Friday, August 28, 2009

THE DRAWBRIDGE RISES AT CAMELOT.

The sun sets at last on the Kennedy dynasty; the most charismatic political family in American history now has only one old and frail surviving member and she was never involved in politics. The 4 brothers; Joe, JFK, Bobby and Teddy are now history and the only one that we don’t know much about was Joe the eldest who died in a war time air crash fighting against Hitler; the Nazi leader of course enjoyed the support of the father of the family old Joe senior, a man who enjoyed the reputation of never seeing a belt without hitting below it. A memorable reference is made to him by Jack Nicholson playing legendary Teamsters Union Boss Jimmy Hoffa who had many run ins with Bobby, he snarled as only Nicholson can and said of Bobby “I aint gonna be F****d around by the son of a goddam rum runner” the old crook was certainly that and much much more.

Young Joe’s early death saved him from the relentless scrutiny which his brothers were subjected to by the media of the world; a scrutiny which the Kennedy wealth and PR machine was obliged to combat 24/7/365 because these 3 guys were as ruthless and remorseless as they come and all 3 lived certainly their early lives in a way which makes our Prince Harry look like a choirboy. When the young senator JFK and his glamorous wife Jackie moved to a rich area called Virginia Washington DC he bought a big house where he was asked to sign an agreement that he would not sell the house on to a black person, he did so without demur. He showed ruthlessness in political dealings which took him over all the corpses all the way to the White House where he eventually showed signs of being a great president; he learned a lot from dealing with Castro and Kruschev, he never thanked them though.

Bobby was probably the cleverest and most vicious of all four; as a young prosecutor he showed great enthusiasm for red baiting and destroying people’s lives under the tender guidance of one Senator Joe McCarthy while both working for the un American Activities gentlemen’s club; a bigger bunch of underhand bastards never walked the earth. How remarkable therefore that he matured into a liberal reformer and champion of good causes his presidency might have been a force for good had he not shared his brother’s fate at the hands of an assassin. An anecdote from his youth helps to explain his merciless younger personality and indeed the others; the young Bobby rushed home from school to joyfully tell his dad that he had won second prize in a writing competition entered by thousands of Boston school children; old Joe’s response was devastating “you mean you lost” was the old brute’s reply.

Had Teddy been born into a normal family he would have been disowned by the time he was out of his teens, he was a complete waster as we say here and his wild and wicked ways culminated in the death of a young secretary as he crashed his car while drunk, the girl drowned and he ran off, the end of her life and his chances of ever getting to the White House. He still managed even after such a disgrace to resurrect his career and become a legendary liberal senator, oh, and he avoided jail as well.

As we grew up my brothers and I regarded the Kennedy’s as secular saints because of their Irish catholic backgrounds and their apparent left wing leanings; it was painful to learn as we became more aware that they had a whole store room of cupboards full of skeletons. They managed to display the best and worst of American society, still I would love to see the Americans reward Teddy Kennedy by accepting what he described as the great cause of his life, proper health care for all Americans from the rich who have the best to the poor who have none, that would be a life worth celebrating.

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

'A life worth celebrating?'

Edward Kennedy was expelled from Harvard for cheating and left a woman to drown in his car after he drove off a bridge whilst drunk.

Stalin, Castro, Mugabe,Pol Pot, Mandela, Mugabe, Gaddafi and now Edward Kennedy.

You choose your heroes well Kelly.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 28/08/09
Were you drunk when you wrote this? I have never mentioned Pol Pot, Gadaffi or any of the 2 Mugabes you refer to. Stalin is the reason we are all not speaking German, Castro is one of history’s giants and Mandela is generally recognised as one of the greatest men to have walked the planet.

Neither have I described any of the Kennedy’s as heroes, quite the opposite.

You are absolutely correct to remain anonymous I can’t imagine anyone more stupid.

Anonymous said...

Secular Saints, was your phrase, Kelly.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 29/08/09
“Secular Saints”
Are you really unable to read what follows that phrase; are you that thick?

Jackart said...

I'm with Terry on this one. For many, healthcare is a very important issue and Teddy made this the cause of his life. Terry acknowledges this, whilst also drawing attention to the total git that Sir Teddy of Chappaquidik was as a man.

By Councillor Kelly's standards, this is a balanced and sensible post. Which is disappointing because I wanted to have some fun.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Jackart) 12:02
How strange I would have thought you and Ted would have been a perfect match.

Anonymous said...

I did read what followed: 'They represented the best and worst etc,'

Where exactly did any of them represent 'the best' Councillor?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 01/09/09
JFK despite his youthful casual racism became a mover and shaker for civil rights as did his brother Bobby who went on a strange and lengthy journey from right to left while Teddy has his name on a whole raft of progressive legislation.

