The Kennedys, and unintended consequences

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TheHeretic -> The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/7/2011 8:50:50 PM)
Despite the entertaining howls of denial, and wonderful leaps of indignation, it is well established that Teddy Kennedy cost the Democrats their 60 seat majority in the Senate as an unintended consequence of being a partisan prick in '04. If he had not lobbied to change the rules for filling a vacant seat in '04, there never would have been an election for Scott Brown to win. That may very well pale in comparison to an alleged fuck up by another brother, nearly 50 years ago. Michael Reagan, son of President Reagan, is telling an interesting story about what happened when a Kennedy got pissy about a damn actor who kept running his mouth; quote: Dad explained that CBS hadn't canceled the highly rated show. Instead, GE had pulled the plug. As the company was negotiating some government contracts, Bobby Kennedy, the attorney general of the United States, bluntly informed GE that if the company wished to do business with the U.S. government, it would get rid of "General Electric Theater" and fire the host. Dad had criticized the Kennedy administration in some of his speeches, and the administration fought back through the president's brother. Within 48 hours of Bobby Kennedy's call, Ronald Reagan was out of a job. The Reagan Report Newly unemployed, Ronald Reagan turned his time to politics, working for Goldwater, winning two terms as California Governor and then... well, we know what he did after that. The Kennedy Legacy is with us, huh?

Sanity -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/7/2011 9:07:03 PM)
Great article, Rich. In the recent past there were a lot of people unable or unwilling to face such realities as the article discusses but it could be thats changing to some degree.

DomKen -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 6:29:12 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheHeretic alleged I think this is the key word in the hole post. The actual facts are that Reagan was close friends with Lemuel Boulware a senior exec at GE (the source of his political philosophy). Boulware was extraordinarily unlikely to fire Reagan at the insistence of the Kennedy's. However the shows ratings had declined and Reagan was being investigated by the DoJ for anti trust violations from his time as SAG president. That scandal was much more likely the impetus for canceling the show.

rulemylife -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 7:12:08 AM)
What a laughable crock of shit. Michael Reagan excoriating GE, and by extension the Obama administration, for GE's business deals in Iran while conveniently neglecting to mention his father's nefarious deals with that country. Can you say Iran-Contra?

Moonhead -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 7:17:08 AM)
Does that mean if Fox act on the Kenyan's problems with Pillhead Limbaugh, the twat'll be forced into a political career instead? That's a frightening thought. Small wonder he's not insisting on a sacking...

mnottertail -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 8:57:27 AM)
http://www.fz2878.com/blogger/blog1.php?p=315&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 Ronnie Reagan was a mediocre nobody in 1962 the year they cancelled the show (and never rose above that station in any way), the year he became a republican, and I assume the ratings were down not only because it was a piss poor show as I remember it, but things like The Cuban Missle Crisis, the steel fiasco, James Merideth attending the U of Miss, Telstar, the first telecast of the rose bowl in color coast to coast, The Virginian, The Jetsons, The Beverly Hillbillies, McHales Navy, and Combat, took precedent over some affable turnip who was fired by GE in 1962 in response to his reference to the TVA as one of the problems of "big government". Most of the neo-cons and nutsuckers here have argued on behalf of any program aired today that if the sponsors of the program will not stick with the talent and their views, then capitalism should rule out, and off with their heads. Michael Reagan is pretty much a cabbage rotting in the sun, and would not have the werewithal to get a job at a 7-11 if his father wasn't who he was. Yeah, but cute spin, he creates the legend for his daddy, which is his job.

TheHeretic -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 7:46:04 PM)
You know, Ron, I was thinking this was just an amusing little anecdote, but between Ken's arrival with an alternate set of "facts," and your desire to turn this into a demonstration of how well you knew your TV lineup, I'm thinking there might be something here.

pahunkboy -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 7:53:35 PM)
GE- is exempt from new greenhouse rules- per global warming. Also- this link is questionable.

pahunkboy -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 8:02:11 PM)
ALso- GE has had stock spits since 1960. So the premise that their stock lost money is flawed.

MrRodgers -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/8/2011 11:14:27 PM)
I love all of this safe banter about politicians who are dead. We get to falsely build some up as gods or equally falsely tear them down as sloth. GE is the corporate scumbag of the west. Makes $billions in profits, pay almost nothing in taxes, has every president in their pocket and ultimately as usual, doesn't serve society at all while trying to export every American job they haven't...tomorrow.

DomKen -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/9/2011 9:00:46 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: TheHeretic You know, Ron, I was thinking this was just an amusing little anecdote, but between Ken's arrival with an alternate set of "facts," and your desire to turn this into a demonstration of how well you knew your TV lineup, I'm thinking there might be something here. Quit your whining about actual facts being presented to counter more neo con worship of the worst POTUS of the 20th century if not ever.

Musicmystery -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/9/2011 9:05:40 AM)
quote: howls of denial JFK was not really much of a president, despite his popularity--he simply wasn't in office long enough to do much, and he made some really big mistakes. Johnson really brought home the New Frontier in the Great Society. Ted Kennedy, though, had a long and productive Senate career. Yes, with mistakes--but also much accomplishment, including much bipartisan accomplishment, back when Congress still attempted to do its job from time to time.

Moonhead -> RE: The Kennedys, and unintended consequences (2/9/2011 9:14:39 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Musicmystery quote: howls of denial JFK was not really much of a president, despite his popularity--he simply wasn't in office long enough to do much, and he made some really big mistakes. He nearly kicked off the third world war two or three times, for a start. If he'd lasted longer, maybe he'd have managed to do that one eventually...

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