2008
Ted Kennedy Brain Tumor?
I just heard on the radio that Ted Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor. I may get slammed for this - probably will get slammed for this - but I do dread his death because we’re going to have to hear people yammering on and on about how great he was. I assume his intentions are good. And frankly, I’ve sometimes wondered about that too because I wonder about that with ALL politicians and especially ones who advocate leftist policies that have clearly brought ruin to other nations. But my default position is that he has meant well all these years and done the best he could. The same impulse that forced much - certainly not all - of the media and the left to grit their teeth when Reagan died and not say what they really thought about him is now going to lead them to wear sackcloth and ashes and lionize their “Lion of the Senate” beyond all recognition.
But an honest assessment of the results of his policies would yield a very different legacy than the hagiographic one the media is going to attribute to him whenever he does die. Cancer treatment is miserable even when it works, and when you’re 76 and not particularly fit, it’s clear that he’s going to suffer before he dies (of this or whatever else eventually takes his life) and I regret that very much. Regardless of what I think of his politics and policies, I will keep him and his family in my prayers.
Added: Hah: the much-reviled-by-lefties website LGF has hundreds of comments wishing the Senator well. This one is typical, in contrast to the celebrations on the left at Tony Snowe’s cancer dx and Dick Cheney’s heart trouble:
My prayers to Senator Kennedy, his faily and his friends. Though a hope for a cure is always wished for, if that can’t happen, may he find comfort and peace.
Welcome, Slate readers!
May 20th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
Anyone who slams you is going to have to slam me, too!
May 20th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
My thoughts about his health were similar: my mom went through a relatively “easy” breast cancer treatment–she’s heavy, but very healthy. Senator Kennedy doesn’t seem awful healthy–how can he be, with the desk job of all desk jobs?–and I really hope he’s a lot healthier (or tougher, that might work) than I think.
BTW, can the news STOP with all the shock that Republicans and Conservatives AREN’T having parties about this? The dude got SICK–what kind of decent human would be happy about that?
May 20th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
I’m in good company then, Deuce.
Foxfier, I know what you mean - they expect us to act like they do every time **** Cheney has a heart twinge. Dr. Sanity calls it “projection,” if I recall correctly.
May 20th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
I’m not particularly sad about it, Foxier, but then I guess some might indeed doubt my “decency” as a human being. I would claim that the Senate will be slightly better off once he’s gone, but considering that Massachussetts will probably just elect some new jackass to replace him, I guess that’s false hope.
I don’t really understand why we can’t even be happy to see crummy people meet their end. It may sound bad, but it’s only natural and sensible.