January 14, 2005
Bedtime For Teddy
The only time Ted Kennedy should open his mouth is to stick a gin bottle in it...
Senator Ted Kennedy, faking a moment of clarity at the National Press Club, offered his analysis on various matters of the day ranging from the 2004 election, to the new Senate members, to the future of the *hic* Dema...Demi.. Demma... *hic* ...err his party.
Ted Kennedy still gets mileage because his last name is associated with politics, both good and bad, tragedy, and Americana. He is often given gravitas as the Democrat "old lion", old defender and avatar of his party. Well, I've seen Animal Planet, and you know what happens to the old lion? He gets eaten by a pack of hyenas. While you'd figure the National Press Club is as close to a pack of hyenas as the old Democrat lion was bound to encounter, they did not take the opportunity to devour him. Perhaps they should have.
Kennedy has fallen into the same trap many Democrats have - replaying a not so close election over in their minds so many times they don't see the forest anymore, just trees. Kennedy noted how a swing of just 60,000 votes in Ohio could have given Kerry the state. True. But a swing of 60,000 votes in Pennsylvania could have given Bush the state. Instead of recognizing what is, Kennedy is fascinated by what if.
"We were remiss in not talking more directly about them about the fundamental ideals that guide our progressive policies," he said. He added that Kerry's loss also showed that Democrats must communicate better with voters on issues of deep conscience, including abortion, without yielding the party's support for a woman's right to choose.
This is the kind of thinking that Kennedy and other old lions of the left think will return their party to glory - not that their positions are wrong, or out of favor, but they simply didn't explain their enlightened positions to the unwashed masses. Nobody accuses Bush of being an effective communicator - how does that guy keep winning elections and bleeding the national ranks of Democrats?
Kennedy also called for greater federal support for college costs, saying every student who is admitted to college should be guaranteed the cost of earning a degree.
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you reason for the grotesque costs of higher education in this country - quod erat demonstratum. Name a single thing in capitalist society that will be kept a reasonable cost if you told the seller that whatever they charged, someone would guarantee it's purchase. If I put a tin pot on eBay, it might sell for five dollars - but if I was told that whatever I charged - five, ten, ten-thousand - the federal government would guarantee the cost - why would I sell it for less than the most I could charge? While the cost of education is a whole blog topic in itself, it is government subsidization of costs that is driving the cost of eduction up.
Kennedy also mangled the name of the Democrats' new star, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, calling him "Osama bin ? Osama ? Obama."
Another round for the house, on Ted...
Posted by MEC2 at January 14, 2005 12:26 AM