Posted on 05/20/2008 10:20:12 AM PDT by misterrob
Moderator’s note:This was the first real thread reporting the news today. It was locked for reasons that should be obvious to everyone by now. The Moderator who locked it is the level-headed Mod. I am the arbitrary and capricious Mod. If you choose to martyr yourself I am happy to oblige.
US Senator Edward M. Kennedy, the veteran lawmaker from Massachusetts who is the last surviving brother in the legendary Kennedy family, has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, his doctors said today.
Specialists in Boston and around the country said the information released indicated that Kennedy has terminal cancer and might have only a limited time to live.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
Despite the fact that Senator Kennedy is not liked for lots of obvious reasons, it still is sad if he is diagnosed as having a cancer that might be incurable. :-( He is truly the elder statesman of the Kennedy clan, especially given the untimely deaths of one brother from a World War II weapons accident and two brothers assassinated at the height of their political powers.
I don’t know if Kennedy had a melanoma. Other freepers probably know.
Somewhat off topic, I hope the family is watching his ex-wife Joan. She’s had a difficult time.
“Damage to the left parietal lobe can result in what is called “Gerstmann’s Syndrome.” It includes right-left confusion, difficulty with writing (agraphia) and difficulty with mathematics (acalculia). It can also produce disorders of language (aphasia) and the inability to perceive objects normally (agnosia).”
Perhaps that explains his sponsorship of the Illegal Immigrant Amnesty bill. McCain should have himself checked for the same.
There's no telling, but a lot of times tumors are asymptomatic, unfortunately. The seizure may have been the first symptom. People usually don't get brain scans as part of a regular check up. Kennedy indulged heavily, and probably didn't feel good, anyway, so he had probably learned to tune out pain from hangovers, etc.
[I hate cancer. Can I just say that?]
I watched both of my parents die of it.
Why they can’t find cures after all these years is unbelievable. All the money that is wasted on unimportant things!
Ted has been the ‘father’ figure for the Kennedy family for many years. This will be a tragedy for all of them.
What I would prefer doesn't change anything in any way. If anyone thinks ill or hateful thoughts about my friend it hurts him not. That's their problem, not his or mine.
If I were to ever wish anything for TK, it would be that he had had a real father, one that could have actually given him the kind of love that all human beings need and deserve. He didn't, mores the pity.
I would hope that he makes peace with himself while he is alive. I suspect that he is, and has been a rather tortured soul. But that is for him to do, not me.
Go ahead and zot my account. If a comment like the one that I just made is too rough for FR, I really shouldn’t be here.
I heard from a nurse at a fairly large hospital say that she had never seen someone beat this type of cancer.
When the diagnosis and prognosis come in like this, it becomes a matter of humanity, not politics. God loves us all: me, potlatch, library user, and Teddy Kennedy.
I join you in praying for him, just as Christ would ask us to do.
Your ignorance of grammar makes your words absurd.
.
A tough way to go out
A bit too excessive on food and drink at any age can raise your risk factors
He has gotten up in years and lived a full life to be sure
Yes, I pray each day for all who need it. God knows their names.
He died of cancer. Beyond an obituary in the local paper, there was no media notice of his death. No maudlin tears, no breathless praise.
There's a difference between a man and a villain. I'll waste no sympathy on the latter.
You DO know Sen Biden also had a brain tumor years ago. He was fortunate that it was operable. Sen Kennedy doesn’t sound like he has the same good fortune.
I actually have a positive Kennedy experience to share (hard as it may be). I went to a small Christian school up in the Northern Virginia area...and one of our assignments for Civics class was for us to contact a Senator’s office. I was given Ted Kennedy and of course I moaned and groaned about it. Hey, I might have been only a Sophmore or Junior at the time and wasn’t into politics as much as I am now, but I knew enough to know that Senator Kennedy was one of the “bad guys.”
So imagine my surprise when I got this really great response back from his office thanking me for my interest and it included policy and position papers and some really fantastic shots of the Senator and such. Well that colored me impressed with his staff at least! Only a few Senators responded to the queries my fellow classmates sent out and mine was by far the most comprehensive and it earned me a nice grade for that assignment. :-)
As for the rest of it...
While I think it’s clear that all of us take issue with Senator Kennedy’s political views and affiliations, that’s not what this is about.
This is about a man, a father, a husband, an uncle, a friend to many who received devastating news. I hurt for those close to him during this very trying time and I am ashamed to associate myself with those who take pot shots at someone when they’re down.
Remember how angry we were when the lefty wackos wished Cheney’s heart would give out? How incensed we were? It’s nothing more than extreme hypocrisy for us to do it to one of their icons and then sputter and complain when they wish ill befall one of ours. Frankly I hold our side to a much higher standard of conduct and I’m disappointed when we take a nosedive into the mud and forget what really matters.
I believe that there’s a time and place for politics...and this isn’t it. My best wishes, thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of Senator Kennedy.
Even Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot and the Dear Leader in North Korea?/Just Asking - seoul62.........
You and I posted at the same time.
He’s had great wealth and power in his life along with the tragic loss of many family members.
And he’s being given the time to make his peace with God, everyone doesn’t get that ‘time’.
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