Question: Who thinks Ted Kennedy still has a chance as President?

[Tiggeroshii]

After all, he won a few States in the 1980 Democratic primary against a sitting President. That's when Chappaquiddick was far more fresh in peoples' heads. Maybe things have changed? Just been wondering this recently, and want your guys' input. Most people don't think he could obviously, but I've come to terms with the idea he might have a chance just recently, who else?

[punpirate]

1. He's not going to run...

... so the question is moot.

Cheers.

[genius]

43. I agree. But I'd vote for him while I won't vote for Hillary or Biden.

[bobbieinok]

2. absolutely no way...if you think what was done to Kerry was bad,

multiply by 1000

Kerry was squeeky clean in his personal, sex life (otherwise we would have heard about it)

but Kennedy????? get serious.....democrats would have to be insane to nominate him

it would be against him and his entire family....remember all the stuff that came out about JFK after his death.......a different era, so press didn't report it but just think about all the replaying about JFK and Bobby and Marilyn Monroe.....and all the stuff about JFK having a Mafia mistress, etc, etc, etc

media would have a sex field day 24/7

[Tiggeroshii]

6. It's just that..

I long for the day a serious, concise and utterly profound speaker and progressive were to run on the Democratic ticket again. Unfortunately, Kennedy seems like the only person who qualifies in those areas now days. It's a shame though he's gotta have quite a history.

[BlueIris]

3. Even I like to play, "what if?" sometimes, so I'll say:

No. He wouldn't have a chance. Even if the ultra-liberal rep the right would so easily scare their loyal followers into accepting didn't doom his election chances--that other thing would. I love Ted Kennedy, he's actually a hero of mine, so I'm not going to spell out the obvious. He's a great senator, and he'll stay that way.

[Tiggeroshii]

5. Yeah.

Maybe I'm delusional, but for some reason I'm thinking he could either win the democratic ticket or get close and get on as a running mate. A completely different era. Shit, it won't happen. I guess I like to just have these times of shameless hope once in a while.

[renie408]

17. Yep

Ted Kennedy is the boogey man that Repukes scare their kids into behaving with. I know people hate to hear me say this, but we have to pick somebody that isn't going to trigger a massive 'we gotta vote AGAINST this person!' response from the right.

That's what would worry me about Hillary (amongst other things).

[Book Lover]

4. That day has dawned and ended

Teddy will retire a senator.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

68. And that ship has sailed.

Long ago.

[LunaSea]

7. You've got a little

mustard stain on your uniform there, starfleet.

[Tiggeroshii]

8. har har.

well he's almost 80, what's he got to lose anyways?

[WilliamCash]

9. ZERO ZERO ZERO

Absolutely zero. Too much drinking. The alleged rape thing in the early 90's with William in Florida. Mary Jo would still be lingering around. And he has gotten so harsh in his rhetoric that it would not pass the "statesman" test the media wants to impose on candidates.

[Wabbajack]

47. Rape thing?

What?

[Virginian]

53. The nephew's rape thing.

William Kennedy Smith did get off with a not guilty verdict, but it still tainted him and the family. The accuser said Teddy was there that night.

[me b zola]

48. Ah, the media "statesman" test

Where was that "media statesman test" when the AWOLcokesnortingalcoholicinsidertradingbumblingbuffoonwhocan'tproperlyspeaktheEnglishlanguage threw his hat into the presidential race?

As for Teddy, he has matured into a wonderful statesman.

[OneTwentyoNine]

10. Yeah right....Ted will stay right where he is until he retires....

[Cobalt Violet]

11. I think he should run. I would vote for him. I always do.

[TayTay]

12. Zero. But I'll give you good odds for his relection.

Kennedy is the Rethug recruitment poster boy. But we still love him in Massachusetts.

[win_in_06]

13. Teddy running is a repug's wet dream

[Don1]

14. No.

The Reich wing cannot have someone like that as opposition. They will do whatever is needed to take him out.

