A Good Ending

Ted Kennedy knew he was on the way out over a year ago and was determined to have a good ending for himself, which included lots of entertaining with a valedictory stream of dinner guests as well as working as long as he could. Admirable, to be sure, as was the overall arc of his life from unimpressive lad to statesman.

There's an interesting post on DailyKos by feldo, comparing how liberal Democrat Senator Kennedy died to conservative Republican campaign operative, the oft feared, subtly racebaiting Lee Atwater:

And then only weeks before dying, he wrote, in, ironically, Life Magazine,

My illness helped me to see that what was missing in society is what was missing in me: a little heart, a lot of brotherhood. The '80s were about acquiring — acquiring wealth, power, prestige. I know. I acquired more wealth, power, and prestige than most. But you can acquire all you want and still feel empty. What power wouldn't I trade for a little more time with my family? What price wouldn't I pay for an evening with friends? It took a deadly illness to put me eye to eye with that truth, but it is a truth that the country, caught up in its ruthless ambitions and moral decay, can learn on my dime. I don't know who will lead us through the '90s, but they must be made to speak to this spiritual vacuum at the heart of American society, this tumor of the soul.

Nice sentiment at the end, albeit more regret than satisfaction.

The choice is yours.