Rest in peace, Senator Kennedy

It's with sadness that I awoke this morning to hear about the loss of Sen. Ted Kennedy (above, left, with brothers President John F. Kennedy (center) and Robert F. Kennedy). There was no greater champion in the U.S. Senate over the last five decades for civil rights, healthcare reform, world peace and even stem cell research than Ted Kennedy.

Of course, in these highly partisan times that we live in, I've no doubt that many on the right will quietly cheer the silence of this proud liberal voice (and no doubt a few will even publicly do so), but that's to be expected. As far as the right's strong hatred for Kennedy, I'll say this - if there was any way to quantify it, you'd have to multiply that by a factor of a million to even begin to describe the way I feel about Dick Cheney, George W. Bush and the rest of the conniving, profiteering, scum of the Earth who pillaged this country during the eight years of the Bush administration. However, President Obama has been in office for a little over 200 days, so now we can blame everything on him now! At least, that seems to be the battle cry among many conservatives these days. But, I digress.

It would be wrong to completely whitewash Kennedy's entire career in the wake of his passing, for the man was deeply flawed, for sure. But, I try to see the other side when it comes to Kennedy, too. I can't begin to fathom the emotional strain he must have endured after seeing two of his brothers assassinated and also losing two other siblings to tragedy very early on in their lives. I'm not making excuses for Kennedy's often boorish and even tragic behavior, but it's easy for people to judge his behavior, but more difficult to comprehend the many tragedies in Kennedy's life. Many critics point to the Chappaquiddick incident as proof of Kennedy's criminality, and his actions are impossible to defend, and I'm certainly not going to try here. However, many conspiracy theorists have argued that Mary Jo Kopechne was intentionally drowned by Kennedy, and I'll never believe that. But, I'm also not naïve enough to believe that Kennedy didn't receive special treatment from the justice system because of his last name, either.

One of the stupidest bumper stickers I ever saw on a car read: "Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns." I've always wanted to print bumper stickers that say "George Bush has killed many more people than Ted Kennedy's car," but I never got around to it. I still say it could have been a seller, though.

Despite Kennedy's many flaws, in the end, I admire the man for the way he handled the many tragedies he had to endure, and largely how he handled them. One of his finest moments was courageously eulogizing his brother, Robert, following his assassination in June 1968:

My brother need not be idealized, or enlarged in death beyond what he was in life; to be remembered simply as a good and decent man, who saw wrong and tried to right it, saw suffering and tried to heal it, saw war and tried to stop it.

Those of us who loved him and who take him to his rest today, pray that what he was to us and what he wished for others will some day come to pass for all the world. As he said many times, in many parts of this nation, to those he touched and who sought to touch him: 'Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not.'

I think the same can be said of Ted Kennedy himself, too. What a career on Capitol Hill - during 46+ years in the U.S. Senate, he authored 2,500 bills, 300 of which became law; and he co-sponsored another 550 bills, too. Because of personal flaws and mistakes, he was not destined to be president, but he certainly made a difference on the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue.

From civil rights, to Title IX, to healthcare and 18-year olds gaining the ability to vote, Kennedy was in the middle of all those legislative debates and more during the last five decades. I've often written that I believe in term limits for all members of Congress, and in the end, I probably still do, but Kennedy is an example of what career politicians can accomplish during a long and mostly distinguished career on Capitol Hill.

To the man who was never ashamed to be called a liberal (I share that same trait), I say this - well done, Senator, well done. Liberals and like-minded moderates alike will continue the healthcare fight in your absence, but the fight just became a little harder without you.

Below is the tribute to Senator Kennedy during the first night of the 2008 Democratic National Convention - it's pretty good and worth a look (thanks, Sadath) ...

The lion's roar may be silenced, but the fight will live on. Rest in peace, Senator Kennedy.

Hillary's "smear" about RFK a total crock

So the right-wing blogosphere is all aflutter of a comment that Hillary Clinton made earlier today about staying in the race. During a conversation with newspaper editors, she mentioned that her husband, President Clinton, locked up the nomination in June 1992. She then mentioned that Senator Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in June 1968. Certainly it was a misstep and a gaffe, but only a moron (see Matt Drudge's screen capture from earlier today, above) would try to distort what she meant. It's obvious that if you take her remark in CONTEXT (a word that most of the press, and virtually all political pundits [esp. on the right] seem to have forgotten during this election), she was talking about her reasons for not withdrawing from the race.

Anyway, her comments are below - take a look and you be the judge.