[formernaderite]

15. Answer: No one.

a liberal from Mass with his baggage has absolutely NO chance. Can I have what you're smoking?

[FormerDittoHead]

16. This question reveals out a major problem - NEW DEMOCRATIC BLOOD

We need those liberal thinktanks to start working and we need to take back the media in order to "grow" the next "crop" of Democratic leaders.

Ted Kennedy is YESTERDAY'S Democrat. Who heard of Bill Clinton before he made that first 60 minutes interview? The fact is that we've got to stop looking BACK and start looking FORWARD.

Bill Clinton was a TEEN when Jack Kennedy was President - we've got to look to HIS generation, not Jack Kennedy's.

But we must also look to the future, and I don't see much going on there...

*WE* must TEACH today's kids that politics is important, there IS a difference, they can MAKE a difference.

We need to make sure our "pool of talent" is deep. All those young Reichpublicans™ that are beginning to sprout thanks to the right wing media dominance (and the "success" of the right wing, which has an attractiveness in and of itself) will prevail if we don't STOP looking to the past and start looking to the future.

Ted Kennedy burned his Presidential bridges decades ago. He has served his country and state well but there's no way he'll even be nominated...

[Armstead]

23. I disagree about rejecting what Kennedy repreents

It's true that aspcts of the "old school" libralism are outmoded, but the basic vision and social goals of traditional liberalism that Kennedy represents will never be out of style.

The worse things get for the average American, the better the recognition of liberalism -- "we're all in this together" -- will look.

[FreedomAngel82]

30. I don't think the old school liberalism is out

I'm very old school liberal. I consider myself an FDR, Kennedy liberal and I'm twenty-three. Kennedy is one of my favorite's. I just love Teddy.

[CWebster]

27. Like Hillary has a better shot?

at least Kennedy is on the ride side when it comes to the issues.

[LittleClarkie]

41. Let's get him on that carosel. Renew damn it, renew!

If someone lined up to take the batton from Teddy and run with it, that would be fine. Teddy is a fine and good man. What we need is a someone to take the place of that fine man when he passes on.

Yesterday's Democrat my ass. That's the kind of Democrat we need today. Just a bit younger is all, to carry the legacy into the future.

[Totally Committed]

18. He is my Senator, and a wonderful one, at that, but...

that having been said (and I purposely have not read any of the replies before answering this), he has no chance whatsoever to be POTUS. And, he will be the first one to tell you that.

If you think they did a job on Kerry, just consider what they will do to Teddy. It would be a blood-and-guts trainwreck none of us would ever want to see.

Besides, the Kennedys are the most hated and resented political entity in this country. I don't know why, so don't ask me. Only the Clintons come close to the level of hatred and resentment amongst the sheeple. I don't understand that either.

Anyway, no chance for Teddy to be POTUS. JFK, Jr. was the best bet at the Presidency, but his death ended that. Know who I'd love to see run? I would dearly love to see Bobby Kennedy, Jr. run someday.

TC

[FreedomAngel82]

31. Oh I'd like that too

I think that Bobby would probably have a better one then Teddy. I think Bobby is more in with the enviornment though then politics.

[kansasblue]

19. strangely enough there is something reassuring about him...

I think he could win a primary are too. I'm not sure I'd want him to win but I think it would be some great excitement in the Dem party.

[Tiggeroshii]

36. That's what i'm saying... nt

[Stinky The Clown]

20. Nope .... this photo is why .....

There are way too many skeletons in Ted's closets.

[Princess Turandot]

21. I don't think he would run..

even with no 'scandal' in the past..the possibility of a hat-trick which just be too appealing for some whacko.

[Armstead]

22. No -- But he should be a philosopical model for Democrats

Unfortunately, Teddy lost his chance to be president in 1968 with his accident. And his personal behavior after that was not always exemplary either.

However, as a Senator and a Democrat, he has been one of the best Democrats there is. Unlike too many Democrats, he stuck to his liberal principles with no apologies or attempts to softpeddle it.

