"....to speak for those who have no voice; to remember those who are forgotten; to respond to the frustration and fulfill the aspiration of all Americans seeking a better life in a better land....for all those whose cares have been our concern, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die."
"The greatest US Senator of our time."--President Barack Obama
The Lion of the Senate is gone.
Undoubtably he was the most preeminent and most effective senator in my lifetime.
I remember meeting him a long time ago. I shook his hand as he greeted people emerging from the Winter St. MBTA station during one of his campaigns for re-election. We made small talk, and I remember saying he had my vote. And he has had it ever since.
I have admired his powerful voice for Liberals and Liberal causes through all his tragedies and triumphs.
A great man is gone.
Ruht wohl, dear Senator Ted...
41 comments:
Thanks, Shaw, he was a great man and achieved great things.
It was my hope that Senator Kennedy would live long enough to see a healthcare reform bill pass the Congress. He had been advocating universal coverage since 1969. He will be missed.
While I don't have the same feelings you have for him, I do respect him for his work ethic. (I feel like I have been saying this all morning)
He fought hard for what he believed in and I hope our representatives can follow his lead.
I find it sad that there are those that are using his death for political gain, and unfortunately that is very telling of what kind of country we have become!
Aside from being born wealthy, he had a tough row to hoe. He lacked Jack's grace and style, and Bobby's incisive wit and smarts. But after their deaths he stepped up to be the clan leader, and mostly acquitted himself well in that role.
It was past midnight, while I was watching a re-broadcast of Keith Olberman, when the news broke. The usual eulogies cited Senator Kennedy’s support of civil rights, equal pay, universal healthcare, No Child’s Left Behind, and other legislation. One constant theme of his career: Senator Kennedy supported the aspirations of the under-privileged and under-represented.
Little was said of his role in brokering the Northern Ireland peace accord. According to historical accounts, Senator Kennedy convinced then President Clinton to bring Sinn Fein leader, Gerry Adams, out of the shadows. This bold move started a dialogue, which lead to negotiations and a peace treaty. For his role, Senator Kennedy will receive an honorary Knighthood of the British Realm, an honor shared by former presidents Reagan and Bush (#41).
In contrast, consider the actions of Representative Peter King (R, New York). No less a supporter of Republican aspirations than Senator Kennedy, Peter King railed “against British imperialism,” supported an escaped IRA fugitive, and was involved with NORAID, a organization accused of financing IRA terrorism and providing weapons.
Representative King was bellicose and counter-productive; Senator Kennedy was moderate, practical, and even-handed. Kennedy made an important contribution; King did not. This is an example of why Senator Kennedy stands head and shoulders above his peers.
Octo: Good point, really, on King. King has long been a passionate supporter of terrorism, and does indeed pal around with terrorists. A detestible man.
Democrats Invoke Kennedy's Death in Calling for Health Care Reform
Do it for Teddy.
In statements that came steadily streaming out of Capitol Hill Wednesday morning within hours after Sen. Ted Kennedy's death, Democratic lawmakers tried to embed that message in the health care reform debate.
With the push for legislation hitting a rough patch, Democrats are trying, however delicately, to use Kennedy's passing as a rallying cry for the legislation, reminding voters that the package idling on the Hill was "the cause" of Kennedy's life.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, whose version of the bill has drawn heated criticism from constituents across the country, invoked health care reform almost immediately after Kennedy's death was made public.
Don't speak ill of the dead, but don't forget what they did.
We're not forgetting Senator Kennedy's lifelong fight for working Americans. His last battle was for health insurance. We owe it it to his memory to continue the fight. Say Hi to my Mom for me Senator.
Somone on cable news said tonight that Kennedy was a lion. He stood strong, and never flinched. And that Americans should be like that.
Kennedy made more of an impact on this country--to its great credit--than he would have had he been president.
RIP, Senator.
So She who has a Dirty Little Secret is without sin and casts judgement on her fellow man as if She were the reincarnation of God holding judgement on the Final Day. I believe the first of the 7 deadly sins is pride, an She is certainly arrogant enough.
Shaw, perhaps it is time to delete the furniture and redecorate.
