For reasons that shall be explained in the hereafter, conservatives are more likely to see the hand of God in matters both mundane and sublime. If one were of such mind, is it not possible to believe that Kennedy’s exit was timed to prod America to Do The Right Thing and pass health-care reform? Conspiracy theories have been built on much less, and belief in miracles precludes belief in coincidence. Or, does God act only in conservative interests?

A Pat Robertson-type, who (in this fantasy) considers universal health care an act of Christian duty, arguably might view a final curtain on Camelot as a divinely inspired, albeit sad-for-the-family, intervention. Not only could Kennedy’s death be viewed as a clarion call for a providential idea, but on a more practical level the media would forget all about town halls rather than miss the final episode of America’s dynasty.