He has always recognized that the US is a liberal country as much as a conservative one. If the Democrats had shared that, we wouldn't be in such a mess today.

[Wolf321]

45. There was no car wreck

The whole thing was invented by the Repubs over 30 years ago to destroy the Kennedy name. The MSM has known that the whole thing's a fake for a long time, but has refused to report it, because they know where their bread is buttered.

[Imagevision]

24. Chappaquiddick was a set-up to discourage him from running

brought to you by the folks who sponsored 9-11

http://downingstreetmemo.com/

[rinsd]

49. How did they do that? (nt)

[prolesunited]

25. Are you on a fishing expedition?

Do these responses surprise you?

[musical_soul]

26. He has no chance as president.

His little car wreck from years ago will be brought up and will become the whole campaign. It would be suicide to even consider trying to have him be one of the final runners in the presidental election.

[FreedomAngel82]

32. So what about the car wreck?

Just remember Teddy isn't the only one with a car wreck.

[txaslftist]

28. UMMMMMMM...nobody?

[FreedomAngel82]

29. I do!

Kennedy has been very outspoken against Iraq which will be a big thing in 2008. I wish he would run again. I would love a president Ted Kennedy and I would love to vote for a Kennedy. I wish he would so bad! He's one of the few Seators I trust (him, Kerry, Boxer, Schumer, Reid for the most part).

[wiley]

33. Not Ted nor his proxy

have a chance at being President in 2008.

[LeftyElvis]

34. No

chance at all. I like his politics but I find him rather suspect in terms of being a totally honest person.

[CityDem]

35. No Chance

He will never run again and if he did, the repubs and the media would treat him very harshly. Kennedy serves us very well in the US Senate.

[JerseygirlCT]

37. None whatsoever.

He's a universal symbol for crazy-out-there liberalism (which I rather like, myself, lol). He's far too controversial, still.

Which makes him a great, strong voice for the Democrats (he's solid in his seat, has plenty of stature and nothing to lose by speaking out), but would never get him elected in a general election.

[Humor_In_Cuneiform]

38. He chose to not run for that office a long time ago,

much to the relief of many of us, supporters of him and the other Kennedy brothers.

The writing was on the wall for another Pres Kennedy or Pres candidate Kennedy to be assassinated.

Besides the family didn't need to go through that again, let alone the nation.

[Perky]

39. NO NO NO NO NO No No No No

Kennedy would not win He is the GOP POsterboy for what a liberal is.

Theo nly way I would be grateful for such a run....


oh hell just fuhgettabout it.

[Tiggeroshii]

54. Dude. Kerry's already been smeared as the Massachussetts liberal.

He's already got that position in the eye of the Rethug. I know this is such a minority opinion, but I really think he has a chance.

[Perky]

56. Right,

Massachusetts Liberal is nothing more than code for Ted Kennedy.

[Tiggeroshii]

58. So they were calling John Kerry Ted Kennedy? n/t

[AntiCoup2K4]

40. No Kennedy will ever be President again.

Unfortunately, that question was settled in 1968 :(

[karynnj]

42. Judging from some pre-election comments,

he was looking forward to working in the Senate with a new Jr Senator and a President he liked and respected. I think he gave up any dreams of being President years ago and at least earlier this year still supported Kerry.

[ISUGRADIA]

44. none what so ever

he'd be be almost 77 when he'd take office and the man has not exactly led a healthy lifestyle through the years.

[Tiggeroshii]

63. This is a morbid way of looking at things, but...

if he ran when he was younger, you think that a healthy lifestyle would keep him from dying? This would be one of the last ventures in his life, and being old, I don't see what he'd have to lose. Even a couple years of a Kennedy could make several years of difference for this hell hole of a country we've found ourselves in.

[paineinthearse]

46. The only way Ted Kennedy will ever become PoUS is if

The Dems take the White House, he is elected President Pro Temporare of the Senate, and the Pous, VP and Speaker of the House all die at the same time.

Enough of this, let's focus on today's issues.

