Good night, Teddy
Senator Edward Kennedy, the baby brother, the torchbearer of Camelot, who took the Kennedy family and mantle on his shoulders after losing each of this brothers, who failed to become president but became perhaps our greatest modern-day Senator, and in so doing, became the only one of Joseph Kennedy’s sons to achieve long life, is gone, at age 77. And what a loss.
From the Boston Globe: Read the family’s statement and sign the guest book. See photos of Teddy Kennedy through the years. Plus President Obama’s statement.
Don’t miss Chris Matthews’ documentary on the Kennedy brothers which was scheduled to air tomorrow evening on MSNBC. (Wonder if they’ll movde it up now…)
With Ted Kennedy's death at age 77, the lights go out on Camelot.
The NYTimes tells of his flaws and triumphs.
From the WaPo: Kennedy’s colleagues mourn.
Watch Kennedy’s speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver last year:
Kennedy’s successor will be chosen by special vote.
Kennedy did not live to see his dream of universal healthcare enacted. Hopefully in his memory, Senators of both parties — but particularly the Republicans who claim to have been his friend — will finally get serious. I doubt it, but one can hope.
I would normally check the winger blogs to see how crass they’ll be on this day, but I’ve decided against it. I don’t think I could take it today. [UPDATE: glad I skipped it, although I did catch a bit of Kennedy tear-down on winter radio 610 this morning, which I quickly turned off, and there's this crap, from the execrable Breitbart.]
Kennedy’s loss is searing for Democrats, and for the country. His family has sacrificed so much, and given so much, for this country. He took on the burden of being father to his brother’s children, and a leader — if not THE liberal leader of the Senate. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy, and one that his family can be tremendously proud of. He is, and will be, sorely missed.
UPDATE: More reaction, as compiled by the Washington Post:
AP on comments by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:
Schwarzenegger says he and his wife, Maria, are “immensely saddened” by the death of her “Uncle Teddy.”In a statement issued hours after the Massachusetts Democrat succumbed to brain cancer, the pair said he “was the rock of our family.”
Kennedy’s death came just two weeks after that of Maria Shriver’s mother, Eunice Kennedy, one of the senator’s siblings. He had attended her wake but was noticeably absent from her funeral, even though it was held near his Cape Cod home.
The governor said he has “personally benefited and grown” from Kennedy’s experience and advice.
He also says the senator “taught us all that public service isn’t a hobby or even an occupation, but a way of life.”
The Wapo has more, including reactions from John Kerry and other members of Congress. Plus Nancy Reagan:
Given our political differences, people are sometimes surprised by how close Ronnie and I have been to the Kennedy family.
In recent years, Ted and I found our common ground in stem cell research and I considered him an ally and a dear friend.
I will miss him.
The BBC has reaction from around the world, including the Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen (the Kennedy’s are beloved in Ireland and Ted played a key role in securing peace in Northern Ireland, for which he was knighted by the Queen of England,) and both the current and former P.M.s of Great Britain. Plus this from the Nelson Mandela Foundation (Kennedy was a vocal opponent of Apartheid, back when Dick Cheney and other right wingers supported the South African regime):
We mourn, with his family, and the United States of America, the loss of a champion of democracy and civil rights.
His made his voice heard in the struggle against apartheid at a time when the freedom struggle was not widely supported in the West. We remain grateful for his role.
UPDATE: Here is President Obama’s statement today on Senator Kennedy’s passing:
And Vice President Joe Biden’s
The White House also issued a proclamation, calling for all U.S. flags on official buildings to be flown at half staff.
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