Thursday, August 27, 2009

Doug Drenkow: Remembering Ted Kennedy

by Guest Author, Doug Drenkow

Love him or loathe him, Sen. Edward M. "Ted" Kennedy was an undeniably great public figure. But his greatness did not spring from who he was -- the surviving one of four, larger-than-life brothers of a powerful American family -- but from what he did -- champion the rights of all Americans, including those not born to such wealth and privilege.

Ted Kennedy was not African American, Hispanic American, Native American, or Asian American. But he championed the Voting Rights and Fair Housing laws, immigration laws, and other legislation advancing civil rights, what he called "the still unfinished business of America."

Ted Kennedy was never a person of color in South Africa. But he championed the fight against Apartheid.

Ted Kennedy was not gay or lesbian. But he championed legislation protecting the rights of homosexual Americans and funding AIDS research.

Ted Kennedy was not a girl or a woman. But he championed women's reproductive rights, health and nutrition programs for pregnant women and infants, and Title IX.

Ted Kennedy was not born into nor did he die in poverty. But he championed the minimum wage, Meals on Wheels, and countless other programs helping those far less advantaged than he.

Ted Kennedy was never a working class laborer or even a middle class wage earner. But he championed the Family Leave Act, OSHA, and the rights of labor unions.

Ted Kennedy was never denied a good education. But he championed No Child Left Behind (which President Bush failed to fund as promised) and higher education for all.

Ted Kennedy was never a serviceman in harm's way. But he came to champion the fight against the Vietnam Conflict, which he called "a monstrous outrage"; he pushed to abolish the draft and give 18-year-olds the right to vote; and he voted against the 2002 authorization for Bush to take us to war in Iraq, which he called "the best vote I've made in my 44 years in the United States Senate."

Ted Kennedy was never a victim of gun violence, like his brothers John and Bobby. But he championed gun control legislation.

Ted Kennedy was never mentally disabled, like his sister Rosemary, or until the end afflicted with cancer, like his son Edward Jr., who lost a leg. But he championed the Americans with Disabilities Act.

And as we saw towards the end, Ted Kennedy was never denied any medical care he needed. But for four decades, he championed community health care centers, cancer research, health insurance portability, the Mental Health Parity Act, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other legislation that might lead to universal health care for all Americans, which he called "the cause of my life."

Let health care reform and all the other "progressive" -- intelligent, compassionate, and just -- causes that Sen. Kennedy devoted his legislative life to be our causes as well. What Sen. Kennedy said in his famous 1980 concession speech about the conclusion of his presidential aspirations can be said now, about the close of his life: "For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end. For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."

--Doug Drenkow


Addendum: The death of Ted Kennedy seems doubly tragic in itself and for the losses it reminds, needless, tragic losses made so by the evidence that has 'trickled down' through the years that the jihad waged against the Kennedy family on behalf of the increasingly rabid and irrational right wing was perpetrated by the CIA for a panoply of stupid, ruthless and often irrational motives. Most recently the BBC reported the CIAs involvement in the murder of Robert Kennedy.
The CIA had no domestic jurisdiction and some of the officers were based in South-East Asia at the time, with no reason to be in Los Angeles.

Kennedy had just won the California Democratic primary on an anti-War ticket and was set to challenge Nixon for the White House when he was shot in a kitchen pantry.

A 24-year-old Palestinian, Sirhan Sirhan, was arrested as the lone assassin and notebooks at his house seemed to incriminate him.

However, even under hypnosis, he has never been able to remember the shooting and defence psychiatrists concluded he was in a trance at the time.

Witnesses placed Sirhan's gun several feet in front of Kennedy but the autopsy showed the fatal shot came from one inch behind.

--CIA role in Kennedy killing
It is not surprising that the CIA would be implicated in the murder of RFK. It is tragic that the same scrutiny was not forthcoming sooner --when it might have done some good. It is tragic that the murder of JFK was not likewise scrutinized. It is tragic that the investigation of RFK's murder was left in the hands of an incompetent Los Angeles Police Department about which there is no adjective to describe the utter incompetence given this case. Earlier there was no adjective to describe the criminal neglect given the murder of JFK in Dallas!

