Senator Edward Kennedy Dies

[filkertom]

Great sadness. Edward "Ted" Kennedy, one of the strongest and most eloquent voices for the people of the United States, a man who truly spent his life trying to Make Things Better, has passed away at the age of 77. Farewell, Senator, and thank you.

Comments

[ororo]

After I heard about Chappaqquidick, I had contempt for the man, but every time I checked how our Senatecritters were voting on issues, I agreed with the man.

[bayushisan.livejournal.com]

Many condolences to the Kennedy family. It's been a rough time for them of late and my thoughts and prayers are with them during this time of mourning.

[ladystarblade.livejournal.com]

Not unexpected, but it still saddens me. No matter what one thought of his politics or his personal life, his dedication and commitment to this country and the people in it are worthy of respect. The America he served so long is a little less this morning.

Go now to your well-earned rest, sir.

[annearchy.livejournal.com]

I was making my lunch about half an hour ago, listening to NPR, and realized they were talking about Ted Kennedy in the past tense. I thought, "Oh shit, this is an obituary":( I miss him already.

[mimiheart.livejournal.com]

:(

[lizziecrowe.livejournal.com]

He was trying to ensure his replacement was set not 2 weeks ago. Good man. We thank you for your service and your willingness to serve. Safe Journeys, Sir.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

Why didn't he ensure his replacement was set- and resign- last year, when a special election could have been held?

[darthparadox.livejournal.com]

Massachusetts law doesn't allow for a temporary appointment to fill in the time between the vacancy and the special election. He was trying to get that changed.

[redneckgaijin.livejournal.com]

He was trying to get that changed only in the past few days.

He's been effectively incapacitated for over a YEAR, and he only tried to arrange for a succession in the past few days.

He could have resigned and allowed Massachusetts to have a special election in 2008, which a Democrat would certainly have won, and a Democrat of his own choosing more so.

Instead he chose to cling onto power until he actually died- for which, especially considering how close healthcare reform is to outright failure right now, I hold him in utter contempt.

[stevemb.livejournal.com]

Also, changing the rules for an obviously partisan purpose (i.e. denying Mitt Romney the power to appoint a replacement for John Kerry if he'd won in 2004) and then changing back to the old rules as soon as that purpose has been accomplished is just skeevy politics.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Dude...not today, please.

[zenturbo.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

[jilesa.livejournal.com]

He was a good man, and he'll be sorely missed.

[sdelmonte]

"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." He never stopped asking.

"Some men see things the way they are, and ask why? I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" He never stopped asking "why not?"

Rest well, Senator.

The end of an era

[qnofhrt.livejournal.com]

Despite his flaws, he achieved great things.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Those lovely hypocrites at Fox News told me last night. They're just sad cause they lost their favorite old whipping boy.

Can't wait for the next Republican assface to whinge that now he CAN'T vote for the health-care reform bill because Ted Kennedy "won't work with me now."

[shsilver.livejournal.com]

Given the news coverage, I would have thought it was JFK who died. They kept showing old JFK speeches, followed by Ted Kennedy talking about his brother.

[caraig.livejournal.com]

I accidentally deleted my previous comment. Darnit!

The one issue I have with the life of Senator Edward Kennedy is the incident at Chappaquiddick Creek, and how it was handled afterwards. But... that is a case we may never know the full truth of, nor kno the truth if it was staring us in the face. I say this not to dismiss it, but to highlight it, and to put it in the context of the almost-tragic, flawed person that was Edward Kennedy.

Yes, he was flawed. But he was also living under the weight of the Kennedy legacy. And even with that weight, he was that rarest of breeds of politician: He was for the people. For all my life -- literally -- Ted Kennedy has been working on national health coverage for every American. (I can only hope, in his memory, that it gets passed now, else I do not think I will see it in my lifetime.) Some might say that he became a caricature of himself in the latter years, but I disagree: He was flawed, but his flaws were human flaws, and he did his best to be a good person and a good Senator.

We'll miss him. American politics will not be the same without his very human presence.

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Very Flawed as all of them... but may he find mercy from his Judge... may we all.
Certainly not for most of us to judge.

I recall after someone asking if you would buy a used car off Richard Nixon, the rejoinder "Well, would you buy a drowned car from Ted Kennedy?"

God rest him, anyway.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

Now he won't live to see his dream of national health insurance. Aren't those %&$#*s glad they didn't "rush" it and decided no harm would be done by waiting till after the August recess.

Kennedy was a Great man and a Great Senator. The downtrodden have lost one of their greatest advocates.

[capplor.livejournal.com]

"Generations of aides recall Kennedy telling them the biggest mistake of his career was turning down a deal that President Richard M. Nixon offered for universal health care. It seemed not generous enough at the time. Having missed the opportunity then, Kennedy spent the rest of his career hoping for an elusive second chance."

From Yahoo! news.

[admnaismith.livejournal.com]

(crying)

This is the saddest part yet.

[old-fortissimo.livejournal.com]

Lyndon Baines Johnson was able to get the Civil Rights Act passed in no small part as a memorial to John Kennedy.

Here's hoping that Barack Obama has the savvy and the steel to do something similar for health care.

[purpleranger.livejournal.com]

This is probably going to come out wrong no matter how I word it, so I'm going to jump into this as best as I can.

It's a shame that this didn't happen a couple of months ago. Kennedy's death might have been one of the few things that would have diminished the Michael Jackson circus -- and put all of that into perspective, for that matter.

[leareth26.livejournal.com]

In the immortal words of Denis Leary, "Ted Kennedy: great senator, lousy date."

From Paul Krugman

[capplor.livejournal.com]

"I don’t have much to say, except a personal thought. I remember the days, several decades ago, when Ted Kennedy was treated — mainly, but not only, on the right — as a figure of derision. He was mocked for his appearance, his personal life, his unabashed liberalism.

And now he’s remembered as a great man. The thing is, he didn’t change — he always was."

That seems to cover it.

[unclelumpy.livejournal.com]

May history remember him for what he was.

[peachtales.livejournal.com]

*sigh* :(
I heard it this morning on the radio. It has not improved from my first reaction.

[judifilksign.livejournal.com]

A salute to the last of a strong generation of Kennedys.

(Also, Tom, I sent you a LJ message re: Context.)

[vettecat.livejournal.com]

I think all of Massachusetts was in shock this morning.

[jenrose]

I cried when I heard. Which surprised me.

[tchebbe.livejournal.com]

to all the ones here that are negative about the man dying ,, GET over it I dont see anybody around here flying with wings on their Backs or a halo over their heads, the man was HUMAN , look the word up if you dont know what it means, he is dead and he did do a lot of good for this country and he did make a lot of mistakes , so GET over IT , if YOU think you can do BETTER then GET your Ass in the Political Running or Shut the Hell up. May he Rest in Peace