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May 20, 2008Kennedy, Obama & Palin; Hillary’s screams - UPDATEDMy L’il Bro Thom sent me the word on Ted Kennedy’s brain tumor which appears to be malignant. Obviously this is news that brings up a great many feelings for those of us who lived through the whole Kennedy mythology of Camelot through the 1960’s. My first thought was “I feel badly for Caroline; when Ted goes it is the last real connection to her mother and father. I don’t get the sense that she is close to her cousins.” We all sort of feel like we own a piece of the Kennedy’s don’t we? I “grew up” with Caroline and envied her her handsome father, but not all that followed his murder. I feel badly for Ted’s kids, too. It is never easy to go through this sort of thing, particularly with a parent. It’s never easy but it is sometimes a terrible beauty. Here is what we can expect of the media saturation tonight on broadcast tv: everyone will open with the Kennedy illness story, then quick reports on brain tumors, and what makes them malignant or benign, operable or inoperable - there will be man-on-the-street commentary edited for the ‘Democrats deeply moved, Republicans deeply nasty‘ narrative. Each broadcast will likely close with some sort of Kennedy timeline focusing on either the whole family or Ted’s life. Probably Ted’s life.
Take it to the bank - just as President Bush’s speech to Knesset in Israel last week became “all about Obama,” Ted Kennedy’s illness will become “all about Obama” very quickly. Bad news, of course, for Hillary - who will not enjoy seeing the re-emergent file photo of her snubbing Obama and Kennedy on the floor of the House, at the last January’s SOTU address. And speaking of bad news for Hillary, over at CQ Politics, they’re down to the final round of the veep sweepstakes, and it comes down to - are you ready? Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin, and right now Huckabee leads the votes. This is surprising (and unwelcome) news to those of us who thought that Huckabee had managed to mouth his way out of contention last week, and it is also rather bad news for the GOP, since it demonstrates - as resoundingly as an internet poll can - that folks are uninspired by the current crop of Republicans and are looking to the young ‘uns, like Bobby Jindal and Michael Steele, to save the day - sometime in the near future.
Hillary’s screams will be heard around the world; they will set off eruptions at Mt. Etna and rattle California into the Pacific Ocean. Volcano and earthquack aside, that little daydream puts a Walter Mitty-esque smile on my face and helps me get through the day, while reading about things like what can and cannot be served at the Democrat convention in Denver. Sad when you can’t get a piece of fried chicken because of the bureaucrats. Welcome to America. ***UPDATE***Thom writes that my prediction came true within minutes of my posting it: Unsurprisingly, it was the easily-moved and sentimental Chris Matthews who handed the revived Camelot to Obama via Ted. Sometimes I scare myself. But it’s not that I’m so smart; it’s that these people are so pathetically predictable. WELCOME readers - while you’re here, please look around; today we’re also discussing Barack Obama’s 34 word manifesto, and what the NY Times really wanted to say, last Sunday. And if you haven’t read it, I’ve got the full text of Bush’s speech to the Knesset. http://theanchoressonline.com/2008/05/20/kennedy-obama-hillarys-screams/trackback/ 29 Responses to “Kennedy, Obama & Palin; Hillary’s screams - UPDATED” |
May 20th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
So I’m not the only one in a slightly malicious mood today?
I have enormous empathy and sympathy for the extended Kennedy family and the burdens that will be theirs throughout this struggle which is unlikely to end well, at least from the Senator’s point of view. A dear friend’s husband was diagnosed with the same illness several months ago and the burden on her and her entire family has been gigantic. However, I simply cannot muster an enormous amount of caring about Senator Kennedy’s fate and I know that’s horrible of me, but I just cannot stop thinking about the lives that have been damaged beyond repair (his former wife Joan for example), or lost entirely (Mary Jo Kopechne) because of this man and I cannot be a hypocrite and wish him well.
