Teddy

[Ironrod]

They're trying to put a happy face on it, but our senior senator is 76 years old and in ill health. In Massachusetts, this is like a Pope dying. What's John Kerry going to do when his master's voice is stilled?

[Dan_Theman]

They're trying to put a happy face on it, but our senior senator is 76 years old and in ill health. In Massachusetts, this is like a Pope dying. What's John Kerry going to do when his master's voice is stilled?

"Always two there are... no more, no less." 

[Ironrod]

Apparently his prognosis is good. Didn't stop the Globe from devoting most of their front section to it today, though. When a Kennedy sneezes, it leads the news here.

[CeeKay]

Apparently his prognosis is good. Didn't stop the Globe from devoting most of their front section to it today, though. When a Kennedy sneezes, it leads the news here.

'Ted Kennedy Sneezes; Dead Woman Falls Out of his Nose'

[rickfc]

Apparently his prognosis is good. Didn't stop the Globe from devoting most of their front section to it today, though. When a Kennedy sneezes, it leads the news here.

'Ted Kennedy Sneezes; Dead Woman Falls Out of his Nose Eighth of Whiskey Falls Out of his Nose'

FTFY

[Eduardo X]

No wonder it's seemed his head has grown: Teddy has a brain tumor!

All joking aside, that sucks.

[Ironrod]

Oh man, tomorrow's Boston Globe is going to be four inches thick with Kennedy news, gossip, rumors, speculation, photopacks, and medical stories. This is huge news here. 76-year-old man has cancer! 

[whiteboyskim]

I wonder if his ashes will be scattered at Chappaquiddick.

[Biyobi]

I'm not sure it'll be wise to bring any kind of fire near his body.

[FTWalker]

I'm not sure it'll be wise to bring any kind of fire near his body.

True... might end up like this:

[pr0ner]

I wonder if his ashes will be scattered at Chappaquiddick.

Only if they're placed in a car.

[Brendan]

Har har - terminal brain cancer - har har.

[CSL]

Har har - terminal brain cancer - har har.

 

[Brendan]

That's exactly my point, CSL.

[whiteboyskim]

I'm not sure it'll be wise to bring any kind of fire near his body.

True... might end up like this:

I think this is more likely:

[Biyobi]

That's exactly my point, CSL.

We're not making fun of a man dying.  We're making fun of an alcohol soaked corpse going in for cremation.

[pr0ner]

Har har - terminal brain cancer - har har.

Why most of us have no sympathy for Ted Kennedy.

[CSL]

Har har - terminal brain cancer - har har.

Why most of us have no sympathy for Ted Kennedy.

I guess the ranks of respectful people is smaller than I had otherwise assumed.

[Fireball1244]

Senator Kennedy is a flawed man who's done great things for his country. McCain was right to call him the last "lion of the Senate."

However, I'm concerned.

Looking at the X-Ray film, I'm pretty sure that I saw a plume of radiation behind the grassy knoll. I no longer believe in the single tumor theory.

[denoginizer]

Terrible news.  Making jokes about someone with a malignant brain tumor no matter how you feel about them personally shows a definite lack of class.

[YellowKing]

I watched an old boss of mine die from brain cancer so I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. But neither do I have any respect for Ted Kennedy as a politician or a human being.

[PR_GMR]

Terrible news.  Making jokes about someone with a malignant brain tumor no matter how you feel about them personally shows a definite lack of class.

My reaction to the snark on this thread was initially a bit like yours until I read the Ted Kennedy Wikipedia article linked to above. If he did indeed leave that woman to drown in that car, this brain tumor at the sunset of his life sounds like a bit of justice.

[gellar]

Har har - terminal brain cancer - har har.

Why most of us have no sympathy for Ted Kennedy.

Interesting read.  Didn't know about that until now.

gellar

[Autistic Angel]

Terrible news.  Making jokes about someone with a malignant brain tumor no matter how you feel about them personally shows a definite lack of class.

I don't know: in a society besieged by politically correct speech and constant concern for the feelings of others, I think there's something refreshing about a group of people who would come together in the spirit of schadenfreude to mock and attack a terminally ill man.  Anyone could take the safe, grown-up route and post something like, "Differences aside, this is tragic news and my thoughts are with Ted Kennedy and his family," but I think it takes a measure of bravery for a person to visit a public forum and openly express such glee in the personal suffering of others.

Even if Kennedy knew of the pleasure that people in this thread are taking over his slow, withering death, I doubt it would phase him at all.  No one could survive a lifetime in politics if they took every snide, pugnacious quip personally.

So I say: if people here want to revel in the Kennedy family's anguish, let them.  Sometimes happy memories can be far and few between, and if someday, God forbid, the specter of cancer enters the life of someone here, at least they'll have the merriment of this thread to help see them through the dark times.

-Autistic Angel

[Mr. Fed]

"A skunk is better company than someone who prides himself on being 'frank.'" -- Robert A. Heinlein

[Gwar21]

Meh, his death won't bother me, and it's probably long overdue. 

And while I don't have a problem with the joking myself, I'm curious as to whether those people who are offended by the joking were equally offended by those who were joking and cheering at Reagan's death.  I seem to recall that reaction to Reagan being pretty common at most of the messageboards I routinely visit.

