Ted Kennedy and the KGB

[Lisabob]

The judgment being passed in many posts here has nothing to do with elections.

[eisely]

Lisabob,

 

We have not merely a right to pass judgment, we have an affirmative duty to do so. I agree that Kennedy is largely ancient history now, and I have no desire to speak ill of the dead soley for the sake of doing so.

 

The lesson to be learned is that the voters of Massachusetts failed in their responsibilities to seek and get some minimal standard of conduct from their elected leaders. Certainly politicians are imperfect people, as are all of us, but they put themselves forward as qualified to lead and represent us and we should be judging them on the totality of their conduct and effectiveness. Kennedy was a fairly effective voice for his policy preferences, but there clearly was a dark side.

[packsaddle]

The opposite argument is equally valid. The people of MA, considering the notoriety and publicity surrounding Ted Kennedy, had a very good idea of who they were electing and did it with very good knowledge. Moreover, they re-elected time again thus demonstrating that they thought he was effective as their representative.

You might not agree with the people's decision but they made it.

As for passing judgement, that is inevitable. And whether we express it or how we express it is up to the individual's own judgement. Others are then free to judge them. First amendment. Nice.