May 20th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
No carrots, oranges, mangoes… they aren’t red, white, blue/purple, yellow, or green…
May 20th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
[...] The Anchoress - Kennedy, Obama & Palin; Hillary’s screams [...]
May 20th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
A Bridge Too Far
He’s survived the Rich Playboy Disease that took so many others before their time, so I wouldn’t count the old buffoon out just yet. The Anchoress; “My prediction: Someone - probably Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews - will go completely…
May 20th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
I will make a point of praying for the Kennedy’s tonight.
My Mom just got diagnosed with Mantle Cell Lymphoma today, so though I disagree with this guy’s politics (and have written him about it) I certainly appreciate what he and his family are going through. Even before this I wouldn’t have wished it on anyone.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Of the two predictions - ‘Democrats deeply moved, Republicans deeply nasty‘ - I fully expect the first to come to pass. If the second did, I would be very surprised. There may be a few extremists, like Michael Savage, but nowhere near a majority.
I do remember a few times when a Conservative died, and there was dancing in the liberal street.
One medical site says that the median survival time for high-grade glioma is 1 to 3 years. I don’t think there’s any doubt he’ll have to step down as Senator.
He’s the last, and least, of the Kennedys.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
“…for those of us who lived through the whole Kennedy mythology of Camelot..” How about feelings for those of us who have had to live through cancer. As a baby boomer conservative, I couldn’t care less about Camelot. My prayers however are with the family, unless you’ve been there you have NO idea what they’re going through.
May 20th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
[...] Update: Kennedy, Obama & Palin; Hillary’s screams - UPDATED [...]
May 20th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Ted Kennedy Diagnosed with a Malignant Brain Tumor
The news is breaking as we speak that the seizure that sent Senator Ted Kennedy to the hospital recently was caused by a malignant brain tumor. Such tumors are frequently untreatable and fatal. Even if they are not, the treatment is very, very hard on …
May 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
ZZ Mike, you must have missed my update.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
I wasn’t alive during the time of “Camelot”, nor do I have any experience in relation to cancer whatsoever - and I hope neither my family nor I never have to experience it.
Apart from that, I hope Ted Kennedy’s body responds well to any kind of treatment. If not, hopefully he will spend his last days in the company of his family. Of course, a self-examination and preparation for the next life will be in order for him.
I do agree in one thing: this is the end of his political career. If he’s wise enough at this point, he will step down and have MA pick up a successor. It’s a “safe seat” for the Democrats anyway, so they don’t really have to sweat it.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
As for Gov. Palin: forget it. She just had a baby. And then go on a VP ticket? She’s going to exhaust herself!
I say McCain should pick Lieberman. That would really make him a “Maverick”!
May 20th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
Sarah Palin’s baby has Down Syndrome…while she would certainly be exhausted (would she? Do veeps work as hard as Governors?) it would be a very strong pro-life statement to have a veep with a DS child in an era where they’re almost being wiped out by abortion.
May 20th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
[...] I would have loved for The Anchoress to be wrong. Her prediction: Someone - probably Keith Olbermann or Chris Matthews - will go completely over the [...]
May 20th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I had a friend who died with a brain tumor. It was terrible. I would not wish this on anyone.
I will probably miss the news tonight however, because I am not up to the media show.
As for VP, it is too soon to know. McCain has a lot of time to think about it and I am not sure that Huckabee is really even on that list. But Palin would be interesting.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Talk of Camelot raises a related thought.
If he was alive today, John F. Kennedy would be too conservative to win the Republican primary. The Democrat candidacy would be unthinkable.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Having a few years on you, Dear Anchoress, I remember quite well the Camelot years. Unfortunately, I also remember the assassinations of JFK, RFK, MLK, Malcolm X, and the Nazi sympathizer who had Lincoln as part of his name.
I remember vividly the funeral of President Kennedy and watching his children on the steps of the church as John-John saluted his father on his own birthday. Just three years old.
I remember Bobby being the surrogate father to Caroline and John, only to be killed himself five years later.
