Intelligence, education and the Kennedys

I've often said there is an difference between intelligence and education. Many a moron I know has the term doctorate behind his name. Hi Doug.

On CBS, Douglas Brinkley Marvels at 'Still Very Popular' Kennedys

Liberal historian Douglas Brinkley sang the praises of the Kennedy family on Monday's CBS This Morning, spotlighting the apparently "very important public service work" of Robert F. Kennedy's children: "It's just remarkable to me how Bobby Kennedy's kids keep making public policy influences." Brinkley also claimed that "the Kennedy name is still very popular, and....we're endlessly fascinated by the family."

The author also played up the Democratic family's Catholic background, without mentioning how several prominent members have dissented from the Church's teachings on abortion and sexuality.

The morning show brought on the presidential historian to discuss two recent developments related to the Kennedys: an internal family dispute over their former compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, and how boxes of files from Robert Kennedy's tenure as attorney general in the 1960s are currently off limits, due to the intervention of widow Ethel Kennedy. Near the end of the segment, anchor Gayle King asked, "Ted Kennedy certainly became the patriarch of the Kennedy family...Who do you see, Doug, as the leader of the Kennedy family now?"

Brinkley replied with his effusive language about the politically-active family:

BRINKLEY: I don't think there – there is no more. There – a void was left by Ted Kennedy. I mean, he was – when he would show up at Hyannis Port or in Washington, all of the rest of the Kennedy family would, kind of, galvanize around him, and he would tell them what was going on in Washington or the inside scoop on things. That doesn't exist anymore, and it's a lot of, just, different people trying to make it through life.

It's just remarkable to me how Bobby Kennedy's kids keep making public policy influences. I mean, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is an environmentalist, and Kerry Kennedy in human rights, or Rory Kennedy making documentary films. So, they're always, kind of, in the limelight, but doing very important public service work.

So, the Kennedy name is still very popular, and, remember: one out of every four Americans is Catholic, and this was the Catholic American president – JFK – and the Catholics of the world look up to the Kennedys. They like the lore. If you're a Kennedy and you go to Italy or you go to Argentina, you're treated as royalty. And in the United States, we're endlessly fascinated by the family...

Well Doug, I'm a Catholic, maybe not the best one out there but I'm trying. And I have no issues with taking Communion or criminal record, unlike many a Kennedy. And to hold up a killer who got away with manslaughter because be could by off the DA and the media is rather offensive to many Catholics or any decent human being. Most people have little knowledge of Bobby but he's using his grandfather's bootlegging money to try and shut down legit business in this country. So all I can say is Bobby, we don't need your (or any of your family member's) public service. Go the hell away and leave people alone. If you need the feeling your are accomplishing something, do like Jimmy Carter and building houses for the poor. Or God forbid, get a real job. Or just sail off MA and drop off the face of the earth.

In simple language, don't go away mad...just go away.