Frankly, I don't even want to waste any more time on this, because it's such a non-story, but of course it will bounce around newscasts all weekend, with the implication that Hillary Clinton was somehow making light of RFK's assassination. Of course, right away she issued an apology to the Kennedy family, but few rational people, including I'm guessing anyone in the Kennedy family, probably thought that it was even necessary. But, Hillary is in the non-offending business right now, because she so desperately needs any support she can get in her fading campaign for the presidency.

What a difference a few days makes - just days ago, some on the far right were revisiting the Chappaquiddick incident and other misdeeds by Sen. Ted Kennedy in light of his brain cancer diagnosis. Now, all of a sudden, right-wing blowhards like Drudge are raking Hillary over the coals for allegedly making light of RFK's assassination. What a joke.

It's just another example of the scathingly critical, unspeakably moronic press that this woman has had to endure since she declared her candidacy about 18 months ago. There's no doubt that a portion of it has been self inflicted, but it certainly is a small percentage compared to the mindlessly stupid stories, name calling and slanders that have been run against her. I didn't vote for her in the Pennsylvania Primary, but someday I just might get the chance to proudly cast my vote for her in a national election, press coverage be damned.

Michael Wiener: disgrace to humanity

In the political atmosphere & culture we live in today, it wasn't difficult to predict that some extremist imbecile on the right would make fun of the fact that Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor that will almost certainly kill him within the next few years, or sooner.

Seriously, just what in the world is wrong with some people? Right-wing hate monger Michael "Savage" Wiener went way over the line when making fun of Sen. Ted Kennedy the other day. Listen to the above audio, and you'll quickly see that this man is reveling in the fact that Kennedy is dying. Words almost fail me - it's equal parts sad, outrageous and incomprehensible. The man is clearly rejoicing and poking fun at Kennedy, while playing a Dead Kennedys song. Classy!

First of all, anyone who renames himself Savage should already have his mental stability questioned. Then again, I guess when your given surname is Wiener, and you hope to become some sort of media personality, prudence demands action. Hence, Michael Wiener became Michael Savage.

I'm not stupid enough to believe that there aren't people out there who hate Ted Kennedy, and it's obvious that Wiener is one of them. Fine. But, do you really need to make fun of someone dying? There really is a special place in hell for people like Wiener.

Of course, there isn't a news story that's been written in the past week that hasn't mentioned the Chappaquiddick incident, when a car Kennedy was driving went over a bridge, killing Mary Jo Kopechne, in July 1969. There isn't a doubt in my mind that Kennedy used his influence to avoid an almost certain jail sentence. The truth is, the truth will probably never be known, but that hasn't stopped many on the right from claiming a host of conspiracy theories. Fine, but that was over 40 years ago, people.

One of my favorite bumper stickers that I see from time to time about Kennedy & Chappaquiddick goes something like this:

Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns.

Witty! However, I think that one should be updated by those on the left. Just off the top of my head, how about:

George W. Bush has killed tens of thousands more people than Ted Kennedy's car.

I don't believe that Kennedy intentionally killed Kopechne, despite what disgraces to humanity like Wiener would have you believe. But, he certainly acted improperly (to say the least). However, since that time, Kennedy has done a great deal of good for both his constituents and for those less fortunate than him around the country, and for that he should be applauded. After all, many on the right acknowledge Kennedy's work, so maybe it's time the rest of his opponents should as well. I'm not holding my breath.

The guy has had two of his brothers murdered in a very public way - RFK just over a year prior to Chappaquiddick. I'm completely guessing here, but he was probably petrified over public reaction and pretty damn traumatized. Maybe it's time people on the right give the guy a break. After all, the Kopechne family has. I know, I know - fat chance that's ever going to happen, just like there's a fat chance I'll ever not think that President Bush should be tried for war crimes. So be it - that's the political world we live in today.

But, as much as I disagree with almost everything that President Bush does, I would not publicly or privately rejoice were he to be stricken in some way with a fatal illness, or worse. I guess that's the difference between the so-called extremists on the left and the right - most of the ones on the right seemingly have no line they will not cross to score a cheap political point (or radio ratings). Every time I hear about hate speech, it seems like it comes from the right, be it Wiener, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Glenn Beck, etc. I would hope that indicates something to rational, educated people .

For instance, as much as I despised Rev. Jerry Falwell, I didn't rejoice in his death, publicly or privately. I didn't necessarily mourn him, either, but there are lines I don't cross - rejoicing in someone's death (or imminent death) is goes beyond the pale, but that's what Wiener is all about - being totally outrageous to get ratings for his miserable radio show. I'd say the man is fringe, but he clearly is not. Most stories I read about him have him ranked as the third most popular radio listener in terms of audience on terrestrial radio, behind Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. That should also tell us all something about the dominance of right-wing radio, as well as how many people filled with hate there are out there, all because they disagree with someone politically. Pathetic and sad.

