tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post4086047909938937596..comments2024-03-23T20:59:45.060-05:00Comments on Mid-Life Thoughts from Bob: So Long to a SenatorBobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15978016568840318921noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post-14068104180397539842009-09-01T16:27:17.728-05:002009-09-01T16:27:17.728-05:00Fantastic post Bob! I feel the same way. He came...Fantastic post Bob! I feel the same way. He came from the old school where you disagreed on the floor and went out and had a beer later. He and Reagan were great friends.<br /><br />Too many liberals and conservatives need to take a chill pill and relaxSteve H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/09428882214098606433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post-50013392751661604782009-08-30T18:15:55.221-05:002009-08-30T18:15:55.221-05:00I really view his story as a tale of some redempti...I really view his story as a tale of some redemption. I think the Kopechne incident, the William Smith incident, and probably a lot more than we don't know (wasn't that first wife haunted and in pain for most of her life) tells me that this was a man who might have accomplished a lot and lived through a lot of tragedy, but who still couldn't put aside his ethical demons.<br /><br />Something... that love for the second wife? The wisdom we all get from looking back and wishing we could do it all over again? Something turned those last 20 or so years around to help redeem the lifetime. I loved all the stories of kindness, across the aisles, and with allies and young folks, that had never been made public before.<br /><br />Not a big fan of much of his lifetime, but, in addition to the kindness, you can never say that he cared and tried to do what he could to raise the standard of living for those who don't have wealth in this country. <br /><br />Good post, Bob.quidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06954222271507913856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post-26081306752285078532009-08-29T18:13:20.400-05:002009-08-29T18:13:20.400-05:00You really are able to look at things squarely and...You really are able to look at things squarely and fairly. You know, I really, really respect that about you.Debbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09531125606268748793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post-35596375279424844142009-08-29T16:38:42.644-05:002009-08-29T16:38:42.644-05:00Bob, you again prove to be a conservative with a c...Bob, you again prove to be a conservative with a conscience. Thanks.Hal Johnsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17350917997504370743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post-9996289121204978192009-08-29T16:03:20.152-05:002009-08-29T16:03:20.152-05:00You know, Bob, I watched it, too, as I was cleanin...You know, Bob, I watched it, too, as I was cleaning my fish tanks. I was struck by all the things I never knew about the man, admirable things.<br /><br />No, I didn't agree with most of his politics and I will always feel he got away with, basically, killing someone due to his family and privilege.<br /><br />However, who are we to judge? As flawed humans can't we turn our lives around and gain redemption by how we live our lives as we move forward? Senator Kennedy did just that. <br /><br />When I think of how he became a father to the children of his dead brothers, all the personal stories of things he did for others, tbe things he did for the victim families of 911 who came from his State, I'm left with a new respect for the man. <br /><br />These were little but meaningful personal things that were never showy and done from a sense of personal obligation.<br /><br />Like you, I was struck by the disparate assembly of people at his funeral Mass. <br /><br />This was a man who was beloved and respected by not only his family and friends, but by his colleagues and all the people whose lives he touched in a personal way.Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17133743056974995270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2987040098977019674.post-19030455989803643192009-08-29T15:45:06.744-05:002009-08-29T15:45:06.744-05:00Great summation!Great summation!Andrewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12494823779999456396noreply@blogger.com