General Discussion

H2O Man

(79,097 posts)

43. The Kennedy family

Mon Mar 9, 2015, 04:21 PM

Mar 2015

can be called a dynasty, of course, but they had one feature that separated them from others: they did not seek to benefit financially from their service in government. That includes everything from seeking to promote bills that benefitted their family's investment, to accepting a pay check for serving in the House, Senate and/or White House.

I don't believe that Ted Kennedy would have been a good president. He was a great US Senator -- I think he ranks high among the greatest ever -- but I'm glad he neverbecame President of the United States.

An interesting footnote: LBJ was the first US President to really cross the line of "good taste" in the context of trying to make big money off his having been president, after he left office.

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On Dynasties [View all] H2O Man Mar 2015 OP

Rec! Cooley Hurd Mar 2015 #1

Thank you. H2O Man Mar 2015 #16

Faced with two dynasties I will vote for the dynasty that I feel closest to. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #2

Very short sighted response GummyBearz Mar 2015 #7

See Post 9/NT DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #10

Right. H2O Man Mar 2015 #18

HBO or Showtime? H2O Man Mar 2015 #17

Americans are always looking for an excuse not to think about politics BeyondGeography Mar 2015 #3

It's an issue H2O Man Mar 2015 #19

I believe our culture is addicted to celebrity. It's a lot easier than thinking critically. NYC_SKP Mar 2015 #4

Good points! H2O Man Mar 2015 #20

And to nostalgia. And to money. Orsino Mar 2015 #31

considering that bush was VP under reagan, and every election since has featured a bush ND-Dem Mar 2015 #5

Ugh. Agschmid Mar 2015 #22

Very interesting! H2O Man Mar 2015 #23

Bush family can be considered a dynasty, mrdmk Mar 2015 #6

Good points. H2O Man Mar 2015 #24

With all the worst features of the Borgias hifiguy Mar 2015 #46

Not really much of an issue for me. Tierra_y_Libertad Mar 2015 #8

Stop making sense! HERVEPA Mar 2015 #27

Most often, say with H2O Man Mar 2015 #62

The Bushes are dynasties/legacies DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #9

It seems rather unlikely, H2O Man Mar 2015 #33

I agree...But the Clintons are starting a dynasty if you want to call it that. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #34

The Bush family has. H2O Man Mar 2015 #36

According to Oxford Reference: John Poet Mar 2015 #11

Wrong type of dynasty. F4lconF16 Mar 2015 #28

I never use H2O Man Mar 2015 #35

Of course it was tongue in cheek. John Poet Mar 2015 #53

Well, that Oxford H2O Man Mar 2015 #57

we did survive the Addams family bigtree Mar 2015 #12

That was a strange show, H2O Man Mar 2015 #37

'dynasties' bigtree Mar 2015 #41

The Kennedy family H2O Man Mar 2015 #43

This dynamic is not healthy for society. n/t Throd Mar 2015 #13

It's interesting to consider H2O Man Mar 2015 #45

Pretty simple...Only Dynasties can bring in enough money. Bush got theirs during the Nazi libdem4life Mar 2015 #14

Very interesting H2O Man Mar 2015 #47

It was daunting to revisit that concept some decades later...but looking at the descriptions libdem4life Mar 2015 #51

no, feudalism had limits ... MisterP Mar 2015 #15

good points. H2O Man Mar 2015 #48

There was a recent foaming at the mouth thread about this issue Capt. Obvious Mar 2015 #21

Rubin Carter often quoted H2O Man Mar 2015 #49

Dynasty wouldn't worry me so much if they got some economic issues and environmental issues right. mmonk Mar 2015 #25

Interesting. H2O Man Mar 2015 #60

Yep. True that. Track records mean alot in this regard. mmonk Mar 2015 #63

Any/ every candidate's positions H2O Man Mar 2015 #65

Yes indeed. democrank Mar 2015 #26

Fresh air H2O Man Mar 2015 #61

Clinton lost in 2008. Jeb Bush will probably lose to Scott Walker. geek tragedy Mar 2015 #29

As noted very clearly H2O Man Mar 2015 #38

I can't imagine myself voting for or against a candidate merely due to blood. LanternWaste Mar 2015 #30

Good for you. H2O Man Mar 2015 #39

When valid issues are brought up, I certainly will. LanternWaste Mar 2015 #40

Perhaps you might H2O Man Mar 2015 #42

Hillary's main advantages are 1.) Name Recognition and 2.) Money. Maedhros Mar 2015 #32

That's true. H2O Man Mar 2015 #64

After Libya, I don't see Hillary as any more or less likely that Jeb Bush Maedhros Mar 2015 #66

I certainly view Reagan & Bush as key turning points JonLP24 Mar 2015 #44

HHH was an outstanding US Senator. H2O Man Mar 2015 #67

Thanks JonLP24 Mar 2015 #71

Bill Clinton's father died before he was born . Hillary's father owned a small business. DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #50

Chelsea says she is very open to running also. That is how dynasties begin. I have no problem sabrina 1 Mar 2015 #54

Respectfully disagree. H2O Man Mar 2015 #68

Poor sentence construction on my part DemocratSinceBirth Mar 2015 #70

Poor humor attempt on my part! H2O Man Mar 2015 #72

All In with Chris Hayes H2O Man Mar 2015 #52

America has a history of political dynasties - this isn't new. Drunken Irishman Mar 2015 #55

Very good! H2O Man Mar 2015 #56

People are trying to formulate excuses for hereditary power and privilege. Not so easy to do. Romulox Mar 2015 #58

It's curious. H2O Man Mar 2015 #69

It's not healthy. alarimer Mar 2015 #59

Very good. H2O Man Mar 2015 #73