Sorry, I don’t agree that Ted Kennedy falls under the category of someone who is being scorned just because of their political philosophy. My first thought upon hearing about his health problems was this- I hope his doctors treat his life with more respect than he treated the life of Mary Jo Kopechne. He’s a murderer who used his family and position to bury his crime. I may not celebrate his suffering but please don’t ask me to feel sorry for him.

Cal - you are right - no one should rejoice at the misfortunes of another. But - you say Ted Kennedy is no less an American. Well, let’s run this past you: Kennedy came to power because of wealth (Papa Joe bought almost every election for his boys - remember Chicago in 1960?) and the ruthless political bullying of his father. That’s unAmerican! Kennedy let a young woman die without even trying to help her (Mary Jo K.), and tried to make himself the victim. That’s unAmerican. Kennedy lectures people who disagree with him about honesty and integrity (just watch any Sen. Committee hearing), while he acted shamelessly - without the slightest integrity - at Chappaquiddick. That hypocrisy is unAmerican.
Kennedy flaunts his Catholic faith when it suits his political purposes, but fails to stand on the moral foundations of his faith - re abortion, gay rights, etc. So, while I wish no ill upon Sen. Kennedy, I do not consider him a great American - not even a good American. He is a man who has gained and maintained power by less-than-American means, and I have no respect for him. His example has proved that if your family has enough wealth and prominence, you can not only get away with manslaughter, but you can gain great power and influence. America is not a better place because of Ted Kennedy.
Dr. T. Clark

As a gun owner, hunter, and 3rd generation logger (yes we are literate) my way of life is in the sights of one or more liberal groups 24/7. Opinions are one thing but when the things and people that you love are constantly under attack liberals you quickly understand that their opinions too often result in laws that you must live by. It’s not a difference of opinion, it’s a point of attack.

Someday, some virulent strain of super-hippy will come and take from you what you love. When that day comes I want you to remember that they only have a different opinion and that this is merely an expression of this opinion. They are heavily invested in taking my way of life and my freedom away from me and they’re succeeding with your blessing.

No less an American? If you extend you definition of American that far…it serves only to represent geographical origin.

Liberals believe in freedom like doctors believe in cancer.

I agree. Honest debate is a lost art. The rule seems to be if you can’t shout your opponent down than demonize them in anyway possible.

Seems to me that the media has played a large part in this, however. As confrontation brings greater ratings over any substantive debate.

I always find this type of article curious. Polititians have always villified their oponents. Some of the stuff written about Lincoln comes to mind, while the country was at war with itself. There are always the extremist, and the hate mongers.
Now, the TV entertainment shows know that conflict gets better ratings, so let the guys fight. Also, the increassed level of anonymousness accorded by the web increase the volume of the hate.

I am not, nor have I ever been, a fan of Ted Kennedy. However, my heart goes out to him and his family. What he and his family is going through, and will go through, is heart-breaking. This Republican prays that God will grant him strength and grace.

the best i have read in a long time

The politics of celebrating the personal tradegies of those who don’t share your beliefs is pointless. In the end the differences remain and issues are left unresolved. Speaking of unity and working together out of one side while smiling at misfortune reveals much about a person. I hope Sen. Kennedy recovers or at least makes the best of his remaining years and hope he will continue to work with the other side on issues that are in the interest of the people.

I think the reason so many people are hateful is because our government elect have failed us. They have hurt the American people. When people are hurt, they are angry and become hateful of the person or people who have brought the pain.

Our politicians have continued over the last 20 or so years to strip our great country of dignity and self-worth. They have sold our assets to the highest bidder and told us Americans we are worth nothing.

So, when a politician who has been a major influence in this selling out of our country is hurt or given a life ending malady, some people will cheer.

My first thought when I found out about Ted Kennedy was, “Thank God he is going to be removed.” I had to step back and chastise myself. I would never wish his illness on anyone, but that is the depth of the pain felt by most of us hard working patriotic Americans. I would think the same about Bush. The bottom line is, our politicians have hurt us so bad we do not grieve like we did when John F. Kennedy was assassinated.

I do not think there is one politician who commands that kind of respect and love left in our country. If there is, show him/her to me and I will vote for them and support them.