[brettmcd]

Meh, his death won't bother me, and it's probably long overdue. 

And while I don't have a problem with the joking myself, I'm curious as to whether those people who are offended by the joking were equally offended by those who were joking and cheering at Reagan's death.  I seem to recall that reaction to Reagan being pretty common at most of the messageboards I routinely visit.

Of course not, Reagan was a conservative, and conservatives are evil and all that ya know.   So I am sure the outrage just wasnt there.

[pr0ner]

Terrible news.  Making jokes about someone with a malignant brain tumor no matter how you feel about them personally shows a definite lack of class.

I don't know: in a society besieged by politically correct speech and constant concern for the feelings of others, I think there's something refreshing about a group of people who would come together in the spirit of schadenfreude to mock and attack a terminally ill man.  Anyone could take the safe, grown-up route and post something like, "Differences aside, this is tragic news and my thoughts are with Ted Kennedy and his family," but I think it takes a measure of bravery for a person to visit a public forum and openly express such glee in the personal suffering of others.

Even if Kennedy knew of the pleasure that people in this thread are taking over his slow, withering death, I doubt it would phase him at all.  No one could survive a lifetime in politics if they took every snide, pugnacious quip personally.

So I say: if people here want to revel in the Kennedy family's anguish, let them.  Sometimes happy memories can be far and few between, and if someday, God forbid, the specter of cancer enters the life of someone here, at least they'll have the merriment of this thread to help see them through the dark times.

-Autistic Angel

Did you even read the link I posted?  The man drove a car off a bridge, and didn't do everything in his power to save his female passenger.  He gets no sympathy from many people for that incident.

[Autistic Angel]

And while I don't have a problem with the joking myself, I'm curious as to whether those people who are offended by the joking were equally offended by those who were joking and cheering at Reagan's death.  I seem to recall that reaction to Reagan being pretty common at most of the messageboards I routinely visit.

Was this message board one of the places where you found it was pretty common?

Did you even read the link I posted?  The man drove a car off a bridge, and didn't do everything in his power to save his female passenger.  He gets no sympathy from many people for that incident.

Yes, I read the entire link you posted.  If you believe I'm going to explain away or defend Kennedy's behavior in the Chappaquiddick incident, you may be unfamiliar with my stance on basic morality.

On the other hand, if you believe the Chappaquiddick incident will cause me to chortle with delight over the sort of agonizing, protracted death Kennedy faces, you may be unfamiliar with my stance on basic humanity.

-Autistic Angel

[Biyobi]

And while I don't have a problem with the joking myself, I'm curious as to whether those people who are offended by the joking were equally offended by those who were joking and cheering at Reagan's death.  I seem to recall that reaction to Reagan being pretty common at most of the messageboards I routinely visit.

Was this message board one of the places where you found it was pretty common?

Did you even read the link I posted?  The man drove a car off a bridge, and didn't do everything in his power to save his female passenger.  He gets no sympathy from many people for that incident.

Yes, I read the entire link you posted.  If you believe I'm going to explain away or defend Kennedy's behavior in the Chappaquiddick incident, you may be unfamiliar with my stance on basic morality.

On the other hand, if you believe the Chappaquiddick incident will cause me to chortle with delight over the sort of agonizing, protracted death Kennedy faces, you may be unfamiliar with my stance on basic humanity.

-Autistic Angel

So who was making fun of his agonizing, protracted death?  While many have expressed no sympathy due to his past, and others like myself have made fun of the highly combustable meat sack he'll leave behind, I really don't see anyone making outright fun of the pain he and his family are going through right now.

[denoginizer]

I've never been afraid to make fun of Kennedy's alcoholism and personal behavior faults. And what he did at Chappaquiddick was reprehensible.  But I think in times like this it's just better to not say anything instead of taking cheap shots at a dieing man. By the way I felt the same way when Ronald Reagan and Jerry Falwell got similar treatment on these boards when they were sick and dieing.

[Ironrod]

Did you even read the link I posted?  The man drove a car off a bridge, and didn't do everything in his power to save his female passenger.  He gets no sympathy from many people for that incident.

He was drunk. He gets a pass.

[pr0ner]

Did you even read the link I posted?  The man drove a car off a bridge, and didn't do everything in his power to save his female passenger.  He gets no sympathy from many people for that incident.

He was drunk. He gets a pass.

 

[brettmcd]

Did you even read the link I posted?  The man drove a car off a bridge, and didn't do everything in his power to save his female passenger.  He gets no sympathy from many people for that incident.

He was drunk. He gets a pass.

 

+100000000

[Rowdy]

Meh, his death won't bother me, and it's probably long overdue. 

And while I don't have a problem with the joking myself, I'm curious as to whether those people who are offended by the joking were equally offended by those who were joking and cheering at Reagan's death.  I seem to recall that reaction to Reagan being pretty common at most of the messageboards I routinely visit.

I was wondering the same thing.  Or to use a more polarizing example, Jerry Falwell.  Were all you compassionate democrats equally respectful when he passed on? 

[Brendan]

Were all you compassionate democrats equally respectful when he passed on? 

When did Ted Kennedy die?