I wish Teddy Kennedy was 20 years younger!

[Raven]

And hadn't driven off a bridge.I heard some of what he said today in an interview with George S. I thought he was wonderful! Goerge could'nt get one phoney word in edgewise. Anyone agree? Teddy for President!

[Kathy in Cambridge]

1. He ran in '80

but I was too young to vote for him.

The Kennedy's are no angels but at least they try to help the middle and lower classes. Teddy has done great things for the state of Mass and us working folks.

[blm]

2. Ted's on fire.

So is Cleland.

I have the distinct feeling that alot of our old pros are gearing up for a tremendous battle from now through Nov. 2004. The old pols and the old journalists like Cronkite. They all seem ready to kick some major GOP ass. They will not go quietly into that goodnight.

Hell, I'm expecting John Glenn to join the battle. ;)

[JohnKleeb]

3. Its gonna be a fun renassiance and a great new beginning isnt it

On John Glenn, I have a story on him and I really respect Senator Glenn. Here's the story. You all know he went to space first in the early 60's well my dad and him lived in Arlington, Va, my dad went to Williamsburg middle in Arlington and Glenn lived across the street, and he saw him one day and shook his hand. Ive been told that RFK really admired him too. Also RR I agree the Kennedies are no angels but they do take up the causes of the middle class and poor, I read that Joe Kennedy told his kids that the rich take care of themselves and the purpose of government is to help the less fortunate.

[ElkHunter]

4. I volunteered for his campaign...

...when he challenged Carter in the primaries in 1980. The challenge hurt Carter, and probably wounded him in his election fight with Reagan, but it reinvigorated the left (McGovern) wing of the party. The way I remember it, though, even then Senator Kennedy didn't exhibit the vigor and passion that he had been known for in earlier years. And naturally that drive off the bridge was a topic of discussion even before the advent of rightwing talk radio.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. I Was A Kennedy Delegate in 1980

and his convention speech ranks as one of the best....


Folks at the time compared it to William Jennings Bryan's Cross Of Gold Speech...

In retrospect I can see that his presidential hopes died at Chappaquidick....

[I Lean Left]

9. It was a great speech!!

I was 16 and visiting my dad in California. I listened to the speech live on the radio. Wish I could have seen it on tv. Read that the floor was just pandemonium.

I can still hear him listing how "Ronald Reagan is no friend to (fill in the soon to be afflicted group here)."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. I Pulled Out My Autographed Copy

"And the same Republicans who are invoking Franklin Roosevelt have nominated a man who said in 1976- and these are his exact words"Fascism was really the basis of the New Deal." And that nominee whose name is Ronald Reagan has no right to quote Franklin Delano Roosevelt."

"We are the party of the New Freedom. New Deal, and the New Frontier .We have always been the party of hope...."

".... The work goes on. The cause endures. The hope still lives and the dream shall never die."

[JohnKleeb]

15. sounds like the kinda guy I would support

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. More From The Speech

for a lefty like you -:)

"If health insurance is good enough for the president, the vice president, and the Congress of the United States, then it is good enough for all of you, and for every family in America."

[JohnKleeb]

21. Thats great

I really admire all of them. Its good to still have Teddy as senator.

[mlawson]

19. Supposedly Teddy's answer to Roger Mudd did him in.

Remember? Mudd asked him why he wanted to be President, and Kennedy hesitated, giving a faltering answer. It was all the Dem party regulars needed, I suppose, to dump him, and proceed over the cliff with Carter.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

20. He Lost The IA Caucus 2-1

and he lost neighboring NH before he regained his stride and won all or most of the big industrial states...

Carter's strength in the 80 primaries was in what we now call the Red States...



*also Chappaquidick quickly became an issue....

[wtmusic]

5. LOL

Was looking for that 'bridge' part in your subject line.

[Liberalpolitico1]

7. I wish that Robert Byrd were

20 to 25 years younger. He's the only Democrat with a spine to speak out against Bush and his fasist administration at every oppotunity even when it was not popular to do so. I still don't understand why no one nominated Byrd ( or any other Democrat) to be Minority Leader of the Democrats while Daschle looks for his spine!!!!!!!

[bryant69]

11. I think

I think that's why Kennedy and Byrd can speak out, is that they don't feel they have to run for office. If they new they were going to run; they'd have to parse every word, knowing that the media would and the Republicans would use the slightest misstatement or statement that "goes too far" against him. It's kind of a catch twenty-two.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[cally]

8. I've always been a huge fan

but if he fails to come to California and oppose the recall than he has lost a lot of my respect. This is an outrage and we need his voice out here. If his niece is stupid enough to marry a womanizer, mysoginest, and Republican and she uses the Kennedy name to foist him on us, then it is Kennedy's responsibility to come out here and campaign against the recall.

[sujan]

10. Teddy supported invasion of Grenada so

I am really not sure about him.

[Clete]

12. If he hadn't driven off that bridge

he would have been President instead of Jimmy Carter or maybe even Nixon. Jimmy may have been his Vice President and then succeeded him. Reagan would have really been too old to run then and Bush, Sr. would never had become President nor his mentally challenged son.

Too bad.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Without Chappaquidick He Might Have Had A Great Shot in 72 or 76

[AP]

16. I don't. I love Ted Kennedy, and that whole family. But their time...

...has passed. They've passed the mantle down to the masses. Ted is important as a symbol of the transfer, but I don't think he's the right figurehead for the party today.

The Kennedy family dedicated their lives (and some gave their lives) to create an America in which a guy like Bill Clinton could be president.

I'd wish that Bill Clinton coul run again long before I'd wish we could turn the clock back twenty years on the Kennedy family.

[DerekG]

22. Why is that?

There's nothing liberal about Clinton; give me Teddy anyday.

[stevedeshazer]

17. I wish Stevie D was 20 years younger, too

Sure agree on Teddy, though. :-)