Could somebody please explain Kennedy's comments about Bush I &II?

[JanMichael]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20031108/pl_nm/politics_bush_kennedy_dc_1

"Three generations of Bushes and Kennedys have devoted their lives to public service. The friendship between our families and our respect for each other go back for more than half a century," Kennedy said."

That's just touching. The Plutocracy has respect for each other.:eyes:

"It is a well known political fact of life, particularly here in Texas, that when you want to fire up a Republican crowd and give them a little red meat, nothing works quite like jumping on Ted Kennedy," Bush said, drawing laughter."

Duh?

"I have great respect for both President Bushes. It's been a great privilege to work with both presidents," he said.

:wtf:Respect for the person that's the worse thing to happen to America since, well, hell I can't THINK of anything worse, including Jefferson Davis (IMO dammit!).:wtf:

Can't quite wrap my head around this one, anybody have any explanations? Please????

My advice to Ted? Lay off the Scotch.

[Cha]

1. I'm surprised. When I first heard about this

"award" thing I thought maybe Kennedy wouldn't accept..boy was I dreaming. Not only did he "accept" but he went off the deep end.

[Bozita]

2. Must be the Scotch ... Cheap beer doesn't do that to you.

[Maccagirl]

3. Jack and Bobby are spinning in their graves

I'm speechless. Ted, what were you thinking?

[Cha]

4. I don't know...but now I'm wondering about his

credibilty like I never was before.

[Bozita]

8. you mean like "I'll say anything for an award"

regrettable

[JanMichael]

9. What disturbs me is that Ted is a Liberal Dem standard bearer.

It's just, well, appalling.

I mean that we're either a different party than the Republicans (Especially the Iran-Contra, Dubya, lunatics) or not.

[Cha]

14. I think he should have respectfully declined and

been done with it. the repugants have gone way over the line to be just political opponents.

[Melinda]

5. It's called "politics".

[JanMichael]

10. There's more to it than that.

If not then it's pathetic pandering.

I simply don't respect that.

[CityZen-X]

39. Video Persuasian

Maybe he recieved a video in the mail showing a camera angle of the JFK assasination never, ever seen before.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Damn!

I was hoping for a "George C. Scott" moment! That just isn't right...makes NO sense whatsoever. :(

[Cha]

11. Me, too!

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

7. Teddy doesn't want to get shot

that's why

[charlie]

12. Just a little decorum for the occasion

He's lying, Bush knows he's lying, the audience knows, we know. Bush is also lying and everyone knows it. He's accepting an award with Poppy's name on it, so he's being magnanimous in return. It's just a social dance, no one believes it.

[JanMichael]

13. So everbody lies and it's good publicity for the BFEE?

Because that's what all the lying did, it gave legitimacy to the worst regime that's ever been our masters.

Fucking brilliant.

[Cha]

15. There ya go!

[JanMichael]

17. Directly into the loony bin.

I just can't cope with this sort of situation any longer.

[Cha]

21. You sound like you "cope" pretty

well on the Guy James Show! Hang in there ...we need you! Forget ted..for every ted there is..there's gotta be People who know better. This will be interesting...let's keep our eye especially on him..see if there are any results or repercussions from this or if it just goes into oblivion.

[charlie]

18. Didn't say I liked it

I just don't expect any senator would do any differently. They always go into that backslapping bonhomie mode at public functions. It's no different than those stupid roasts they hold for each other.

[JanMichael]

19. Sorry if I sounded harsh. I just can't accept this sort of butt-licking...

...in this situation.

I guess the Dem elected officials didn't get my memo directing them to tell the BFEE to fuck off:-)

Once again, I'm not knocking you. You just explained the insideous reasons.

[charlie]

23. Don't worry about it, I knew

I felt exactly the same when when Reagan was publicly feted by Democrats. Exactly the same -- the most deranged and dangerous administration in my lifetime and these guys make nice-nice. I'm sure you did too. So, here we are again. It's disgusting, but expected.

[Gman]

16. The Kennedys still inspire the Democratic base in Texas too

There are still families in S. Texas that have pictures of JFK next to Our Lady Of Guadalupe.

[camero]

20. Same class, different team

They both have the same upbringing and mostly hang out with the same crowd. It's different when you have been hungry. You never forget it.

The Bushes and Kennedys never have and will only look out for thier own interests. Notice Teddy doesn't push too hard for a National Health Care System.

[jobycom]

22. It's protocol. Don't go throwing Ted into the Lieberman pile.

That's political protocol. You say nice things you don't mean. Watch the British Parliament sometimes. "The right and honorable gentleman from Surrey is a stupid pig!"

And you don't burn bridges when you are standing on them. Neither Kennedy nor Bush want to make enemies they might need favors from sometime later. And from the president, everyone needs favors. Read Kennedy's speeches on the invasion, see if he likes Bush then.

And keep in mind, too, that these are people that work together. Do you like all your co-workers? Don't you try to get along with the ones you don't like? Don't you even sometimes find yourself complimenting them, or even enjoying a laugh with them? It's about being a grownup as much as about politics.

Kennedy's on our side, he's made that plain, and the Bushes know it. Protocol doesn't change that, it just helps things go more smoothly at times.

[in_cog_ni_to]

25. I LOVE watching

The British Parliament. It's SO entertaining to watch them insult each other is such a proper, gentlemanly way. Hilarious, actually.

