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Ted Kennedy needs to resign!

post #1 of 80
8/14/09 at 1:40pm
Thread Starter 
The old man is so sick that he couldn't attend his sister's funeral, yet we taxpayers are still paying him his senate salary for being an absentee member that hasn't done the people's work in months, if not years.

He has all the money he needs and then some. Why won't he resign and let an able bodied person take his place - someone who will actually read the legislation and show up to vote? If I was a resident of Massachusetts, I'd be furious!
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post #2 of 80
8/14/09 at 1:44pm
The only real concern in this is that his vote might be needed on some crucial item, and he won't be able to get there and cast his vote.

But he is such a respected member of the Democratic caucus that I can't imagine any Senators calling for him to step down.

And wasn't there a Senator who underwent brain surgery after a stroke and wasn't able to attend for over a year, recently?
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post #3 of 80
8/14/09 at 1:49pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
The only real concern in this is that his vote might be needed on some crucial item, and he won't be able to get there and cast his vote.

But he is such a respected member of the Democratic caucus that I can't imagine any Senators calling for him to step down.

And wasn't there a Senator who underwent brain surgery after a stroke and wasn't able to attend for over a year, recently?
All I know is that he works for the taxpayers, and he's not working. Now I'm sorry that he is sick, and I'm sorry for anyone else in Congress or any gov't office that is too sick to work, but dang, if they are elected to office and cannot serve, then they need to go, and I don't care what party they belong to.
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post #4 of 80
8/14/09 at 2:01pm
Obama, McCain, and Clinton, during the campaign, did almost nothing as Senators during some 18 months of campaigning. Palin did little as governor during the time she was campaigning. There's a long history of this; don't let it get you too upset.
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post #5 of 80
8/14/09 at 2:14pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
Obama, McCain, and Clinton, during the campaign, did almost nothing as Senators during some 18 months of campaigning. Palin did little as governor during the time she was campaigning. There's a long history of this; don't let it get you too upset.
History doesn't make it right. FWIW, I think that all members of Congress should resign BEFORE they become a candidate for another office. And no, I don't necessarily hold Governors to the same standard. Why? Because they have a Lt. Gov. to step in. When a member of Congress is not in chambers to vote, then they are shirking their responsibility for which they were elected. And they also shouldn't be traveling all over the globe when Congress is in session either. If they want to globe-trot, then they should do it during recess.
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post #6 of 80
8/14/09 at 2:26pm
Are they still required to vote on proposed legislation when campaigning? If they aren't, I do think they should have to since they have aides to keep them informed of what is being worked on.

I'm bigger proponent of term limits. Since no one can serve more than two terms as president, I feel the same should be true of members of the Congress.
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post #7 of 80
8/14/09 at 2:56pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Essayons89 View Post
Are they still required to vote on proposed legislation when campaigning? If they aren't, I do think they should have to since they have aides to keep them informed of what is being worked on.

I'm bigger proponent of term limits. Since no one can serve more than two terms as president, I feel the same should be true of members of the Congress.
That's the problem. They are never REQUIRED to vote! And they can't vote absentee. They must be in the chambers when the vote is called. But there is nothing to prevent them from not voting.

And I agree with you on term limits, only their retirement would need to be changed, because as it now stands they can earn most if not all their pay for life once they leave office. Term limits means that there are more people to get paid these largese retirement packages.
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post #8 of 80
8/14/09 at 6:40pm
He is on his way out real fast. I dont see a prob. He did his duty.

I dont know politics, but that is what i think.
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post #9 of 80
8/14/09 at 9:14pm
I do have to agree with you These folks get elected to office and then barely do their jobs all the while collecting a nice salary. This, to me, is a big source of the corruption in government- these elected officials are not held accountable for anything. Granted the people can choose to not re-elect them, but he who has the most money to campaign is usually the winner and seated officials are usually the ones with the most money

I also fully support term limits I'm of the opinion that the more time a person spends in Washington, the more disconnected he gets from "real life" and the problems that everyday people are concerned about
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post #10 of 80
8/14/09 at 11:57pm
He should of resigned July 19, 1969 when the night before he left a woman to drown in a car he drove off a bridge, left the scene without alerting anyone, had breakfast, then finally admitted to authorities that he was involved at 10am the next day.

Paying the salary of an ill senator is only half as bad as paying the salary for 40 years of man who committed manslaughter.
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post #11 of 80
8/15/09 at 1:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
That's the problem. They are never REQUIRED to vote! And they can't vote absentee. They must be in the chambers when the vote is called. But there is nothing to prevent them from not voting.

And I agree with you on term limits, only their retirement would need to be changed, because as it now stands they can earn most if not all their pay for life once they leave office. Term limits means that there are more people to get paid these largese retirement packages.
With term limits I see no need to pay a retirement package.
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post #12 of 80
8/15/09 at 3:46am
This is a problem for the people of Massachusetts. They've had plenty of time to make their decision, and they've kept him in and seem to like it.
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post #13 of 80
8/15/09 at 4:45am
The Kennedys have so much money, they can almost "buy" their office if they want.

