Senator Kennedy

What else is there to say? I regret that he suffered from a brain tumor and knew for a long time that the gig was up (most of us would much rather pass quietly in our sleep - never having any idea that the clock had run out).

On the other hand, he was one of the most harmful politicians in our history (on top of the Chappaquiddick cover-up). It's a good bet that Mary Jo Kopechne also had time to contemplate her mortality in between desperate attempts to get another breath and escape the sinking car).

The one question I have for the hagiographers in the media is this: what made Kennedy a great man? Spending decades in the Senate as a liberal demagogue, undermining our country and spending other people's money doesn't seem all that great.

Give me access to unlimited money belonging to other people and I, too, would be considered great using the Washington standard.