence plus a year's probation." That's not
VERY "innocent", now is it? Since he didn't even MENTION it until
8 or 10 hours later, (long enough for him to sober up) and there
weren't any drunk-driving laws back then, he got away with...

Had Mary Jo Kopechne left HIS ass in a lake, she would still have
been doing TIME. Because he was SUCH a "great" man, her death
wasn't counted against him.

Because he was SUCH a "great" man, the fact that he left the scene
of an accident that resulted in someone's DEATH just wasn't that
big of a deal. 2-month suspended sentence.

Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts ABSOLUTELY.

But now, he dines with the devil. Good enough for a mutt.

CBWY777- Great Points.

CBWY777-
"CHARACTER is what one does when they think no one is looking"

"Just because you ARE a character, doesn't mean you HAVE any"
(The "Wolf", Pulp Fiction)

Your not JESUS how do you know where he is going? God forgives.

To quote Charlton Heston, "My guns have killed less people than Ted Kennedy's car.

Gr8Scotto..

No, W didn't do those things. Instead, he killed several thousand American soldiers, and untold thousands of Iraqis, with his illegal and irrational invasion of Iraq. He lied to the American people (many, many times), the world and our allies about WMD. He wiped his ass with the Constitution and disregarded our rights (Patriot Act). Under his watch, the nation found itself on the brink of financial ruin. To help his oil buddies, he allowed them to rape the American people out of hard earned monies to line their BILLION $ bottom line. He eroded the image of America around the world by allowing, and in some cases demanding, torture. He had the balls to make one feel like a traitor and unAmerican for disagreeing with his beliefs and policies. His VP outed a spy.

Ya know, I hated what teddy boy did in the 60's with Chapp. and Mary Jo, hated his behaviour in 70's, his arrogance in 80's and so forth. His family carried itself with a smugness and arrogance and sense of entitlement that makes me sick. Bootlegging and war profiteering are unforgiveable. But if you place him on scale with W, Teddy wins. I might not feel sorrow for Ted passing, but I sure will get a huge boner when W does.

Let it be people. A man has passed away. Regardless of your political views you cannot deny the fact that Sen. Ted Kennedy spent his life in the service of this country. There will be plenty of time for your petty remarks on other discussions. Show some respect.

No. Ted Kennedy spent his life in service of Ted Kennedy!

Cpt Kirck, you sir, are an oaf. Everyone was behind Bush when 9/11 happened and was prepared to do whatever necessary, BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. That INCLUDES, disarming a nation that could possibly have nuclear capabilities such as Iraq. Pull your head out and smell the roses.

What an irony. Ted was concerned about global warming and now he is going to a very hot place.

So T.K. is a goner at last. See, there really is a God after all. Not sorry to say it that way but sorry I have to.

Valhalla, I am sure that Heston, made that crass remark, when he was beginning into alzheimers. You need to quit with the despicable comments and remarks about a dead man. Do you all have no class at all? Even your hero W commented on all that he had accomplished and done. Give it a rest people!

Novak got away with teason for outing a CIA agent during war.

Sen. Kennedy fought for the rights of those underprivledged.

I can see how the GOP would say they deserved the same.

Reality,

"Your not JESUS how do you know where he is going? God forgives."

Yeah, but I think there's more to it than that. I think you have to be sorry for what you did first.

May all those whom damn this man to hell see the same judgment when they die and if their truly is a hell I wish to bypass judgment and ascend straight to the fiery abyss in exchange for all those souls whom lived there life preaching love and spreading hate to ascend with me I would take this path with open arms. Deus est mortuus.

I myself lost all respect for Ted Kennedy after the Mary Jo Kopechne incident and the incident of his nephew whom he conspired with and defended amidst allegations of date rape while in Ted kennedys company, but still I offer my condolence to his family for their loss. Death is always a tragedy for those who are closest

With that said, it is now time to put aside all the political resentment and bitterness toward this man and work together to maintain the principals of liberty and freedom to believe as we choose....... When it comes to country, we must always remember we are Americans first, and we are all on this goodship together for better or worse

"There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed." -- Ted Kennedy, Sept 27, 2002

Neale Osborn and the Nice lady commenting about a daughter lost –

I have daughters too. When I was young I partied hard and fast. Oh how my friends and I partied, I lived so close to the beach I could walk to the shore. There once was a young lady in the passenger seat of my Jeep, a Jeep with a canvass cover. We were part of a group out for the night, I was under the influence and she forgot to put her seat belt on. No, excuse for me, I turned really sharply around a corner to catch up with our friends, her side opened and she flew out onto the street. She suffered some bruises and was ok and we continued the night. Though I was so shaken I left shortly thereafter. It was horrible, I don’t know if I would have been “legally” DUI, it didn’t matter; I was shaken to the core. The point I’m making is just the old saying that you hear now and then. You may have heard it.

“There But For The Grace Of God Go I”

Good Night - The Sun Is Down

I can see the sun is down and the trolls and dregs of polite soiety are on the prowl. I think it best that;

I should turn in now to watch the trubutes.

So Long...................................

Capt,you said it. It is amazing how classless some people can be. You know it is not even worth acknowledging people like that. I agree with you, a great statesman.

NOT a statesman, a politician.