I have no doubt that it would not be difficult to find copious examples of their good deeds if I felt inclined, I don’t feel so inclined and I remain a severe critic of all 3 but; they weren’t all bad; knowing now what I know about them I would find it very difficult to vote for any of the 3 of them; then again it’s important to vote and you have to choose between Democrat and Republican and I would rather chew my own arm off than vote republican.

Anonymous said...

Kelly @ 4.37

Congratulation Kelly! While I disagree with everything you say, or stand for, that is the most reasonable response I've ever had from you.

If you hadn't banned me so many times, I'd even add my name to this. Why not declare an amnesty and we can go back to having fun?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 02/09/09
I am well known for being reasonable; that’s why I only ban people who have gone beyond the pale.

Anonymous said...

Kelly @ 11.16

That's my Kelly, judge, jury and executioner. How very KGB!

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 12:34
Just a question of standards actually; I wouldn’t expect you to understand.

Anonymous said...

Standards Kelly? You jest!! You are in favour of a Libyan mass murderer being let out on 'compassionate' grounds, but let your finely honed sensitivity be touched and you take your wee ball home.

Let's see how consistent you are. If the Dunblane man was in prison,and in the same - reported - condition, would you be shouting for his release also?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 18:33
I AM IN FAVOUR OF A DYING MAN BEING ALLOWED OUT OF PRISON TO PASS AWAY IN THE MIDST OF HIS FAMILY.

CONSISTENT? I AM ON RECORD AS SAYING THAT ANY PRISONER WHO MEETS THE CRITERIA FOR COMPASSIONATE RELEASE SHOULD BE GRANTED IT, I DON’T SET THE CRITERIA I LEAVE IT TO THE EXPERTS, THAT WAY WE AVOID SALOON BAR TOUGH GUYS LIKE YOU HAVING AN INFLUENCE.

Anonymous said...

Bearing in mind that no 'expert' signed off on Megrahis' condition,is that a 'Yes?'

You would, in the same circumstances, want to release the Dunblane guy?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 03/09/09
I have answered this. Any prisoner who fills the criteria for compassionate release should receive it.

Every person for instance involved in the case of Myra Hindley from prison governors to doctors, psychiatrists, judges, senior religious figures, criminologists etc. all the people concerned with her case in fact agreed that she should have been released.

She died in prison because successive home secretaries were afraid of the “Sun Newspaper” and its influence on morons like you.

Anonymous said...

You have not answered it - you have introduced an English red herring called Hindley.

Specifically, would you want the Dunblane man released on the same grounds as Megrahi?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

I have answered it, I couldn't be clearer. I support the release of any prisoner on compassionate grounds which are determined by the proper authorities, what bit are you struggling with?

What has Myra Hindley being English have to do with it.

Anonymous said...

Just struggling with your refusal to come straight out and say you would support the release of the Dunblane child murderer.

Given that most Scots think the Libyan should have died in prison, releasing the Dunblane killer, were it possible, might not play well in Renfrew.Could even cost Labour a few votes. Surely that isn't the reason for the Kelly coyness!.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 18:16
I can only conclude that you have never heard of Myra Hindley then, is that why you can’t explain why her being English matters?

Anonymous said...

A deafening silence on the Dunblane man, Kelly. Cowardice?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 04/09/09
You describe a politician who publicly advocated the compassionate release of Myra Hindley as a coward? That’s a strange accusation.

What has Myra Hindley being English got to do with this?

Anonymous said...

Still no word on the Dunblane man Kelly! Tell us why!

Or we can move on - the Glasgow Airport bombers, would you campaign for their release on 'Compassionate' grounds?

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anonymous) 05/09/09
I have answered your question perfectly clearly now; why is Myra Hindley’s Englishness significant ? what are you hiding? What is it that you are ashamed of?

Anna said...

@anon,
Well let me answer for you as someone who supported the decision to to release Megrahi and return him to Libya. Cllr Kelly wanted him to die in Scotland under policve protection.

If the Glasgow Airport Bombers, Myra Hyndley, Harold Shipman, Joseph Fritzl, Hitler, Satan, The Yorkshire Ripper, Ian Brady or Margaret Thatcher were dying of cancer and had six months or less to live I'd support their release provided they did not pose a danger to the public.

This isn't because I think their crimes were good orexcusable but out of campassion for them and their families. None of these folk extended that compassion to their victims but I'd rather die than take moral lessons from murderers.
Clearly you hunger to get down to their level which makes me glad I don't live next door to you.

Cllr Terry Kelly said...

(Anna) 12/09/09
I simply didn’t see why he had to return to Libya, MacAskill lied when he said we couldn’t accommodate him here.
This really is difficult to follow, I have never said that I wanted simply to release any individual I said and still do that I agree with the principle of compassionate release once the experts have judged a prisoner suitable. It’s what separates us from savages and wild animals, if you understand what I mean by that.
I’ll stick with the neighbours I’ve got thanks.