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by Niall O'Dowd

Patrick Kennedy back on the booze is a tragic setback

Posted on Thursday, April 29, 2010 at 09:21 AM
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A sad story from Washington as Congressman Patrick Kennedy was seen drinking heavily in a bar after accepting an award for his battle against substance abuse.

Roll Call newspaper reported that at 11. p.m on Tuesday Kennedy was seen entering the bar , the Capitol Lounge and taking a seat at the counter.

In the space of a few minutes Kennedy downed six vodka shots and only stopped when the bartender refused to serve him

Earlier in the night, Kennedy had received an award for his work on addiction issues at the annual fundraising dinner for N Street Village, a local charity that helps low-income women battle homelessness and drug addiction.

Kennedy was introduced at the event by his one-time substance abuse sponsor, former Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.).

He talked about his personal history in his acceptance speech and recalled the late night in 2006 when he crashed his car into a Capitol Hill barricade and was sent to rehab for a prescription drug addiction.

Kennedy was in fine form in the bar according to the newspaper, letting people buy him drinks and saying that President Obama was "the best president ever.'

When asked about his own uncle John F. Kennedy , Patrick replied " he wasn't too bad either."

Patrick's battle against the booze and drugs has been very public in the past.

After the Capitol Hill incident with his car he admitted hr was an alcoholic and drug addict.

Both his mother. Joan Kennedy and father Senator Edward Kennedy were alcoholics for long periods in their lives. Joan has been hospitalized many times for her condition.

Teddy could drink with the best of them and only quietened down after marrying his second wife Vicki.

Give that reality Patrick was almost certain to carry the destructive gene within him.

Patrick has seemed a a particularly lost soul since his father died. He seemed the family member most stricken by the death of his beloved father.

He has admitted that he has a bipolar disorder which makes it very difficult for him at the best of times.

Now he will no longer be in Congress after November, having stepped down soon after his father's death.

It may have been the only lifeline he had in a sad life that started off with great political promise as one of the first of the new generation of Kennedys to enter politics.

Let us hope it does not end up in the gutter like so many fine political careers before.


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50 Comments

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Monsoonman | May 18, 2010, 12:30 AM EDT
I think you have it backwards, how about the kennedys leaving US alone. Enough of the hypocritical, immoral, drunken, drug addled in positions of power affecting our nation....and you put them on a pedestal?

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LiamDavid | May 15, 2010, 01:31 PM EDT
Let us all please leave the Kennedys alone? Stop judging or attacking them, they’ve received enough poison and ill will from the lot of you! Their family has suffered greatly for America and Ireland. They deserve our gratitude and support now.

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Monsoonman | May 03, 2010, 10:30 AM EDT
When padraic is sick and tired of being sick and tired, he can walk towards the light....However, until he conquers his chemical demons, please stay out of leadership positions. He can and has done great harm.

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KathyCallahan | May 02, 2010, 09:11 AM EDT
Patrick you will get unstuck and recover!

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Felicia | May 02, 2010, 06:06 AM EDT
Patrick, I feel for you and I know you miss your father terribly. Please don't let those demons cheat you out of living a full and joyful life. Turn back to your faith and your loved ones to help you battle this and know you have prayers and love coming your way.

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seanomelbourne | May 02, 2010, 03:22 AM EDT
Are you sure it's not another persona rather than another guy cheers me lad.

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Monsoonman | May 02, 2010, 02:45 AM EDT
"your a tragic Monsoonman." Actually, Sean me boy, I'm the happy Monsoonman.....You must have me confused with that other guy.

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MaysieDarling | May 02, 2010, 01:10 AM EDT
I am so saddened by Patrick's behavior. He seems like he is probably such a sweet guy. The old demons can get hold and they are tough to shake. Considering his family history, he should be under professional care. I hope he finds the help he needs. After November things will look different to him and the pressure will be off. Good Luck Patrick.

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seanomelbourne | May 01, 2010, 07:31 PM EDT
your a tragic Monsoonman.

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Monsoonman | May 01, 2010, 12:36 PM EDT
If he was just an ordinary drunk, he would have been tossed in the rubber room or prison. But in the topsy turvy orwellian world of kennedy adoration, he is "given" a seat in congress, where his distorted thinking shapes law for millions of us. That's the rub. If he wants sobriety bad enough he will find AA. In the meantime we don't need anymore chemically dependent kennedys making laws for us, which they don't have to labor under.

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DennisQ | May 01, 2010, 01:36 AM EDT
The pressure on him to live up to the Kennedy name must be enormous, especially given the intensity of the Kennedy-haters. They're not willing to cut this man any slack at all. I don't think he should allow those people to kill him - which they would be happy to do. Patrick should take each day as it comes, and not drink. Every day he gives them nothing to talk about, defeats them.

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seanomelbourne | May 01, 2010, 12:48 AM EDT
Alcoholism is a sad condition, Mr Kennedy deserves our support to beat his addiction. To use his illnesses to berate his politics or his clan is morally contemptible. Any person with alcoholism, bi-polar or other disorders regardless of their politics deserve our sympathy

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addielouise | Apr 30, 2010, 11:04 PM EDT
It is a great tragedy that alcoholics can see only one way to handle sadness/tragedy. Apparently, all the rehab sessions have not succeeded with him. His father would be disappointed.

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Betteboop | Apr 30, 2010, 08:11 PM EDT
Have some Happy Trails. Not too hard to achive really!!!

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