Capt,

nice post

RIP Ted Kennedy

Capt. Tripps, You are so right. It is to bad that these people can't keep their negative thoughts to themselves at a time like this. Senator Kennedy is dead whether you liked him or not, he devoted his life to serving his fellow man. He will not be able to read the nasty remarks you are posting, they only serve to hurt his family and loved ones. I know we enjoy the freedom of speech in this country, but sometimes things are better left unsaid, and this is one of those times. One day you all will loose a loved one, and then you will know what it feels like, I hope that no one says hurtful things about your loved ones like you are doing tonight. Your words serve only one purpose , and that is to generate a respose from other posters. There are plenty of other storys that you could post about. Let Mr. Kennedy rest in peace. God have mercy on your souls.

Captain, you are so right. There have already been comments collapsed because they were too ignorant. Agree with his politics or not, Senator Kennedy managed to make a career of staying in office. For all of those who wish to disparage him for the incident in Chappaquidic(sp?) I have 2 comments:

-You weren't there so how do YOU know what happened?

-The people of Massachusetts continually re-elected the man to office, so, if THEY don't have issues with whatever happened, why should YOU?

RIP Senator Kennedy, join your family members who have preceeded you to the great caucus in the beyond.

It is to bad that these people can't keep their negative thoughts to themselves at a time like this.

Greater men die every day without fanfare. Kennedy should get a medal for having screwed up the USA the absolute MOST despite his best intentions.

I agree barb, you are so right. It is to bad people can't keep their negative thoughts to themselves at a time like this and try to spin his life like he's some kind of humanitarian hero. Like him or not he devoted his life to serving himself by hurting and killing others.

You're absolutely right about the Statesman comment. "Larry in MS" is out of his mind.

dewintre200

It is to bad that these people can't keep their negative thoughts to themselves at a time like this.

Greater men die every day without fanfare. Kennedy should get a medal for having screwed up the USA the absolute MOST despite his best intentions.

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• !

#4.7 - Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:25 PM PDT

The most... TO DATE.

They were trying to give the working man more of an ability to control their own paychecks----instead of giving 50% of everything they earned to take care of freelooaders who procreate at will and then dump their spawn on the taxpayer.

I'm not a Republican SKVAM; you missed the target. You guys are always so certain the universe breaks down into Red or Blue.

If civil rights passes, thank Democrats.

Oh really? I recall the GOP was the party of Lincoln, who freed the slaves, and the Democrats were the party of Jim Crow and southern segregation. My how times change.

I don't deny that the Democrats have heaped upon us a great DEAL of obligations that will - in our lifetimes - bankrupt the United States. Maybe your heart is right, but one thing I've learned is that Democrats either A) cannot do math, or B) don't care to.

Your exactly right, times they do change, and you have no right whatsoever to invoke Lincoln. Anyone with any historical knowledge knows that today's Republicans are NOT Lincoln's Republicans, they would be as opposed to him as they are Obama, I mean they do claim to be the Party of smaller government and States rights, don't they? Sounds exactly like the South, except today's GOP are a bunch of hypocrites when it comes to their "values". Not to mention that when it mattered it was the Democrats who split their party fighting for Civil Rights, whereas the Republicans moved into the fractured South on a Platform of "woah the white man". Pretty much every social program and advancment in this country during the lives of ourselves and people we know has been passed by Democrats against Republican obstruction.

Agreed. He was not a perfect man (I personally have never met one), but he was a patriot. He and his brothers all loved this country, and they have all served it to their last breath. I and most others honor that service, and thank Ted for trying to make our lives better.

SKVAM,

And we can thank Democrats for the financial shape and moral decline our country is in. All these liberal feel good policies do nothing to help people but hold them down. Kennedy is the poster boy of why we need term limits, along with Byrd. Hopefully the people of MA will realize the damage that is being done to this country and vote someone in that understands the constitution and the limited powers it gives the government. God rest his soul.

God Bless America

I predict a long day for the forum moderator.

You're alright tyler. Chappaquiddick. Just so I don't get collapsed :D

The jerk was not a statesman.

Ted Kennedy was no saint. More often than not though, he was on the right side of history. He was right on civil rights, he was right to oppose wars, he was right to fight for universal health care.

He's fought his fight, now it's our turn to take up the banner. A compassionate country needs compassionate health care.

Do it for Teddy.

He did mean so much to so many, murderer, chicken@!$%#, drunk, adulterer, womanizer, sinner. I don't think confession or list rights will save this soul.

We owe him WHAT? Can use say Chappaquiddick? See ya later?

jandrew,

"The lion has passed."

Did he get his nickname cause of his huge head? Just wondering.

We are less today…No Man is an Island…The country is diminished

Farewell old friend, a friend to his countrymen, in our family we will raise our glasses to you and bide you a final farewell. As you said in your eulogy to your brother, so we may say the same of you. I adapt the eulogy he gave at his brother’s funeral.

Senator Kennedy need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; the petty slings and arrows cannot hurt you now, to all decent people you will be remembered simply as a good and decent man. You always thought it wrong that the people of this great nation had no national health as so many of our allies and even foes enjoy. You, also, saw wrong and tried to rightit, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw a war and tried to stop it. We all know What you wished for us and others will some day come to pass.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams

Shall never die.

RIP: Edward M. Kennedy

To Anyone That Wants To Post Disparaging Remarks -

Please no reply I really don't care to read such, nor will I at this time, save it

PeterParker -

Good post

Kennedy deserves no more respect than HE showed that gal he murdered.

