I'm glad threads like this only happen once in a great while.
I am a car nut. I also strongly disagree with the considerable majority of car nuts about most political issues. Finally, car nuts -- being car nuts, not political junkies -- tend to be much better informed about cars than they are about politics.
The result is that car nuts arguing politics is something that threatens to make my brain explode.
So, I request... if you want to argue politics, go visit a politics site. Don't do it here (except maybe on issues that are directly car-related, like CAFE, C4C, or the gas tax). I suppose a thread on Teddy was unavoidable, but I would also humbly ask the powers-that-be to post more articles on cars and fewer on political topics.
Wow... the comments in this article need some cleaning up... It started out better than I espected, and respectful, but some of the comments in here just plain disgust me.
Have some respect for the dead, regardless of your political stance. Some of you have shown your true colors, and serious lack of class. Good job.
@flat_tar:
I was thinking that in tribute, all Olds Delta 88's turned in for Cash 4 Clunkers should hereby be disposed of a la Ted. Preferably with Nancy Pelosi inside one of them.
This comment has nothing to do with cars, it's a matter of political record, and truth in advertising: Though the awful Kopechne incident would have certainly figured into his viability as a candidate, the moment that is credited with tanking his presidential bid is actually far more prosaic: CBS' Roger Mudd asked him why he wanted to be president, and he couldn't answer.
Can we now stop hearing about Mary Jo Kopechne every time Massachusetts politics is discussed?
I have friends, who weren't even born when this accident happened, who can't stop talking about it. I know it was a tragic event that Ted Kennedy didn't handle well, but stop listening to talk radio and get some ideas of your own.
Senator Kennedy dies, and finds himself at the Pearly Gates. He waits patiently in line, and when it’s his turn at the head of the queue, he stashes the liquor bottle he’s been sipping out of under his trenchcoat and goes up to see Saint Peter.
"So! Mr. Kennedy! Or, should I say rather, SENATOR Kennedy! So happy to finally see you here! We’ve been waiting for you for a long time, and frankly, most of us were taking bets on what exactly would finally get you."
"Oh?" Said Ted.
"Yeah, that damn Michael, you know, the Archangel? He had ‘brain cancer’. Lucky sonombitch. Looks like I owe him another pack of Heavenly Strikes. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes! Mr. Kennedy. SENATOR Kennedy! Come right on in!"
"Really?" Said Senator Kennedy. "You…you mean I’m welcome here? In _heaven_?"
"Sure, you betcha!" Said Saint Peter. "All you have to do is go right over there- see that Oldsmobile parked there, right next to the lake of Fire and Brimstone? There’s a young woman sitting in the driver’s seat- she’ll take you right over the bridge, over the lake, and into Heaven. Just watch her though- I think she’s been drinking."
The Senator thought, "This seems awfully familiar…"
@Unregular: Last time I read the Constitution, there is this thing called the 1st Amendment which, among other things, guarantees freedom of speech. You, Unregular, by denying someone their freedom of speech -- whether you agree with what they say or not -- by calling them Un-American -- are the one being Un-American.
We get it. You worshipped the guy, as many did. However, you have to understand that there is more than just your opinion in the world of political discourse.
Those of us who do not like Ted Kennedy have our reasons. Most, if not all, of these reasons are based in fact. You may choose to ignore the fact that Senator Kennedy was guilty of at least manslaughter or negligent homicide in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. You may choose to ignore the fact that he was one of the more liberal Senators, and that most of this country does not identify with the far left ideology. You may choose to ignore the fact that he made a career of being a Senator. Not a statesman, or a person who gives up their career to serve their country for a short time, but a career politician who had no other skill than being able to shake the right hands and kiss the right babies. You may choose to ignore the fact that he was a drunk, made statements that were very anti-Protestant during the troubles in Ireland, a womanizer and an abuser of his power and name.
You don't have to agree with me, and you can choose to ignore these parts of Kennedy's life. However we both do a disservice to the man and this country if we only focus on one facet of a person's life.
I ask you, Unregular, that you refrain from tearing down commenters who disagree with you or your view of Kennedy and respect everyone's right to their opinion and their right to express their opinion. I think Senator Kennedy would ask you do the same.
@engineerd: I really don't know why "unregular" gave his self that name. He is in fact a mainstream liberal who seems to quote the party line. I have also noticed that, like many liberals that I’ve run across with the exception of a few of the more open-minded ones, he has a negative spirit about him and seems generally unhappy, which is rather characteristic for the average lib. I propose that he change his name to "typical".
@engineerd: i said he was "no American" for saying Kennedy wasn't a statesman, calling him a leech and rubbish. i never said for him to shut up or in ANY way even came close to saying he had no right to say whatever he wanted.
so you tell me - get this - that I can't SAY that or tear down other commenters BECAUSE - get this here - they have the right to say whatever they want under the 1st amendment!
but, clearly, i don't! the double standard is the STRONGEST in you - it eminates off you like stink off a rotten fish.
