sic transit stupor mundi

that is, so passeth the wonder of the world...but the wonder is mostly why he is so exalted.

What am I on about? Ted Kennedy, last and least of a stupendous clutch, has finally popped his clogs, and is now being adulated in fountains of empty rhetoric all over the TV screens, rather like an eruption of shaken champagne - spectacular, foaming, but essentially nothing but froth and bubbles. Much of the left are reacting like their last best hope has suddenly been snatched away, and nothing is left but doom and destruction.

When you try to focus on why he was so wonderful, and what was his great achievement, well, there's quite a bit of umming and ahhing, and descriptions of him as the Greatest Legislator of Our Times, and how No Progressive Laws passed without his influence, and he was a Liberal Lion. But for specifics? not so much. There's also a good deal of havering, and describing his life as a 'great struggle between light and dark' and suchlike, most of which is I think referring to Chappaquiddik, and his middle-age hedonistic splurge (as though this was not something indulged by essentially the whole american upper class of that time - and since).

But really, from what I can see, he rode the coattails, and reputation, of his far more dynamic brothers for all his life, to cover for a modest intellect, and a talent mostly for schmoozing and making friends. Which, it turns out, is an essential quality for senatorial government here, and I'm sure he did achieve a certain amount of success through his influence and friendships, but hardly of the quantity or quality to deserve the ringing accolades.

On the other hand, his heart was always in the right place - no small achievement for a son of privilege, and the last, most spoiled son of the dynasty - and he DID parlay his modest talents into a long and influential career, which is no small beer. Plus of course, his greatest talent, not getting shot.


Sorry, I had another screed in my mind about terrorism and the GWOT, but that will have to wait for another day ... your regular foaming at the mouth should be resumed tomorrow :)