May 5, 2006

Rhode Island Politics

Discussing Patrick Kennedy

Marc Comtois

In the world of blogging, this whole Patrick Kennedy fiasco certainly qualifies as "low hanging fruit."

CNN is reporting that Kennedy is going to enter rehab while the Congressman's spokesperson says it's going to be a "significant personal statement." Meanwhile, we await Congressman Kennedy's remarks.

Liveblogging Kennedy:

He realized this past Christmas he was addicted to prescription drugs and checked into Mayo Clinic.

He doesn't remember the Wednesday incident and is concerned over this. He doesn't want to ignore it. He takes full responsibility and knows he needs help and is going back to the Mayo clinic this afternoon.

He hopes his openness will help others and thanked his family and friends. And he called for passage of mental health parity.

He took no questions.

END Liveblog

Here's the link to the ProJo story.

First, let me say I wish no personal ill will to the Congressman, but I do have to say that--politics aside--his past actions have always led me to question his competency. This latest incident has done nothing to change my mind. And it certainly seems as if he may be playing on his mental health and addiction vulnerabilities right now. The sad fact is that Patrick Kennedy has displayed an instability that is simply not acceptable for a member of Congress.

Open forum time: have at it.

UPDATE: Thanks to "smokinggun" for the link to Smoking Gun's copy of the police report.

3:00 PM
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Sad, sad, sad. These people need some real help, and to think they have so much power and influence.

Why do we let dysfunctional people run our lives?

Patrick should resign. He can't govern a country if he can't govern himself.

SV

Posted by: Sol Venturi at May 5, 2006 3:56 PM

When considering Kennedy's political future, don't forget the reaction to Buddy Cianci's conviction way back when.

Posted by: Ken Adams at May 5, 2006 4:21 PM

Check this out: according to the official report, Kennedy was under the influence of alcohol.

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0505062kennedy1.html

Posted by: smokinggun at May 5, 2006 4:47 PM

The Mayo clinic is not where a real addict or alcoholic goes for treatment. He needs to go to Hazelden, for at lest 30 days and maybe longer. If he were going to a place that specializes in addiction recovery, then he would not be allowed to disclose the name of it anyway. This whole thing smacks of a cover-up for his drinking and driving. The "I can't remember" bit is particularly clever in view of the police investigation.

Posted by: bountyhunter at May 5, 2006 5:29 PM

Okay, I apologize for not knowing this. Several decades of seeing everything I vote for go down in flames 75/25 has given me a certain lethargy about local politics, but...is the GOP running anybody against him this Fall?

Posted by: ballottra at May 5, 2006 6:07 PM

Have sitting Congresscritters (note the gender-neutral term) checked into drug/alcohol rehab before? Did they continue being Congresscritters, or did they resign?

Posted by: Pseu at May 5, 2006 6:25 PM

Is Dave Rogers goin to run?

Posted by: bobby j at May 5, 2006 9:32 PM

There is at least one Republican who will be running for Congress against Patrick Kennedy that I am currently aware of named Ed Leather. Former foriegn service officer and actually a very bright guy, though I'm not certain of his overall fundraising capabilities at present.

There just happened to be an easy to miss blurb about him in the 5/3 edition of the RI Republican Update (immaculate timing):

18. Saturday May 27 (tentative date) - ED LEATHER For Congress (against Patrick Kennedy) Kickoff. Ed is a former foreign service officer, who now lives in East Providence. For info, E-mail his campaign manager, Armand Cortellesso at nauticaALC@netscape.net

Posted by: Will at May 6, 2006 12:42 AM

Nationally, the story seems to focus not so much on Patrick, but on the question of whether the Capitol Police let him get away with something. If the media digs into this and finds other transgressions by members of Congress swept under the rug in similar fashion, all bets are off.

Posted by: Rhody at May 6, 2006 12:49 AM

I wonder if the family will step in, seize his assets, and take control of all he possesses? Seems like that was the prescription for his mother...oh that's right, democrats only do that to their WOMEN.

Posted by: jude at May 6, 2006 7:50 AM

I saw Dave Rogers on Fox News today. He called on Kennedy to resign and said that he was considering running again.

Posted by: RIReper at May 7, 2006 9:03 PM