Patterico's Pontifications

5/20/2008

Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor

Filed under: General — Patterico @ 10:33 am



Just breaking:

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor. Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat say tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

Good luck to Sen. Kennedy.

106 Responses to “Kennedy Has Malignant Brain Tumor”

  1. My thoughts and prayers go to him and his family…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  2. My thoughts, as they always have been, are with Mary Jo.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  3. Prayers for Kennedy and his family.

    I will say that, like I said about the ailing Sen. Johnson of South Dakota, it probably would be best for their constituents, the Senate and the nation for both men to step aside. (It’s my understanding that both men would be replaced by Democrats; this is not a partisan point for me.) Unless, that is, they truly believe they can be back on the job satisfactorily in a few months.

    Mitch (890cbf)

  4. good luck to him. i always thought his liver was going to get him before his brain.

    assistant devil's advocate (e0faac)

  5. Well, those are bit late.

    It’s horrible, yes, but Sen Kennedy is a living human being, and thus deserving of well wishes.

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  6. In spirited debate…I may disagree, but I never wish suffering upon those with whom I do. My thoughts and prayers extend to him and all who love him.

    cfbleachers (4040c7)

  7. The phrase that comes to mind is:
    God’s gonna get you for THAT.
    THAT being Mary Jo Kopechne, millions of Southeast Asians, and his attemp to throw away our soveriegnty

    DaveH (c90540)

  8. Inappropriate, Dave.

    No one deserves cancer, no one deserves any illness.

    Period. End of discussion.

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  9. Enough with the Rosie O’Donnell rhetoric (“liars get cancer”)

    Ted Kennedy is a human being. He has a malignant brain tumor. Let’s put the partisan stuff aside and take a moment to reflect on our common humanity.

    Daryl Herbert (4ecd4c)

  10. Godspeed to him and his family. They have endured more tragedy than most. I cannot think of one thing that I like about Sen. Anvilhead, but I wish him and his loved ones as much happiness and joy as they can find during the trying times ahead.

    JD (75f5c3)

  11. I join the millions of Americans who believe that somewhere Mary Jo is smiling.

    Karma is a bitch. Maybe he’ll develop pneumonia and drown in his own bodily fluids.

    I have no sympathy for this drunken SOB.

    [I’ll leave this comment standing as an example of the sort of comment I don’t want to see any more on this thread. — P]

    Horatio (a549f7)

  12. You don’t have to express sympathy, but you should show a little class.

    Daryl Herbert (4ecd4c)

  13. Good riddance. His Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and murder of Mary Jo Kopechne are the worst crimes committed by any politician in American history. Ted Kennedy is no better than Joseph Stalin or Chairman Mao.

    X-15 (f93df3)

  14. Good riddance. His Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 and murder of Mary Jo Kopechne are the worst crimes committed by any politician in American history. Ted Kennety is no better than Joseph Stalin or Chairman Mao.

    X-15 (f93df3)

  15. Same goes for you, X-15. Grow up, or shut up.

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  16. I almost didn’t open up comments on this, as I did not the other day, because I didn’t want to see the comments go down the ugly path. Daryl at #12 has it exactly right: show some class. I don’t like the guy’s politics or some of the things he got away with either. Now is not the time to talk about that. Period.

    Patterico (cb443b)

  17. Would that the posters over on Daily Kos treated Tony Snow so gentlemanly.

    John425 (eae6ea)

  18. Best wishes to Senator Kennedy. I don’t understand how anyone can be filled with such anger, bile, and hatred toward POLITICAL opponents that they would wish any kind of grave health conditions upon them. Any talk of “karma” is low-class and juvenile. Let the maggots of DKos and DU bottom feed on such tripe.

    Jack Klompus (cf3660)

  19. This is one of those times when the lesson of “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” really comes into play.

    With the chance to take the high road, we conservatives still find people within our ranks who can’t seem to do that.

    And of course as a practical matter it is not like Massachusetts will send someone better to the Senate.

    Eric Coulson (5cd04e)

  20. Patterico, I had noticed that you didn’t open comments on the earlier announcement and I hope you don’t regret opening them here. Unfortunately, some people are going to show their true colors when this sort of news is announced.

    Here’s wishing Sen. Kennedy peace and comfort if this indeed to be the beginning of the end.

    JVW (c86819)

  21. Mitch, Tim Johnson is back to work in the Senate.

    Kennedy’s days of Senatoring are drawing to a close.

