Kennedy and Public Service
Sen. Edward Kennedy's passing late last night means many things to many people. But I think for public servants of all stripes, whether they work for government or non-profits, or whether they volunteer, it's a sad moment. Kennedy embodied in many ways both the dedication and the complications of his brother's message of public service. It's obviously difficult to be an exemplar, and that burden was clearly something Kennedy struggled with in his personal and his public life. But he kept working at public service long after it was clear that he would never attain the glamour of the presidency, and through many devastating family tragedies, when he could have made more money, been the object of less frustration and argument, and been closer to his family by working in the private sector. One of his last acts as a Senator was to come to Washington, D.C. for the signing of legislation dedicated to promoting public service among Americans of every walk of life.
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Throughout my 30 years in Federal Service, I have always been impressed with Senator Kennedy's knowledge, experience, and caring...he was always an advocate for civil service and Civil Servants. He will be missed--by all Americans, be they Red, Blue, Right, Left or Center. He was a true American working for all Americans! God Bless the Kennedy family on this terrible loss.
A Career Fed Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 10:30 AMOhhh please.. Here's a guy that lack any personal morals whether it was mayjoe, his antics with women in Georgetown or the rape that occurred at his house in Florida.
dan m ketter Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 12:18 PMHis family did everything they could not to pay taxes by skipping generations while at the same time contending that taxes were too low
Why does it seem that almost every media organization that is not explicitely Republican or conservative has a definite liberal bent? I would never describe myself, a government employee, or Ted Kennedy, as a "public servant". And since when are employees of non-profit organizations public servants?
Ted Kennedy was an exemplar of many things, but not public service. It is not a sad day for this "public servant". For many others of my political stripes, Ted Kennedy will not be missed.
Navy Fed Posted Wednesday, August 26, 2009 3:17 PMTed Kennedy, like many of us, had both good and bad aspects. So, I wonder if Cadillac Ed (as he was known at UVA) is "up there" with Mary Jo or "down there" with those with whom he shared many traits. Unlike most of us who must pay for our youthful indiscretions and more serious misdeeds, he was saved from such plebeian fates by his family name and family wealth.
EJC in ATL Posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 8:25 AMOne of the things that, for me, said a lot about "the least of the big four Kennedy brothers" was, years ago, his claiming the primacy of public education for our children (over vouchering, I believe the issue was) while at the same time sending his children to private schools.
I'm not rich and neither is my family (my father didn't hit it big as a rum-runner during Prohibition, and wasn't a political mover and shaker like Ted's), so maybe I'm a little jealous. But I find it both disingenuous and somewhat galling when rich folk sanctimonously preach at me about how I should conduct my affairs, while they remain safely above such trifles, insulated as they are by the R-50 of greenbacks.
I posted a length tribute on HLSWatch.com
William R. Cumming Posted Thursday, August 27, 2009 9:32 AMHowever, despite being critical of those who work for the government out of a sense of "Noblise Oblige [sic]" this Senator Kennedy accomplished a great deal and clearly was a great SENATOR. His shoes as a Senator unlikely to be filled for many years! Thanks to the Kennedy family for all your gifts to the nation.
Speak it EJC in ATL, like most in congress/senate, the overarching concern is how to maitain their power base and be re-elected. He was a man that used his power and influence to self promote...nothing more or less.
rick Posted Friday, August 28, 2009 7:03 AM