The world's number one terrorist organization, the CIA has committed heinous acts of terrorism abroad, murdering critics of US foreign and domestic policies and has done it on behalf of an increasingly tiny, privileged American elite. This tiny elite of some one percent owns more than the combined wealth of 95% of the entire population. [See: the L-Curve] On behalf of this tiny, privileged base, the CIA has placed itself above law and supervision. The CIA's war on the world has claimed an estimated 12 million to 20 million victims, far more than the best estimates attributed to Adolph Hitler's 'Holocaust' of World War II. --The Existentialist Cowboy


Evidence That the CIA Murdered Bobby Kennedy


Tributes to Ted Kennedy

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8 comments:

Tom Degan said...

It has been said too many times that he never lived up to his potential, that he will forever be overshadowed by his two brothers. I disagree. Given the limited time that fate would allow them, their legacies are decidedly eclipsed by their little brother's. As John Meacham said this morning on the Morning Joe program, "He certainly belongs in the company of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster." As legislators, Jack and Bobby aren't even in Teddy's league. It's not even close.

So many "red state Americans" who regarded him with suspicion if not outright hatred, will probably never even realize how much they owe Senator Kennedy. It's kind of sad that a lot of the people Kennedy worked the hardest for despised him with a passion born of decades of anti-Kennedy propaganda. Nothing was handier for a Republican running in a conservative district than the image of Bogeyman Ted in a campaign ad. It usually worked.

TEDDY KENNEDY'S GONNA GET'CHA IF YA DON'T WATCH OUT!

I wonder how these people would react if tomorrow - just for a day, mind you - every law Teddy Kennedy is responsible for were made null and void. Call it a hunch but I have a strong feeling that more people than you might suspect are going to miss him now that he's gone.

Teddy, they hardly knew ye!

We're a better country because for seventy-seven years Teddy Kennedy walked amongst us. His impact on the country he loved so much will be felt for generations. The loss his passing means to progressive politics in the United States is incalculable. We need him at this moment in history more than we ever needed him before. It's so unspeakably sad. He's gone and he's not coming back. Now he belongs to the ages.

In the good old Irish Catholic tradition, tonight I'll be drinking a toast or two (or twelve) to you, Ted. Sleep well and thanks.

http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY

Cirze said...

Thank you so much for commenting on this aspect of our national tragedy.

Russ Baker's book on the Bush Family of Secrets describes an immense amount about the CIA connections of that family and how JFK's assassination investigation was so compromised by this presence.

I remember how RFK's assassination seemed so easily dissected at the time to be so purposely ignored by the media.

Our introduction to the media's true ownership.

Thanks to you again,

S

SadButTrue said...

If history ever gets around to the real truth Allen Dulles' name will eclipse that of Benedict Arnold many times over -- for his involvement with Nazis (Operation Paperclip) for his role in the Bay of Pigs fiasco, for the coup against Jacobo Arbenz in Guatemala, for helping install the Shah of Iran -- but mostly for his central role in the JFK assassination. He was a traitor seemingly every waking moment of hsi life, and his treachery tore the heart out of America.

Allen Dulles Connections

Dulles, who should have been suspect #1, served on the Warren Commission. He managed to distract everybody into examining a pristine "magic bullet" that couldn't possibly have done what it was said to have done.

Unknown said...

Tom Degan sez ...

Given the limited time that fate would allow them, their legacies are decidedly eclipsed by their little brother's. As John Meacham said this morning on the Morning Joe program, "He certainly belongs in the company of Henry Clay and Daniel Webster." As legislators, Jack and Bobby aren't even in Teddy's league. It's not even close.

That's a helluva point and thanks for posting it. An era has come to a end. And given the power that has accrued an IRRESPONSIBLE MSM, a RABID GOP and the COROPORATE ROBBER BARONS to whom both are responsible, we are sorely fucked!

Suzan sez ...

Russ Baker's book on the Bush Family of Secrets describes an immense amount about the CIA connections of that family and how JFK's assassination investigation was so compromised by this presence.

I haven't read that book yet. I am convinced that the JFK murder was a CIA operation. The official theory recognizes just three shots, but --at least --four were fired that day.

