Benny's World

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

The Ted who Roared for Justice (open thread)

It's hard to believe that Ted Kennedy finally passed away last night. This was a senator that who for personal bad or for good, he did what he could for his state, and in many instances for all of us. Getting minimum wage raised, SCHIP, educational issues etc.

VOTUS Joe Biden, while attending a meeting at the Dept of Energy shared these reflections :

When Biden was a 29-year-old novice running for the Senate, Kennedy came to Delaware to campaign for him, corralling votes in Little Italy, where Biden said they rarely voted for a Democrat.

As a new senator, Biden lost his wife and daughter in a car accident that left his two sons clinging to life in a hospital. Biden said Kennedy called every day and often sent help. “I’d turn around and there’d be a specialist from Massachusetts, some doc I never even asked for,” the vice president recalled.

Mostly, Biden said, he “restored my sense of idealism and my faith in the possibilities of what this country could do.”

Wiping tears from his eyes, Biden said Kennedy’s love of country and public service was “infectious when you were with him … you could just see it in nature of the debate. … He was never defeatist, he was never petty, he was never small.” In the process, said the vice president, “he made everybody he worked with bigger, both his adversaries and his allies.”



Video courtesy of Politico.

Share your thoughts about Ted Kennedy in the comments. I have two memories I wish to share, but have to locate transcripts or videos or both first.

Note from Howard Dean: the Kennedy family has a condolences and memories online book set up.

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posted by benny06 at Wednesday, August 26, 2009

4 Comments:

  • We have lost the one true liberal senator. I hope there will be someone step up to fill the void his death leaves in fighting for issues facing the common person in our country.

    Senator Kennedy rest in peace.

    By Blogger StandupGuy?, at 12:21 PM  

  • May he rest in peace with those he loved who have gone on to the next life before him.

    May the family he leaves behind to continue their endeavors take some small comfort in the thoughts and prayers of people around the world. He will live on through the work he did to improve so many lives.

    By Blogger indyvoter, at 2:07 PM  

  • It has been heartwarming to hear all the personal recollections about Senator Kennedy's acts of kindness, large and small, that were completely unpublicized. How one behaves privately is a more true measure of one's character than the public persona. By that standard, Senator Kennedy was a success despite any other flaws or failings.

    It is sad these stories were not known previously but if they had been, our cynical natures would have dismissed them as part of a P.R. campaign. Of course he didn't do them for attention but because he believed it was the right thing to do. His family and friends already saw it but at least now the rest of the world can share in that side of him, too.

    By Blogger indyvoter, at 5:54 AM  

  • I thought Ted had a very nice celebration of his life. The past remembrances were heart warming. I was glad to see and hear Joan Kennedy remembered also.

    We all falter at some point in our lives as did Ted Kennedy. Ted came back and tried to right the wrong he made.

    He had compassion and love for his country as did his brothers. The torch has been passed to the next generation of Kennedy's. May it be used wisely and prudently with God's blessing.

    A good man and may he rest in peace.

    By Blogger IM4JRE, at 11:58 AM  

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