RIP Bobby Kennedy

[Bob Juch]

40 years ago today.

The last time before now when I thought we'd elect a great President.

[etaoin22]

Still a shocker at this great time and place.

"Now it's on to Chicago, and let's win there".


One of the last American politicians to have a genuine world-wide following, as well.

[earendel]

Slate has an article that compares the 1968 campaign to this year's. Not in so many words, but it does talk about the relationship between Kennedy and Gene McCarthy during the nominating process and draws some interesting parallels between the types of supporters the two men drew and those attracted by Obama and Clinton this year. The article concludes that McCarthy's post-assassination gaffes - an ill-advised statement that Kennedy had brought the assassination on himself because of his support for Israel; a statement that he would be willing to step aside in favor of Ted Kennedy but would never have done so for Bobby; and a refusal to reach out to Kennedy's downheartened followers - cost him the nomination and sowed the seeds for a divided convention that assured Nixon of victory in the fall.

http://www.slate.com/id/2192865/

[silverscreenselect]

40 years ago today.

The last time before now when I thought we'd elect a great President.

I would hesitate to label John McCain as a "great" President. He might be a good one.

Obama, on the other hand, could have a lot of people on both sides of the aisle looking back to George W. Bush's administration as the "good old days."