Senator Edward Kennedy, like the late Senator Jesse Helms, represented an extreme where I seldom resided. Both took stands based more upon philosophical extremes than on the real problems where government had a valid role to play. Each was the others greatest fundraiser.
Yet, Senator Kennedy left the Senate much more admired by his fellow senators on both sides of the aisle. He was seen by the right as someone they could make a deal with when all of the grandstanding was left behind. Senator Helms earned his label as Senator No even with his fellow senators.
You may notice in my writing that I am much harder on people who are closer to me. I generally give distant figures a break. Jesse was from the same county that I was from. I had reason to expect a lot more of him than I expected of Teddy. Teddy was not of my world and I pretty much ignored him.
I will not give Senator Kennedy credibility based on the family. He had to earn his own and the country seems pretty well divided on how well he did that. I am not going to change anyone's mind, either way, so why try.
We can construct a health care system that costs less, gives good care to all, and still has enough profit motivation to keep innovation going. Senator Kennedy was as much a foe of such a system as was Jesse Helms. Senator Kennedy completely denied the ability of the market to play a role and Senator Helms callously and inhumanly gave marketplace total say in all health care.
Yes, the death of Senator Kennedy allows the natural liberal tendencies of the media to have a field day playing up the life of the man and visiting the whole family's public lives. Some things are a given. I may have to either watch Fox or turn off the TV for a few days.
You guessed it, the TV goes until Monday.
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