I will never understand the reason why some are afraid to hear anything they disagree with... it seems to plague current leadership and those who worship them. I see much of that tonight on this comment page. Sen. Kennedy was a part of the West Palm Beach community in which I live. He did many admiral things for a great number of people. I do not nor will I ever agree with his Liberal Politics. Although in the light of today's radicals he would likely be closer to a center left the a Radical Left as our President is.

Mr. Kennedy has left many with good memories and some with bad. He obviously had faults that he attempted to hide and used his power to cause many actions that some could be call questionable. As I said before... I found his "Tax and Spend" politics and his "welfare state" mentality towards government abysmal... yet he was an American who served for many years in an arena that suffers few for that long.

I wish his family... those here in Palm Beach... and those around America peace and hope they are not hounded by the press. I can say one thing about the press however. Right now... Obama is thanking his lucky stars that once again in the middle of a tailspin of his administrations popularity... yet another major figure in America has died... leaving the Liberal media with no time to comment about Him for at least 10 to 15 days until he get whatever he is working on next passed. I pray he is not given a free pass because of Ted Kennedy's death... I hope the pressure of his failures and Socialist idea's stay right on top of him...

God Bless Kennedy family.

My only regret is that Kennedy didn't live long enough to see this country collapse, aggravated in part by legislation he sponsored going all the way back to 1965.

Of course, part of me thinks he'd be in denial to the very end, insisting the solution to be MORE of the very things that destroyed us. This is the liberal way. When things blow up in your face, thats the time to pile it on. Financial crisis? Spend your way out of it. Racial disharmony? Keep stacking the deck. Don't like whats happening to your country? Shove it down peoples throats anyway.

I hate to break it to you Persevere, but Newsvine is not a memorial to anyone. There is nothing "constructive" to say about a dead person, unless you consider as constructive the continuation of his policy ideas ( to which I disagree and have made my point ). You talk about parasites, but last time I checked, my side of the political spectrum isn't the one begging for handouts or a socialist welfare state.

Persevere,

who died and made you a Kennedy. Just leave this forum and then you dont have to read anything you dont want.

If you hate liberty and progress, countries like Afghanistan are waiting for you !

Actually, I love liberty and I despise people like you that would use government coercion to steal the fruits of my labor. You cannot on the one hand champion personal liberty and on the other support a nanny-state that will wipe your *** for you. You are INCONSISTENT in your views. As far as Afghanistan goes, I'll pass. The American way is to fight people like you in the voting booth. Ted Kennedy believed in big government which is the antithesis of liberty. uloveUHC, you really do confirm for me something I observe almost every day on Newsvine, which is that leftists really don't understand what is what. You say I have no common sense, but you really have no point of context by which to judge.

Teddy was a Kennedy, so his future in politics was cemented. To his family, he was very influential and am sure will be sorely missed as anyone of us to our families. The Sate of Mass. knew who he was, his up and downs and kept voting him back in to represent them in the Senate. America also knew who he was and would not allow him a credible run for President. Caught cheating at Harvard and kicked out, and then enlists. A young and brash mistake, followed by an honorable action. Dad throws much money to Harvard and gets him back in many years later. Something that the rest of us would never have been able to do, but so be it, life of a Kennedy.

There are certain actions in ones adult life that will define you for your entire life, no matter what else you do. That was his Chappaquiddick. These are events that to the average person would have devastated our career path forever, but for some reason to others are just footnotes in their life.

If this is the end of an era, I for one will be glad. I would like to judge a man on his own character and flaws individually and not just a sum total of what the family has to offer.

Liberal means what it means : liberty !

Historically, maybe, by archaic definition.

Today, people who love liberty are called libertarians.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarianism

People who love state intervention and big government are called liberals.

Think of it like mashed potatos.

Liberals expect the government to provide people with a liberal heaping-helping. Conservatives expect the government to conserve their resources. Liberty becomes an issue when the government presupposes it OWNS you and your LABOR, and redistributes it however IT deems "just".

Its important to remember that the government can only give you what it first steals from someone else. If the moral implications of that don't bother you, or you're a beneficiary of such theft, then you'll make an ideal Democrat.

I am of the philosophy that NO ONE owes me anything, nor do I owe them. THAT is what liberty means to me. For liberals, liberty apparently means being able to do whatever you want on someone else's dollar. I suppose that could be liberty in a perverted sense of the word.

IloveUHC

I'm not sure what dictionary you pulled that out of but the term liberal does not equate to liberty. 

Rest in Peace Ted Kennedy.  Even theough I did not agree with you on many topics, you did much good for America.

I work 60 hours / week, so please do not give me some lessons !!

That is what makes your position all the more tragic.

Imagine how much health insurance you could afford if you were just allowed to keep HALF your taxes?

....good riddance Ted.....You were as corrupt as everyone else in Congress....Oh, I'm sure Mary Jo Kopechne will have a few questions for you to answer to now.....

Teddy can thank his entire career on being a Kennedy.

Gets kicked out of Harvard for cheating and his father gets him back in.

Brother becomes President, Teddy is given Johns Senate seat.

Kills a girl and doesnt report it and father cleans it up.

I cannot think of one of those events happening to me, let alone all three. Ted Kennedy did not earn his political career, he was given it despite his recklessness to destroy it.

Good-bye Teddy. Thank you and God bless

Dissent? No. Disrespect and blatant ignorance? Yes. The man just died and people are upset. Show some respect or be quiet.

