Texas to Teddy: You crossed a line

San Antonio Express News ^ | 10/08/2003 12:00 AM | Jonathan Gurwitz

[livesbygrace]

Memo to Sen. Ted Kennedy: To your credit, you were among the minority of Senate Democrats who had the backbone to actually vote against the Iraq war resolution one year ago. In doing so, you gave voice to millions of Americans with the best interests of the United States at heart.

You distinguished yourself from many of your feckless colleagues, including fellow Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, who voted for the resolution authorizing war and later said they didn't really mean it. Your criticism of U.S. policy has been consistent. Well done.

But when you talk about the war to depose Saddam Hussein being "a fraud" that was "made up in Texas," you're crossing the line from the manicured lawn of political dissent into a field of cow manure. The bad thing about taking a stroll though that field is that some of it sticks to your boots.

If anyone knows about creating a fraudulent story and getting the hometown boys to go along with it, certainly it would be you. We don't have too many bridges in Texas, so maybe it really does take 10 hours to notify the police after you've driven off one and a female companion drowns in your car. And maybe anyone else who was at the wheel also would have avoided jail time for manslaughter. Anyhow, it's a good tale.

It's not just your insinuation that Texans gave the world the problems in Iraq — as though it were the Garden of Eden under Saddam — but the history that accompanies that accusation and your name. No one here will ever forget that dreadful day 40 years ago. Texas is inextricably linked to one of our nation's darkest episodes, to a terrible personal tragedy for you and your family. It remains a blot on Texas history.

So when you talk about wars being cooked up in Texas, it reminds folks down here about that day in 1963 and makes us think that maybe you believe, like Oliver Stone and Barr McClellan, that LBJ had your brother murdered to manufacture another unpopular war. Yes, LBJ picked his dogs up by their ears and, by some accounts, grabbed a few women's rears. LBJ was a lot of things, but he was no murderer and no traitor to this country.

That word "fraud." That's a strong word. There's a Frenchman who wrote a book about Sept. 11, 2001. He called it "L'Effroyable Imposture." They tell me this means "the appalling fraud." This old boy says we Americans crashed those planes all on our own to — you guessed it — manufacture a war. I'm not much good at reading French, but I'll bet you a hill of fire ants he thinks this fraud was made up in Texas too.

If you ever think of retiring from the Senate, there may be a future for you writing books in France.

That thought has probably crossed your mind with the same success as armadillos crossing the interstate.

If the French aren't talking about Texas, then they, like a lot of folks, like to talk to about cowboys. They talk about cowboy diplomacy, but they don't mean it in a good way. We don't understand that down here.

Gene Autry, another Texan, came up with something he called the Cowboy Code: "A cowboy must never take unfair advantage of an enemy, go back on his word or betray a trust confided in him. He must always tell the truth, be gentle with children, the elderly and animals. He must not possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. He must help people in distress. He must be a good worker. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits. He must respect women, parents and his nation's laws. The Cowboy is a patriot."

To the average person, those sound like pretty fair words to live by. Which is why Americans will always admire tobacco-chewing cowboys with scuffed up boots more than martini-swilling bureaucrats in three-piece suits.

And, Ted, one more thing — don't mess with Texas.

Respectfully,

Texas

[livesbygrace]

This is great!

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[FreePaul]

So, for all of Fat Ted's sins George H. W. Bush has selected him to receive an award from Texas A & M University. Why does the Bush family think that they have to suck up to the Kennedys.

[jimt]

Can anybody explain why GHW Bush is going to present the Hero of Chappaquidic a lifetime service award at Texas A & M? Unbelievable but true !

[JennysCool]

Ping-ness.

[xzins]

With respect.

Good article.

[drstevej]

NEW!    

• The Chappaquiddick Dunking Booth™ where CINO politicians are made to sit in a chair that looks like the front seat of Teddy Kennedy's car. The sign above it says: "Every abortion is another Chappaquiddick, you walk away but the passenger is killed!"
  

http://www.freerepublic.com/~drstevej/

[putupon]

We don't have too many bridges in Texas, so maybe it really does take 10 hours to notify the police after you've driven off one and a female companion drowns in your car.

Almost 40 years it took for a leftist to finally mention Chappaquiddick and the drowned bimbo; the author must be one POed commie.

[MadelineZapeezda]

.......and the drowned bimbo

I think that's a bit cruel. This is about Kennedy

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

>> "A cowboy must never take unfair advantage of an enemy, go back on his word or betray a trust confided in him. He must always tell the truth, be gentle with children, the elderly and animals. He must not possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. He must help people in distress. He must be a good worker. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action and personal habits. He must respect women, parents and his nation's laws. The Cowboy is a patriot."


Can I be the Honorary Texas Consul to Massachusetts?

[putupon]

You ride with a Kennedy, you're a bimbo.

[.cnI redruM]

>>>>>> "Every abortion is another Chappaquiddick, you walk away but the passenger is killed!"

Perfect.

[ladyinred]

I love this!
Great find!

[38special]

[FreedomPoster]

I really don't understand that, and am disappointed to see it happening.

[TonyRo76]

I LOVE IT!

God bless Texas!!

[SeeRushToldU_So]

One more before I go.......

[new cruelty]

LOL, nice f.o.a.d. to the chappaquiddick kid.

[Shanda]

My Father once told me that George Bush Sr. was considered a liberal Republican and many people thought Reagan had made a puzzling mistake in selecting him as VP.

I now know exactly what Daddy meant by Bush being a liberal Republican. Anyone who chooses to honor Ted kennedy is himself dishonorable. Teddy really is that despicable.

