U.S. Issues Would Mary Jo Kopechne think her death was "worth it"?

**petegz28** · 11:31 AM

We're comfortable with moral relativism in this country -- or, at least, we love us a good "sinned and redeemed" narrative. And, for the most part, we realize that there are few lives on which we can slap a "Good" or "Evil" label and expect it to be accurate.

Which, let's face it, is one of the reasons the Ted Kennedy story is so fascinating. The huge achievements, weighed against the huge sins. Forty-six years of history-book accomplishments on everything from Civil Rights to the Americans with Disabilities Act to gender equality. Disabled? Poor? A member of any minority group? Then chances are your life is at least somewhat better because of Ted Kennedy. And for anyone who started to lose faith in the left's seeming impotence over the past decade (cough cough) he provided a pretty strong reason not to throw in the towel.

So now he's dead, and we do what we do when a Kennedy dies: read and write obsessively about him. Some of the obituaries are point-counterpoint parallels of sin with salvation. Then there are obsequious, grandiose bromides like:

Good grief.

But in all the florid or scalpel-sharp prose, there's one constant: Peeking out from the center of the story is the matter of his playing a major part in the death of a 28-year-old woman.

Mary Jo wasn't a right-wing talking point or a negative campaign slogan. She was a dedicated civil rights activist and political talent with a bright future -- granted, whenever someone dies young, people sermonize about how he had a "bright future" ahead of him -- but she actually did. She wasn't afraid to defy convention (28 and unmarried, oh the horror!) or create her own career path based on her talents. She lived in Georgetown (where I grew up) and loved the Red Sox (we'll forgive her for that). Then she got in a car driven by a 36-year-old senator with an alcohol problem and a cauldron full of demons, and wound up a controversial footnote in a dynasty.

We don't know how much Kennedy was affected by her death, or what she'd have thought about arguably being a catalyst for the most successful Senate career in history. What we don't know, as always, could fill a Metrodome.

Still, ignorance doesn't preclude a right to wonder. So it doesn't automatically make someone (aka, me) a Limbaugh-loving, aerial-wolf-hunting NRA troll for asking what Mary Jo Kopechne would have had to say about Ted's death, and what she'd have thought of the life and career that are being (rightfully) heralded.

Who knows -- maybe she'd feel it was worth it.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meliss..._b_270298.html

**petegz28** · 08-28-2009, 11:18 AM

Good Lord, some people. I am really speechless at what this dumb bitch wrote

Baby Lee · 08-28-2009, 11:28 AM

This whole 'selflessly stood up for the downtrodden' tripe really sticks in my craw, since it consists of identifying people who don't have material things, and using his office to force others, under color of law, to provide it to them, all while his assets are shielded from participation in the shakedown he created.

**dirk digler** · 08-28-2009, 11:41 AM

That doesn't make alot of sense. If the whole incident didn't happen he probably would have been POTUS and done alot more good things or bad things depending on your political POV.

**Rain Man** · 08-28-2009, 11:44 AM

I bet Mary Jo Kopechne is holding his head under the River Styx right now, screaming, "How does it feel?!? HOW DOES IT FEEL?!?!"

ChiTown · 08-28-2009, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dirk digler

That doesn't make alot of sense. If the whole incident didn't happen he probably would have been POTUS and done alot more good things or bad things depending on your political POV.

Garcia Bronco · 08-28-2009, 12:17 PM

I like this commetn about the "writer"

"ex-lawyer? I can see that.

Does the bar association have a "section 8"?"

Taco John · 08-28-2009, 01:32 PM

Honestly, I don't see the guy's significance really. I mean, I know he's turned into this heralded center-point of contention - but really, the guy never seemed relevant to me outside of the fact that Republicans loved to hate him.

Donger · 08-28-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I bet Mary Jo Kopechne is holding his head under the River Styx right now, screaming, "How does it feel?!? HOW DOES IT FEEL?!?!"

Mojo Jojo · 08-28-2009, 01:41 PM

The writer references the Metrodome? Of all the venues in North America...the Metrodome?

That in itself shows the ignorance of the writer.

KILLER_CLOWN · 08-28-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Honestly, I don't see the guy's significance really. I mean, I know he's turned into this heralded center-point of contention - but really, the guy never seemed relevant to me outside of the fact that Republicans loved to hate him.

He saw what happened to his brothers and became mr irrelevant, because it was much easier to sit in office and do nothing.

**dirk digler** · 08-28-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Honestly, I don't see the guy's significance really. I mean, I know he's turned into this heralded center-point of contention - but really, the guy never seemed relevant to me outside of the fact that Republicans loved to hate him.

Yeah kind of like Ronald Reagan and Michael jackson

Direckshun · 08-28-2009, 02:19 PM

Ho. Lee. Sheet.

**RNR** · 08-28-2009, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Taco John

Honestly, I don't see the guy's significance really. I mean, I know he's turned into this heralded center-point of contention - but really, the guy never seemed relevant to me outside of the fact that Republicans loved to hate him.

He was not relevant. He was a pampered boozing idiot given the gift of the kind of power that behind the right man could have reached greatness. He spent his entire life coasting. He faced the moment that every man faces in his life, the moment that defines him as a man. He failed and showed his true self.

There have been many flawed men that when faced with this moment rise to it and show honor. He was what he was he was. Had he not been born into the family that he was born into and was born to an ordinary family he would have been one of those gutless drunks you meet when you walk into a bar, a shameless dump willing to do anything for another drink.

