Metro Jacksonville

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/26/ted-kennedy-dead-legendar_n_268978.html

QuoteLegendary Senator Ted Kennedy has died at age 77, losing his battle to brain cancer.

In May 2008 doctors diagnosed Kennedy, one of the most influential and longest-serving senators in U.S. history, with a malignant brain tumor.

Here is the statement from the Kennedy family:

    "Edward M. Kennedy - the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply - died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port," the statement said. "We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all. He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it. He always believed that our best days were still ahead, but it's hard to imagine any of them without him."

Here are obituaries from ABC News the New York Times and Politico.

The last remaining scion of the famous family, he was the brother of President John Kennedy, assassinated in 1963, Senator Robert Kennedy, fatally shot while campaigning for the 1968 Democratic presidential nomination, and Joe Kennedy, a pilot killed in World War Two.

Kennedy recently finished his memoir, which should be published in a few weeks, providing an unprecedented insight into the man and his family.

If anything, it will further delay. HBO did a great documentary on Kennedy that CNN is airing tonight. I urge everybody to watch it. There is footage from the late 70s of Kennedy pushing for health care reform.

It really is the end of an era. RFK, Jr. does some amazing work on behalf of the enviroment and Carolina Kennedy has her causes but there is not a vocal Kennedy in Congress to take the torch.

I've always been more of a Jackie O kinda guy.

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/kennedy-ted-chappaquiddick-2545006-mary-senator


Just a bit of a different view of the Saint Ted


Loves the People, its just the individuals that get in the way

In Today's TU Rants and Raves:

QuoteKennedys served America

If I could fly my flag at half mast for Teddy [Kennedy] I would do so. Joe Jr. gave his life over the English Channel in WWII. JFK gave America the Peace Corps and his life. Bobby took on Jimmy Hoffa and gave his life. Eunice Shriver gave us the Special Olympics, which may have been the Kennedy families’ greatest gift to America and the world. Ted fought for equal education and health care for all, may his death be the catalyst for universal health care. The Kennedy Health Care Bill has a nice ring to it. No American family has served their country any better than the Kennedy family.

The end of American era

My memories are of three brothers: the dynasty ending with this Kennedy. Though I did not share his liberal political views, his stance never wavered: He was and remained a respected Senate powerhouse. He was anti-war. I most admired him as a substitute father, and a faithful son. … I’m certain this Kennedy will be mourned, as were his brothers. The Kennedy family defined an American era, and is no more.

Spying? Bad. Health? Good

The health care reform movement, which promises to help with the constitutional pledge of promoting the general welfare, has been attacked repeatedly by the right as an attack on freedom. This is quite interesting, as many in that same faction wholeheartedly supported the largest intrusion on civil liberties in the modern era, the Patriot Act, which opened our banking and telephone usage, among other things, to the quiet, all-seeing scrutiny of the (gasp!) U.S. government. Their message is clear â€" spying is fine; improving health care is wrong. In which case I think I would rather be wrong. Let me be clear: Spying is bad; health care is good!

http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-08-29/story/rants_raves_proposed_city_cuts_are_like_a_slap_in_the_face_to_seniors

Kennedy stood for the principles that made America great. Average Joe was senator's devotion.

And for those who fight to prioritize corporate greed over the average Joe:

QuoteMyra MacPherson: The Kennedy Haters
Posted at 3:37 pm, August 28th, 2009

As I was the lone passenger on an airport shuttle bus from Santa Fe to Albuquerque the day after Senator Edward Kennedy died, the loquacious bus driver naturally started talking to me. He had been listening to talk radio and the host was having trouble finding anyone to say a good word about Kennedy. When I told him that I had covered and observed Kennedy as a reporter the driver asked if I would say something. In seconds he was dialing into the show and suddenly I was on hold, waiting my turn to say something to a southwest audience billed as huge by the driver. I mentioned the by now familiar view of the national media, shared by me, that Kennedy’s second act in life had been one of outstanding service as a premier legislator who could deal brilliantly with both sides of the aisle and tirelessly worked for the disadvantaged, championing a better minimum wage, affordable health care for all, and so on and so forth.

Such thoughts were drowned in vitriol as the majority opinion was voiced by subsequent callers; Kennedy was a socialist and probably a communist and it was a good thing he was not around to push health care reform, all voiced with the intelligence characterized in the now famous remark of one of the shouters at recent town hall meetings on health care: “Keep the government’s hands off my Medicare!”

http://blog.niemanwatchdog.org/?p=1213

Quote from: stephendare on August 29, 2009, 09:58:30 AM
Should we get started on Reagan?

All men are flawed.  We are lucky if we do any good at all in our lives to complement our fuckups and cupidity.

Ted did more than most of us.

Oh I agree stephen, most of us just keep from killing someone

RIP, at least in the end he helped the newspapers who are still printing, sell a few more papers.