[flaminbats]

50. He would have a better shot in 2008 than in 1980.

After five years of President Cokehead and eight years of Clinton, Chappaquiddick even seems sightly innocent. 25 years ago it seemed equal to murder, even for many liberals. Now it would be heroic for any politician to try and save anyone from drowning, and then later to publicly show any sign of regret.

As another person said, if a saint like Kerry can't beat a rat for President..how could Ted Kennedy? The disadvantages against Kennedy would now be similar to Bob Dole's, being another elderly U.S. Senator.

[Tiggeroshii]

51. EXACTLY!

..And if Bob Dole didn't run against the big guy, he might've actually had a chance. I like your thinking!

[emdee]

52. I think that it would be wonderful!!

Can you imagine the Republicans who now think that it's not ok to speak against an administration? Think they'd hold their tongue???
Hilarious!
emdee

[Tiggeroshii]

64. Clinton was a good example of that.

But Ted would be great, in my eyes, even if he doesn't even win the nomination.

[doc03]

55. I suppose he could be President of Massachusetts

[Totally Committed]

57. Uh, for those of us here, he IS President of Massachusetts! n/t

[littlest peacemaker]

59. Not gonna happen.

Yeah, ummm...I'd vote for a bum off the streets FIRST before I'd vote for Kennedy or Hillary.

[Tiggeroshii]

60. why? n/t

[Dervill Crow]

61. He would be a wonderful president, but he could never be elected.

Dammit.

[Tiggeroshii]

62. Ya know he won 13 States in the 1980Democratic Primary including CA and NY

That's when people did think of this Chappquidick thing as murder. Now we've had a President who's done crack and someone even worse if you look at the MSM regarding Clinton in his 8 years. I think people are gonna expect bad news about whoever runs now. Being that smear campaigns are so popular, it wouldn't be much of a surprise hearing another Presidential candidate got drunk and in a car accident. The political climate has cahnged a lot, so people can argue he's not dressed for it, or you can say he's better dressed now than he was then. I argue the latter.

[Dervill Crow]

67. I think the repug smear machine is more efficient now.

You may be right, though. It very well could be that by the time 2006 rolls around people will have had a big enough buttful of the current administration that our candidate would have a chance.

Edit: I meant 2008. Wishful thinking that *'s term would be up in just a year!

[Tiggeroshii]

71. Yeah. It seems as though the Rethug-lican smear machine is at it's prime

which in my eyes evens the playing field to allow people with actual scandal in their past. I think this gives them a bigger chance. I know a lot of people don't think it's likely, but if he announced he was running or even gave a clue he would, all these people would probably give it a second thought. I was surprised, after hearing about Chappaquiddick and all the political damage it was supposed to have ensued, when I also found that Kennedy came significantly close to beating Carter in the primary. I like Carter and all, I think he was a great President, but I think Kennedy might have even had a better chance than him at beating Reagan -not that he would. But considering his past, accusations of womanizing and Chappaquiddick, I was surprised at how far he got jsut in the Primary.

I think also that if you consider midterm election results as well as the ovrall approval of the Republican party after Bush, Kennedy's popularity and reputaion as a Democratic leader may be much more largely considered b voters and other leaders within the Democratic party.

This really might be just wishful thinking, but I think it could happen. He's an old man, the level of stress he would want to put on his life and career may be minimal, but he is an astounding Senator and a prominent leader, so no matter his political plans, he'll always be a hero in my mind.

[mmonk]

65. No

though I wish someone would stand up with his ideals w/o any incidents of a questionable past that could be used as fodder.

[karynnj]

66. I think that happened in 2004

Kerry is probably as close a candidate to Kennedy as you'll get (I'm not sure if Kerry's record or Feingold's is closer, if you look at votes during the time all three were in the Senate - though I think Kerry's suppose to be in agreement over 95% of the time.) and his past was clean enough the Republicans had to make stuff up.

[liberaliraqvet26]

69. NOT IN A MILLION YEARS...

just will never happen

[nickshepDEM]

70. Not a chance.