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2009-08-29 Home Front: Culture Wars

Mary Jo Kopechne, the unmentionable corpse

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Posted by Mike 2009-08-29 12:28|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 As has been commented elsewhere, Senator Edward Kennedy only achieved what he did because his successful brothers were murdered. And so one has the uncomfortable feeling that had Joe, Jack, or Bobby been in that car, they would have either brought Miss Kopechne to the surface with them, or have dived back in the water in a rescue attempt, successful or no... and then turned the whole thing into another Camelot fairy tale: "Prince Charming Rescues the Peasant Maiden". But although third sons are supposed to win the princess and the crown, it is supposed to be through cleverness and kindness; princes who fail the test through selfishness never get anything until they learn their lesson. Senator Edward Kennedy never learnt the lesson, and so he never won the crown he so desired.

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2009-08-29 13:28|| 2009-08-29 13:28|| Front Page Top

#2 I contributed this comment about him, on a thread here, at Chicagoboyz. It seems relevant, so I might as well quote in full:
"Thats the failing that people - across the board, politically - can never forgive. Not so much because his actions, his drunkenness and stupidity put his car off the road in a relatively shallow body of water - its because he panicked, and thought only of himself.
And if he had any scrap of self-awareness, any sense of the obligations that are due from anyone who has a pretense of calling themselves a responsible human being, he wouldnt have been in the position that he has been, ever since that fatal night.
He must lived the rest of his life knowing that if he had only thought heroically, thought of someone else besides himself, been a sensible, sober and responsible human being - gone to the nearest house and called for help - she might have been rescued in time. He might have been able to live down the temporary embarrassment, had a heck of a lot to explain the next morning but He was a Kennedy, and one of those-so-called charismatic Kennedy-generation Kennedys, after all, of whom much is expected and a lot forgiven - but no. He thought first, foremost and always of himself, drunk and sober.
What we want, I think, of our politicians, is that they at least make a good pretense of thinking of the better good, and of making a more convincing show of caring abut of the people they make a great show of pretending to care about. Ted Kennedy couldnt even be bothered, in that particular instance and that particular crisis, and so the very nakedness of that dont care-think-of-myself resonates after all this time.
His older brother, for all you might say about him politically - swam a good distance in a South Sea ocean, towing an injured crewman from his PT boat, after the same was sunk in a collision with a Japanese warship. JFK didnt leave a friend/crewmate/acquaintance behind. And Teddy did. And had to bear that knowledge for all time.
No wonder he turned into a drunk - if he hadnt already been one before."

Posted by Sgt. Mom">Sgt. Mom 2009-08-29 13:45|| http://www.celiahayes.com]">[http://www.celiahayes.com] 2009-08-29 13:45|| Front Page Top

#3 http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/mluphoup/delegate.jpg

"The Delegate From Chappaquiddick", National Lampoon Surprise Poster.

Posted by Anonymoose 2009-08-29 13:49|| 2009-08-29 13:49|| Front Page Top

#4 John Kennedy's defining moment during WW II was how he behaved after PT109 was sunk. He swam to the nearest island with the life jacket strap of one of his crewmen in his teeth. In the process he wrecked his back, leaving him in pain for the rest of his life. He managed to get a message to rescuers. For this, he was truly a hero.
On the other hand, someone pointed out that PT109 was the only warship in modern times that was sunk by ramming. There were suggestions that Kennedy and/or his crew were asleep when they got hit.

Posted by Rambler in Virginia">Rambler in Virginia 2009-08-29 14:48|| 2009-08-29 14:48|| Front Page Top

#5 TW : excellent synopsis

Posted by 746 2009-08-29 15:59|| 2009-08-29 15:59|| Front Page Top

#6 For general amusement, google

kennedy swimmer secret service

Don't skip Fiddle and Faddle.

Posted by KBK 2009-08-29 16:56|| 2009-08-29 16:56|| Front Page Top

#7 You are a dear to say so, 746. Thank you!

Posted by trailing wife">trailing wife 2009-08-29 17:55|| 2009-08-29 17:55|| Front Page Top

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