Senator Kennedy fought for what defines us as a civilized nation:

Quoteciv⋅i⋅lized  /ˈsɪvəˌlaɪzd/  Show Spelled Pronunciation [siv-uh-lahyzd]  Show IPA
Use civilized in a Sentence
See web results for civilized
See images of civilized
â€"adjective 1. having an advanced or humane culture, society, etc.
2. polite; well-bred; refined.
3. of or pertaining to civilized people: The civilized world must fight ignorance. 

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/civilized

More than 300 Kennedy bills were enacted into law.

Ted Kennedy played a major role in passing laws addressing, cancer research, health insurance, apartheid, disability discrimination, AIDS care, civil rights, mental health benefits, children's health insurance, education and volunteering.

He was a REAL humanitarian which has been a missing element in the "You're on Your Own" or YOYO society that is advocated by so many misguided folks.

That is something.  I grew up in a FDR Democrat area.  We had pictures of JFK on the walls.  Funny how things work out.  I say we let Edward Kennedy's family bury him and mourn him in peace, and leave the political partisianship out of it for at least a little while.  Which of course, will never happen.

Quote from: NotNow on August 30, 2009, 02:42:59 PM
I say we let Edward Kennedy's family bury him and mourn him in peace, and leave the political partisianship out of it for at least a little while.  Which of course, will never happen.

Not just his family, but a majority of Americans mourn his passing too, including prominent Republican Senators such as Orin Hatch, Robert Byrd and John McCain.

Quote
BYRD STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF LONG-TIME

FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE SENATOR TED KENNEDY



Washington, DC â€" Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., issued the following statement upon learning of the passing of his dear friend Senator Ted Kennedy:



“I had hoped and prayed that this day would never come. My heart and soul weeps at the lost of my best friend in the Senate, my beloved friend, Ted Kennedy.”



“Senator Kennedy and I both witnessed too many wars in our lives, and believed too strongly in the Constitution of the United States to allow us to go blindly into war. That is why we stood side by side in the Senate against the war in Iraq.”



“Neither years of age nor years of political combat, nor his illness, diminished the idealism and energy of this talented, imaginative, and intelligent man. And that is the kind of Senator Ted Kennedy was. Throughout his career, Senator Kennedy believed in a simple premise: that our society's greatness lies in its ability and willingness to provide for its less fortunate members.

Whether striving to increase the minimum wage, ensuring that all children have medical insurance, or securing better access to higher education, Senator Kennedy always showed that he cares deeply for those whose needs exceed their political clout. Unbowed by personal setbacks or by the terrible sorrows that have fallen upon his family, his spirit continued to soar, and he continued to work as hard as ever to make his dreams a reality.”



“In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American.”



“God bless his wife Vicki, his family, and the institution that he served so ably, which will never be the same without his voice of eloquence and reason. And God bless you Ted. I love you and will miss you terribly.”



“In my autobiography I wrote that during a visit to West Virginia in 1968 to help dedicate the “Robert F. Kennedy Youth Center” in Morgantown, “Senator Kennedy’s voice quivered with emotion as he talked of his late brothers and their love for West Virginia. ‘These hills, these people, and this state have had a very special meaning for my family. Our lives have been tightly intertwined with yours.’”



“I am sure the people of the great state of West Virginia join me in expressing our heartfelt condolences to the Kennedy family at this moment of deep sorrow.”

Robert Byrd is a Democrat.  I admire your determination Faye.  I understand your personal involvement.  But, IMHO, the federal effort to involve itself in health care or medical insurance is wrong.

Quote from: NotNow on August 30, 2009, 04:15:11 PM
Robert Byrd is a Democrat.  I admire your determination Faye.  I understand your personal involvement.  But, IMHO, the federal effort to involve itself in health care or medical insurance is wrong.

Democrat and former Klansman

I would, however, support the idea of individual state plans which in this state I think would be easy if it insured against medical calamity.

I apologize for giving faye yet another forum to cut and paste ;)  Regret, no  idea that teddy had any  of that, he left a woman to suffocate and took time to protect his political hide.  I really don"t care how many bills the man passed, the man was small

Quote from: civil42806 on August 30, 2009, 08:12:29 PM
I apologize for giving faye yet another forum to cut and paste ;)  Regret, no  idea that teddy had any  of that, he left a woman to suffocate and took time to protect his political hide.  I really don"t care how many bills the man passed, the man was small

...And protect his political hide well AND very lucratively.  To pretend to be for the "common man" while living like the aristocracy is comical. 8)

Don't think it is a "little dumb" or a "lot" dumb. He lived a life of special privilege. His every move was calculated to stay in power. And from most reports (as he was obviously a public figure) he continued to be a drunken womanizer until near the end.

Quote from: stephendare on August 30, 2009, 08:55:53 PM
well was a drunken womanizer or was he 'pretending to be the common man?"
are  you against women or drinking?

Actually, I am all for women AND drinking in the proper context  ;D. I just don't have the means to do it at Teddy's level.  :)

He was either a noble servant of humanity, or a murderer. It all depends on which blogs you read.

More likely, he was a true elitist who held a measure of compassion while simultaniously serving his own self interest. This is the human condition.

Ted wasn't a Saint he did a lot for America Like him or Hate him. Ted will be missed 8)