Rush Limbaugh Uses Kennedy Death to Push Nonsense

I knew that when Ted Kennedy ultimately died, the people in right-wing world would be unkind. From conservative FaceBook "friends" to FreeRepublic, to right-wing talk radio, and even here on my own blog (in reply to a mere death announcement), I've heard astounding negativity without even having to look very hard. Yes, we all know what happened 40-plus years ago. But mere hours had gone by after the Senator's death, before some people reduced the man to that solitary event.

As I said before, I've never felt the allure of "Camelot," having been too young to experience it, and wasn't particularly a fan or follower of Kennedy. Or any Kennedy. But I am aware of many of the good things the man did, and of his place in our history. It's a milestone--some would say end of an era--that deserves notice. Maybe not as much notice as will undoubtedly ensue, I'll grant. And unless something genuinely newsworthy or interesting should arise from the situation, it is doubtful I'll write much more about it. But the dancing on the grave that has been going on is just tasteless.

Rush Limbaugh may have done some of that dancing, I haven't looked too deeply to find out. And I don't intend to. What I did find was Limbaugh using Kennedy's passing to continue selling out-and-out lies. Ridiculous, already discredited "death books" and "death panels." He must have utter contempt for his audience. How could he not? His meal ticket is a group of people who will believe any story, no what orifice he pulls it from.

Breaking News: Ted Kennedy has Passed Away.

Image from source, ABC News

Sigh. Wow. Two Kennedys in the same month. I am too young to remember the idealized "Camelot" Kennedy mystique. By the time I was old enough to know what was going on, Jackie was an "O" and Edward Kennedy was fodder for jokes on Saturday Night Live. Still, despite his faults, I know that he did a lot of good in his life.

The timing of course couldn't be worse for health care reform, which was ironically Ted Kennedy's pet project. Will this give Democrats added drive to get it done, or will the whole thing just unravel? Time will tell. RIP, Teddy.

[Excerpt]

Ted Kennedy Dies of Brain Cancer at Age 77

Sen. Ted Kennedy died shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 77.

The man known as the "liberal lion of the Senate" had fought a more than year-long battle with brain cancer, and according to his son had lived longer with the disease than his doctors expected him to. . .

Read more at:

Sen. Ted Kennedy Battling Brain Tumor

Photo from MSNBC

I'm too young to have experienced "The Kennedy Mystique." Camelot to me still conjures imagery of Merlin and Lancelot, not Jackie and John. So my connection to the Kennedys is tenuous at best. Still, Senator Edward Kennedy has--whatever his shortcomings--done a lot of good over a lot of years. Hopefully, his health crisis can be beaten. Because even though I didn't see most of their travails happen, I really think that the Kennedy's have had enough strife to deal with. Good luck, Teddy.

[Excerpt]

Sen. Kennedy battling brain tumor

Friends and colleagues of Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy instinctively reached for the same word Tuesday as they learned that the last remaining representative of Camelot had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor.

They called him a fighter. They said he had fought for children, the poor, African-Americans and immigrants during his nearly 46 years in the Senate. He fought for access to health care, for quality education, for civil rights and for workers' rights. And now, they said, he would fight for himself. . .

Red more at: Chicago Tribune