Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr., 1921-2006
By Blanton Posted in Democrats — Comments (11) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »
Lloyd Bentsen, Texas's former senior senator, Democratic Vice Presidential candidate in 1988, and Clinton Administration Treasury Secretary has died. Mr. Bentsen is remembered for one of the most famous lines in Vice Presidential debates, "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," in response to then Senator Quayle's comparisons between himself and President John Kennedy.
Ironically, given the liberal natural of the Democratic party, many have speculated that Lloyd Bentsen, a loyal Democrat, could have been President of the United States had he been at the top of the ticket in 1988, instead of Michael Dukakis, but Bentsen could never have made it through the Democratic Presidential Primaries -- and he knew it.
Lloyd Bentsen, dead today at 85.
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Lloyd Millard Bentsen Jr., 1921-2006 11 Comments (0 topical, 11 editorial, 0 hidden) Post a comment »
When I first became politically cognizant Lloyd Bentsen and John Connolly were a couple of giants on the stage. I was fans of both of them.
Times have changed and, for good or ill, I don't think we're going to see men like them again.
that the Honorable Lloyd Bentsen was the kind of Democrat that are now one more step toward extinction... which is too bad. Gods speed.
A WWII veteran witha distinguished record. A very successful businessman. Knew South Texas as well as Houston intimately. A liberal who still loved America. He bailed out on clinton when it was clear as to the kind of character clinton was.
Very patrician, yet he was a rancher whose family has vast holdings.
Texas, and America, was better for his having been here and having been who he was.
I remember reading where Bentsen tried running for president a couple of times in the 1970's in the Democrat primaries, and got his clock cleaned. Too bad. He struck me as someone who knew what right was, and moved towards it as much as possible.
One of the last of the strong southern Democrats.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Austin blues club owner Clifford Antone died today of an apparent heart attack.
If you mean in his beliefs, then from our perspective, he was like any other social liberal/economic moderate. He was a good man, sure enough; but let's not make him into something he was not.
He stood for what he believed, best I can tell. And Mr. Rove most likely has some great stories running against the guy.
Doesn't the passing of this giant just make a person sad? We just don't have state man like figures in public service anymore. Being young the '88 election was the first Presidential election that I was cognitive of and his wonderful "You sir are no Jack Kennedy" line against Quayle, I mean grand slam! If there were more Democrats still around that resembled Bentsen than the country as a whole would be a better place. I agree with the connection of John Connally along with Bentsen. These Texas wheelers and dealers really benefited the American people as whole and had a proven leadership record that exuded success and accomplishment. He will be missed.
And my thanks for his service. A long life, and a full one.