I agree wholeheartedly that Kennedy’s condition is nothing to cheer about, as he is, even while generally reprehensible, still a human being. Those who cheer his illness are in the minority of those who hold little or liking or respect for Kennedy, but their attitude is at least understandable. Ted Kennedy has, for over 45 years, attempted to shove his values, morals, and philosophy down America’s throat. He has completely disregarder the wishes of the vast majority of Americans on issues such as gun control, criminal punishment, abortion, and the like. You say you, like Kennedy, have made serious mistakes. But your mistakes didn’t take the life of a young woman (the primary bone of contention for many), nor do your mistakes affect millions upon millions of American citizens. Kennedy has been one of the most partisan polarizing political figures in the history of this nation. I agree with many of the comments I have heard, that while I have always wanted him out of office (and out of power to further damage this country), I wouldn’t wish his condition on anyone. The best I have heard has been on another blog: “I will only pray for his soul, that he may finally find God, no more.”

I have always wondered what it means to be “Un-American”? What defines being Un-American? Already in this forum there are those who can’t see beyond their own views and politcs. The term “liberal” is already being used in a negative conatation because some don’t agree with those ideas. I fear there is little hope for this forum.

Kennedy’s health problems are part of life, millions of Americans have health problems. We deal with them in our own ways. The real reason Kennedy is less an American is his legacy. Constituantants hear from every Politican, local, state, and federal and on both sides of the isle what they can and will do for them. Yet, Ethic’s seem to fall out the bottom of the Bible they swear their oath’s on. When legal payoff’s from the PAC’s, Lobbyist’s, and 527’s take what’s best for the Constituants and gives more consideration to special intrest groups, you have failed your oath to the People. Kennedy as well as the other Washington Royal Family members who have taken even one trip, gift or payout become less than true Citizen’s who were elected to represent the people, not the Special Intrest!
Kennedy is a Poster Boy for Term Limits.

Most people now know the bond of friendship between father Joe Kennedy, the “mob,” and the F.B.I. during the 1950’s, ’60’s and ’70’s. William Webster (F.B.I. and later years C.I.A.) was very involved in this friendship. The “Mob” believed they would “run the Whitehouse” when John Sr. became president. That did not happen, and both John Sr and Robert lost their lives for it. Has Ted Kennedy maintained the friendship? That’s between his God and himself now. I am not aware of Ted deliberately hurting anyone, even Maryjo K. Does Ted “deserve” this disease? Absolutely not! As history illuminates, we’re all going to die.

While the sentiment of your piece is quite noble I fear it will likely never again be reflected in our society. Even as you write this, several of the responses are, as one might predict from this organizations base audience, filled with venom both spoken and unspoken. While I am neither a fan or foe of Sen. Kennedy or his family, I find it interesting that when I ask people who oppose him for three examples of things he has actually done that they find objectionable they mention Chappaquiddick and then some murky unspecific references to things they believe he has done but have no actual knowledge of. As for the fear that he is, “attempted to shove his values, morals, and philosophy down America’s throat. He has completely disregarder the wishes of the vast majority of Americans on issues such as gun control, criminal punishment, abortion, and the like,” that writer has first assumed that they know the wishes of the vast majority of Americans, second forgotten that just because a majority of people think something does not make it right, (she should remember that at one time a majority of Americans probably thought slavery was right and that women should not have the vote) and third instantly disregarded the idea that the positions that Sen. Kennedy has advocated for are supported by a majority of his constituents who have elected him to represent them in the Senate.

I hope I am wrong but I truly fear that the art of civil public discourse has been permanently replaced by shouting down the other side and cutting off their microphones.

Talk about (or not) humanity! I’m glad to see that some of you realized that to be happy about another HUMAN BEING being ill is shameful!

That’d be like someone saying, “Gee, I sure hope Dubbya gets a brain tumor so I don’t have to look at his monkey face anymore, ever!”

Real nice, you so called AMERICANS. I think IGNORAMUSES is more like it.

I don’t like Kennedy and what he has done with his time in office. I strongly dislike a great deal of the things has has said, has stood for, and has acted on. Furthermore, he is a pure political creature, in that he follows public opinion. He doesn’t share your position on “keeping it clean” by any means. One simply has to run a search on public comments about Bush to see this.

Despite all of this, I don’t hate the man. I might disagree, but in order to truly believe in what I stand for, I have to listen to the other side. In order to try and express my own views, I have to listen to those of others. Sometimes I learn something from these exchanges. Sometimes I teach something to someone else. This is the very foundation of a learning society. We have our experiances and our beliefs, and we express them in order to teach and learn. Did big politics forget this? Heck, I’m only 25 and I can appreciate the fact that I Don’t know everything.

Mr. Kennedy, if you read this, it is my sincere hope you will recover. We might never agree, but we are all HUMAN, and therefore my thoughts go with you and your family.