[JanMichael]

31. Then it's the Scotch? His choice of words are suspect at best.

I know he's not a Holy Joe. I'm just perplexed by his overly deferential comments.

[Terwilliger]

34. Like Kerry's "good man trying to do good things"

either the partisan hatred between parties doesn't actually exist at the governmental level, or Ralph Nader was right

[mitchum]

24. honor among plutocrats

[drfemoe]

26. Three generations???

jeepers

[Cat Atomic]

27. I'm not waiting for real progress to come from the aristocracy.

They've got a vested interest in maintaining the status-quo, you know.

[JackRiddler]

28. "Godfather..."

He's decided to be the Kennedy that Lived.

And here you all still refuse to go down the rabbit hole.

It's all one big game, and nearly every politician and pundit you can see getting anywhere plays it.

[JanMichael]

29. I'll take the Blue Pill please.

Back into my pod.

[neebob]

30. Maybe there's more of a method to Poppy's madness

than to Kennedy's. Give your opponent an award and make him shut up. Reminds me of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers on that recent Clear Channel awards show - what was it - the Radio Music Awards? I was like, "Good grief, what are they doing here?" Then Stevie Nicks came out and handed Tom this lifetime achievement award, and they played another song.

[Armstead]

32. C'mon people. You're smarter than this.

Two things about this to keep in mind.

1)The fact that this award was given to Ted is, in some respects, a poke in the eye to Junior. Can you imagine that GW is happy that Dad presented a public service award to one of his fiercest critics? If you don't get the symbolism of that, you're not as astute as I thought.

2)Did you ever hear of good manners? What was Kennedy supposed to do, go down there and lay into the Bushes after receiving an award from them?...It's a lot classier of Ted to behave like a gentleman than to go down and say something our of line.

Teddy has been fighting for liberal causes for years -- and when it's not popular to do so. To rag on him for showing good manners in this situation is an example of the problem with our side.

[neebob]

33. No argument on #2

but why do you think it's a poke in the eye rather than an attempt to shut Kennedy up?

[Armstead]

36. Do you really think.....

..that Kennedy will suddenly change his ways because he gets an award? I don't think so.

I'm no fan of either Bush, but I do think Pappy is more moderate than GW, and may be worried that his son is taking things too far. Since he's not in a position to say so publicly, things like this send a message to Jr.

[JanMichael]

41. The "Send a message to Jr." from moderate dad is conjecture.

And I've heard it before from very well meaning people, my wife for one, but I don't buy it.

What we know for a fact are the public words that get spread over the idiot boxes in every house, bar, hospital, et cetera, in America.

My issue was with the, I'll say it again, "Overly deferential" words which are the ones that get shot out all over the World from the Media cannon. The theory, yes theory, that Pops is miffed with son is not.

That's my beef.

[neebob]

43. I don't think he'll suddenly change his ways

but he'll look foolish if he goes back to saying the kinds of things he said before accepting the award. I'm sure the waiters were extra-super attentive before he got up and spoke.

[lumpy]

45. Shut Kennedy up ?

Hahahahahahahahahahha

[Terwilliger]

35. That's right...if Bush is a fucking criminal, be nice to him in public

:eyes:

Wasn't it Ted that said the war a fraud manufactured in Crawford? Just how do you then be nice to these people?

[Armstead]

37. It's politics.

There's a time and a place for everything. Ted knows that.

[Terwilliger]

40. when does someone actually hold anyone accountable for anything?

I'm really dismayed by the reality of "politics" Sounds like a system where lies, corruption, and malfeasance are the standard, and accountability is only measured in final vote count.

[Armstead]

42. Would you rather everyone just punch each other out?

One of the things that has kept us from descending into REAL chaos or fascism throughout our history has been the ability to stay within a political framework, and to be civil about disagreements. (The one time deviated in the Civil War was absolutely devestating, although necessary. We're not near that situation.)

Almost no one in Congress has been more outspoken and critical of Bush than Kennedy. It doesn't make sense to criticize him for showing manners at an occasion where such criticism would be seen as rude boorishness.

[Terwilliger]

44. most considered his comments on the senate floor to be rude and boorish

Maybe there should be some fisticuffs...then we'll see real opposition

"Hi. I'm sensible, reasonable, and diplomatic."

"You're an asshole"

"Ha, ha, ha. Well, I respect you anyway. Now, let's go to work on such and such an issue, but remember, I'm going to be critical of your policies"

"You must be a partisan obstructionist hater, then."

"Ha, ha, ha"

:nuke:

I just don't get it. When is too much going to be enough?

[JackRiddler]

38. Don't forget the 3 generations angle...

Old Bootlegger Joe Kennedy (as ambassador to London) wanted to make a deal with the Nazis. Hell, from his perspective the Brits were worse, right?

Prescott Bush and George Walker as we know were the key U.S. financiers for the Nazis.

So what the hell is Teddy saying now, "three generations of service"!!! Can't he leave that crap out?

Bush is poking Sonny Boy in the eye. But it's all a game. Sonny Boy has to go anyway, was probably never meant to be around for more than one term. He's done his job, fabulously well. The successor has a huge sigh of relief from the world who will be thrilled to see him, makes kissy poo to Europe and the American people themselves, fattens them up some more... does nothing other than cosmetic changes to the new Homeland/PATRIOT consensus. The tyranny has been set up, now we can have the feel-good leadership for it.

But what the hell, I'm still ABB. Really. Jokes on me as always. Ha ha ha ha.