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Ted Kennedy, 1932-2009
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Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) died last night, age 77, after an extended battle with brain cancer.
Kennedy was first elected to the Senate in 1962, to the seat formerly held by his brother, President John F. Kennedy. Over the next several tumultuous years he survived the deaths of his brothers John and Robert, and turmoil both public and personal, to emerge as both a leading champion of American liberalism and a father figure for his whole extended family.
Kennedy ran unsuccessfully for President in 1980, challenging incumbent President Jimmy Carter in the Democratic primaries. In 2008, his endorsement of Barack Obama in the run-up to Super Tuesday gave Obama a boost that may very well have made the difference in that close race.
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Moose49
August 26, 2009 9:05 AM
A great, great man whose positive impact on our nation and its people rival (and in some cases exceed) that of his brothers.
Like Moses and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he didn't get to the promised land (maybe the comparisons seem hyperbolic but I think they're appropriate in this case) -- now it's up to us to make sure America gets there by enacting real health care reform ASAP.
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Kristin126
August 26, 2009 9:15 AM
Rest in peace, mighty lion. You will be so greatly missed.
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grenadine
August 26, 2009 9:28 AM
resquiat in pace
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Schmed
August 26, 2009 11:15 AM in reply to grenadine
Requiem aeternam dona sibi, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat sibi.
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Schmed
August 26, 2009 11:28 AM in reply to Schmed
Requiem aeternam dona ei, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei. Requiescat in pace. Amen.
(I think that's right)
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holyhandgrenaid
August 26, 2009 9:34 AM
RIP Senator Kennedy. I'm so sorry your fellow senators saw fit to keep the chance to enact health care reform as your Swan Song. When they join you out there in the ether, I suggest you kick Max Baucus and Kent Conrad in the groin.
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holyhandgrenaid
August 26, 2009 9:38 AM in reply to holyhandgrenaid
as = from being
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acf_ma
August 26, 2009 9:37 AM
Pass a strong health care reform package in his name.
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Moose49
August 26, 2009 9:45 AM in reply to acf_ma
Yes, they should rename the House bill and the Senate HELP bill the Kennedy Act. But don't put his name on anything that emerges from the Baucus catastrophe.
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Steve LaBonne
August 26, 2009 11:08 AM
Few people are irreplaceable, but sadly we just lost a man who really is. No Senator in history has had his fingerprints all over anywhere near as many important pieces of legislation as Ted Kennedy did. We will not see his like again.
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lousgirl84
August 26, 2009 6:14 PM
He championed a lot of causes - health care being only one. We lost a great public servant today. RIP
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