The Washington D.C. political community is experiencing a rare, remarkable moment of unity as both Democrats and Republicans celebrate the profound legacy of Sen. Ted Kennedy, who passed away two days ago after a 15-month bout with brain cancer.
Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who co-authored and fought for immigration reform legislation with Kennedy in 2006, observed:
"Many of his fellow senators, Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, will note today that Ted was sincerely intent on finding enough common ground among us to make progress on the issues of our day... will miss him very much."
And Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), who worked closely with Sen. Kennedy on the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Ryan White AIDS Act, and many other bills, commented:
Today America lost a great elder statesman, a committed public servant, and leader of the Senate. And today I lost a treasured friend. Ted Kennedy was an iconic, larger than life United States Senator whose influence cannot be overstated.
Tributes by Republican leaders, though, curiously failed to address Kennedy's keen desire for fulfillment, after his death, of cherished legislative goals of his life, especially universal health care as a fundamental right, not a wealth-based privilege, for all Americans.
Memoriams by many Democratic leaders included both touching words of praise for Sen. Kennedy's legacy, and a fierce, principled desire to finish for Ted Kennedy his unfinished goals when he passed from this life.
Former President Bill Clinton noted, "As President, I was thankful for his fierce advocacy for universal health care... His tireless efforts have brought us to the threshold of real health care reform."
President Obama hailed Sen. Kennedy as "not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy... I've had the honor to call Teddy a colleague, a counselor, and a friend."
And Vice President Joe Biden choked back grief as he eloquently expressed, "... he restored my sense of idealism and my faith in possibilities of what this country could do... he changed the circumstances of tens of millions of Americans in the literal sense."
As our country prepares to bid farewell to one of its most accomplished lawmakers, and as we Democrats brace to bury our top standard-bearer of American liberalism, please read these heartfelt tributes to Sen. Ted Kennedy:
- Vice President Joe Biden's Remarks - "I just hope we remember how he treated other people."
- President Barack Obama's Remarks - "One of the most accomplished Americans to serve out democracy"
- President Bill Clinton's Statement - "His big heart, sharp mind, and boundless energy were gifts he gave to make our democracy a more perfect union."
Services will be held in Boston Saturday, August 29th, followed by burial at Arlington National Cemetery near his slain brothers, President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert Kennedy. President Obama will deliver the eulogy.
Then, our nation must decide how best to honor the legacy and life work of American patriot Edward Moore Kennedy. My suggestion is to fulfill his dream of universal health care for all Americans.
Comments
Many Latinos are perceived Roman Catholic; good doff of the no-cost hat to have major media recently airing all about a letter Obama and Kennedy sent to the Pope…bud up to a Pope certain demographics like (hoping they’ll forget just a little while ago you said the Pope was a “discredited leader”), and that PROVES you love certain (or all) people.
Those April DHS reports not known to have been watered down yet insofar as the protocols they effect, and so many watch lists still growing, must be some kind of tough love.
The Obamacare bill costs $1.76 trillion, enough to pay $17,000 for at least 100 million people; there are not that many people in need of that kind of immediate or near-immediate care; and to his credit, Senator Edward M. Kennedy never once thought his name should be ensconced upon it; one must remember the current cloy expands to “do it for old Ted, no matter costs to you, as long as officials can still keep or kite their own pay and perks, while we fund $290 billion + string-free to Ladenist lands”….at a time the Obama administration prides itself upon cutting credit to consumers who lose jobs, yet funds State and local grants for “necessary” public employees and realty-related bankers…so we can pay down that debt.
Even as a “Buckley” Conservative, I do NOT nor have I ever oppose(d) care for the truly medically complexed…for such tough cases, not every little old sniffle, human compassion calls for rendering aid to such needy, and doing so needn’t cost anywhere near a trillion or two or three or….. . I understand Senator Kennedy was a man of such reasoning, albeit as the Senate’s “Liberal Lion”. And do you know Senator Kennedy and even his staff never told me to shut up as a citizen making rational inquiry re bills over time; that nobody in Massachussettes ever indicated that the only way to win was steamroll?
Well, while Obamacare might need some work before enactment if it’s truly to be omni-demographic friendly, and certainly national debt/job creation or retention friendly, there is another bill Senator Kennedy DID put his name upon recently which I feel would both honor what he, RFK, and JFK truly stood for: the Kennedy-Menendez STANDARDS Act, which would protect nationals, immigrants, tourists, and demographic of every stripe from being detained forever as a “terror suspect” unless a Court could be convinced that some meritorious actual tether to true terrorist activity could be demonstrated.
The Kennedy-Menendez STANDARDS Act: a way to honor the memory of a man with a bill that costs not one cent to enact or follow, cuts costs (and national debt/taxes) for over-used detentions…and yields a value to humanity that is priceless.
STANDARDS Backgrounder: http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache%3ABbpC0hgeXsUJ%3Awww.amnestyusa.org%2Factioncenter%2Factions%2Faction12621.pdf+kennedy-menendez+STANDARDS+act+text&hl=en&gl=us&pli=1 .
Name:Daniel C. Arendt
Date Joined:11 Sep 2003
Email:DanArendt6 [at] netscape [dot] net
Daniel C. Arendt
DnArendt@netscape.net 2650 Skyline Terrace NW
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541-926-2470
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