Is it wrong of me for not really wanting to be saddened by Ted Kennedy's death?

Scooter, i totally understand where you are coming from.

-I know im going to get thumbs downs for this, but i have the same feeling abou the death of Michael Jackson.

You are putting his problems in life, over the good he did for the state of MA & i applaud you for that, because most people would never have thought what he did.

I was putting the wrongful he did to "boys" in his lifetime, over the good dancing & singing he had. When MJ died, people thought - oh he was such a great dancer to society, and saying this as if he did absolutely nothing wrong (when really, he did.)

-You have the right to feel this way.

I mean, i'm saddened by his death, but i didn't really know him that much. (Kennedy)

-bring on the thumbs downs.

I am not saddened at all. He was a hypocrite and and wrong on most every major issue. He was for arms control and negotiation with the Soviets, he opposed the first Gulf War, and opposed work requirements in welfare reform. He voted for every single tax increase and opposed every tax cut that the Senate voted on, yet kept most of his money in tax deferred offshore accounts, so he wouldn't have to pay more taxes on it, all the while criticizing rich people that didn't pay their fair share. In 2004, he convinced the Massachusetts state legislature to pass a law requiring a special election to replace a member of Congress that doesn't fill out his full term. He wanted it passed because he was afraid that the then-Governor Mitt Romney would appoint a Republican to take the seat of Democrat John Kerry if Kerry were elected President. Now he was trying to get that law changed back when it affected him. Apparently, Ted doesn't like to live under the laws he sponsors.

I feel similar to you. I remember as a child Chappaquiddick kept coming up when Ted Kennedy ran for anything. I watched a documentary on the Kennedy's and I couldn't believe that they implied that Ted killed Mary Jo and Joe covered it for him.

Maybe the bleeding heart liberal in me is coming out when I chose to remember him for his accomplishments in public service. I am not going to rehash all the mumbo jumbo. I will just say that he did some good things that may help to cover the Chappaquiddick incident.

Naw, I do feel like you. I am not feeling sad but I reserve the right to in the next couple of days.

Thanks for asking this question as I was going to ask a similar one regarding how people have glossed over the 1969 incident. If he was missing the Kennedy surname he would have been behind bars like anyone else who isnt rich enough to buy justice

To me he is just another politician and no more special than the countless other senators apart from the Kennedy surname

So I dont see anything wrong with your feelings on his passing and like u said it's not as if ur celebrating it considering he died of an illness

I don't feel sad either but that's probably because im only a teenager.

But the thing is with me is why is the media making such a big deal out of it??. I mean it reminds me of MJ. I feel sorry for his family for what has happened the last month. But he was no saint here in my opinion. The Kennedy family was one of America's greatest dynasty's ever. Ted did do a lot, but we cant forget about Chappaquiddick here.

He was an icon that will be remembered for his political work and making the Kennedy family one of the greatest families of all time.

A good post Scooter, no matter any ones political place you stated with respect.

Certainly you aren't alone in the feeling, and I think since the family has been plagued by tragedy for so many years, perhaps Teds passing will relieve the family and allow them to have a quiet, even more peaceful life style in what remains for them. I suspect they will always be news, but not any I will truly hunger for. May he his brothers and all others gone, Rest now in peace.

Dallas

I was married with a son at the time and remember the incident well. Mary Jo was an amateur party girl but didn't deserve to die for it. I felt badly about the circumstances of her death and I feel badly about Ted's death now. Every person's death diminishes us all and we should remember John Donne's quote.

"No man is an island unto himself every man is a part of the whole. Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls it tolls for thee."

I just found out this afternoon that he died. I feel nothing. I figure there was so much Kennedy stuff that was swept underneath the rug it's pathetic. NOT just Ted but, pretty much the majority of the family. Distant cousins even got by b/c of their name. What a mess with that family. It's shameful. I do feel for the loved ones though.

not wrong at all! truthfully i've never been one to be phased my famous deaths in either direction. i have sympathy for those who actually knew him as Ted Kennedy and not a politician.

most importantly everyone has skeletons - his just happened to come in the form of an ugly, ugly incident. it wasn't out of angst or hatred, it was out of fear. i am in no way saying it was excusable, but it is forgiveable.

addition: just read the actual article and not just the prompt you'd given. the incident was disgusting. oh boy....now i don't even know what to say about it..

Political people, people with money or power get all those things swept under the table and don't serve time for the crime.

Just that email list about "Would you trust these 502 people to run your country" and going over the US Senate and their police records.

Listen, if you are making laws, you should respect them. You write bad cheques (as a crime, not an accident), you should bear the weight.

I never felt any real connection with him, or any special fondness. I was very Young when His brothers were assasinated, But I remember the shock I felt, even as a four year old When the president was shot. I remember the sadness the whole country felt when He died.

I didnt feel that yesterday.