Ted Kennedy Dies of Brain Cancer at Age 77

[ELVIS]

Teleprompter Statement from President Obama:

"Michelle and I were heartbroken to learn this morning of the death of our dear friend, Senator Ted Kennedy. For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts. I valued his wise counsel in the Senate, where, regardless of the swirl of events, he always had time for a new colleague. I cherished his confidence and momentous support in my race for the Presidency. And even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness, I've profited as President from his encouragement and wisdom.

"An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time. And the Kennedy family has lost their patriarch, a tower of strength and support through good times and bad. Our hearts and prayers go out to them today—to his wonderful wife, Vicki, his children Ted Jr., Patrick and Kara, his grandchildren and his extended family."

Obama didn't write that...

RIP Ted

[Nickdfresh]

Today's not the day to discuss that, but it does make one think, without Chappaquiddick, does Teddy beat Ronny in 1980 ??

I think he beats Ford in 1976, or even Nixon in 1972...

[standin]

Obama didn't write that...

RIP Ted

Elvis didn't write that.

~
Take care, Mr. Kennedy.

[Igosplut]

Today's not the day to discuss that, but it does make one think, without Chappaquiddick, does Teddy beat Ronny in 1980 ??

I was never a fan of his, but his legacy (and influence) is far greater serving 40+ years in the senate than it would have been as President.

But I would have to say Chappaquiddick killed his chance at the big seat.

Great book on that era of his life Senantorial Privilege
by Leo Damore.

Like every good Cape Codder I have an original hardcopy. Very good book, mostly factual writing, no celeb bullshit..

Oh, and RIP Teddy...

[ZahZoo]

No politician comes off with a clean slate and no controversy during their time... history can sort it out once the dust settles.

Good bad or otherwise... Kennedy provided several decades of leadership and contributed to keeping and making this country great. Another passing of a significant era and a great American.

RIP Ted.

[Seshmeister]

Don't know anything about his domestic record but I'm glad he never made president. Chappaquiddick was no blow job in the oval office or even covering up a burglary. He was a poodle of the Israelis and duped into raising money for Irish terrorists so responsible for spreading misery and death to hundreds if not thousands.

[jhale667]

Way to be a douche.

Obama didn't write that...

RIP Ted

Keep your mindless Obama-hate out of this, you inbred asshat.




R.I.P. Senator Kennedy.

[Mr Walker]

Jesus just handed Mary Jo Kopechne a pair of swimmies.

[kwame k]

RIP Teddy......Yeah, Chappaquiddick pretty much fucked his chances for any real shot at the Presidency, I agree with that.

Good Senator and given the personal tragedy he suffered throughout his, I can maybe understand how he had his issues. Losing 3 brothers and being the youngest couldn't of been easy in that family.

[kwame k]

double post

[lesfunk]

Karma's a bitch. Evil prick

[VanHalener]

It's about fucking time that dude croaked and gave someone else a chance.
I'm not glad he is dead, but money and a name has carried him wayyyy to long. America doesn't need lifers in the Senate, or anywhere else if you ask me.

Our highest judges maybe, but nowhere else.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

He's gonna be buried at Arlington, about 90 feet from Bobby....

And before anyone starts chirping, he qualifies on actually two separate criteria, an active member of Congress, and a Korean War veteran...

[FORD]

Ted Kennedy
By Howard Dean - August 26, 2009, 11:51AM

We will miss Senator Ted Kennedy as a nation, and I will miss him as a human being. Over the next few months, as we debate his life's passion, which was Universal Health Care, we will feel his presence everywhere. He will be in the Senate Chamber, in the committee rooms, in the White House, and in the minds of most of the reporters old enough to have witnessed the trajectory of this extraordinary generation of America's First Family from it's beginning. Much has been written about Ted Kennedy already. He was indeed extraordinary. My mother, who was a solid Upper East Side Republican until 2004, once happened to sit next to him at a wedding of a mutual friend. She had never met him before. I'm sure the exchange was lively, and being a Dean, I doubt my mother gave him much quarter. A week later, a beautiful, kind, and very personal handwritten letter arrived from Ted Kennedy. My mother, like so many other Americans, was hooked by the Kennedy charm and grace.

Ted Kennedy was a man with a long career of determination as well as charm. When President Obama signs a Health Care Reform bill late this year, Ted Kennedy may not be standing there next to him, but his presence will be deeply apparent in the Oval Office as the President's pen moves across the page.

[FORD]

August 26, 2009

"This Misbegotten War"
Farewell, Senator Kennedy
By CINDY SHEEHAN

"My vote against this misbegotten war (Iraq) is the best vote I have cast in the United States Senate since I was elected in 1962."
Senator Ted Kennedy

I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the Kennedy family and the people of Massachusetts on the death of Senator Edward Kennedy.

I was invited to visit with the Senator in September of 2005 right after my first foray into presidential vacation adventures. I walked into an office on Capitol Hill that was a mini American History Museum. The Senator displayed his own art, memorabilia from the Kennedy family and even framed child's artwork from his children and various nieces and nephews.

Gathered around a large marble fireplace (unlit in the September Washington DC heat) and surrounded by his Portuguese Water dogs, we talked about loss and war and peace.

We commiserated on my tragic loss of Casey and the losses that his mother Rose had to endure in her life. No matter what one thinks of the Kennedy family, they have been hit hard with tragedy.

The Senator and I talked about the wrongness, even criminality of the US foreign policy in the Middle East and I find it serendipitous that I am on Martha's Vineyard the day he died.

In the next few days, we will be working on an International People's Declaration of Peace (IPDoP) here in Massachusetts where I have always felt overwhelming support for a message of peace and justice.

In the spirit of peace and to honor Ted Kennedy's legacy, Camp Casey Martha's Vineyard will go forward and hopefully at the end of the week, we will have a wonderful first draft of the IPDoP that we can present to the globe: a people's grassroots movement to counteract the violence of governments all over the world.

We will be leaving Martha's Vineyard and taking this Declaration all over the world to advocate that, finally, we the people of this planet refuse to be used as pawns of failed and violent policies.