I had my say on Senator Kennedy in my weekend column. Here are two contrasting views. First:

Ted was not perfect, and his post Chappaquiddick, life-long mission of penance almost makes up for getting away with leaving Mary Jo Kopechne to suffocate to death.

Second:

A noble society owed Mary Jo Kopechne a measure of undying anger over her death, and should have denied any position of high honor to the man who never repented for his part in it.

I’m with the latter. Saturday’s observances, with former presidents and foreign dignitaries paying homage, did not speak well for the republic.

As for the argument that, well, for a rich and powerful man Ted sure did a lot for da liddle guy, include me out. Benign paternalism and droit du seigneur are two halves of the same coin: The former has excused the latter in monarchical societies through the ages. It’s distressing to see so many alleged “democrats” embrace it here.