Why I will miss Ted Kennedy

While I am NOT one of those people who was ever all that enamored with JFK, RFK, Jackie, JFK Jr (although that was a FINE specimen of manhood) "Camelot" or a believer in the "Kennedy Mystique" I am quite heartbroken about Ted Kennedy's recent death and his departure from American Politics. Why am I so sad? Because Ted Kennedy's death represents the death of the NORMAL political process in this country and he represents the end of an era of true "service" to constituents and the least powerful in a society

Ted Kennedy was the wealthy scion of a ridiculously powerful family. The family had a sorted and pretty nefarious past (since let's not even begin to discuss the many questionably legal ways they amassed their fortune...or their early attempts at election rigging). "Teddy" the baby of the family, the one who partied a little too hard, wasn't quite as smart, handsome or driven as his big brothers ended up ultimately making all the Kennedy dreams of political service and power come to fruition. He also had a big old heap of familial responsibility, ambitions and desires forced on him after the death and assinations of his older brothers. He was a DEEPLY flawed man (I am not about to defend his actions at Chappaquiddick, or his drinking and notorious womanizing) who ultimately sought and I believe found redemption in his strong Catholic faith and in a second chance at love with his second wife. (for all those who will flame me on this one...remember no matter how jacked up his actions were...Vengeance is mine saith the Lord).

What was interesting and special about Ted Kennedy to me (and why I will miss him and that breed of politician) was that he had immense personal wealth...yet spent his entire political life fighting for those less fortunate. After a rocky and slow start in the senate...he buckled down and became a great legislator. He studied, he sought to understand the issues (not just fight from a partisan perspective), he worked with people on both sides of the aisle in short he was a servant of the people who elected him to office. It is nearly impossible to look at major legislation of the past 30 years and not see the stamp of Ted Kennedy all over things that helped everyday, non-connected Americans (American with Disabilities Act, Minimum wage expansion, and of course his pet issue health care). I believe I read somewhere that he sponsored or co-sponsored over 300 bills. The current health care reform debate is truly lacking because of his absence...and there has been no other politician who has stepped up to the plate to take on his important role of negotiator and deal maker. And watching his funeral procession and the multitudes of people who came to pay their respects you can't deny that he TRULY touched people (especially his constituents). Ted Kennedy was a true public servant and that is an exceedingly rare thing to see today.

Today's politicians are different. First we have become so divided as a nation that the concept of "bipartisanship" is as rare as Bigfoot riding a Unicorn to the lost city of Atlantis. the 24hr news cycle and the growth of the far right (and to a lesser extent far left) media outlets don't allow a politician to simply seek the best ideas from both sides and work towards a compromise. You are seen as weak or a party traitor if you agree with someone who does not have the same letter in front of their state designation. This has weakened our whole political discourse. We can no longer have the best ideas...we simply have to follow the party line. Second, politics has become so much more about defending corporate interest (on both sides of the political spectrum) that the needs of a politician's individual constituents are irrelevant unless they are big donors who can afford $1,000+ a plate fundraisers. And finally, we have forgotten that politics is not about financial gain and power but about SERVICE.

Ted Kennedy was a flawed man...and not by any means a perfect politician, but no one can deny that he (and his family as a whole) have an amazing spirit of service and a commitment to helping those who are less fortunate than they. That spirit and his actions made America a better place for everyone. I will miss having someone with those ideals and that determination and drive working for all of us in Washington. I hope the reflections of Ted Kennedy from this past few weeks and reflections on the better parts of his political life will inspire a new generation of politicians who will change the current tone and attitude that corrupts the politics of this country. May people remember prior to entering politics (as I believe Ted Kennedy did) the words of Luke 12:48...From everyone who has been given much, much will be required, and to whom they entrusted much of him they will ask all the more.

So goodbye Teddy....thanks for your service and may you finally rest in Peace.