[dnightshade]

I find this terribly sad, though not necessarily part of any family curse. As a Mass. Democrat and someone who lives/works not far from the Cape, the Kennedys have been such a part of my life forever (my grandmother even attended several of JFK's famous "ladies teas" back during his Prez campaign). Though the diagnosis is grim, you never know. I don't want to start talking about him in the past tense but I'll just say he's a great man who, despite being born into immense wealth and power, has really worked his entire life to help those less fortunate. It says alot for him that his children are also carrying the torch of justice and equality and compassion. He wa also very supportive and sympathetic to his ex wife, Joan, and her various battles with alcoholism and mental illness. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family. Despite past mistakes, I think he lived a fairly decent life for a politician.