I agree to term limits for Senators and Reps - only fair. I can't understand WHY the people of Massachusetts keep putting him in. He's not that good of a Senator - but its a "Kennedy" name - that's all it is.
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post #14 of 80
8/15/09 at 5:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mrblanche View Post
This is a problem for the people of Massachusetts.
Massachusetts checking in here. I don't seem to have the concern the rest of you do about whether of not he is doing his job. I'm not "furious".
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post #15 of 80
8/15/09 at 5:47am
Quote:
Originally Posted by AbbysMom View Post
Massachusetts checking in here. I don't seem to have the concern the rest of you do about whether of not he is doing his job. I'm not "furious".
That was my take on it, too. If you wanted someone else, you would have voted for them.

Now, I DO have to say that Ted Kennedy has been an embarrassment to the Senate on many occasions, but he's also well-respected and liked there by many of his colleagues.

In many cases, when a Senator can't attend a vote, he'll "pair up" with another Senator who planned to vote the opposite way, and neither one will vote.
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post #16 of 80
8/15/09 at 8:53am
The ultimate in hypocrisy for me is Teddy and his family would NOT consent to those, "unsightly" wind turbines they wanted to install near Martha's Vineyard. Their family shouldn't have to look at those ugly things, they are only for us, the unwashed masses.
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post #17 of 80
8/15/09 at 2:02pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
The old man is so sick that he couldn't attend his sister's funeral, yet we taxpayers are still paying him his senate salary for being an absentee member that hasn't done the people's work in months, if not years.

He has all the money he needs and then some. Why won't he resign and let an able bodied person take his place - someone who will actually read the legislation and show up to vote? If I was a resident of Massachusetts, I'd be furious!
From my Hospice/Oncology experience, most cancer pts have good days and bad days. I believe on those "good" days he is working heartily!

Me thinks if it was someone you admired you would be rooting for him.

In the end the point is moot, if he retired we would still be paying for him and he most likely would be replaced with someone like him.

Maybe we should heed my favorite Beethoven quote:

"I shall seize fate by the throat, I will not let it bend or break me completely!" LvB
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post #18 of 80
8/15/09 at 3:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
All I know is that he works for the taxpayers, and he's not working. Now I'm sorry that he is sick, and I'm sorry for anyone else in Congress or any gov't office that is too sick to work, but dang, if they are elected to office and cannot serve, then they need to go, and I don't care what party they belong to.
How do we know he isn't working? We are all connected up to everything these days, a lot of people work from their home.
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post #19 of 80
8/15/09 at 3:34pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Misty8723 View Post
How do we know he isn't working? We are all connected up to everything these days, a lot of people work from their home.
Because the most important thing any member of Congress does is vote, and he can't cast an absentee vote, therefore he is worthless.

Look, he is old, rich and sick. Why should he stay? He should be home spending as much time as possible with his family, something money can't buy.
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post #20 of 80
8/15/09 at 4:44pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post

Look, he is old, rich and sick. Why should he stay? He should be home spending as much time as possible with his family, something money can't buy.
I did not realize some people had a crystal ball that could see into the Kennedy compound! Cool! Where do ya get one?

The most important thing a family member (ANY family) could want for the dying member of his family is having that person do what they love most those last days! That is love. That is what I would want for my loved one, that would bring me great joy and comfort.
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post #21 of 80
8/15/09 at 5:25pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom of Franz View Post
I did not realize some people had a crystal ball that could see into the Kennedy compound! Cool! Where do ya get one?

From the same source that told he he and his family don't want windmills within their line of sight, yet are so eager to favor other alternative energy sources as long as they can't see them, and are so eager to oppose oil drilling on our shores.

The most important thing a family member (ANY family) could want for the dying member of his family is having that person do what they love most those last days! That is love. That is what I would want for my loved one, that would bring me great joy and comfort.
But, if you are talking about serving in the Senate, the point is he can't do it, and he hasn't done it in months. He needs to spend his last days on his sailboat and doing the things he enjoys. He won't be spending his last days in the Senate chamber casting votes. Bank on it.
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post #22 of 80
8/15/09 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
But, if you are talking about serving in the Senate, the point is he can't do it, and he hasn't done it in months. He needs to spend his last days on his sailboat and doing the things he enjoys. He won't be spending his last days in the Senate chamber casting votes. Bank on it.
There is a lot more than voting to being a senator, for all you know he is working very hard to get a bill passed, from behind the scenes--a mission he has championed for 40 years. Whatever side you are on that's living with gusto!

Doing the things he enjoys??? That is one of the things he enjoys most, quite obviously.

We should never tell people how to live their lives, so we should not tell them the "right" way to die either.
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post #23 of 80
8/15/09 at 8:56pm
Does anyone know the actual laws for replacing a Senator in the state of Massachusetts? I'm pretty sure it varies from state to state. Some states require a special election, so depending on the MA state law, it could be many months until a replacement could be selected. Mrblanche's point is valid as well. I could definitely see a moderate Republican (sadly, pretty much just Snowe/Collins from Maine these days) agreeing not to vote if Senator Kennedy can't be present. For all their bickering, the Senate can be downright old-fashioned sometimes. If the seat is vacant, I doubt that would fly, unless he dies in office in which case I could definitely see it.