    Here’s wishing Sen. Kennedy peace and comfort if this indeed to be the beginning of the end.

    Yep. What JVW said.

    Pablo (99243e)

  22. Y’all should take note that X-15 is playing the part of Moby today. Click his nick and poke around.

    Pablo (99243e)

  23. I suppose that there is some political point on which the Senator and I would agree (lower tariffs on Scotch?), but mostly I don’t; that does not mean that I wish him ill. I hope he recovers, and goes on for years.

    htom (412a17)

  24. Wow, you’re right.

    How odd that a Liberal should come here and say such a thing about Sen. Kennedy.

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  25. I think the psychology as to why many conservatives will show up on these conservative blog boards to offer sympathy for someone like Ted Kennedy is kind of interesting.

    I don’t remember this display of sympathy when Saddam Hussein was handed his death sentence. If OJ Simpson gets diagnosed with a brain tumor, will all of these same conservatives be making a big show of sympathy? Seems they’ll have to to be consistant. Meanwhile, I suspect they’ll have no interest in showing up in a thread about some dying conservative politician who has been a good citizen his entire life. There is no payoff for that.

    The payoff is the feeling that liberals will think you are magnanimous. It’s the same reason that conservative politicians start acting like liberals. They want the leftists to love them for some strange reason.

    j curtis (c84b9e)

  26. I don’t remember this display of sympathy when Saddam Hussein was handed his death sentence.

    Yes, well, Saddam and Sen Kennedy are utterly different cases. One is a brutal human being who killed probably millions of his own people in order to hold onto power via fear an intimidation, and the other is someone withwhom we merely disagree (in some cases strongly) with politically…
    If OJ Simpson gets diagnosed with a brain tumor, will all of these same conservatives be making a big show of sympathy?

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  27. While I have often disagreed with Sen Kennedy’s positions over the years, I wish him success in his treatment and peace for his family. And for those who can only offer hate of him at the news, I offer these words by James Baldwin. “Hatred, which could destroy so much, never failed to destroy the man who hated, and this was an immutable law.” Mr. Baldwin also said, “I imagine one of the reasons people cling to their hate so stubbornly is because they sense, once hate is gone, they will be forced to deal with pain.” I can only pity people who allow hatred to cloud their judgment in such a way as to cheer at the news of another person’s illness.

    Fritz (452a8e)

  28. blah… hit submitt too soon…

    If OJ Simpson gets diagnosed with a brain tumor, will all of these same conservatives be making a big show of sympathy?

    Likely, yes we would. Though “dropping the soap” jokes would abound if he was sent to prison…

    Meanwhile, I suspect they’ll have no interest in showing up in a thread about some dying conservative politician who has been a good citizen his entire life. There is no payoff for that.

    Aside from paying respect to someone… Yeah, there were NO posts of sympathy for Tony Snow or Sen Johnston…

    The payoff is the feeling that liberals will think you are magnanimous. It’s the same reason that conservative politicians start acting like liberals. They want the leftists to love them for some strange reason.

    Yeah, it couldn’t be because we’re decent human beings wishing recovery to another human being…

    What side of the political spectrum was crying for joy when Tony Snow’s cancer recurred?

    Oh yeah…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  29. The payoff is the feeling that liberals will think you are magnanimous.

    I couldn’t care less. Something else compels me to behave with basic human dignity. I think it’s my upbringing.

    Pablo (99243e)

  30. I mean no ill towards the Senator; but, that doesn’t mean that I look forward to his recovery, and continued service in the Senate. His personal, and official, acts have created uncounted pain and suffering for people who, for the most part, he never met or even thinks about.
    If he recovers, and returns to the Senate, he will continue abusing his position of trust, and we will not be the better for it.
    If he cannot continue, the people of Massachussets will have an opportunity that they refused to avail themselves of for too many years. We can only hope that they do better with it this time.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  31. Too bad freerepublic moderates their forum.

    stef (b39392)

  32. I do send my prayers and thoughts to the Senator and his family at this time of crisis….God’s will should be done, as always…

    I do also know that the Day of Reconning with that same God is coming for him….

    May God have Mercy on his soul….

    reff (bff229)

  33. there are limits to my magnanimity, and o.j. simpson is on the other side of those limits.

    assistant devil's advocate (e0faac)

  34. I think some people did not see my request to put aside politics and show a little class.

    Patterico (cb443b)

  35. [I’ll leave this comment standing as an example of the sort of comment I don’t want to see any more on this thread. — P]

    I’m glad you opened the comments. There are some humans on this planet that don’t deserve sympathy or good wishes. Kennedy is one of them. At minimum, that he effectively got away with vehicular homicide suggests that the rich do have a different justice system to deal with. He has never paid for his crime, and every year on the anniversary of Mary Jo’s death (July 18), people who should believe in justice – most of the posters on this site – should take a moment and reflect upon what he did and how he escaped the punishment that, I submit, everyone here would have paid.

    The legislation he has sponsored over the years, the demagoguery that has spewed from his mouth, and the behavior he has exhibited, are just the sort of actions that deserve scorn and derision.

    I’ve said my peace, and than you for the opportunity to do so.

    Horatio (a549f7)

  36. Next time I’ll trust my instincts and leave the comments closed.

    Patterico (cb443b)

  37. Sorry some folks are so dumb, Oh Host o’ mine……

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  38. My mother died of the same brain cancer. I have a more than a vague notion as to what he and his family will experience in the weeks and months ahead. I pity them all.

    Lesley (c36902)

  39. Are there any forms of treatment that can send it into remission?

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  40. If OJ Simpson gets diagnosed with a brain tumor, will all of these same conservatives be making a big show of sympathy?

    Likely, yes we would.

    Why? There would be thousands of people across the world who received the same diagnosis that same day. Why make a public display of sympathy for OJ Simpson?

    j curtis (c84b9e)

  41. Are there any forms of treatment that can send it into remission?

    Not really. A complete surgical resection is the best harbinger of a good outcome, and from what I gather, Ted’s is not operable.

    Pablo (99243e)

  42. are there any forms of treatment that can send it into remission? further testing is required to determine this. they know it’s a glial tumor (glia are fatty cells which surround the neurons in your nervous system), but there are various kinds of glial tumors ranging from slow-growing to very aggressive.

    assistant devil's advocate (e0faac)

  43. Why? There would be thousands of people across the world who received the same diagnosis that same day. Why make a public display of sympathy for OJ Simpson?

    Ah! I fell into your trap, I see. By saying I would have sympathy for the individual you mentioned, I by default implied I would have no sympathy for O.J.

    Well played, sir. Well played.

    For the record (in case you’re a moron and can’t read my earlier posts), no one deserved to get cancer, no one deserves ill health. Certainly one can act in a manner that leaves them at higher risk for certain illnesses (sharing IV needles and unprotected sex and how those behaviors increase the chances of contracting any number of diseases are but one example), but one does not “earn” cancer or AIDS.

    To suggest that I have no sympathy for the legions of people who die, suffer, contract or develope some horrible illness is insulting, and I have a hard time believing you are truly that dense…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  44. Why make a public display of sympathy for OJ Simpson?

    I notice now the second part of your clever plan. By suggesting that none of us WOULD offer public condolences and well wishes, you imply that only people who would do so are decent human beings.

    I ask you this question, then: Where are your public statements of support and compassion for those same thousands of people who likely are diagnosed each and every day?

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  45. Next time I’ll trust my instincts and leave the comments closed. — Patterico

    Second that.

    Person No. 85 (7b1a1b)

  46. One is a brutal human being who killed probably millions of his own people in order to hold onto power via fear an intimidation, and the other is someone withwhom we merely disagree (in some cases strongly) with politically

    Also, on some level: for an American, Sen. Kennedy is (a) one of us and (b) a person in a position of relatively high office in our political system; of course he’s going to receive a higher level of respect than Saddam Hussein.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  47. but there are various kinds of glial tumors ranging from slow-growing to very aggressive.

    This one’s malignant. I’ll be surprised if it’s anything other than a glioblastoma.

    Pablo (99243e)

  48. I ask you this question, then: Where are your public statements of support and compassion for those same thousands of people who likely are diagnosed each and every day?

    Comment by Scott Jacobs — 5/20/2008 @ 1:57 pm

    I really can’t commiserate with every tragedy in everyone’s lives. If we do that, we have no time to live. But I’m not going to go out of my way to commiserate with the very worst people.

    Did you think you were making a cogent argument there or something?

    j curtis (c84b9e)

  49. no one deserved to get cancer, no one deserves ill health

    Little Bill Daggett: I don’t deserve this… to die like this. I was building a house.
    Will Munny: Deserve’s got nothin’ to do with it.

    Mary Jo didn’t deserve to die in cold, black water at night and have her killer escape justice.

    Horatio (a549f7)

  50. stfu, ass…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  51. Did you think you were making a cogent argument there or something?

    Depends… Can you NOT be a pompus ass?

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  52. “At minimum, that he effectively got away with vehicular homicide suggests that the rich do have a different justice system to deal with. ”

    I would imagine that there are plenty of other sources for this lesson.

    “The legislation he has sponsored over the years, the demagoguery that has spewed from his mouth, and the behavior he has exhibited, are just the sort of actions that deserve scorn and derision.”

    Here he is acting up for the King Holiday:

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/20/AR2008012002267.html

    stef (688568)

  53. Did you think you were making a cogent argument there or something?

    Depends… Can you NOT be a pompus ass?

    Comment by Scott Jacobs — 5/20/2008 @ 2:13 pm

    Whether you believed you were making a cogent argument or not depends on my ability to not be a pompous ass?

    j curtis (c84b9e)

  54. Senator Kennedy is a man who has risen to a position of great respect and responsibility within my country and is revered and honored by many, although I do not find myself within those numbers.

    My condolences and prayers go to his entire family at a time such as this.

    gajim (e39b35)

  55. scott, you don’t have to play the reductio ad evilum game with provocateurs. just acknowledge, as i do, that different people deserve different levels of solicitude when they come down with brain cancer.

    as a conservative democrat, i acknowledge that senator kennedy is right some of the time, and that he’s made significant contributions toward enacting good legislation/blocking bad legislation. yeah, i know about the vehicular manslaughter, but that was long ago and he did indeed pay a price for it. it kept him from being elected president.

    o.j., on the other hand…if o.j. dies in oregon and i get to the body before the state, his hands, feet and genitals are going up on ebay, and the head will be tastefully preserved in a clear lucite cube on my desk for the amusement of my visitors.

    assistant devil's advocate (e0faac)

  56. Pampas grass?

    gp (8b6852)

  57. stfu, ass…

    That was intelligent

    When you offer as much sympathy for Mary Jo and her parents as you do for the scumbucket who got away with her death, maybe, just maybe, I’ll STFU.

    On another note, which country with National Healthcare will Teddy go to to get treated? Cuba?

    Horatio (a549f7)

  58. Better late than never, Patterico.

    Horatio, put a sock in it.

    nk (d7f5f5)

  59. Better late than never, Patterico.

    Horatio, put a sock in it.

    This is amazing – this faux sympathy for a man, who, if he committed this act today, contributors at this site would be screaming for his head.

    However, because it happened almost 40 years ago, “Oh, let’s just be kind…Kennedy’s family doesn’t “deserve” this pain.

    You’ll demonize this man for his public policies, his public drunkenness, his loutish behavior, and then you’ll offer your “sympathy” when it’s discovered that he has an illness.

    It was recommended that Kennedy be indicted for manslaughter after a lengthy investigation, but the Kennedy name and money made it all go away.

    Horatio (a549f7)

  60. This is amazing – this faux sympathy for a man, who, if he committed this act today, contributors at this site would be screaming for his head.

    However, because it happened almost 40 years ago, “Oh, let’s just be kind…Kennedy’s family doesn’t “deserve” this pain.

    It isn’t faux sympathy, though the likes of you would be unable to tell, so incapable of decency towards your fellow man are you…

    I don’t care is he called my grandmother a whore this morning – He’s a human being, and as such does not deserve this.

    You are the exact same person as those who cheered that Tony Snow’s cancer was back, and you utterly disgust me.

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  61. Montage of old photos of the Kennedy dynasty, camelot and the boys’ women. Also discusses the lobotomized sister a bit.

    http://fatboy.cc.com

    Wishing the senior senator from Mass. and liberal lion the best. Looks like Lurch sKerry will get bumped up. You’d be choice for the potential vacant seat? Barney? Another Kennedy?

    madmax333 (fcdf37)

  62. Looks like we need a bigger sock.

    SPQR (26be8b)

  63. No matter my differences with Senator Kennedy, my best wishes for his health and family.

    Having suffered a painfully debilitating, life threatening illness of my own, he certainly has my sympathy.

    EW1(SG) (84e813)

  64. 46+ years as a member of the US Senate is absurd.

    The country will be a much better off when he is no longer an active member of the senate.

    The Kennedy legacy is over, same with the Bushes and hopefully the Clintons.

    rab (c6d33e)

  65. If you can’t say something good about the man, say nothing at all.
    [crickets chirping]

    My sympathies to his family.

    bud (994954)

  66. Best wishes for a strong recovery – comfort to his family, esecially the young nieces and nephews who only know him as their beloved uncle.

    Remember he is a man who lost all his brothers in the service of our country

    EricPWJohnson (d2733c)

  67. Michael Long posted this article the other day on NationalReview.com. I thought this line

    Cal said a great lesson came quick: Don’t pick your friends by their politics.

    was a great point and a lesson we should all take away.

    chas (5c73d9)

  68. “Remember he is a man who lost all his brothers in the service of our country.”

    Remember, Robert was probably the first fatality of Islamic Radicalism.

    Will we ever know whether or not John was whacked by Fidel? At least we know the shooter was a Marxist.

    And Joe, just another victim of the military’s lack of a plan (where was Don Rumsfeld?).

    Another Drew (758608)

  69. Hmm. Well, am I glad I am not American and thus have no horse in this race.

    As a Christian, I sincerely pray that the Senator will come to his senses and repent of his sins and seek forgiveness from Yeshua ha-Mashiah before it is too late – as it seems this cancer is an aggresive one.

    I do agree that we should be at least neutral in our public comments on someone else’s blog. Especially when it concerns something purely beyond our control or influence. And cancer, afaik, falls under this category. Even if we (I’m not looking at you personally, horatio) feel a certain way, shouldn’t we respect Patterico’s wishes and keep our comments within reason?

    I will observe, also, however, that the mills of justice continue to grind; this is true for the Senator, and it is true for all of us. As a fiscal and social conservative, I wish Sen Kennedy’s family all the best in their time of trial.

    Of course, as a Christian I also believe that we all deserve worse than physical death, and it is a measure of God’s grace He gives us time to repent and believe. YMMV on this, no doubt.

    Gregory (f7735e)

  70. PS: And if the Senator is a Christian in truth (which is something only he and God know, so I am not qualified to speak on that), then may he receive the peace that transcends all human understanding, and the certain assurance that his sins are forgiven.

    At the end of the day, we are all men, imperfect. And we will all face the same physical death, and the same Judge.

    Gregory (f7735e)

  71. In the spirit of if you have nothing good to say then say nothing at all,

    I’m going to miss his inspiration of untold millions of drunk jokes.

    Imagine the collective ambivalence of the groped barmaids of Washington D.C. tonight.

    “Gonna miss the tips.”

    papertiger (e9a2a0)

  72. While I have no personal axe to grind against the Senator, I do think that he’s been a poster boy for term limits for a very long time. He’s been in the Senate nearly as long as I’ve lived, and I’ll be 47 in a day or two.

    That said, while I have few-to-no areas of agreement with his political stances, I pity him deeply as a human being. He never once in all his life got to do what he wanted to do—he was always at the beck and call of The Family, and his POV and wishes mattered not at all.

    I hope he takes the opportunity to resign from the Senate and retire, and that his cancer then goes into remission—and that he apologizes to the Kopechnes.

    Technomad (2e95ec)

  73. #72 that’s just revisionist history. What makes you think he never got to do what he wanted to do and was at beck and call of his family? He’s the patriarch now. He even has RINO Schwarzenegger wrapped around his finger. IMO it has always been all about him and his appetites. I wonder why he had so many Republicans kissing his ring. Bush caved to him and right away he was bashing Bush. Tell us how he treated Joan. Tell us about his NIMBY views regarding wind power development or the boondoggle that was The Big Dig. Plenty of pork for the unions and pols there. Let’s be realistic at least. I’m sure if he ever does pass on that the media will go bonkers with praise. Same will apply to Carter.
    That said, I realize brain cancer is no picnic and we wish him well. Btw, I would not hold my breath waiting on him apologizing to anyone. One wonders why Taxachusetts voters will pick a RINO governor but not a Senator.

    madmax333 (b8239e)

  74. I’m glad you left the comments open. It allows people to show their true selves to others. Some people evidently cannot separate politics from personal, and feel free to dispense venom to people they do not know except from the newspapers. Did he make mistakes? Most certainly. Have you? Would you like them displayed for the world to see and make judgement on FOREVER?

    This is a human being, a father, a brother, an uncle. His family is hurting, he is suffering. Yet, for too many, vengance and acrimony is more important than displaying humanity.

    I, for one, hope he recovers, and if not, I pray for peace for his family. I also pray that some of you will take a long look and rediscover your lost humanity at some point.

    Jim Armstrong (1a8310)

  75. There are some monsters for whom brain cancer seems a fitting fate: consummately evil men like Mohammed Atta, the Carr brothers of Wichita, Charles Ng and Leonard Lake. I’d be surprised if anybody here felt any human compassion for insects like those. But TK’s most serious disgrace, (his craven behavior after the Chappaquiddick accident,) seems due not to evil, but to lack of character and alcohol abuse. I can’t see wishing cancer misery upon a man because of that, and certainly not because of his politics.

    gp (72be5d)

  76. My prayers and best wishes go out to Sen. Kennedy, his wife, his children, his large family that has suffered such tragedies over the years, and to his friends.

    My prayers further extend to those vile and unconscionable commenters here that you never personally reap the crass malice you so easily spew.

    EHeavenlyGads (f29174)

  77. So when Tony Snow was diagnosed with cancer, someone on Daily Kos had a diary up that was titled, “I don’t care about Tony Snow.” I wrote one in response, which suggested that there’s a big difference between actually not caring and keeping your mouth shut, and not caring and announcing before a public forum: “Hey everybody! That guy who just got cancer? F*** him!”

    One of these options actually shows a bit of class. The other option…not so much.

    Just another reminder that there there are decent and indecent folks on both sides. Politics really causes some people to lose their hearts, if not their minds.

    Tom (edbd3f)

  78. My last word…
    I can never forgive him for what he did to Robert Bork, personally, and to the Senate as an institution in those hearings.
    For our transgressions, we all shall have to answer.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  79. The thing I can’t get over – there are people who put on their phony smiley face to comment on the internet, per Jim Armstrong’s comment.

    If the internet isn’t the place to hang out your freak flag proudly and give full voice to your fury and bile without reservation, then where would that place be?

    Just because the last and worst of the Kennedy clan is soon to leave the planet, it’s not reason to suddenly put up a false front and affect bereavement.

    Sure tap dancing on his grave would be distasteful, but I’m not going to put on a hair shirt and cry crocodile tears to suit your sensitivities.

    People have never done this for me in my life.

    The fact is Ted Kennedy has passed judgement and punished millions of people during his lifetime without batting an eyelash. People who had done him no wrong.

    So he’s going to die. Boo hoo.

    papertiger (0b0c9a)

  80. I’m sorry you lack the human decency to see that we aren’t affecting a false front of bereavement…

    Where this my blog (perish the thought) each of you class-less jack-asses would be banned.

    Your kind darken this place with your asshattery…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  81. Let me just remind you all of something:

    Regardless of how you feel about Senator Kennedy, keep in mind that when he passes, a wife will lose her husband, his children will lose their father, his grand children and great grand children will lose a grand father and great grand father, his neices and nephews and grand neices and grand nephews will lose and uncle and grand uncle. His friends will lose someone they care and respect.

    You want to be utter jack-asses, fine.

    But unless you can tell me that you could and would look one of his grand kids or great grand kids in the eye and say what you have said here about someone they only know as a beloved relative…

    (pardon me, Patrick, for the word I’m about to use)

    Then shut the fuck up…

    Scott Jacobs (fa5e57)

  82. My grandfather was diagnosed with a brain cancer in 1973. He was bedridden and barely functional *for eight years* until he passed in 1981.

    I would not wish that experience on anyone.

    aphrael (e0cdc9)

  83. I never ascribed motive or emotional content to your comments, Scott.

    That’s your job. But I do note that the very same people who chide me for my honest assessment of Ted, are also quick to judge.

    Pull the beam from your own eye, hypocrit.

    papertiger (830204)

  84. But I do note that the very same people who chide me for my honest assessment of Ted, are also quick to judge.

    The point is that, just like the W.F. Buckley thread, this is not the time for that “honest assessment”. Especially when the host has requested it specifically and repeatedly. If someone wants to trash Ted Kennedy, they should do it on their own blog. Kicking someone who has just been mugged is pretty low.

    I had a brain tumor which was benign and removed. That was bad enough. Have the decency (if not the dignity) to hold your tongue at least.

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  85. Nobody has died. Ted might pull through and live to be 100 just like you have Stashiu (and I am very glad to hear of your recovery).

    So seeing as nobody has died, and no family members are in mourning, why should I hold my tongue?

    papertiger (830204)

  86. 1. Your host asked for temperance.

    2. Comments here may reflect on him as much as yourself. If you don’t care how you’re perceived, that’s fine. Speak your piece… at your own site.

    3. Your assessment is off-topic for the thread.

    4. Don’t assume family members are not mourning. When I was diagnosed, it hit everyone hard… in some ways, my family more than me. I knew what my prognosis was.

    5. Do I really sound like I’ve hit 100? Daaaannnngg!! 😉

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  87. As I said on the Buckley thread, there is plenty of time and internet space to criticize the policies, character, or personal hygiene… whatever hacks you off about him or anybody else. We’ve been asked to refrain from anything like that here and wait for the appropriate forum.

    That’s reason #223,756 why I’ll never be one of the biggies in the blogosphere. If someone directly ignored me and posted comments that were inappropriate, they’d be banned… immediately, no appeal. I don’t have the tolerance our host does.

    Stashiu3 (460dc1)

  88. Nobody has died. Ted might pull through and live to be 100

    Baring a litteral Act of God, no. He won’t.

    Did you miss the part about “inopperable”, “no other treatment” and “Malignant”?

    It’s a death sentence, and not a pleasant one.

    So act human, asshole, or kindly fuck right the hell off…

    Scott Jacobs (d3a6ec)

  89. I suspect he’s a Palestinian, Scott.

    nk (d7f5f5)

  90. You know what’s funny? The local paper, which is totally a Dem sheet, and has comments enabled for all stories online, buried the Ted Kennedy cancer story in the wire section. The wire is a temporary feed that cycles through stories that the paper doesn’t want to print and leave a permanent record of.

    Guess they made a prognosis of the sympathetic feelings that Edward Kennedy would engender, and took the better part of valor.

    I wonder if that is a general reaction in the papers across the nation?

    papertiger (7b38bb)

  91. There was a tear welling up for second, but then I read Scott’s last comment. Now I feel much better.
    Wheew.
    Yep had a genuine wave of grief crashing over me, but you slapped me back to reality.
    And I thank you so much Scott, and Stash.
    I’m well over Ted’s misfortunes now.
    Toodles.

    papertiger (7b38bb)

  92. “Robert Bork’s America is a land in which women would be forced into back-alley abortions, blacks would sit at segregated lunch counters, rogue police could break down citizens’ doors in midnight raids, schoolchildren could not be taught about evolution, writers and artists could be censored at the whim of the Government, and the doors of the Federal courts would be shut on the fingers of millions of citizens for whom the judiciary is — and is often the only — protector of the individual rights that are the heart of our democracy….”

    When was it that America became so coarse? Who could have been the author of the new moral tone, where enuendo and lies mouthed in public forum with the blessings of immunity, became acceptable tools to smash your political rivals?

    papertiger (0b0c9a)

  93. If the internet isn’t the place to hang out your freak flag proudly and give full voice to your fury and bile without reservation, then where would that place be?

    Patterico’s site is not the place for that. You can tell by the way he said so and how his name at the top of each page. But the internet is a big place. You can even stake out your own part of it and say whatever you like there, for free. Hang your freak flag at your house. Dump your fury and your bile there. This is Pat’s and a guest with any class would behave in accordance with the wishes of the host.

    Pablo (99243e)

  94. Pablo

    I wasn’t impolite. Jim Anmstrong claimed that he is only getting to know the true core of people by their comments regarding this topic.
    It seems odd to me, that here we are virtual strangers, never to meet face to face, and yet he thinks faceless strangers are wearing masks.
    As you can see by the above, two or three comments my bile and fury have limitations. Walking around angry all the time leaves a bitter taste.
    I believe that I have walked within the lines of Patterico’s directions. To wit: You don’t have to express sympathy, but you should show a little class.
    I did better actually, because I didn’t return insult for insult with the morality squad.

    papertiger (b68e46)

  95. I have no sympathy for any murderer.

    gene (d876b7)

  96. I don’t like the guy’s politics or some of the things he got away with either. Now is not the time to talk about that. Period.

    Perhaps you missed that, papertiger. Though I don’t see how.

    Pablo (99243e)

  97. #96
    Do you think that sympathy for his illness should translate into carte blanche approval for his desire to have his current wife appointed to the senate?
    I have to wonder what that family ever did legally or positively to warrant all the political power they attained. But then I wonder also what made Hillary or Obama worthy of senate seats too.
    What would history have wrought had Nixon been President eight years earlier vis a vis Vietnam, the Cold war, etc.? Or the Goracle on 911? Perhaps no Jimmy Carter in the interim to surrender to Islamofascism or perhaps something worse? Now forty eight years later, the Daley machine may have another chance to greatly influence an election. Obama now has patriot George Soros’ money to assist him also. I talk to plenty of Jews here in Wexler’s moonbat district who praise Soros to high heaven. IMHO people like Papa Joe K and Soros should have been hanged for the evils they enabled.

    madmax333 (83c35e)

  98. I stand corrected. Please disregard any direct quote I may have posted from the best of Kennedy compilation – Let us forget this sorry chapter in American history.

    You know that’s how we end up with monthly hagographies of the “camelot” years on the history channel. People getting brow beat by moral cowards who would rather see the media whitewashed version of history then suffer the truth about political scoundrels.

    And yes I am talking about you Pablo.

    papertiger (3b614c)

  99. I hold no brief for Kennedy, papertiger. I will malign him with the best of them. Hell, I’ve got his idiot son for a Congressman, so he will be the gift that keeps on sucking for me. But there are two things keeping me from hammering him on this post. One is that Patterico explicitly asked that commenters not do so. That should be enough. The second is that I’m all too familiar with glioblastoma and I know that Kennedy is on his way to a long, ugly death. He’ll be answering for his actions soon enough, and it won’t be me he’s answering to.

    That’s not saying that the Kennedy legacy is off limits. It isn’t and it shouldn’t be. Here and now is just not the time for it.

    Pablo (99243e)

  100. Do you think that sympathy for his illness should translate into carte blanche approval for his desire to have his current wife appointed to the senate?

    HELL NO! And I fear that Deval Patrick is just dumb enough to do it.

    Why in the world would I think that? Empathy is not brain damage.

    Pablo (99243e)

  101. Today’s news brings word that the MA legislature is considering changing the election law (again) to give back to the Gov. the authority to appoint a successor when a vacancy occurs in a Senate seat – authority they stripped from Mitt Romney when they thought Kerry would be elected Prez.

    Another Drew (8018ee)

  102. #95
    I have no sympathy for any murderer
    Do you have evidence to back your claim or do you just prefer to join the chorus of conspiracy theorists who just want to believe that mischief must be lurking somewhere. what happened between Ted and the mary jo lady was an accident. Unless you have proofs it was not, like being an eye witness to murder. If so, bring it on!

    love2008 (d2a57f)

  103. There was talk of manslaughter charges being brought, but daddy Joe stifled all that with his money and connections. Essentially Mary Jo was left to slowly suffocate to death. Your idol panicked and disappeared for 8 hours so as sober up and to try to persuade an acquaintance to take the rap. Some of other blogs have a kind of war going on with some people also like you saying no one can judge and others even saying that Mary Jp got what she deserved for shacking up with a married man. Many others, who have not partaken of the Mass. Camelot kool-aid think we lucked out as it kept him from WH. Mary Jo could not be reached for comment. And Mr K is well enough to go sailing with his wife.
    more on the story:
    http://fatboy.cc/fatboyscrapbook.htm

    madmax333 (2b0249)

  104. #102
    Your idol
    Madmax, is it possible for you to just make your comments without trying to personalise it and name calling? I am sure you can try. Manslaughter and murder are by no means the same. It is still the same habit of trying to give a dog a bad name to kill it. Just kill the dog!

    love2008 (d2a57f)

  105. This thread should be allowed to expire.

    nk (d7f5f5)

  106. Patrick,
    Life is a lot like a multiple choice test.
    ALWAYS go with your first answer (keep comments off)
    People will ALWAYS disappoint you with their ablities to debase and defame.
    As an Attorney I’m surprised you talked yourself out of it.
    Most of your commentors are decent sorts but there is that 1%….
    Well, better luck next time.

    paul from fl (bacb61)


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