Dirty said: "1965 Immigration act – one of the worst policies to affect this country, socially and economically; everything he claimed would not happen – happened."
This was one of the great things the Senator was involved in. It got rid of the blatant racist quotas in the immigration system. I don't lament this reform, just as I don't lament the passing of apartheid.
Overall, the 1965 act was a great idea, with great results.
Trust me Dirty One.
It's no secret.
And thanks for the stroll down memory lane Two Cents.
One easily forgets just how feeble GOP wit really is.
'Deflated'?
Dream on.
Incisively.
(O)CT(O)PUS,
I've been busy over at TRUTH's countering the monkey poo being thrown around that blog by certain hateful commenters.
NOTE to all righties who come here to demean a great American's memory: Use your own blogs or go to a conservative blog to register your seething rage at the fact that millions and millions and millions of Americans honor this great American, and recognize the amazing contributions he had made to America and to Americans.
this great American, and recognize the amazing contributions he HAS made to America and to Americans.
TRESEXPRESS,
Freedom of speech applies to the GOVERNMENT shutting down what citizens have to say.
It has nothing to do with coming to a person's blog and acting like a lout. I am not obligated to publish your execrable, hateful remarks and allow them to infect my blog. You can look it up in the Constitution.
You obviously don't know what the First Amendment is really about. And I'm not surprised. It's symptomatic of the comment you posted here and I deleted.
You don't know what you're talking about.
Sorry, Shaw, for the cross posting of this comment but it fit here as well as it did on Truth's!
Here is my take on things. Regardless of the way someone lived, once they die, a certain amount of respect should be shown. That doesn't mean that you have to praise him and talk about what a great guy he was. If you really feel the need to bash him, do so on your own blogs, not on a person's blog that respected him.
I understand your dislike for the man because honestly I feel the same way. He did some bad things and made some bad choices, but the man died. To speak ill of him now, especially on a blog that has a memorial of him, shows a lack of class.
I just think there is a time and a place to voice your opinions and a fellow bloggers memorial post is not it.
Shaw, let me preface this comment with a brief summary about the actions of one Fred Phelps, pastor of the Westboro Baptist Church, who disrupted military funerals to advance his anti-gay, anti-Semitic, anti-Catholic, anti-Irish, hate-mongering theology.
There is nothing more deplorable, more shocking, more sadistic than targeting grieving families and friends at a military funeral. Inflicting emotional hurt on grieving families and friends violates ALL community standards of civilized behavior.
So what does Phelps and this comment thread have in common. Senator Kennedy represented you and your state in Washington; we are your friends; and this is our commemoration. When trolls and Internet terrorists come here to bash the memory of a dead man, their presence is just as deplorable, shocking, and sadistic as if we were visited by Phelps.
You are well within your rights to delete any comments that violate this occasion, and I ask you again to do so without hesitation.
For any of my fellow conservatives who might choose to listen:
Shaw has created a memorial here to a senator she loved and respected. Her post was not political, it was personal.
This is not the place to fight it out over his life and legacy.
Gordan, I believe that you, Pam and I are all on the same page. We respect Shaw and we respect her feelings. Hopefully other conservatives can respect that!
One truly honorable thing about the man that he never took his Senate salary. Whether or not we agree with his views and struggles, he lived his brother's request to "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country."
This is in contrast to most of the rest of the multi-millionaires in Congress, who are there to get even richer (self-service as opposed to public-service). More Senators should follow his example.
Jennifer: It would be truly remarkable to find more on the Right who would let the Kennedy's have their day of peace while they mourn the loss of their loved one.
If nothing else, Ted was a son, brother, uncle, husband and father. People LOVED him and they mourn his loss. Just as any of US would mourn the loss of someone we loved; regardless of any flaws.
More people should realize that even Senators are flesh and blood and deserve to have a day or two of peace.
Not knowing what they're talking about is symptomatic of the right wing. Thanks for removing the moronic hate spiel, Shaw.
from Ruth
To all of you who have not been deleted, thanks for your decency and kind remarks.
I'm going to shut down anymore comments for now, since I think all that needs to be said has been said.
I'm leaving this up for a few more days.
Kind regards to you all.
Shaw
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