When Ted Kennedy convinces his colleagues to transfer tens of millions of dollars in taxpayer funds to bankroll a Boston memorial for him, hardly a peep is raised in objection. When one of his staffers, evidently learning at the foot of the master, allegedly pilfers $75,000 under Ted Kennedy's nose, the feds come down on him with a six-count indictment. Ngozi Pole: if your name were Ngozi Kennedy (Wasn't there a long lost Kennedy named "Ngozi"?), your indictment would be a joke. But since you were the hired help, and not an actual member of the family, may you have the best public defender, a cellmate without a swastika tattooed on his face, and avoid any "gassing" attacks during any future stay in a medium security penitentiary.

A burden to the American people even after death. The utter lack of humility on the part of the Senate is breathtaking. Suggestion that we go further into debt to honor one of the chief overspenders should be met with derision.

This guy had done more to destroy the social, moral and economic fiber of this country than most who have sashayed through Congress and they insist on honoring him even after death by spending even more money that we don’t have. Considering Kennedy’s politics, I suppose that’s appropriate.

His passing, while sad, has very likely saved this country a lot of pain going forward.

The rubes in Congress and in the Senate in particular see it another way. Clearly, that is an indication of a big part of the problem.