The good news is that I went to Savage's Website to see which advertisers could kiss my business goodbye, and there really aren't any. (I wonder why?) The only ads I could find were pleas to send money for Wiener's "legal defense fund" and ads hawking his stupid t-shirts, mugs and hate-filled screeds that pass for books. So, it appears that most sponsors won't touch him, and it's little wonder he was fired from MSNBC for responding so virulently to a caller he disagreed with (I believe he wished AIDS on the caller, if memory serves me correctly). I don't think the man should be fired - after all, we do have the First Amendment in this country. But, any company or organization who advertises on his show should be punished for supporting such a hate-filled, churlish simpleton.

When I find out more about his advertisers, I'll share it with you.

Special hat tip (h/t) to Media Matters, an organization devoted to exposing and publicizing such hateful claptrap in the media. Of course, the likes of Savage and O'Reilly HATE Media Matters for all of their work, which is all the more reason we should admire, support and spread the word about this important organization and its work.

If you want to send your own message to Michael "Savage" Wiener, his e-mail address is: michaelsavage@paulreveresociety.com. Please, keep it polite and professional, or as much as you can.

I'm e-mailing him later today, and I'll share it with you when I send it.

Teddy: We've lost the moral authority

In less than 48 hours, the documentary film Ghosts of Abu Ghraib premieres on HBO. The film is directed by Rory Kennedy, the youngest child of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Ethel Kennedy. By most accounts that I've read ahead of time, the film packs a pretty powerful punch, and how could it not, considering the subject matter?

In a column today on Arianna Huffington's Website, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has a point when he says that "It may well be the steepest and deepest fall from grace in our history."

"Yet at every opportunity, the Administration has tried to minimize the problem and avoid responsibility for it," he wrote.

Like Teddy or hate him, how can a logical person who has even passively followed the Abu Ghraib fiasco disagree, regardless of political persuasion? The most frightening part of the abuse and torture tragedy is that there are Americans who feel that nothing wrong occurred at the prison. Count Rush Limbaugh among them, who infamously said that all he saw in the photographs were "soldiers having a good time." Sick, demented, sad and preposterous.

Quick aside about Ted Kennedy, by the way. Can Republicans possibly be any more trite than bringing up Chappaquiddick every five minutes? Probably my favorite Republican bumper sticker of all time reads, Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my guns. My reply to that bumper sticker would be this: George Bush's Iraq War has killed more Americans than 3,000 of Ted Kennedy's cars. No question Kennedy got off easy and that Mary Jo Kopechne's death was tragic, but to hear some people tell it, he killed her in cold blood and walked away scott free. Politics aside, does anyone really believe that? Teddy's got a lot of warts, most self-inflicted, and that scandal tops the list, but he's done a lot of good for our country, too. Oh yea, and can we all agree that he and his members of his have made some pretty tragic sacrifices because they wanted to serve their country? Okay, Kennedy rant over.

Kennedy's right - the images are still disturbing to look at. I remember the shock, horror and disbelief I felt when I first saw the images.

In my lifetime, since I've been old enough to remember and follow politics, I can't think of any single event (Aside from the current War in Iraq itself) that has damaged our credibility and moral standing with the rest of the world more than Abu Ghraib.

I'll rephrase - Abu Ghraib is my generation's My Lai. Okay, that might be overstating the case a bit - over 100 innocent Vietnamese were killed in that tragedy. I'm not suggesting that Abu Ghraib is equal, I'm merely suggesting that its impact is equal.

We are America - we are supposed to stand for Democracy, freedom, peace and human rights. This war has put all four of those into doubt, and Abu Ghraib only exacerbated our free fall as the moral authority in the free world.

Adding to many Americans' frustration is the lack of any sort of in-depth, independent investigation of the scandal. In the days following Abu Ghraib going public, the Bush Administration seemed more intent at castigating those who exposed the scandal than getting to the bottom of what happened. And I won't even recap the absurdity of former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's comments.

Kennedy writes:

What we got instead were nine incomplete and self-serving internal investigations by the Pentagon. None of the investigators were given the authority to challenge the conduct of the civilian command. The report of the Schlesinger Panel found that abuses were "widespread" and that there was "both institutional and personal responsibility at higher levels." But Secretary Rumsfeld refused to let the panel to consider personal accountability for the abuses.

The Republican rubber-stamp Congress was complicit in the Administration's efforts to evade responsibility.

I know that the DemocratIC Congress has better things to do right now, like determining whether to fund President Bush's troop escalation, but once time permits, I certainly hope Congress initiates a bona fide investigation into Abu Ghraib, one with teeth and subpoena power.

Don't forget to check out Ghosts of Abu Ghraib, which premieres this Thursday night on HBO at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.