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Friday, February 12, 2010

The Last Kennedy
Posted by Jill | 5:37 AM
If you're my age, there has never been a time in your entire life when there has not been a member of the Kennedy family in Washington. That's about to change:
Representative Patrick Kennedy, the final member of the legendary political dynasty serving in federal office, has decided not to seek re-election, telling his Rhode Island constituents that “my life is taking a new direction.”

In a recorded video announcement scheduled to be televised on Sunday, Mr. Kennedy announced his decision to step down after nine terms in office. The death of his father, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, and the challenging political climate for Democrats contributed to his decision, party officials said.

“We all know how difficult the last few years have been,” Mr. Kennedy says at the opening of a two-minute message, citing the economy, unemployment and mortgage foreclosures. He added, “Illness took the life of my most cherished mentor and confidant, my ultimate source of spirit and strength.”

The decision by Mr. Kennedy, 42, means that for the first time in nearly a half-century, a Kennedy would not be serving in Congress. The decision was expected to be formally announced on Friday, aides said, with the television advertisement to follow.

Mr. Kennedy was facing the prospect of a competitive race for re-election from a Republican state representative, John Loughlin III. Mr. Kennedy also voiced concern last month at the Republican victory in neighboring Massachusetts, where Scott Brown won the United States Senate seat that was held for generations by the elder Kennedy.

Two party officials said Thursday evening that the challenging race this fall was a factor, but that the death of Mr. Kennedy’s father played a larger role in his decision.

“My father instilled in me a deep commitment to public service,” Mr. Kennedy said in the video message, which was recorded about 10 days ago. “Now, having spent two decades in politics, my life is taking a new direction, and I will not be a candidate for re-election this year.”

The Kennedys of my generation have lacked both the mystique and the effectiveness of the earlier one. It's actually surprising that any of them chose a career in Washington, given what that city did to two of the WWII generation Kennedy brothers. And it isn't as though Patrick Kennedy, with his personal problems, has been a Lion of the House either. But whatever their personal faults, the Kennedys have always been evocative of the notion that having money doesn't have to make you a greedy bastard pulling up the ladder after you so no one else can have anything. They've always tried to make life better for everyone, not just their peers. When you compare the Kennedys to the OTHER current political dynasty in this country, the Bushes, who are ALL about regarding the entire world as their personal fiefdom and hoping for the Restoration of the Favored Son, it makes the departure from public life of the last Kennedy in it even more bitter.

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Saturday, May 24, 2008

Who is More Over the Top? Keith Olbermann or Hillary Clinton herself?
Posted by Anonymous | 2:48 PM
It is the season of Over the Top, and from moment to moment the most adept speakers edge each other out in the ad lib and the prepared statements of the moment...With the off the cuff, exhausted remark being the most revealing, its clear who is planning what.
Personally, I think the Over the Top Award goes hands down to Hillary.
In a world where people openly talk about being afraid for Obama's health should he get the nomination, wouldn't it have been wiser for Hillary to apologize to both the Kennedy's and the Obama's and then say that in her exhaustion she merely mentioned something that comes up all the time. The American public would get it. Its not something to be spoken of by the inexplicably ongoing opposition within the party, who has taken to bending the truth and numbers, to the point that it seems like maybe she IS just waiting around for the slot to open because Obama will surely be vacating it one way or another...
I dunno what to think about any of whats going on...it smacks of someone telling us that they know what is better for the American people than the American people themselves.
Its the "look! Shiny, shiny!" of Joe Lieberman politics that changes only to get into office and then goes on about its business...I don't like it.
Here, Keith Olbermann again, because YouTube seems to be pulling these videos as quickly as they can be put up. Within this clip is Hillary's clip and transcript.



