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NNadir

(38,687 posts)
27. I am willing to be contrarian on this point.
Thu Jun 4, 2026, 12:24 PM
3 hrs ago

RFK's assassination was a tragic event to be sure, but I am not convinced that he was a great man or that his survival and possible election to the Presidency would have been a good thing.

As an adult who has spent some time reading into the historical legacy of the Kennedy family rubbing off the sheen of the obvious charisma to get at the cores of the family beings, I'm not convinced that RFK Jr, the antivax nut in the cabinet is as much of an anomaly as is generally assumed.

The decline and fall of the United States, now accelerating into a death spiral has far more complex origins - the chief one being the distribution of wealth and the transformation of media into an instrument of propaganda - than the assassination of a marginally ethical political figure from a family isolated from reality by wealth and privilege. To my mind the only true liberal in that family was Ted, and it was only after he matured into such a role. He certainly didn't start there.

If nothing else we ought to consider the family's treatment of women to consider their ethical purview.

For the record the greatest Democratic President of all time, FDR, despised the family patriarch, Joseph P. Kennedy, and for good reason.

Recommendations

3 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

That's what it felt like to me. Thinking about it now brings those feelings back. Biophilic 7 hrs ago #1
Then we topped the whole decade off with Kent State. The 60s were truly over. Walleye 6 hrs ago #2
Yes, not just one assassination or event but the culmination. End of an era. txwhitedove 5 hrs ago #6
I've been saying that for at least 50 years CanonRay 6 hrs ago #3
I would say, after Nixon, there was a chance to right the ship. harumph 6 hrs ago #4
When they let Nixon skate for the good of the country. Blue Full Moon 5 hrs ago #12
I think the assassination of MLK, Jr. had even more impact. yardwork 6 hrs ago #5
I Disagree. In Terms Of Civil Rights, Of Course. But RFK Was Going.... ColoringFool 5 hrs ago #11
I will disagree with that. Most of the delegates were chosen in the backroom rurallib 5 hrs ago #16
no mokeyz 4 hrs ago #23
I agree. intheflow 3 hrs ago #28
I felt that way at the time.. mountain grammy 5 hrs ago #7
Actually, RFK was shot in the early a.m. of June 5, & pronounced dead on June 6, which is the usual date associated.... ColoringFool 5 hrs ago #8
Was it Eastern or Pacific time? 12:31AM or 12:32? Chasstev365 5 hrs ago #13
Sixties Peak unweird 5 hrs ago #9
That would be a great topic for a time travel story Unwind Your Mind 5 hrs ago #10
A lot of things changed in the 90s videohead5 5 hrs ago #14
Yes! Chasstev365 5 hrs ago #15
Ken Starr's ascension was a real turning point for this country. (eom) StevieM 3 hrs ago #29
..... markie 5 hrs ago #17
😢 Chasstev365 5 hrs ago #18
That was a bad day for me BeneteauBum 5 hrs ago #19
The 1971 Powell Memo finished kicking us off the cliff. Ralph Nader's assessment of what we've lost. jmbar2 5 hrs ago #20
I would say it began with the assassination of President Kennedy dlk 5 hrs ago #21
Yup! mokeyz 4 hrs ago #22
I remember it all..... 😔 electric_blue68 4 hrs ago #24
My brother volunteered in RFK's office during the campaign. appleannie1 4 hrs ago #25
The nation goes forward and the nation slips backward. CBHagman 4 hrs ago #26
I am willing to be contrarian on this point. NNadir 3 hrs ago #27
Bush/Florida 2000 created Trump DemocracyForever 2 hrs ago #30
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»June 4, 1968: When Americ...»Reply #27