BELTWAY BITS
By Ronald Kessler
KENNEDY WAS A CLASS ACT because it can’t get deliveries.
Back in March 1996, my That is just the start of the
publisher threw a party to celebrate devastation that would descend
the publication of my book, The on the country if a single
Sins of the Father: Joseph P. Kennedy electromagnetic pulse (EMP)
and the Dynasty He Founded. bomb were detonated over the
Then 83, my mother, Minuetta middle of America. In the ensuing
Kessler, a concert pianist and chaos, most Americans would die
composer, boarded a plane at from starvation.
Logan International The only
Airport in Boston to countermeasure that
fl y to Washington for would work is a strong
the party. missile defense to knock
On the plane, my missiles out of the sky
mother spotted Sen. before they reach the
Edward M. Kennedy U.S. But going back
and introduced herself. to President Reagan’s
She asked whether Strategic Defense
he was fl ying to
Sen. Ted Kennedy
Initiative — dubbed Star
Washington for her son’s Wars — Democrats have
book party. ridiculed the idea of an anti-
Kennedy was well aware that missile defense.
the book was not fl attering to his Despite polls showing that
father. Among other things, it Americans overwhelmingly
revealed a nine-year affair Joe had support missile defense, President
with his Hyannis Port secretary, Obama’s administration has cut
Janet Des Rosiers. Nevertheless, the Pentagon’s missile defense
Kennedy was gracious. He said budget by $1.4 billion, or a total of
he wasn’t sure he’d be going and 15 percent.
would have to check his calendar.
He told my mother she must be
very proud of her son. ON THE VIRTUAL ROADSHOW
Regardless of his political When publicizing my book, In
leanings, Kennedy was a class act. the President’s Secret Service: Behind
the Scenes with Agents in the Line
of Fire and the Presidents They
DEFENSE ROLLBACK HIKES Protect, I often am asked whether
EMP THREAT I am going on a national tour. My
If your computer has ever answer is that national tours are a
hair looked too pristine, just as they focused crashed or your Internet service thing of the past. National shows
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A endlessly on the color of Obama’s skin. has ever gone out, you know can be done from Washington
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Polls are showing that a majority of how devastating it is to lose your or New York and attract far more
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Americans no longer support Obama’s connection to the rest of the world. viewers than by doing whistle-
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policies. More than half have say that no Now picture it happening with stops to local television channels.
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healthcare reform is better than what everyone else’s computer across One thing has remained the
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Obama has proposed. Belatedly, Americans the country at the same time. same: Talk-radio shows that
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N are learning a lesson: to vote for candidates Imagine that power throughout interview authors by phone or
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P based on their track record, not on the nation also goes out, and all satellite hookups are a powerful
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campaign rhetoric and cosmetics. electronic chips become fried. Your book-selling tool. And publishers
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P car won’t start, gasoline pumps prize coverage by Internet sites,
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Ronald Kessler, chief Washington correspondent of
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N Newsmax, can be contacted at
ronk@newsmax.com.
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off, and your supermarket closes columns of newspapers.
P K Pamela Kessler contributed to this column.
NOVEMBER 2009 / NEWSMAX 29
28_Kess_Wash.indd 29 9/30/09 8:26 PM
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