What a beautiful tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy, all the speeches were

[akbacchus_BC]

so heart touching, especially the one from his son, Ted and the one from his other son Patrick. We learned more of Senator Kennedy in death as opposed to real life. What a great Senator, he did so much when the cameras were not following him. It was so good to hear from so many people how much he touched their lives.

Now that he is gone, may he rest in peace, and we need to mourn him. However, Congress will be back and his vote will be vacant and since Senator Byrd is not able to vote because of his illness, that is two votes against health care. How is health care with the public option or single payer going to be passed? The Lion fell asleep too early! I am hoping and praying that President Obama can come through with his promises to the American people for better health care, now that his stalwart is gone.

Please fight for better health care President Obama like you promised and make Senator Ted Kennedy's dream come through for all Americans.

That's all!

[saltpoint]

1. Kennedy has been a political fixture for decades in the Senate but

now he passes into the mythic realm. He has been laid to rest today but has shown the rest of us how public service is done.

The Far Right in the U.S. really can't touch him. FOX News has been trying to diminish him as a part of American life, but with little success. They likely have persuaded only those who didn't like Kennedy to begin with.

It's my guess that a couple of new generations of young people will take note of this week's eulogies and re-order their personal priorities as a result. Ted Kennedy did all he could do. As you say, he often did it when the cameras were not rolling.

"A torch is passed to a new generation..."

[akbacchus_BC]

2. Thank you, a torch is surely passed to another generation. However,

looking at his accomplishments, I am just hoping and praying that President Obama will full fill his promise to the American people. Health care for all. It was a sad day for me as 77 is very young!

[saltpoint]

3. It is a sad day, but affords us a chance to reassess what matters.

I think this fight is not over, and I think the Republicans who are impeding the advance of this health care legislation are going to have to give way.

[akbacchus_BC]

4. I wish I could be as hopeful as you are. The republicans is going to

fight anything progressive in terms of health care for all. Makes me wonder, where do they get their coverage from?

[saltpoint]

5. Good point -- As Senators or Congressfolk, the public pays for their coverage.

But those same Senators and Congressfolk cannot -- or will not -- cover the public. Private-profit health insurance companies hold sway in the halls of the U.S. Congress. Hate-host rado and television shows spread innuendo and lies about the president's proposals. The media are complacent with both, in varying degrees.

Obama's initiative is meeting with expected resistance. But I think the public can be engaged on this and I don't think he's really even begun to move all the pieces on the board yet.

Kennedy's passing has generated a solid week or so of discussion on what public service involves, about his lifetime of service in the Senate, and about health care reform as a life cause.

I think that's all to the plus.

[roguevalley]

6. Byrd looked wretched. He *loved* Teddy. So sad.

[saltpoint]

7. Yes. Two men of very different sensibiities with profound respect

for each other.

[hileeopnyn8d]

8. You touched on something

that I think is important, and dispells some right-wing talking points. He has shown us how public service is done.

I've always been amazed out how Republican party leaders, Senators and other elected officials, can get up tell everyone how inept Congress is (nobody reads the bills!), how the Federal Government is evil and wrong and can't run anything - and still keep their jobs.

How and why no one ever calls them on this is beyond comprehension. Seems to me, the obvious question for people like Eric Cantor and John Boehner and the rest of the bullshit-peddlers is - Why do you associate with such a feckless, incompetent and useless institution like the United States Congress? Why would you want to be reelected to such an establishment?

The stories being told by people from both sides of the aisle, along with former aides to Senator Kennedy and ordinary citizens paint an entirely different picture of public service than what is spewed forth in right-wing talking points.

I also think those from the other side that spoke affectionately in regard to Teddy, but prefaced their remarks with "we disagreed about everything" or "I disagreed with all his policis" did so at their own disservice. The laws, programs and policies that Senator Kennedy fought for DO mean everything to the majority of the American public.

For that they are idiots and once again on the wrong side of history.

[firedupdem]

9. +1

Perfectly stated.

:fistbump:

[saltpoint]

10. Yes. Kennedy had it right. The Republicans who on one hand liked him

personally but opposed him politically most of the time had it wrong on the issues.

And they still have it wrong generally and on the health care initiative especially.