The FATAL shot came from the front, the grassy knoll and upon striking JFK in the right forehead, drove his head back and to his left. Pix of the so-called 'magic bullet' can be seen at the National Atchives. The 'magic bullet' had never been fired.

The Origins of US Illegitimacy: Fatal Flaws that Sink the Warren Commission


Secondly, CE-399 ['magic bullet'] was found on a gurney in Parkland Hospital. There is NO EVIDENCE that even places it at the scene of the crime, let alone killing JFK. Zapruder, whose film is famous, described a shot coming from just over his right shoulder. The grassy knoll.

You might want to check out my article: Why Lee Harvey Oswald Had to Die! and Three Reasons JFK was Murdered.

A fourth 'motive' to murder JFK was his promise to expose 'secret societies' --SKULL AND BONES? the CIA itself?

Since writing that, I have found a fourth compelling motive! It doesn't look good for the CIA.

SadButTrue sez...

Dulles, who should have been suspect #1, served on the Warren Commission. He managed to distract everybody into examining a pristine "magic bullet" that couldn't possibly have done what it was said to have done.

Sad but true, indeed! I doubt CE-399 had ever been fired. [The Origins of US Illegitimacy: Fatal Flaws that Sink the Warren Commission
] Another reason Oswald HAD to die. Had he gone to trial, CE-399 would not have been admitted into evidence, assuming a competent judge! CE-399 --found on John Connally's gurney at Parkland Hospital --had no verifiable 'bona fides', no traceable history that places it at the scene of the crime. Oswald would have walked and lived to tell very interesting tales about the CIA.

Anonymous said...

I am somewhat PO'd at Teddy for being manipulated (his toxic shame) in the immigration issue which has caused an awful mess. But, with the FREE TRADE agreements, just where in the hell are the poor people going to go and earn a living!

The most heinous crime, in my opinion, was and is JOHN KENNEDY JR.

It is obvious the families who warred in the U.S. against each other were the Kennedy | Bush clans.

Who won? Well certainly not the Irish Catholic clan by any stretch of the imagination.

What is the Bush CULT secret to success? Henry Makow has all the goods on how the Zionists rule with the most evil families on earth (CIA, Mossad, etc.) and the 17th Century model of beasts of burden to serve the evildoers is the order forever and ever.

My father was CIA and my brother was writing about this entity and its masters when his ship was downed on our father's birthday (09/10), in the Bering Sea, 1986. His manuscript was lost, and it was a study in the languages of Chinese, Russian, German, Vietnamese, Thai, and more ....

... about what a true picture looks like behind the mask of the CIA.

Biloxi

Unknown said...

Biloxi sez...

What is the Bush CULT secret to success? Henry Makow has all the goods on how the Zionists rule with the most evil families on earth (CIA, Mossad, etc.) and the 17th Century model of beasts of burden to serve the evildoers is the order forever and ever.

My father was CIA and my brother was writing about this entity and its masters when his ship was downed on our father's birthday (09/10), in the Bering Sea, 1986


Thanks for the insight.

I have in mind a very short 'history' of CIA dirty tricks with a focus on the very domestic crimes which was supposed to have been off limits to them.

The CIA was all but completely autonomous long before the murder of JFK.

Anonymous said...

Hi Len,

"... In March, 1992, Illinois Representative Paul Findley said in The Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, "It is interesting - but not surprising - to note that in all the words written and uttered about the Kennedy assassination, Israel's intelligence agency, the Mossad, has never been mentioned."

Considering that the Mossad is quite possibly the most ruthless and efficient intelligence agency in the world, it is peculiar that they have never been scrutinized in relation to the Kennedy assassination, especially when practically every other entity in the world (short of Elvis impersonators) has been implicated. But that all changed in January, 1994 with the release of Michael Collins Piper's Final Judgment. In this book, Piper says, "Israel's Mossad was a primary (and critical) behind the scenes player in the conspiracy that ended the life of JFK. ....

http://www.john-f-kennedy.net/mossadandtheassassination.htm

My brother understood all the darkest corners of this operation.

Best, Bilxoi

Anonymous said...

http://fofoa.blogspot.com/

BE PREPARED, Len, et al.

Because there are no free lunches for any of us big mouths.

Biloxi