US Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Patrick Kennedy is not my rep here in RI but our state is tiny and everything is more intimate. Patrick has been very forthcoming about his periodic battles with substances. And he has been very direct about the fact that he is bi-polar.

Patrick was devoted to his Dad, Senator Ted Kennedy, but did not always support the same causes or candidates. It would be very interesting to me to imagine was his Dad would have said about Patrick's public ideological skirmish with Catholic Bishop Tobin over abortion rights. The Bishop has refused to serve Patrick communion and is suggesting he may need to look elsehwere to find a religion more in line with his abortion rights beliefs.

Patrick also took on some House Republicans in DC last week accusing them of racism, bias and homophobia.

His controversial beliefs have caused plenty of chatter because his language has been so aggressive and fearless. I say his actions are not theatrical but rather based in strong convictions and impatience with bullshit.

Thanks Patrick, long may you bruise and confront those who are out-of -step, unaware, smug, self-serving, disingenuous, lacking in leadership and not representative of the better nature of our angels.