Ted Kennedy Died

[Moses Shuttlesworth]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

RIP....damn

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

Dude killed a girl, and then slept it off before telling anyone.

I think that's all that needs to be said about Ted.

[Bruins]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

[bucksfan07]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

eh, your right, he's a saint and one of the greatest human beings ever

[Bruins]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

eh, your right, he's a saint and one of the greatest human beings ever

Yup. Exactly what I said.

[Chip Douglass]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

eh, your right, he's a saint and one of the greatest human beings ever

eh, your right, he's a demon and one of the worst human beings ever.

Oh wait, that actually captures the sentiment of most of the posters.

[cooldude]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

The guy wasn't a saint, but no one is. Let the man have his rest

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

eh, your right, he's a demon and one of the worst human beings ever.

Oh wait, that actually captures the sentiment of most of the posters.

Really? I want exact quotes to back up that claim.

[roadman]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

40 yrs is a long time ago.

He did kill someone, but did he do it intentionally?

The most anyone can get in Wisconsin for being legally intoxicated and killing someone behind the wheel is 10 years.

In 1969, the DWI laws were much different then they are today.

Let's also put some things into perspective. His oldest brother died in a plane crash in WWII, his two other brothers were assassinated in the 60's, he had a sister that was mentally challenged, his son had to have his leg amputated as he was diagnosed with cancer in his teens, one of his brothers sons died of a drug overdose, 10 years ago John Jr was killed in a plane crash with his wife and sister-in-law and you have the press and cameras following every move you make.

He made an awful decision to drive that night 40 yrs ago. He should have turned the keys over to another person. Yes, he should have served some jail time for that.

[Lava]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

Didn't see this coming...

Seriously? He's been sick with cancer for some time...

Anyways, to be honest I don't know a lot about Ted Kennedy's background as I'm only 19, so I'll pass on commenting on the love/hate of the man going on in this thread and simply say

RIP

[superjames1992]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

40 yrs is a long time ago.

He did kill someone, but did he do it intentionally?

The fact that he did and it then fled instead of staying and standing up to the responsibility is what gripes me.

[roadman]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

The fact that he did and it then fled instead of staying and standing up to the responsibility is what gripes me.

That gripes me as well, but my bigger gripe is that he got behind the wheel.

[Maize08]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

It is sad that we have lost the Lion of the Senate. Sure, he was a troubled man but it was his problems that molded him into the fighter he was. As a New England Democrat, he was probably one of the least corrupt in the Senate. I wish he would have lived long enough to see some real health care reform.

Teddy Shotgun should be given credit as a great politician and legislator. I didn't say great man or drinker or even husband, but he was a Kennedy, the last part should go without saying.

[daflyboys]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

It is sad that we have lost the Lion of the Senate. Gag.

Sure, he was a troubled man but it was his problems that molded him into the fighter he was. DOUBLE Gag.

As a New England Democrat, he was probably one of the least corrupt in the Senate. How comforting

I wish he would have lived long enough to see some real health care reform. Be careful what you wish for.

Teddy Shotgun should be given credit as a great politician and legislator. Why?

I didn't say great man or drinker or even husband, but he was a Kennedy, the last part should go without saying. I'm not even sure what that means.

[Maize08]

Re: Ted Kennedy Died

Teddy Shotgun should be given credit as a great politician and legislator. Why?
[/B]

Ok, most of what you said seemed personal. I won't defend him as a man, but I will defend him as a politician and legislator. While he has numerous unsuccessful bids for the Presidency, he was never truly challenged in his Senatorial campaigns, by either a primary fight or a strong Republican candidate.

He was a great legislator and championed numerous pieces of legislation that effects all Americans. Here is a great list I found and added to a bit:
Gender Equity: Kennedy saw the Senate of the Equal Rights Amendment in 1972, which aimed to make men and women equal in the constitution. He reintroduced the legislation again this congressional session, but it has yet to make it into the constitution.

Kennnedy championed Title IX of the Civil Rights Act in 1972, which prevented educational institutions from discriminating against women (afterward, colleges and universities integrated, paving the way for women like Sonia Sotomayor and Hillary Clinton to attend Ivy League institutions), as well as requiring equitable athletic opportunities.

Civil Rights: Kennedy saw the passage of the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1988 as committee chairman, which strengthened the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Afterward, then-executive director of the Leadership Council on Civil Rights Ralph Neas said, "Now you see what happens when you have a civil rights champion in charge of the committee."

He was also chief sponsor on the Civil Rights Act of 1991, which addressed intentional discrimination and harassment in the workplace. He was also a key sponsor of legislation by the same name in 2008, which sought to restore civil rights protections stripped by Supreme Court rulings in recent years (like the Lilly Ledbetter case).

Pay Equity: Kennedy worked on the Fair Pay Restoration Act, which sought to restore the rights of women to sue with each discriminatory paycheck, overturning the Supreme Court ruling in Ledbetter v. Goodyear.

Voting Rights: Kennedy worked on the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which allowed equal access to voting as part of the Civil Rights movement. He also worked to add amendments in 1982 that expanded voting access to Native Americans, Latinos, and others who required language assistance.

Affirmative Action: Kennedy helped defeat legislation that would have ended federal affirmative action in 1998 and joined his colleagues in the Senate in filing a brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold affirmative action in 2003.

LGBT Rights: Kennedy has been the chief sponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act since 1994, which would make it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in the workplace. The bill has yet to pass.

Hate Crimes: Kennedy worked on the Matthew Shepard Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2007, which would implement more severe penalties for crimes against women, gays, lesbians, and transgender persons. The bill was vetoed by President Bush in 2007, but the legislation has been reintroduced in the 110th Congress.

HIV/AIDS: Kennedy introduced what became the Ryan White CARE Act, which addressed thirteen cities hit hardest by the HIV/AIDS crisis in 1990. When it was up for reauthorization in 2000, it provided nearly $9 billion in HIV/AIDS services over the following five years.

Domestic Violence: Kennedy worked with Vice President Joe Biden on the 1994 Violence Against Women Act. He also worked on its reauthorization in 2000, which allowed immigrant women to apply for permanent status in the United States without their abusive partners.

Disability Equity: Kennedy worked to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990, which provided much-needed accommodations for those with disabilities.

Minimum Wage: Kennedy worked with Congress in 2007 to pass the first hike in the minimum wage in more than a decade. Women disproportionately make up the population low-wage hourly workers.

Women in Combat: Kennedy championed the repeal a ban of women in combat in 1991. Women are still technically barred from fighting on the "front lines," such stipulations are meaningless in modern combat. By working for legislation that repealed archaic legislation, Kennedy helped women achieve more equality in the military.

Military Child Care: In 1989, Kennedy saw the passage of the National Military Child Care Act, which established the Department of Defense's child care program. This allowed working spouses of military members and women who were enlisted themselves to have access to high-quality, federally funded child care.

Health Insurance for Children and Pregnant Women: In 1997, Kennedy co-sponsored the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), allowing families to have access to health care that previously didn't. Kennedy also introduced legislation that has yet to pass, Affordable Health Care Act, which would expand Medicaid and SCHIP coverage for children, pregnant women, and the disabled.

He saw the passage of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act in 1978, which made it illegal for employers to fire women for leave taken due to pregnancy. We still don't require employers to provide paid maternity leave.

Minority Health Care: Kennedy championed the The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act in 2000, which provided funding for research for how to reduce disparities in cancer, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and other severe health problems that are found to be significantly higher in minority populations. In 2006, he introduced the Minority Health Improvement and Health Disparity Elimination Act, which would address inequalities in health care access and treatment if passed.