RIP, Teddy. Your voice and championship for the poor and less fortunate will be sorely missed. May you be at peace with your brothers at last.

Heartfelt condolences to the Kennedy family. Rest in peace, Ted.

Interestingly enough when Ronald Reagon passed the libs bashed him and it was ok, when any prominant GOP member passes...it's ok to destroy him...but a man who let a woman die and has done nothing but slant left toward socialism passes and people point out his misgivings and or actions and we are bashers and should be shut up. You libs hold a double standard like no other...I wish no ill will on anyone else, but Mary Jo's family now feels vindicated at his death and with his passing might stop the most redicules health care bill from passing. Probably the best end to his legacy, the failure of Socialized Health Care.

There will, I know, be alot of hateful on this post today. Alot of nasty people in this world. That said, Ted Kennedy worked for the PEOPLE of this country, not the rich elite. All of the Kennedys did. That is why most of them were assasinated.Keep your rotten comments off this post and have some respect, and I promise not to post my opinion when Cheney dies.

tex queen why are email addresses added to this post?

If we read in a newspaper report that a murderer/alchoholic and a pedofile/drug addict died in prison we would say good riddance. Just because one is a liberal politician that rode his famous brothers coat tails to power and the other was an overrated pop star that other people attached themselves too like leaches we are suppose to be in some type of national mourning for these guys? Less than 24 hours NBC is already asking the question if he will lie in state at the capitol building???? Who is gonna pay that bill??? But you know he made a careere out of lying at the capitol building anyway. . . .

I'm sure there is a special place awaiting him and it's not called Heaven!

Now matbe Mary Jo can get some peace!

I am liberal and really could not stand Ted Kennedy... He has been my number one case in point for needing term limitations on Congress. I know he is an American icon but some part of me detests having an "American Royal Family." I don't think he has made good decisions and after the "Big Dig" fiasco which cost the entire country our federal tax dollars I think people outside of his political constituency have a right to speak out against his policies. I think the posts today once again speak volumes about the need for term limitations... If you don't want anything negative said about you on your death bed then stop running for reelection when you have brain cancer. If you don't want to be scrutinized while ill then resign your public post respectfully because you cannot serve to full capacity in your illness anyways.

It appears MSNBC isnt allowing any negative comments from the appearance of the start of this post....oh well, put a drink in the hole and lets move on. He didnt do much in the senate but push liberial, give away programs. Maybe now we can move on, the era of the Kennedy's is over.

Rest in peace, Ted and thanks for all of your hard work. You will be surely missed.

I will respectfully note the passing of a great Liberal Senator today. I will also regrettably note the passing of a great American custom today ....the practice of good manners. If is quite obvious by today's posts that Americans have no manners.

Regardless of whether you liked Kennedy or hated him he deserves the respect of any person passing. We all know Ted was human and had many failings. He also did many fine things. This is not the time or place to show your lack of manners. Save your meanness and nasty remarks for some other time.

Liberal means what it means : liberty !

IloveUHC

This is hardly the truth. Someone already let you know that people who extol liberty are called libertarians.

I agree with that same person who says liberal today means big government. To let you know, our founding fathers abhored big government.

When Patrick Henry said - give me liberty or give me death - he was not asking for big government.

How can one be free (liberty is freedom) when big brother government is watching you.

he was a great blow to the Civil Rights Movement. Take some history lessons , he was a foe of Civil Rights , he did more to take the rights away from citizens of the USA than anybody else I can think of , the convicted felon bill clinton comes in a close 2nd.

What rights did he take away? I would love a list!

It is the end of an era. The comfortable 1960s myth of Camelot now seems very far away, and passed into the ages like a mist, as the last of the Kennedy brothers has died. No matter one's political persuasion there is a gravity that attends to this breaking news, and not unlike the news of the deaths of Lady Diana or of his brother John Kennedy many will remember where they were and what was happening in their own lives when they heard the word of this death. That is the immense power of the media at work. And while the prior decades of press coverage tend to lead the public to a wrong impression that they know the man and what he stood for, it is closer to the truth that only his family and longtime closest circle of friends and longtime colleagues in the Senate really know who he was and what he stood for in any meaningful way, if even then...In coming days one can only hope, in terms of the larger and current political picture, that political opportunists will not seize on this death and cynically use it to lead the wide swathe of gullible citizens to a wrongheaded belief that the bankrupting healthcare initiative should now be rushed through as a tribute to the deceased. It is foolishness to rush and pass a healthcare initiative that American taxpayers can ill afford at any time... While brother Ted seemed to be a liberal through and through, the true mythical lion of this clan was brother Jack, and in terms of today's political climate, brother Jack's policies were actually conservative-to-moderate on the economic side and moderate on the social side. So for any logical bow to Camelot and the Kennedy myth now, it would be only to postpone the massive healthcare proposal to another, later year (and name it the Kennedy health law then, much later), when America might be sufficiently recovered to afford at least some aspects of what is now only a sweeping, bankrupting proposal. For now Congress would wisely take up only cost containment of existing providers and regulation of insurers, and that is ample and appropriate public tribute to the undeniable imprint that Ted Kennedy made on national policy and the national psyche....To his family this loss, and so close on the heels of the death of Eunice Shriver, is an enormous loss and our prayers are with them.

