Uncle Teddy Writes a Memoir

[CorpGovActivist]

Senator Ted Kennedy - despite his long and storied career - only snagged as good of a book deal for his memoirs as Senator Clinton did for her book.

The index of Kennedy's "tell-a-little-now, save-the-rest-for-later" will be cause for angst among some of the Generation X and Y crowd. On the one hand, their overweening (and over-wienie-ing) egos demand constant validation. If Senator Kennedy's autobio index doesn't include *multiple mentions* of their family's importance to the Kennedy Court, their egos will be dashed (in which case, some of their heirloom anecdotes might need to be re-triangulated). But on the other hand, Uncle Teddy might decide that now is the time to come clean on a few things, in which case, there might be *too many mentions of the wrong sort* (and re-triangulation of those heirloom anecdotes might not work).

The book isn't due out until 2010. Look for "leaked" excerpts around October 2008.

Meanwhile, since the nightly comedy show writers are on strike (this is just one story of many that must have their heads exploding with ideas as they walk the picket line), here's a Top Nine List of Things You Should Know about Senator Kennedy's upcoming book (might as well beat the right wing to it):

9. The deluxe edition has tear-out pages to hide your scotch in.

8. The book is FDA-approved, and doesn't cause sleep driving.

7. The copyright date will be a "split year," like Kennedy's graduation date from Harvard.

6. In case of a Senate seat vacancy, the book is qualified to serve as a placeholder until another Kennedy turns 30.

5. The author is looking forward to the book tour, calling the tome, "slimming."

4. Mayor Quimby will narrate the book on tape.

3. Doris Kearns Goodwin will be the fact-checker and copy (and paste) editor.

2. The JFK Library staff have been issued tasers to fend off "handsy" archive trips.

1. In case of a water landing, the book will double as a flotation device.

- Dave

[tibbiit]

1. After awareness of the bush slime/killing machine's past

7 years I have re-evaluated historical events.
The RW of the time of the Kennedy's was as virulent as it is today. The Karl Roves of the time were just as active. Their main goal was stopping the Kennedy dynasty stopping another President Kennedy and the result was a done thing. JFK, RFK and Ted all stopped, JFK jr, dead.

Ted was as good as assassinated by Chappaquiddick then and forever.
What if Teddy was slipped a mickey? What if something was on the bridge that caused him to swerve into the water?

In light of the machinations of todays power mad wingers, I don't put anything past them. To them, if Teddy had died, good on... if Teddy lived, he was as good as dead anyway... as his hopes for Presidency was forever stopped.
I know this sounds conspiracy but its something to think about heh
tib

[CorpGovActivist]

2. I Must Confess: That's the First Time...

... I've ever heard The Ambien Defense used for Chappaquiddick.

- Dave

[Possumpoint]

3. Your View of Chappaquiddick

and mine are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Ted is scum and a coward.

[CorpGovActivist]

5. "What's a Chappaquiddick?" - A True Story

In 1994, I was walking thru Harvard Square right by Out of Town News, when I was approached by a young campaigner for Kennedy (younger than I was at the time, even, and I was 22).

Always curious to hear the programmed talking points, I listened to his spiel.

When he was finished, I asked him if he'd ever heard of Chappaquiddick.

"What's a 'Chappaquiddick'?" he asked me, with a truly puzzled stare.

There are few times I'm speechlesss. I wrote down the correct spelling, handed it to him, and walked away shaking my head.

- Dave

[IndianaJones]

6. let me guess...the south? nt.

[CorpGovActivist]

10. The South - 1960

- Dave

[IndianaJones]

11. oh...before civil rights. when it was all about hating Lincoln. nt.

[CorpGovActivist]

12. JFK, RFK, and the ARC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Regional_Commi...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=robert+kennedy+%22...

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=1960+primary+kenne...

Funny how confounded those pundits were about "ignorant" hillbillies in 1960 and 1968.

- Dave

[IndianaJones]

13. WV is the south now? I thought they did not wish to be associated with the bigotry. nt.

[CorpGovActivist]

16. I'd Consider It ...

... a border state. Demographers have had a tough time pegging it.

The history of educational integration in West Virginia, for example, is perhaps counterintuitive to many.

- Dave

[IndianaJones]

17. Don't get me wrong on WV....my Robert Byrd posts are legendary.

And VA is my home state.

[CorpGovActivist]

18. More Importantly, the Nominee Who Gets WV Wrong...

... may find Missouri, Kentucky, Ohio, and purplish areas of Virginia aren't buying, either.

JFK and RFK are still considered something between rock stars and saints in many parts of WV.

- Dave

[CorpGovActivist]

21. Video of JFK in WV

Thought you might enjoy this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJyb9R_TL8M

JFK and RFK spent a great deal of time in West Virginia, and kept faith with the voters there. The jury is still out on EMK.

- Dave

[Orsino]

14. And yet he can only dream of the heights of corruption...

...achieved in the wake of the Kennedys' example.

[CorpGovActivist]

19. "Write It When I'm Gone"

President Ford wasn't the only one who left behind that instruction.

- Dave

[KoKo]

15. Good points....and

I always felt there was something about Chappaquiddick that was very different from what was reported. Your point about Teddy being effectively assassinated by that incident in hidsight...has a ring of truth.

The media and political establishment did hate the Kennedy's. They were tabloid and MSM fodder almost every day. It was worse than what the Clinton's went through, if you can believe. IF you were around in those days...you know.

[CorpGovActivist]

20. Well, It'll Be Interesting to See if Senator Kennedy...

... seeks to set the record straight or not. It's not like he doesn't have a seat on the exchange of the free marketplace of ideas.

- Dave

[Virginia Dare]

4. You know, the Kennedy family is far from "clean"..

they are ruthless and they all tromped on more than a few toes on the way up, paid off more than a few people to make unpleasantness go away, etc.

However. IMO, unlike the Bush family, they've given back far more than what they've taken. Through all their dysfunctional behavior, they honestly believe in social justice and have all given a large part of their fortune, not to mention their lives to the cause.

[CorpGovActivist]

7. A Historian's Dream

You're right on the money: we'd not be endlessly fascinated with them if they weren't so complex.

- Dave

[Virginia Dare]

8. A psychologist's and sociologist's dream too....n/t

[CorpGovActivist]

9. Well, That Clan Is Big Enough, and Their Orbiting Courtiers...

... are certainly numerous enough, to require an anthropologist and a taxonomist.

- Dave