[Ditto]

Which is why Americans will always admire tobacco-chewing cowboys with scuffed up boots more than martini-swilling bureaucrats in three-piece suits.

Zing!

[Allegra]

Thought y'all would like this...

[montag813]

I think that's a bit cruel. This is about Kennedy

RIP Mary Jo, but yes she was a bimbo, as is any woman who sleeps with a married man.

[Shanda]

You make a good point. Having sex with another woman's husband is wrong, for that matter sleeping with anyone who is not your spouse is also wrong.

I think I would cut Mary Jo a little bit of slack because I think she was probably star struck. Senator Kennedy was thought to be a shoo-in as the next president. A lot of otherwise decent girls might be tempted. As far as I know, she didn't sleep with Kennedy but did go with him to a secluded spot which is also a sign of poor judgement.

[tbpiper]

I really don't understand that, and am disappointed to see it happening.

I haven't made an effort to undrstand it yet, but I can see some opportunities. Chief of which is that Teddy will have to come to Texas to accept an award (which I's fairly sure he covets) from the father of a man he calls a fraud. The emotional conflict between his desire to be lauded and the humiliation of having to be "beholden'" to a Bush and say gratious things about Texas is liable to drive him to drink.

[bonfire]

"DRIVE him to DRINK"

Where do I start....... :)

[MountainYankee]

Make me an Honorary Texan.....

[Flyer]

A bump for Jonathan Gurwitz.

COWBOY UP!

[cardinal4]

say gratious things about Texas is liable to drive him to drink.

Its too late..

[TexasCajun]

When is Teddy coming to TEXAS A&M to get his award from the BUSH Presidental Library on campus?

What the hell is that all about anyway! Geezzzz

[TXnMA]

Can I be the Honorary Texas Consul to Massachusetts?

Pardner, I'd be glad for you to take my (now-vacated) place!

In case you haven't checked my FRProfile, my FRName stands for "Texan in Massachusetts" -- acquired during my 20-year "exile" in Kennedy-land... :-(

[Mind-numbed Robot]

I enjoyed the article although Mr. Gurwitz is wrong about the war and wrong about LBJ's involvement in the Kennedy assassination. A new book soon to be out will shed a lot of new light on that.

[r9etb]

As far as I know, she didn't sleep with Kennedy but did go with him to a secluded spot which is also a sign of poor judgement.

Can't get much more secluded than under a footbridge....

[deport]

http://rev.tamu.edu/stories/03/100303-10.html

Nov. 7, 2003......

Others include: Gorbachev; Helmut Kohl

[Xenalyte]

Ummm . . . because Dubya isn't as socially conservative as he likes to be portrayed? (she said, knowing full well the flame war that would ignite)

[deport]

Ummm . . . because Dubya isn't as socially conservative as he likes to be portrayed?

---

What does Dubya and his conservative status have to do with President GWH Bush and his honoring of Ted Kennedy?

[Xenalyte]

My mistyping. Big Bush is every bit as socially conservative as Dubya.

[JethroHathAWay]

Which is why Americans will always admire tobacco-chewing cowboys with scuffed up boots

I donot chew, but my boots have a million miles of Texas on them

[Leatherneck_MT]

I don't know for sure, but maybe this is the reason.

Mrk 5, 43-48

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

[Redbob]

"...the manicured lawn of political dissent..."

Why do you suppose the grass is so green on that lawn?

[jimt]

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

That's the most logical explanation I've seen - but a lifetime achivement award? Maybe I'm only seeing it from a biased viewpoint, but nearly all of Teddy's "achievements" have been evil, I believe. Does anybody know of any good ones ?

[Leatherneck_MT]

He has stayed out of the presidential races as a candidate? :)

[newgeezer]

but a lifetime achivement award?

The original post mentioned a lifetime service (not "achievement") award. If that's really what's being presented -- by the way, why at Texas A&M? -- it may be splitting hairs but, it is a fact that the b*st*rd has spent a lifetime in what's commonly called "public service."

To me, it's the same as giving Fidel Castro a "lifetime service award."

[JRjr]

Maybe George Bush, the elder, can take Teddy with him on a parachute jump. As I recall it was at A&M where he made his jump celebrating his 75th birthday. They'll have to get a parachute large enough to float down a jeep to handle Teddy's bulk. I'd not let any Aggies pack it for him, lest there be a "major malfunction."

[Leatherneck_MT]

Oh I like that idea :)

[newgeezer]

Then again, I see where its formal name is the 2003 George Bush Award for Excellence in Public Service.

So, I too am left wondering ... "Excellence"??!!

[Theodore R.]

Could it be that George Herbet Walker Bush and Edward Moore Kennedy have something in common? Both were born in liberal MA. Usually it is the Bushes who suck up to the Kennedys, not the other way around.

[livesbygrace]

I was stumped for awhile on why W never seems to answer his critics. Then one day I was listening to a sermon on David, (King David in the O.T.), and his behavior was similiar in dealing with his enemies. He let his reputation be in God's hands.

[hunter112]

You ride with a Kennedy, you're a bimbo.

Is Arnold included in that? I think he's taking the Kennedys for a ride right now! You didn't see Teddy in CA hugging Grayout!

[putupon]

I think he's taking the Kennedys for a ride right now!

Somebodys getting taken for a ride, I hope it will be the Kennedys.

Given the leftward tilt of the GOP now, I'm afraid we'll al wake up one day and realize we've been morphed into what the 'RATs were about 15 years ago.

[CyberAnt]

Excellent!