General Zod

Sen. Edward Moore Kennedy, the youngest Kennedy brother who was left to head the family's political dynasty after his brothers President John F. Kennedy and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy were assassinated, has died at age 77.

Known as the "liberal lion of the Senate," Kennedy championed health care reform, working wages and equal rights in his storied career. In August, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- the nation's highest civilian honor -- by President Obama. His daughter, Kara Kennedy, accepted the award on his behalf.

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, known as Ted or Teddy, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008 and underwent a successful brain surgery soon after that. But his health continued to deteriorate, and Kennedy suffered a seizure while attending the luncheon following President Barack Obama's inauguration.

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I didn't agree with him on most everything but I think he had his heart in the right place (maybe left place).. RIP.

chase3001

So who is going to be the third Kennedy to die?

jfoobar

Looks like just CNN is reporting it right at this moment. Oh well, to be expected but I hadn't expected it quite yet.

Giantrobo

RIP Dude.


Wow, I was watching NBC here in LA and it's like they can't decide whether or not to air AMERICA'S GOT TALENT or the breaking news of his death. It's like someone was flipping a switch back and forth.

s}{ammer

R.I.P. Mary Jo Kopechne

JasonF

What a life. Rest in peace, Senator.

crazyronin

In memoriam:

mickey65

Yeah, I tend to think that tumor was Mary Jo festering on his mind all these years...

Rockmjd23

RIP So soon after his sister too. Jean Kennedy is now the last living child of Joe Kennedy. I'm a conservative and probably disagreed with everything he stood for but this really sucks because things won't be the same around here without him.

wishbone

RIP Ted Kennedy.

classicman2

Up until the last couple of years when his health totally failed him, one of the most able congressional legislators I've seen in my lifetime.

Red Dog

I just hope his death doesn't push support for health care reform over the top....as in "Do it for Ted!"

kenbuzz

And to think, if we had nationalized health care he would've died ten years earlier.

RayChuang

The biggest loss in the passing of Senator Kennedy was that he had the sparkling wit that he shared with his older brothers. His passing will definitely make the US Senate sessions less interesting, to say the least.

Th0r S1mpson

RIP Ted. I wish more of our politicians brought the same passion to the job.

Venusian

I caught the tail end of a little thing on NPR this morning about him and thought he might ahve died but they never said that at the end of the report.

Sad to hear

classicman2

I hope that his death will not start yet another Kennedy myth.

Tsar Chasm

History books will be kind. Ted did more for this country than your senator, a state should be proud to have kept him in government for so long.

Slainte Ted!

Red Dog

There ya go.

classicman2

I don't mind if it's 'true' history. It's the history that perpetuates myths that I'm not too fond of.

General Zod

Unfortunately I'm sure this will happen.

dick_grayson

I've been saying that for months!

classicman2

I believe that the people who are for 'health care reform' will be still be for it.

I believe that he people who are opposed to it will still be opposed to it.

General Zod

The good news is that by the time they get back to the bill it will be months down the road and Ted will all but be forgotten about.

I also think people are more concerned about their own health care situation than whatever Ted would have wanted so I think the protests and questioning will continue unabated.

zombeaner

I thought the thread would last more than 7 posts before devolving, but I guess I have too much faith sometimes.

RIP.