In a twist of sad irony his power hungry dad watched as three of four were cut down young. He watched knowing the cheating cut throat activity he had done to attain power was wasted on the idiot son. Talk about Karma.

BucEyedPea · 08-28-2009, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I bet Mary Jo Kopechne is holding his head under the River Styx right now, screaming, "How does it feel?!? HOW DOES IT FEEL?!?!"

08-28-2009, 11:17 AM
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $207654	Would Mary Jo Kopechne think her death was "worth it"? We're comfortable with moral relativism in this country -- or, at least, we love us a good "sinned and redeemed" narrative. And, for the most part, we realize that there are few lives on which we can slap a "Good" or "Evil" label and expect it to be accurate. Which, let's face it, is one of the reasons the Ted Kennedy story is so fascinating. The huge achievements, weighed against the huge sins. Forty-six years of history-book accomplishments on everything from Civil Rights to the Americans with Disabilities Act to gender equality. Disabled? Poor? A member of any minority group? Then chances are your life is at least somewhat better because of Ted Kennedy. And for anyone who started to lose faith in the left's seeming impotence over the past decade (cough cough) he provided a pretty strong reason not to throw in the towel. So now he's dead, and we do what we do when a Kennedy dies: read and write obsessively about him. Some of the obituaries are point-counterpoint parallels of sin with salvation. Then there are obsequious, grandiose bromides like: Good grief. But in all the florid or scalpel-sharp prose, there's one constant: Peeking out from the center of the story is the matter of his playing a major part in the death of a 28-year-old woman. Mary Jo wasn't a right-wing talking point or a negative campaign slogan. She was a dedicated civil rights activist and political talent with a bright future -- granted, whenever someone dies young, people sermonize about how he had a "bright future" ahead of him -- but she actually did. She wasn't afraid to defy convention (28 and unmarried, oh the horror!) or create her own career path based on her talents. She lived in Georgetown (where I grew up) and loved the Red Sox (we'll forgive her for that). Then she got in a car driven by a 36-year-old senator with an alcohol problem and a cauldron full of demons, and wound up a controversial footnote in a dynasty. We don't know how much Kennedy was affected by her death, or what she'd have thought about arguably being a catalyst for the most successful Senate career in history. What we don't know, as always, could fill a Metrodome. Still, ignorance doesn't preclude a right to wonder. So it doesn't automatically make someone (aka, me) a Limbaugh-loving, aerial-wolf-hunting NRA troll for asking what Mary Jo Kopechne would have had to say about Ted's death, and what she'd have thought of the life and career that are being (rightfully) heralded. Who knows -- maybe she'd feel it was worth it. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/meliss..._b_270298.html Last edited by petegz28; 08-28-2009 at 11:31 AM..
Posts: 56,596

08-28-2009, 11:18 AM	#2
petegz28 Supporter Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Olathe, Ks Casino cash: $207654	Good Lord, some people. I am really speechless at what this dumb bitch wrote __________________ "Finally, anyone who uses the terms, irregardless, a whole nother, or all of the sudden shall be sentenced to a work camp." Stewie Griffin
Posts: 56,596

08-28-2009, 11:28 AM	#3
Baby Lee Easy Going Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: State of Sedated Bliss Casino cash: $93823	This whole 'selflessly stood up for the downtrodden' tripe really sticks in my craw, since it consists of identifying people who don't have material things, and using his office to force others, under color of law, to provide it to them, all while his assets are shielded from participation in the shakedown he created. __________________ "Matthew McConaughey is a pilgrim in search of a shirt. He does not realize the shirt was inside him the whole time."
Posts: 33,584

08-28-2009, 11:41 AM	#4
dirk digler Please squeeze Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Clinton, MO Casino cash: $160316	That doesn't make alot of sense. If the whole incident didn't happen he probably would have been POTUS and done alot more good things or bad things depending on your political POV.
Posts: 45,045

08-28-2009, 11:44 AM	#5
Rain Man Welcome, Eric Fisher & Friends Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: 1.61 KM high city Casino cash: $62676243	I bet Mary Jo Kopechne is holding his head under the River Styx right now, screaming, "How does it feel?!? HOW DOES IT FEEL?!?!" __________________ Onward Fisher, Onward Fisher, block right through that line. Block the ball clear down the field, a touchdown sure this time. Onward Fisher, Onward Fisher, fight on for her fame. Fight, fellows, fight, fight, fight, we'll win this game.
Posts: 66,558

08-28-2009, 12:17 PM	#7
Garcia Bronco No Keys, No Problem Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Denver Casino cash: $59478	I like this commetn about the "writer" "ex-lawyer? I can see that. Does the bar association have a "section 8"?"
Posts: 20,356

08-28-2009, 01:32 PM	#8
Taco John 12on Paul Join Date: Jun 2001 Casino cash: $10084482	Honestly, I don't see the guy's significance really. I mean, I know he's turned into this heralded center-point of contention - but really, the guy never seemed relevant to me outside of the fact that Republicans loved to hate him. __________________ Ehyeh asher ehyeh.
Posts: 49,357

08-28-2009, 01:41 PM	#10
Mojo Jojo Veteran Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Johnson County Casino cash: $53727	The writer references the Metrodome? Of all the venues in North America...the Metrodome? That in itself shows the ignorance of the writer.
Posts: 2,458

08-28-2009, 02:19 PM	#13
Direckshun Black for Palestine Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $1166505	Ho. Lee. Sheet. __________________
Posts: 37,488

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode