Ted Kennedy Thanked Aznar for Showing Solidarity with U.S. on Iraq
Nice find by Jose Guardia in a Spanish-language article. Jose translates the critical passage for us:
Shortly after the Iraq war started I saw Senator Kennedy in a public session of the U.S. Supreme Court. As we were taking our seats he briefly took my arm and told me he greatly appreciated the attitude of the Spanish government regarding the decision taken by the White House because, he said, “although you know my position ” — he was one of the few senators to oppose the authorization for the war — “I appreciate the solidarity with my country in times like this.” “I would appreciate if you relay this to President Aznar,” he added.
Jose says:
Let me see if I get this straight: if it’s good to show solidarity with the US “in times like this”, why did this only apply to foreigners? Why didn’t he start with himself? I understand the “politics ends at the water edge” principle, but it’s one thing not to criticize, and another to send a clear, precise message like this.
I read the article as saying that Kennedy thought that, once we were in the war, we needed to stay in and win. And so, with that in mind, let us pray:
For the successful conclusion of the Iraq war, as Ted Kennedy, the Lion of the Senate, would have wished, we beseech thee: Lord, hear our prayer.
Amen.
Now I’m really confused. For Teddy did the saying go:
a)When the cameras are on it’s party before country
or
b)When the cameras are on it’s country before party
It sure sounds like a).
daleyrocks (718861) — 8/30/2009 @ 1:10 pmI actually thought the same way you did, but upon further reflection (and considering the source), I have to go with the alternative one. After all, Teddy and Tip O’Neill (the Irish Quisling Twins) did meet with the Soviets in a desperate attempt to undermind Reagan. One of the mostly untold and great betrayals in our country’s history.
Dmac (e6d1c2) — 8/30/2009 @ 1:50 pmI’ll make this as simple as I can, since you don’t seem to understand the way democracy works:
apple (ede69b) — 8/30/2009 @ 1:53 pmWe begin with free debate, even over important issues. But then, ideally, after the choice has been made we come together as a country in solidarity. And on the issue of the war itself, why don’t you offer us all the apology we deserve.
You blew it. Heck of a job Bushie. And you too.
apple, so your point is that you yourself are a hypocrite?
Congrats.
SPQR (26be8b) — 8/30/2009 @ 1:55 pmThis one isn’t proving to have near as useful a corpse as his brothers had. I think it’s cause he was an ugly person. Not just to look at but, you know, inside. His life was a window into one of the trashiest families our little country has ever produced, and I think a lot of people instinctively recoil from that.
happyfeet (6b707a) — 8/30/2009 @ 2:00 pmNot that JFK or RFK would have fared much better if they were forced to endure the modern media machine. They were both killed before the media quit being so friendly towards the pecadillos of politicians. Probably also helps that we no longer get FBI Director-For-Life.
Soronel Haetir (2b4c2b) — 8/30/2009 @ 2:34 pmBut then, ideally, after the choice has been made we come together as a country in solidarity
I see, so the winners of the election are to brook no contrary opinions and dissent – silly me, I thought this was a democracy. Tell us, how did you feel about the protestors chanting “BushHitler” and “No blood for Oil?” I thought they were speaking “twoof to plower?” But now, suddenly, anyone expressing an opinion not to your liking must instead “come together as a country in solidarity?”
Begone, asshat.
Dmac (e6d1c2) — 8/30/2009 @ 2:55 pm“why don’t you offer us all the apology we deserve.”
I’m sorry that lots of Democrats and lefties are out and out traitors and terrorist-lovers.
Given the Democrat Party’s history (e.g. 1860/61) I’m hardly surprised that Dems would turn traitor en masse, but I still find it sorrowful that they would do so.
Dave Surls (45f3ba) — 8/30/2009 @ 3:13 pmHow about the Dems machinations against JFK’s civil rights initiatives a century later (1962)? What of the Klaxon Byrd?
It is stunning to witness the willful ignorance of society. The elite of elites, EMK, is hailed a hero. Never mind his personal record of lies, cheating, and vehicular manslaughter.
Ed from SFV (a8b34c) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:08 pmAmen to that! I find it shallow and hypocritical for the left to conveniently forget that Democrats SCREAMED louder then the Bush Administration on the way to war but in the push to gain political traction turned on our troops and in the process allowed more of them to die while they fiddled in Washington.
Jaded (2dcf17) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:12 pmhappyfeet, you never fail to nail it. I’m becoming a belated but enthusiastic fan.
“…one of the trashiest families our little country has ever produced…” Amen to that.
Peg C. (48175e) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:35 pmapple – I missed the part where we all came together in solidarity behind the decision made by President Bush, because, he won, ya know?
I apologize that your grey matter does not function properly. That must be a horrible burden to bear.
JD (9ad513) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:38 pmI don’t know what Kennedy meant but I like Patterico’s response. In that same vein, let’s pray for liberals to heed Kennedy’s words from a 1983 speech in Lynchburg VA:
By the way, I wanted to link an LA Times article dated 8/26/2009 on famous Kennedy quotes, but this quote was apparently removed. (The quote still shows up in a search of the archives.) I wonder why it was removed?
DRJ (3f5471) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:42 pmDRJ – They prolly removed it because even they could not keep from laughing at Sen. Gin & Tonic’s absurd attempt to sound conciliatory to those that he did not agree with.
JD (9ad513) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:48 pmapple seems to have forgotten that MoveOn.org opposed the operation in Afghanistan … and later tried to cover up their opposition.
SPQR (26be8b) — 8/30/2009 @ 5:52 pmSPQR – He/she/it did not forget. They Left routinely tries to rewrite history right in front of your eyes.
JD (9ad513) — 8/30/2009 @ 6:01 pmJD, yes and its been infuriating me for some time.
SPQR (26be8b) — 8/30/2009 @ 6:03 pmThey were both killed before the media quit being so friendly towards the pecadillos of politicians
Oh please. Don’t you mean Republican politicians. If Chris Dodd, Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid were Republicans they would have been hounded from office by now. And Obama wouldn’t be so full of himself if he were a Republican. He would be facing merciless criticism for his fiscal incompetence.
Terry Gain (f3f8a5) — 8/30/2009 @ 6:16 pm#3 — Comment by apple — 8/30/2009 @ 1:53 pm
…ideally, after the choice has been made we come together as a country in solidarity.
…why don’t you (hypocrites) offer us all (the country and the troops) the apology we deserve?
Pons Asinorum (39c941) — 8/31/2009 @ 1:20 amMore Pons, less asshattery. That is always something good to hope for.
JD (3d1db9) — 8/31/2009 @ 7:05 am