I think that he is spot on...exasperated...and I agree with him completely.
This is where Hillary supporters say, "Well, you have to forgive her because she is A) tired as hell, and B) wants whats best for the country and truly believes that she knows better than we do, and C) she probably DOES know something more than we do, being in such a powerful position and all....so it follows that D) she knows that Obama will be taken out because she is on some security committee, so we'd better hold onto the devil we have...she really cares about us and will be the Hillary that we know she is, under the tough-girl act, again once she is in office...
and daddy wont hit me anymore because he says he's sorry....you know the drill.
This is the definition of insanity!!
Look for Hillary next to try to break all laws to make a Hillary for Hillary party and run independent...I'll bet she's looked into it!

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Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Teddy Kennedy Diagnosed With Malignant Brain Tumor
Posted by Anonymous | 4:21 PM

Senator Teddy Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, and will need aggressive treatment in the coming months. This is heart stopping news for me, but I hadn't realized how devastating this would be for not only his colleagues in the senate, but the entire government, and the American people as well.

Kennedy's great friend, CT Senator Chris Dodd, could barely make a statement, as he stood with senators Harry Reid and John Kerry, reacting to the news. The level of emotion gave me the impression that prognosis may be worse than we in the public know. The way that MSNBC covered this, and went over the historical implications of Kennedy's career made it seem like he was dead already. But Kerry assured us that Kennedy was up and around the hospital, making decisions and weighing his options. He will fight this with the best medical care that this country has to offer, and the closest family...he has everything going for him, including a strong fighting spirit and the knowledge that he has much left to do for this country before he is finished.

Best Wishes can be sent to Senator Kennedy and his family here, and I believe that they will put updates there as well. There is really not much to know yet, except that this is horrible news at this point in time, and considering that Kennedy has been such a strong voice for the disenfranchised. Now is when his voice is going to be needed the most, as we watch the economy sink into ruins as the final blow of the Bush legacy.

Barack Obama was featured on all of the news outlets this afternoon talking candidly about Senator Kennedy and what it was like to work as a young senator beside him; how its been to have this heroic figure support him so strongly, and how much he admires the work that teddy has done. This Kennedy, the third brother, and surrogate father and grandfather to too many Kennedy children, has touched us all pretty deeply. His sense of moral outrage at the reluctance of the senate to move ahead with foundational democratic issues has been a constant force in what little is left of the sanctity of our government in the era of Bush's criminal activities, and what America was founded to be. Godspeed Teddy; you are well loved across this country by real Americans who understand the importance of the moral, empathetic, voice of America. We are there fighting this thing, right alongside you, just as you have been fighting for us, and before you know it you will be sailing off of Hyannisport with the salt spray in your full sails...Get well soon!

c/p RIPCoco

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Saturday, May 17, 2008

Teddy Kennedy Rushed to Hospital With Possible Stroke.
Posted by Anonymous | 12:26 PM

I hate the breaking news emails, the interruption of the current program for a special announcement, and just a little while ago I sat breathless watching MSNBC's breaking and ongoing story about Teddy Kennedy's hospitalization with stroke-like symptoms. The Cape Cod Times reported this morning that Teddy was at the Kennedy's Hyannis compound when he had symptoms and was taken to Cape Cod hospital (and excellent hospital in my experience,) and the transferred to Mass General (another excellent hospital.) There isn't much else yet except all of our hopes and prayers that whatever this is, its mild and something that he will pass right through. Teddy, at 76, is strong as a horse, and he is chomping at the bit for the upcoming Obama campaign.



Back to our regular programming, Russert's additional pre-taped show this weekend is about JFK and features his closest advisor's.

I will be following this story closely. Teddy Kennedy is not only someone who this country needs actively working in our government, but he has acted as the father and grandfather for 3 families, carrying quite a heavy load personally.

Do you want to see what this Kennedy is made of? Do you want to see who is speaking for you in our government? Watch him in action and then say a little prayer that we get to keep him for just a little while longer:



Update: HuffPo reports that according to Kennedy's doctors, the senator suffered what was apparently a seizure and was not life threatening. He is reportedly in good spirits and has some of his children, his wife, and his niece Carolyn with him. This thing was worrisome because of his recent surgery for a blockage in his carotid artery, but it is unclear what caused this seizure. seizures can be caused by many different things and can resemble strokes, but they aren't the same.
I'm relieved and looking forward to more good news on this story.

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