I think you Liberals showed us how----remember all the hate directed at George Bush? What goes 'round comes 'round. Paybacks are a @!$%#---get used to it.

Lucy-

There is a difference between spewing hateful lies of the dead, and criticizing a living person who has proved to have committed almosgt if not all the crimes that the libs acuse him of.

It is beyond disgusting to be happy about the death of a person whether you like the person or not! Everyone who dies deserves a bit of respect and compassion. At least those of us how were brought up with manners and compassion believe so.

Pity lucy, there's a difference between feeling embarrassment for one whom is supposed to be our leader, feeling pity for him and hating someone.

Your vitriol reeks of hatred.

Like you @!$%# libs did with Reagan?

Well Teddy, Jesse Helms is waiting on you.

Lucy-

I wished or welcomed a man's death ever in my life. Wishing or welcoming death of a person is one of the most vile things a person can do. You can disagree with a person's policies and views but wishing or welcoming death is a disgusting act that cannot be defended.

Also it is interesting that you cannot argue without having to cover up foul language.

Lucy, there are laws against necrophilia, which is damn close to what you and some of your liberal compatriots thoughts are performing.

There is a difference between spewing hateful lies of the dead, and criticizing a living person who has proved to have committed almosgt if not all the crimes that the libs acuse him of.

So you're saying Mary Jo Kopechne's death by way of Kennedy's drunken negligence, and ensuing inability to "do the right thing" is... unproven?

Porkbevr
Lucy, there are laws against necrophilia, which is damn close to what you and some of your liberal compatriots thoughts are performing!

WHAT?

abby-271462

Lucy-

I wished or welcomed a man's death ever in my life. Wishing or welcoming death of a person is one of the most vile things a person can do. You can disagree with a person's policies and views but wishing or welcoming death is a disgusting act that cannot be defended.

Also it is interesting that you cannot argue without having to cover up foul language.

Ok. how about he was an unrepentant murderer while cheating on his wife and never apologized to the family for it, he thought the value of his life was worth more than Mary Jo...so without all the cursing and smacking of hands justify that one.

All the haters of President Bush, what President has not made decisions that kill people, one, five, one million....1 is just as important as thousands so don't cherry pick details to accommodate your stance. All President's make the decisions like that.

Excusing away the death of Mary Jo is inexcusable because of his possible good actions...you people need counseling.

a lot of repug scumbags on here today,whoops what i meant to say was repulican christians.can anyone of you so called republican christians cast the first stone?i didnt think so. you repugs are a bunch of loser hypocrites.

Sen. Ted Kennedy was a politician whose views and politics clashed greatly with mine. His strong support of Liberal causes was not where I believed we needed to take this great nation. I will not miss his involvement in attempting to ruin the economy, to give my money away, to destroy my 2nd Amendment rights, or to socialize this nation. He never did come clean regarding the night Mary Jo K. died in his car. He is not the example I hold up to my children for their lives. Still, to his family my condolances. Disagree or agree with someone's politics, they still leave behind family and friends who have suffered a loss. Ted is with his recently departed sister, with his brothers, and his worldly issues are behind him.

*Yawn*

Actually, dewintre, being that Ted Kennedy was never convicted of murder that's the very definition of unproven. I'm not even going to debate whether he recieved special treatment because of his political status or his family name. The whole thing happened in 1969, now they're both dead. Let it go...

R.I.P. Teddy.

Lucy said "Wishing or welcoming death of a person is one of the most vile things a person can do."

Sounds like Obama's health care-insurance-whatever plan.

God Bless America

I think you Liberals showed us how----remember all the hate directed at George Bush? What goes 'round comes 'round. Paybacks are a @!$%#---get used to it.

Yay, a neverending cycle of negativity! What I always wanted!

sigh

agreed.

Everyone who tries to rip Kennedy get's his post collapsed! Sorry, couldn't resist.

Valhalla Phil: Not resisting vacuous comments seems to be a continuing weakness of yours.

Typical libs, free speech is only free if you agree with them...lol

You hit it right on the head "donnieboy"... even if you must shut down the radio and the TV... We all will hear the Liberal Battle cry.... "Common sense is only for those who disagree with us".....

Keep watching... and hang in there... it will definitely get worse.... until we get to change it again ourselves....

I have noticed that Americans LOVE censoring each other. We've become regular "Brown Shirts". I guess in a society that has Hannah Montana championing for bills that make a criminal out of someone who hurts another's feelings...cyber bullying Act, (Which, if memory serves me right, Kennedy was a big supporter.), would see nothing wrong with censoring dissenting opinions, or statements that "hurt" their sensibilities.

The thing is, if you censor someone, you are censoring yourself.

for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all.

So, when are you, neocons work for this, justice, fairness and opportunity for all ??? Never, I suppose, all you work for is your moneygod greed !

I agree with your statement as far as the justice part, but fairness and opportunity for all? Please you are going to make me hurl. All he ever wanted was to make a name for himself and your an idiot complaining about greed. He was greedy and you know it. I would take a guess that your a greedy bleeding heart liberal as well

tyler... Thank you for your dedicated to the Newsvine blog and taking the time to repair the damages that others commenters who chose to disrespect the CoH.

Tyler - re: #18.1 - I second your motion.

gave their lives? Hardly.

We don't need any more "dynasties".

Yeah and Mary Jo gave her life too, your point?

Yeah, With other people money!

Larry in MS, another wingnut.