I agree with DKH 100%. Which politician are we to be proud of? Where are the great statesmen of the past. Are we to pride ourselves on the sex scandals, bribery’s, liars and phonies etc. etc. Why now that Ted Kennedy has a brain tumor should people say, oh well, he’s to be forgiven for all his dirty deeds and lack of remorse. He is the reason we need term limits, who is he and the other self loving political monarchy and there entitled families, to reap the rewards that should belong to the people of this country. I’ve been diagnosed twice with cancer. I don’t believe it’s retribution for my sins. I believe it’s because of bad food(not enough inspectors) bad water(check the amount of waste going into our lakes and water supplies). I could go on and on, but which politician is working to help with these issues and others of importantance. What is there to be proud of in this country? I don’t wish cancer on anyone, but just because you get it doesn’t make you any different than the day before you knew you had it. It changes you with time, you realize your human and you want to make the rest of your life better, but electing an older man, a woman or a black person isn’t what’s important. It’s who on earth is going to make things right, undo what politicians such as the Kennedys, the Bushs the Clintons and others like them have done?

Mr. Thomas,
Thanks for your commentary. Just because we sympathize with the tragedy of Mr. Kennedy’s situation does not mean that we give up our standards or opinions of his politics or past transgressions. It is okay to be a caring human who recognizes the pain that this man and his family are and will be undergoing. Jesus says we are to hate the sin, not the sinner.

When Ted Kennedy dies, this country and the world will be better off!

My wife and I are conservative Baptists. We were saddened by the news that Senator Kennedy had brain cancer. We commented to each other that, even though we rarely agreed with the positions the senator took on many issues, we felt badly that he was sick. God never tells us to hate people just because we disagree with them.

Thanks Cal. Confusing the message or policy with the person or human aspects of the messenger is as old as the the thought ‘You’ make me angry, sad, etc. (as if anyone can make you do anything); it’s the inability to separate the two, the inability to separate action from reaction. Ted Kennedy has a belief system based on the world he grew up in. I rarely agree with him but would never wish him misfortune of any type. God knows he and his family have already had enough.

As for the negatives read in response, I’m taken by the comment by Alice - “What is there to be proud of in this country?” Now in my 8th decade, and a very proud American I’d say the freedoms and securities that generally allow for good health for those that take of themselves physically and mentally; a comfortable life for those that think and plan ahead; and all the comforts that we enjoy that come from living in a country that has the greatest Constitution ever written with people who try constantly to make things better, as compared to people in countries with little food or clean water, little shelter from the environment, no hope, and the constant threat of disease and for their personal safety.

To be sure we have a long way to go, but we have the demonstrable foundations in ‘humanity’ that many envy, and I’m very proud that we try to help others whenever we can.

Thank you.

PS: I support Bush, the war in Iraq (protecting America from WMD and terrorism while freeing 20+M people from oppression is sensible to me - and Yes. I would volunteer for service again if they would take me), the NRA, and ACLU and the environment. And I generally agree with Rush, Hannity and O’Reilly.

This is a good article thank you. Maybe a good way to phrase the question is this? If someones politics caused so much hurt (even though it’s in the eye of the beholder) at what point is it better that they get ill and die than than for them to continue causing harm. Many will say there is no point and you should never wish that upon anyone, that I agree with. But I understand the other side being happy that he would be out of politics. The real evil ones are the ones who are happier that he got cancer and that is what removed him from politics rather than just him stepping down because he was tired of it. If those are who Cal is referencing I whole heartedly agree that, that is sick and twisted.

I disagree with one thing though, as much as I am suppose to hate the sin and love the sinner, if a child rapist raped a daughter of mine or something like that I would hate the sinner for being the vessel of that sin. Jesus would still be able to love that sinner but I would not and would probably want him to die. Maybe I could forgive them, but can you forgive someone but still hate them?

Endangered Species;

Dead on. When a liberal attacks you, it is called progressive. When a neo-con attacks the same front they are called compasionate. When you fight back, you are a vile disgusting un american piece of trash. Libs and Neo-cons hypocrites all. They used to be called the vile thing they are. Fence sitters.

I have tried to explain this to my father. Ron Paul is the only politician worthy of becoming the next conservative President of the US. A 20 Year voting record that consistently stood on conservative principals speaks for itself. He will vote for McPain because he does not want the Obillary ticket to come to fruition because McPain is electable?!?

When the dialog is that libs speak and I listen, you can bugger off LIB! You don’t want me to rant. Cool. Stop your own lies and rants. I’ll stay on my side of the fence and you will have finally picked a side.

God Bless

Frank Pytel

“The issue in community is the troll who uses anonymity as a weapon.”
Michael Farris