As for term limits, I tend to be of the opinion that they sound good in theory, but accomplish little in practice. Most term-limited politicians would just hand pick a replacement and tell all their major donors that he plays on the same team and if you get him elected he'll keep doing what I was doing. Yeah, I'm cynical.
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post #24 of 80
8/16/09 at 5:12am
Here's an article form last year when Kennedy was first diagnosed. The Speaker of the House has changed since this article.

http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/l...142002341.html
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post #25 of 80
8/17/09 at 6:15am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by AbbysMom View Post
Here's an article form last year when Kennedy was first diagnosed. The Speaker of the House has changed since this article.

http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/l...142002341.html
Very interesting article. But if Kennedy was concerned about working for the people, he would resign. And that goes for anyone too old or too sick to continue on the job.

Do you remember reading about Woodrow Wilson? He was incapable of carrying out his duties as President for months. During that time his wife Edith kept everyone away and made decisions for her husband and acted as a de facto President. I never want to see that happening again. And it shouldn't happen in any branch of government.
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post #26 of 80
8/17/09 at 9:06am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
Very interesting article. But if Kennedy was concerned about working for the people, he would resign. And that goes for anyone too old or too sick to continue on the job.

Do you remember reading about Woodrow Wilson? He was incapable of carrying out his duties as President for months. During that time his wife Edith kept everyone away and made decisions for her husband and acted as a de facto President. I never want to see that happening again. And it shouldn't happen in any branch of government.
Did you voice the same opinion when Regan started exhibiting the first signs of Alzheimer's while in the latter stages of his his second term? Doubt it. Kennedy may be ill but from all accounts he remains mentally robust! Working on an Otrho/neuro unit for 20 yrs I saw many with brain cancer who where alert and oriented to the very end. Unlike a president he does not have access to "the button." Let's face it you only want someone out because of your opinion of him!
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post #27 of 80
8/17/09 at 9:13am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom of Franz View Post
Did you voice the same opinion when Regan started exhibiting the first signs of Alzheimer's while in the latter stages of his his second term? Doubt it. Kennedy may be ill but from all accounts he remains mentally robust! Working on an Otrho/neuro unit for 20 yrs I saw many with brain cancer who where alert and oriented to the very end. Unlike a president he does not have access to "the button." Let's face it you only want someone out because of your opinion of him!
You don't know me, do you? I wasn't a Reagan supporter, and yes, I did worry about his mental state while President.

My strong feelings about Kennedy needing to resign carries over to ANYONE of ANY PARTY who is too ill or too mentally impaired to fulfill the duties to which he was elected and promised to serve.

I AM NOT GOVERNED BY THE POLITICS OF A PARTY. What governs my opinions is right and wrong. It is wrong to continue in any job when you can't perform the duties of that job. Kennedy clearly can't, and he should resign. Period.
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post #28 of 80
8/17/09 at 9:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dusty's Mom View Post
You don't know me, do you? I wasn't a Reagan supporter, and yes, I did worry about his mental state while President.

My strong feelings about Kennedy needing to resign carries over to ANYONE of ANY PARTY who is too ill or too mentally impaired to fulfill the duties to which he was elected and promised to serve.

I AM NOT GOVERNED BY THE POLITICS OF A PARTY. What governs my opinions is right and wrong. It is wrong to continue in any job when you can't perform the duties of that job. Kennedy clearly can't, and he should resign. Period.
Worried over what, Regan's ability to serve? Example: Iran Contra "I do not recall, I do not recall, I do not recall" Lies or memory lapses?

Except for being on the floor of the Senate, for all you now he is working very hard behind the scenes, (his forte) not drooling on his lapel! Such assumptions! You can't call for someones ouster without knowing all the facts. I am not expressing HE MUST STAY without them either!

Come up with some credible facts that he is failing mentally and you might have a case...until then...
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post #29 of 80
8/17/09 at 11:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mom of Franz View Post
Did you voice the same opinion when Regan started exhibiting the first signs of Alzheimer's while in the latter stages of his his second term? Doubt it. Kennedy may be ill but from all accounts he remains mentally robust! Working on an Otrho/neuro unit for 20 yrs I saw many with brain cancer who where alert and oriented to the very end. Unlike a president he does not have access to "the button." Let's face it you only want someone out because of your opinion of him!


There was never a time that President Reagan could not perform his duties as POTUS.

Do you always answer a question with a question? That seems to be normal posting procedure with you. Just asking.
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post #30 of 80
8/17/09 at 11:09am
Here's a good article about Reagan and his Alzheimer's while he was in office.
http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/05/us...ctors-say.html

There is mention in the article that Reagan's mother was senile for a period of years before she died, and that his brother Neil may have also had Alzheimer's. I was wondering if the disease is hereditary, but the article says the pattern in regards to it being hereditary isn't accurately known.
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