Now John Jr. and Jackie are gone and Caroline is the only survivor of that branch of the family. Ted Kennedy has been the surrogate father since Bobby died. This is going to hurt her to the bone.
I do believe she has a close relationship with Maria Schriver though. She still has a couple of aunts, though probably not in good health since they are all older than Ted.
In a way, when Ted goes, so does my youth.
From what I read on Fox News a doctor with expertise in this field says they usually try surgery to get as much out as possible so the patient has a better quality of life. If this wasn’t mentioned as a possible treatment (and it wasn’t) it means death could come before a year.
How my heart goes out to that family. So many children are losing their “father” for the second time, and the big family is shrinking.
May he reflect upon his life and make atonement for everything he has done before it’s too late. May God be with Ted and his entire family in the days to come.
May 20th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I don’t know about the “nasty Republicans” meme of media coverage, but ABC News mentions Chappaquiddick. Looks like they went right for the canned obit material.
[Edited to admit link - admin]
May 20th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
An (another) excellent expose of the true (lack of) character of the ‘media’.
I don’t think any of us can predict Gov. Palin’s response to an invitation to be VP. She knew before her baby was born that he has Down Syndrome. The blogs on and by persons with disability were all over this. I’ve been looking for an opening to shine a light on the destruction of babies with DS before birth here.
Here is one story for background, via the NY Times, so consider the source. The author received a Pulitzer for her series on DNA-related pieces.
A first-hand account of experience with the subtle pressure to abort is illustrated at this blog.
Read the comments, too.
[Edited to admit links - admin]
May 20th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
I think picking a female VP candidate would be good way to attract some voters who might have voted Democratic or not at all (assuming Obama gets the nomination).
May 20th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I feel terrible for the family; politics aside this is of course a very personal tragedy. But I dread the upcoming hagiography. It’s going to grate on my last nerve to hear decades of bad policy and personal misbehavior completely turned on its head.
May 20th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Dear Anchoress,
I love your blogs! I love your wit, wisdom, intuition, and grace. Please don’t waste your wonderful gifts ranting so much about Obama…He simply isn’t worth this much of your attention.
May 20th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Predicting the pimping of Ted Kennedy’s illness…
… for purely political reasons:Here is what we can expect of the media saturation tonight on broadcast tv: everyone will open with the Kennedy illness story, then quick reports on brain tumors, and what makes them malignant or benign, operable
May 20th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
Ok, just to show you how out-of-it I am, when I saw “Palin” I thought “cool! Michael Palin!” But then was confused because he’s British, and can’t be VP.
It’s going to be a long five months until November….
May 21st, 2008 at 12:10 am
I’m no fan of Ted Kennedy but I was saddened to hear the news. Perhaps in the suffering Ted will come to know the truth of his Catholic faith; especially on life issues. How beautiful it will be if before he leaves the Senate, he “reverses” this horrific record, becoming a great witness to God’s Truth and the dignity of every human life. Who knows, it could even sway the election, especially as close as he is to Obama.
Ted will be getting a lot of prayer, and I NEVER bet against prayer. As dreadful as his dx is, God’s mercy can never be outdone, and Ted Kennedy may well leave this world as one of the great defenders of human life. I know I will be praying for such an extraordinary grace! With God, all things are possible, even Ted Kennedy’s finest hour yet to come!
Ted Kennedy on Abortion
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
Voted NO on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Voted NO on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
Voted NO on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Voted NO on banning human cloning. (Feb 1998)
Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Rated 0% by the NRLC, indicating a pro-choice stance. (Dec 2006)
Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)
[edited to admit link - admin]
May 21st, 2008 at 9:12 am
You missed one prediction — we are going to see hand-wringing about how embryonic stem cells just maybe could have been the cure for brain cancer, and so the evil Bushitler and the evil Christianists are murderers and hypocrites when we claim to be pro-life.
May 26th, 2008 at 9:06 am
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May 26th, 2008 at 11:22 am
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May 26th, 2008 at 11:22 am
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