Typical. Call names instead of addressing the issue at hand, which was Kennedy leaving that gal to drown in a drunken stupor.

Ladygeek, Puleeassee!

Don't anyone call me an Idiot! I know how to spell!

Tyler,

First I want to say I do not envy your job as referenced to this thread. You really got your work cut out for you with this one.

Second, I wish you wouldn't use the term "wingnut" in such a derogatory way. My screen name is a reference to Chino Airport in So. Ca. where some of the nicest collections of antique aircraft and WWII fighter aircraft are kept by private collectors. I do side work for these collectors and have gotten to know most of the airport tenants over the last few decades.

Are you serious?

Lay off the crack pipe, because your stupidity is UNDESCRIBABLE. You're half idiot, and that's the good half.

Valerie1296866- the reunion may be down there.

Somehow I dont think he's UP there.......

I think when someone dies some people just shows what kind of true class they have or may not have, and I'm not surprised how many here have no class at all, but they think they are pace setters or are some how the pillar of our society not by a long shot ... Rest in pace Ted.

"... up there."????? Um, .... I have the feeling that if it were possible, 'ole Teddy would be warning people of repeating his mistakes and of promoting his philosophies which are/were not helpful to this country's spiritual state.

Don't get me wrong, my condolences go out to his family and I don't revel in where he is. I pity them all. To grow up in the lap of luxury (though most of it was through Joe's ill-gotten gains and questionable dealings) with all that potential to effect positive change only to throw it away by making one bad decision after another and then trying to cover it up with passing laws that attempt to ease his conscience is just sad. I, for one, am glad that he is out of office for the sake of the country, but I feel remorse in a wasted (no pun intented) life.

I would like to have been able to conclude with "Rest in peace", but I feel that isn't the case.

Agreed......rest in peace Teddy.

Any man who shucks off this mortal coil and has his enemies raise a toast and say "you fought the good fight, loved sparring with you brother" has lived a good life. From the vanishing school of "we can agree to disagree" school of politics

Thank you Newsvine for not allowing those who are filled with hate

to tarnish this great man's life. He had more compassion, grace and

intelligence in a single cell than all those hate mongers put together.

Rest in Peace Teddy. You did good and made your family proud.

It must be hard on those mean spirited hateful people to be so perfect and pure in their own lives... Sen. Kennedy was a great Senator and human being.

How was he able to serve in the US Senate after Chappaquiddick? Google it and see for yourselves. I guess that I would have to be from Massachusetts to understand this.

hope4ever: Newsvine is collapsing everything, regardless of one's opinion. Do you include people who honestly voice their view or only people who agree with you? That is a typical leftist, elitist, totalitarian position. Others have a right to their opinions, whether they agree with you or not.

Merriann Except Mary Joe and her baby!!!!!!!!!!! Remember Kennedy pleaded guility to leaving Mary Joe in the car.

Meriann Of course Obama supported Kenndy. Its called "honor among theives"!!!!!!!!!!!

The amount of comments collapsed on this article speaks to the unpatriotic ignorant anger that has overtaken the right in this country.

Ted Kennedy lived through the tragedy of many untimely deaths of his family members. He has held his office since filling the position when John Kennedy was elected president. The people of Mass. elected him back to the office over the years and he did them and the American people proud. You will be missed Sen. Kennedy!

It just goes to show what kind of people there are on the right in this country that some would not only kick a man when he is down, but to savage him at the time of his death. There are some really vile people out there. I personally would have respect for a man that spent his very last breath trying to do what he thought was right for his country. That is regardless of his ideology. That is regardless to my disagreements with his views. I'm not saying people should just pretend he was perfect, but then none of us are. He struggled to his death to do what was right. Anyone knocking Ted Kennedy right now is a real scumbag. Nobody taught them respect or manners. When I was growing up people taught me good sportsmanship, respect for my elders, respect for my competitors and even my enemies. I'm not sure what the right would hope to gain by defiling this man's memory except that you will cause those people, even conservatives that respected Kennedy to abandon the Republicans. What do I know though maybe that's the new Whig party's stratagem du jour. Who am I to stop you. Say whatever vile trash you want and we'll just see what normal people think of a man or woman that would defile the dead.

CCArm, You are so right. In time of a persons death, they are like vultures, picking at a carcass. Do you not have any sense of right or wrong? Who of any of us have done or said things that were wrong? If you that got on here to hag and disrespect this man, confess to be Christians how do you explain that the Apostle Paul who was formerly called Saul killed Christians and tortured them, but went on to do only good after his conversion? People, the hate and vitriol is over the top, as evidenced by all the collapsed posts and the things we see each and everyday on the news. We have to reach out to each other and forgive ad forget, regardless of our differences, if we do not we are doomed. No amount of guns, ammunition, politicians, lawyers or anyone else, will change that. We are each others keeper and we are all in this game of life together. RIP Senator Kennedy, you certainly served well and we will miss your leadership.

I wonder if we can make August 26th a National holiday?

Ted Kennedy served honorably as a Senator. He had personal issues in his private life, and who in this country doesn't. The only difference is that this man gave his life to the people of this country through public service because he was privileged as has most of the Kennedy family. As a result of that, everything in his personal life is also public knowledge. I wonder how some of these people on newsvine with hate in their hearts would stand up to such public scutiny of every aspect of their own lives being played out in public. Our troops in Iraq thank God for Ted Kennedy right now considering he led a fillibuster in the Senate even against the advice of his own party, just to get them Armor in their vehicles and send them off to an unnecessary war and death (which he had the intelligence and forthought to vote against) with bullet-proof vests they did not have to purchase themselves.

