»
Discussion
»
The Alley
»
Chappaquiddick
| The Alley |
|
Chappaquiddick |
|
|
Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan 
|
" Do we operate under a system of equal justice under law? Or is there one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty? " Senator Ted Kennedy, 1973 http://www.ytedk.com/intro.htm Chappaquiddick has always been bothersome. I think it played an important role in denying Kennedy his presidential opportunity. My question is why has the man continued to be elected to the Senate? |
||
| © Copyright 2004 John Pawlik - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
"Don't Blame Me - I'm From Massachusetts!" We have here a VERY Democratic state which never has and likely won't ever vote Republican. Temper that with the fact that this is THE "Kennedy" state (Cape Cod in particular)... Et Voila!... Ted Kennedy continues as Senior Senator. You didn't ask it to make sense - You merely asked "Why?"!!...  |
||
|
Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Name fame (he's known), family connections (they're known), and loads of money. I do think he does care a lot about education and providing the unpriviledged opportunities to improve themselves, but can also afford to be as far left as he cares to be, due to the three mentioned reasons. Obviously, the only reason he's been in the Senate this long is that people keep voting him into the Senate. Part of that probably has to do with the legacy and memories of John and Robert among the voting blocks. Personally, I don't think the tragedy of Chappaquiddick kept Sen. Kennedy from becoming President. I do feel that he was persuaded not to go there after the deaths of two of his brothers, one who was President and one who was running for President. Just my uneducated views, of course. |
||
|
Nan
Administrator
Member Seraphic
since 1999-05-20
Posts 21191Cape Cod Massachusetts USA |
Indeed - Ted promised Rose that he'd never run for the presidency. He's kept that promise to his mother, and I expect he'll never rescind upon it... |
||
|
Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Hmmm, I guess a DUI bust is okay? |
||
|
Tim Senior Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 1794 |
is your hatred of Bush so great you would compare a guilty plea to a misdemeanor d.u.i. to the circumstances surrounding the death at the Chappaquiddick? How sad. |
||
|
Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Where did I compare? I don't live in Massachusettes, I don't know why he continues to be elected, I do think Chappaquiddik hurt his chances for the presidency, but because one man did something worse, why does that justify the actions of the other? Why put this up now? Hmmm, maybe because the Kofi distraction didn't stick. And if we're going to bring up dubious past actions, why not bring up the president's? Isn't it just a little more relevant? Your question insinuates that I'm blinded by emotion. But what has blinded you to the last four years? Does is matter or doesn't it? |
||
|
wranx Member Elite
since 2002-06-07
Posts 3689Moved from a shack to a barn |
I can only say that one of my favorite bumper stickers read... Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my handgun |
||
|
Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Yet, doesn’t it say something depressing about human nature, at least in Massachusetts, (it’s not they can’t or don’t know). |
||
|
Tim Senior Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 1794 |
What mention of Bush is there in the original post? How does Kofi suddenly enter into the discussion? How come you objected to Balladeer bringing up Clinton's shortcomings when Bush was the topic? The blinded question is really out there, and I have no idea of your point there. I didn't read the thread as having anything to do with President Bush. Does what matter? Does it matter that a married U.S. Senator and five married men partied at a beach house with six young single women. That the Senator left the party with one of the young women in the middle of the night and drove towards the beach after drinking and drove off a bridge and then left the female trapped in the vehicle underwater for over nine hours without reporting the incident and telling two lawyers not to report the accident. That the Senator did not attempt to obtain assistance in saving the woman when it was readily available? That no autopsy was performed. That the Senator asked individuals to indicate the deceased was driving. That the whole incident smells to high heavens as far as a legal coverup and a young woman died. Does it matter? Maybe not. Apparently not to Massachusetts voters. Does it matter the President had a D.U.I. conviction when he was thirty? Yes, it just isn't very relevant to this thread as far as I can tell. Bottom line, how truly sad. On the topic of the thread, I suspect Kennedy tested the waters over the years as far as running for President which would be indicated by his numerous attempts to appear to embrace more centrist positions. Chappaquiddick was and is an albatros that prevented and prevents a serious run at the presidency. |
||
|
Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
“HARTFORD, Conn. — A former police officer who sat on the jury that convicted Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel of murder now says he has doubts about whether Skakel is guilty and is working for Skakel's defense team. . . Skakel cousin Robert Kennedy Junior says it takes courage to do what Wood is doing. He says Skakel's conviction is built on a fantasy that the well-connected family manipulated the law.” http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,144512,00.html Anyone know the convicting evidence of this case? |
||
|
Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Aside from the shattered golf club which was paired with other clubs in the Skakel's garage, the legal fighting against search orders, Michael and his brother's own meandering and changing testimonies, and Michael's own damning stories which, by pure coincidence, mirrored the murderer's own steps and locations, not much evidence at all. What the defense team is trying to do is to overturn the conviction based on their accusations that the prosecution took too long to get their case together. And that worries me, since it could set a precedence on statutes of limitations and murder. Currently, there is no statute of limitation on murder, but if his defense overturns his conviction on their accusation, there might well be a limitation in the near future. |
||
|
Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
It might not ave taken so long had he not skipped the country for several years. |
||
|
Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Guess he forgot there's no time limit on murder cases. |
||
|
Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
"The rich are not like you and me." F. Scott Fitzgerald |
||
|
Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
What does Skakel have to do with Chap.? I'm very confused by the last few responses. Are you arguing that Wood was bribed or in some sort of trance to want to work for acquital? http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedychappaquiddick.htm quote: --- quote: This is not defending Kennedy, I just thought his own words needed to be heard. Let's see, he admits guilt and offers to resign. Oh wait, I'm not supposed to compare anymore. |
||
|
Tim Senior Member
since 1999-06-08
Posts 1794 |
I am not sure how the Skakel case fits in either, but as far as the Senator's statement, I would respond as follows. The obvious response is that he did not resign. He takes no responsibility for driving after a night of drinking and being responsible for the death of a young woman. It is somewhat like the young boy calling his father at work and saying Dad, I was playing football and do you know the picture window? Well, I broke the tiny little window beside it. Except of course, we are not talking about windows, but the death of a young woman. Because of the secrecy of the proceedings and the lack of autopsy, we will never know the full story. We do know that the Senator had been drinking at the party with six married men and six single women spending the night in the beach house. As I recall, the statement was Kennedy's wife did not attend because she was pregnant. In any event, ignoring the morality issues, Kennedy after driving off the bridge went back to the cottage walking past several residences where he could have obtained assistance, all being much nearer the scene. He specifically called out the two attorneys present and told them not to tell the others present what had occured. The others were not told what happened. Kennedy informed the two lawyers not to notify police and attempted to get the attorneys to indicate the victim was driving. After returning to the scene, Kennedy had the lawyers drive him to the ferry crossing where he swam the channel, went into a hotel, showered, went to the lobby and mingled a bit, and made 17 telephone calls before he finally notified authorities the next day. He never once sought medical treatment during this period before notifying law enforcment nor did anyone observe signs of physical injury. I do think I recall from seeing the statement on television that Kennedy was wearing a neck brace about a week later. Not even getting into the legal proceedings, which I feel fairly comfortable could not be conducted in such a manner today, the Senator's statement does little to vindicate him, in fact, it only makes the situation to appear worse unless you are willing to strain your credulity level. |
||
|
Alicat Member Elite
since 1999-05-23
Posts 4094Coastal Texas |
Anyone else would have been charged with negiligent homicide, irregardless that it happenened about 40 years ago. Rattle that closet, Senator Kennedy, and see which bones dance best. |
||
|
Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
Possible: Chappaquiddick= one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty, Skakel murder = one system for the average citizen and another for the high and mighty, both= well-connected family manipulating law |
||
|
Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Uh guys, I'm still not allowed to compare? Are you kidding? If the principle is equal rights under the law, then the comparison (Bush v. Kennedy families) applies. No if's, no and's, no but's. |
||
|
Not A Poet Member Elite
since 1999-11-03
Posts 3885Oklahoma, USA |
I guess you guys will have to let Brad compare now. How about a young fellow's DUI arrest where nobody got hurt compared to a U.S. Senator committing negligent homicide? Sounds like a fair comparison to me. |
||
|
James_A_Fraser Senior Member
since 2003-09-03
Posts 972Out Making Anticlines |
Of course you're allowed to compare. But if you draw comparisons that are so clearly invalid that they make it seem as if you're either hate-driven or simply unable to focus on a topic in a clear way, people will assume that of you. Those are obviously wrong assumptions to make about you, but they'll make 'em anyway. As to the DUI, back when I cared about such things I saw the yellow sheet on a conviction for the very same offense, and the name of the drunk driver was Albert Arnold Gore, Jr. That's not relevant to the Kennedy discussion either. |
||
|
Brad Member Ascendant
since 1999-08-20
Posts 5705Jejudo, South Korea |
Uh, wasn't that Al's son, Al Gore III? |
||
|
James_A_Fraser Senior Member
since 2003-09-03
Posts 972Out Making Anticlines |
Little Al got one during his dad's presidential campaign season I think, but this one was old -- from the early 80's as I recall. I thought it was interesting that something like that would be out there and not used to fend off the flack about W's indescretion, but it didn't affect my vote and I doubt that it would many other folks' either. The Mary Jo incident on the other hand, seems to have doomed a dynasty. |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