@Flathead Smith: FYI buddy, the "negative spirit" is pretty much true for both sides. You get people like that from both sides, it's unfair to call one group more negative than another, especially with politics because everyone's a bastard there. Also, "Mainstream Liberal" is an oxymoron since Liberal is used to describe someone to the left; "Mainstream Conservative" would be just as much an oxymoron. God, I hate politics on this site, I hate even more that I can't help myself.
Flathead Smith promoted this comment
Edited by Godzilla, Now sans warranty-voiding launch control! at 08/26/09 6:11 PM
Godzilla, Now sans warranty-voiding launch control! was starred
Godzilla, Now sans warranty-voiding launch control! was unstarred
@Flathead Smith: Yeah, but I'd like to keep my appreciation of cars with fellow enthusiasts free of unecessary political banter. I for one am very politically active, though I do not believe Jalopnik, home of entertaining, witty comments needs to have political arguments (They aren't civil enough to be called discussions).
08/26/09
I am a car nut. I also strongly disagree with the considerable majority of car nuts about most political issues. Finally, car nuts -- being car nuts, not political junkies -- tend to be much better informed about cars than they are about politics.
The result is that car nuts arguing politics is something that threatens to make my brain explode.
So, I request... if you want to argue politics, go visit a politics site. Don't do it here (except maybe on issues that are directly car-related, like CAFE, C4C, or the gas tax). I suppose a thread on Teddy was unavoidable, but I would also humbly ask the powers-that-be to post more articles on cars and fewer on political topics.
08/26/09
08/26/09
In honor of the death of this murderer, here is a graphic representation of the license plate on the murder weapon.
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
Just let it be, don't contribute any further trollish comments, and by tomorrow, we'll have forgotten all about this post.
08/26/09
And whoever wrote that VW add should be fired. Or better yet, hire Jezza.
08/26/09
08/26/09
Have some respect for the dead, regardless of your political stance. Some of you have shown your true colors, and serious lack of class. Good job.
08/26/09
with Nancy Pelosi.
08/26/09
I was thinking that in tribute, all Olds Delta 88's turned in for Cash 4 Clunkers should hereby be disposed of a la Ted. Preferably with Nancy Pelosi inside one of them.
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
See here: [en.wikipedia.org]
08/26/09
They have VERY similar names.
08/26/09
08/26/09
*whispers*
Edward Kennedy
08/26/09
I have friends, who weren't even born when this accident happened, who can't stop talking about it. I know it was a tragic event that Ted Kennedy didn't handle well, but stop listening to talk radio and get some ideas of your own.
08/26/09
"So! Mr. Kennedy! Or, should I say rather, SENATOR Kennedy! So happy to finally see you here! We’ve been waiting for you for a long time, and frankly, most of us were taking bets on what exactly would finally get you."
"Oh?" Said Ted.
"Yeah, that damn Michael, you know, the Archangel? He had ‘brain cancer’. Lucky sonombitch. Looks like I owe him another pack of Heavenly Strikes. Anyway, where were we? Oh yes! Mr. Kennedy. SENATOR Kennedy! Come right on in!"
"Really?" Said Senator Kennedy. "You…you mean I’m welcome here? In _heaven_?"
"Sure, you betcha!" Said Saint Peter. "All you have to do is go right over there- see that Oldsmobile parked there, right next to the lake of Fire and Brimstone? There’s a young woman sitting in the driver’s seat- she’ll take you right over the bridge, over the lake, and into Heaven. Just watch her though- I think she’s been drinking."
The Senator thought, "This seems awfully familiar…"
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
We get it. You worshipped the guy, as many did. However, you have to understand that there is more than just your opinion in the world of political discourse.
Those of us who do not like Ted Kennedy have our reasons. Most, if not all, of these reasons are based in fact. You may choose to ignore the fact that Senator Kennedy was guilty of at least manslaughter or negligent homicide in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. You may choose to ignore the fact that he was one of the more liberal Senators, and that most of this country does not identify with the far left ideology. You may choose to ignore the fact that he made a career of being a Senator. Not a statesman, or a person who gives up their career to serve their country for a short time, but a career politician who had no other skill than being able to shake the right hands and kiss the right babies. You may choose to ignore the fact that he was a drunk, made statements that were very anti-Protestant during the troubles in Ireland, a womanizer and an abuser of his power and name.
You don't have to agree with me, and you can choose to ignore these parts of Kennedy's life. However we both do a disservice to the man and this country if we only focus on one facet of a person's life.
I ask you, Unregular, that you refrain from tearing down commenters who disagree with you or your view of Kennedy and respect everyone's right to their opinion and their right to express their opinion. I think Senator Kennedy would ask you do the same.
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
so you tell me - get this - that I can't SAY that or tear down other commenters BECAUSE - get this here - they have the right to say whatever they want under the 1st amendment!
but, clearly, i don't! the double standard is the STRONGEST in you - it eminates off you like stink off a rotten fish.
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09
08/26/09