Svenolafson

It's difficult to determine if your comment was a serious thought or just hateful sarcasm. One would tend to believe it was a poor attempt at the latter.

Linda, no hate. I don't hate. Better descriptive word would be relief.

With all due respect Svenolafson....to feel "relief" at the death of someone who died of a Malignant Brain Tumor is quite a statement to the type of human being you must be. It's really sad. I wonder if you are one of the people in this country who has benefited in any way from the policy and fight for basic human rights this man was center-page on over the last 35 years or so. Have you ever called in sick to care for a family member and did not have to worry about losing your job? Are you fortunate enough to have health insurance that you could not get dropped from because you or someone in your family got really ill and used many benefits and a LAW was Policy that you could not be dropped? You may not have agreed with his liberal agenda, but I will surely bet sometime, somewhere in your life in the last, lets say atleast 10 + years, you have reaped the benefits of his efforts for the American workers rights in this country. Maybe you might even know of a person who has served in the Military or is currently serving, who has had their benefits increased because of this man you are so "relieved" has died....

Linda, nope. As far as the public scrutiny. Didn't seem to bother the man. He had no shame. I bet you had to take a shower after writing all that stuff about him.

The amount of comments collapsed on this article speaks to the unpatriotic ignorant anger that has overtaken the right in this country.

Speaking as a voting Democrat I beg to differ as I cannot separate my ideals from my moment of purpose... The number of collapsed comments in this article only speaks to the truth that any and all sides will suppress free speech. I wonder if Ted Kennedy would have voted for comments to be collapsed because the views they express disgree with his own?

Svenolafson....obviously speaking of shame, neither do you!! I am actually a Republican, but informed and educated, which seems to be a statement of almost incredible disbelief when speaking of Republicans anymore. But even Republicans can see the service and incredible contributions Sen. Kennedy has made to the rights of workers and the American People. Not to see it is to have blindfolders on. People like you are the disgusting portrayal of the "ignoranance" that has taken hold of many people in this country. Now you go take a shower and maybe it will wake you up!!!

I'm sorry to see anyone die of cancer... but unfortunately... he leaves a legacy of corruption and was one of the biggest crooks in the Senate! All you have to do is review his history in politics.

Let's hope his replacement is a better person with ethical and moral principles.

Comments collapsed are by this 'community' not Newsvine.

One example of a collapsed comment is by Emmanuel 0684, with 66 votes:

Damn...even when it's expected, it's sad. We've lost a great one.

We are less today…No Man is an Island…The country is diminished

Farewell old friend, a friend to his countrymen, in our family we will raise our glasses to you and bide you a final farewell. As you said in your eulogy to your brother, so we may say the same of you. I adapt the eulogy he gave at his brother’s funeral.

Senator Kennedy need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; the petty slings and arrows cannot hurt you now, to all decent people you will be remembered simply as a good and decent man. You always thought it wrong that the people of this great nation had no national health as so many of our allies and even foes enjoy. You, also, saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw a war and tried to stop it.

We all know What you wished for us and others will some day come to pass.

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams

Shall never die.

RIP: Edward M. Kennedy

Newsvine should rethink the widom in allowing the community to collapse comments... Turns the site into one big "town hall meeting"

I'll hold my comments until after he's buried.

Another MBA

he leaves a legacy of corruption

Who exactly are you referring to? Sen. Kennedy or the Bush Administration over the last 8 years in American History? The Bush Administration has given new meaning to the word corruption. What corruption investigation was Sen. Kennedy ever involved in? He faced a grand jury for a Motor Vehicle Accident in which he and the passenger were both intoxicated and she drowned and he committed a misdemeanor for his delay in reporting the accident. Ted Kennedy has never faced corruption charges in any court in this country. Now can you say: Outing a CIA agent, Attorney General Ashcroft and perjury, Bribery by Nick Smith (R-Mich) Tom DeLay (Felon) - criminal fundraising in Texas, and found allegations of corruption by a Texas Grand Jury, Alberto Gonzales, Scooter Libby, HUD Secretary resignations under corruption, Dick Cheney secretive Energy Task Force investigation and then 4 months later we have troops in Iraq? How about No-bid government contracts and Halliburton??? Many words can be said regarding Ted Kennedy's Senate history, but corruption is not one of them.

We all know What you wished for us and others will some day come to pass.The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dreams shall never die.

Yep. He wished for Elite-ism and a Socialist state. The "cause" of socialsm. Ther are plenty of Socialist governments in the world. Instead of changing a free, democratic, capitalism driven society, why not get the h*ll out and go join your Marxist/Socialist friends in other parts of the world?

Linda,

"Who exactly are you referring to? Sen. Kennedy or the Bush Administration over the last 8 years in American History? The Bush Administration has given new meaning to the word corruption."

Yeah Linda you're a Republican. LOL! What a coincidence. I'm a Democrat. An educated one at that. I know, I know that's not possible but it's true. I'd swear on Ted Kennedy's grave it is.

Peter -

I have never been "collapsed", but, I did see a little tribute which kindly spoke of Senator Kennedy which was collapsed. I asked myself for what sane reason. I understand and support collapsing filthy, stupid comments that deface and degrade the site. But, is that process being abused when a tribute is collapsed? The little people that seem to be streaming here to spew hate is truly an absurd spectacle, and they should be eliminated, but these kind of, what are they? Are they trying to use the system to collapse honest tributes?

There should be a screening process so the system can not be abused by the very, I guess they can be called people, that the system is set up to collapse? These are children pretending to be adults, children locked in an adult body. NewsVine - MSNBC should look into this , and I will contact them and point this flaw out in their system.

Why do they come to MSNBC and not go to the FOXNEWS site or the Limbaugh site? One would think that would be their home, and they would not be collapsed and be able to interface with one another.

Why go to a "leftwing" media outlet? I can only guess to wreck their little havoc and post mindless drivel and thus feel good of themselves. If not, why come to this site? There are so many sites to spew hate, It is a loss to me, they must be obsessed with MSNBC.

MSNBC get a tighter grip on this site, the vermin migrating hee like I have never seen before, it is amazing to and amusing to watch. The sub-species do their little dance.

I agree - I think people should continue to be allowed to disagree or even dislike Senator Kennedy in public forum in-spite of the fact that he has now died... It's symbolic of the free speech he probably would have spoke to defend. I think it's hypocritical to deny peoples opinions because someone who stayed in public office while suffering brain cancer has died. There is still much intelligent discussion to have that may offend some diehards on one side or the other but the number one discussion that comes to mind today is the discussion for term limits for congressmen and women.

Peter -

I agree with and the old boy could give as good as he got, he could go toe to toe, and would defend free speech, be the first too.

But, what I read here is an insult to free speech, more of a "look at me" I hate liberals and that so and so, and on and on. My question is still stands, Why come here to spew hate? It is amazing, truly. I did not realize the debasement people would stoop too.

I suppose I should not be surprized, but I am, and dismayed. Someone posted something about Mr. Novack and he was treated. I was no fan of Mr. Novack but to go onsite and bash him I thought to myself would be the wrong thing to do and I would feel shame, and dishonor to myself and family. I suppose that happened, I was not party to that nor do I condon such postings.

But, to think you are doing right by Mr. Novack you are misguiding yourself, your hatred has overcome your decency. I would expect Mr. Novack, should he be alive today or could speak from the grave would say cease. I watched Mr. Novack for thirty years he had a sense of fair play and even common decency to him. He would laugh when he half heartedly tried to defend the indefensible. Laugh, a good decent laugh at his detractors. No those that spread this vile hatred today do Mr. Novack no tribute, The Novack I knew had more decency.

Svenolofson

You need to go back and read some of your comments today. You are clearly demented or just plain stupid. First you are "relieved" the man died today of Brain Cancer, then you can't make up your mind who the h?ll you even are. Go take another shower and wake up babe...or go back and sleep it off!!! Now you state you are a Democrat but you previously said you feel relief that a well-established leader of the Democratic party is dead. You seem to just comment to comment with no real issue at hand, or clearly one you can't express.

Linda, and you call yourself a Republican for shame, for shame!

How about a person calling themselves a Democrat let alone a human being stating they feel "relief" when another dies of brain cancer and if that is not bad enough,you have the incredible bad judgement and lack of any form of human respect to say "I'll swear on his grave" You are quite a person, the shame is all on you for everyone on this newsvine to read for themselves.

There should be a screening process so the system can not be abused by the very, I guess they can be called people, that the system is set up to collapse?

There is a system setup on NV where you can challenge a collapsed post or deleted post. Check the links at the bottom of the page.

Linda, friend request sent.

But, what I read here is an insult to free speech, more of a "look at me" I hate liberals and that so and so, and on and on. My question is still stands, Why come here to spew hate? It is amazing, truly. I did not realize the debasement people would stoop too.

I agree with you - I'm not sure who posted about Mr. Novak?

Free speech is free speech - you do nothing but harm to silence idiots. People who scream the loudest have a tendency to be ignored... I think that people with purely cruel tasteless things to say should have their post deleted not collapsed by the community as with all public discussions on the vine however this morning things were different. Anyone with an opinion about Senator Kennedy was having their comments collapsed. Newsvine isn't a personal rah rah site for the deceased where public figures can simply be honored and remembered fondly regardless of their public policies. It's a site for debate and free thinking - better to support a supporter of free speech by speaking back than by running away and collapsing comments that criticize someone recently deceased who elected to stay in office with a terminal illness.

I said it on the following page and I will repeat it here - Anyone who's legacy must be defended so voracisily should also have their legacy questioned...

That would be the same Joe Kennedy that nixon asked for his blessing and support and would have gotten it if JFK wouldn't have run at the same time.

If there was any figure in the Kennedy family who was a sack of human garbage, it was the patriarch Joe Kennedy. He was a Nazi sympathizer. Worse than that, he had his own daughter lobotomized in a secret operation.

In comparison to his father (may he spend eternity in hell), Ted Kennedy was a great man.

Actually JFK got elected president with the help of the mafia. Though JFK did not know this. It was his father Joe that made it happen.

Joe offered to call off his sons when they were looking at organized crime. They didn't so they were both assinated by the mafia.

I read it in a book about Sam Giancana written by his brother called Double Cross. It was a great book, I have read it numerous times already.

Actually JFK got elected president with the help of the mafia

The American people had nothing to do with it?

Jezzzzzzzzz

-Thank God !