Kennedy Letter to Obama

In his letter, Ted Kennedy urged President Obama to pass health care reform.

There will be struggles – there always have been – and they are already underway again. But as we moved forward in these months, I learned that you will not yield to calls to retreat - that you will stay with the cause until it is won. I saw your conviction that the time is now and witnessed your unwavering commitment and understanding that health care is a decisive issue for our future prosperity. But you have also reminded all of us that it concerns more than material things; that what we face is above all a moral issue; that at stake are not just the details of policy, but fundamental principles of social justice and the character of our country.

Barack Obama's Eulogy For Sen. Ted Kennedy

President Obama: To one widow (Kennedy) wrote, "As you know the passage of time never really heals the tragic memory of such as great loss but we carry on because we have to. Because our loved ones would want us to and because there is still light to guide us in the world from the love they gave us." We carry on.

Joe Biden Remembers Ted Kennedy

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Vice-President Joe Biden's off-the-cuff words for Ted Kennedy maybe the finest speech of his career. Biden is obviously shaken by the loss of Kennedy.

Remembering Ted Kennedy

Legendary Senator Ted Kennedy finally succumbed in his battle against a brain tumor. His death was announced this morning. Republicans and DEmocrats are mourning the loss of the political giant.

President Barack Obama

"His ideas and ideals are stamped on scores of laws and reflected on millions of lives ... in all who can pursue their dreams in an America that is more equal and more just, including myself," Obama said of the senator, who was a crucial supporter of his presidential campaign.

Vice-President Joe Biden

And, you know, he was never defeatist. He never was petty. Never was petty. He was never small. And in the process of his doing, he made everybody he worked with bigger; both his adversaries as well as his allies. Don't you find it remarkable that one of the most partisan, liberal men in the last century serving in the Senate had so many of his -- so many of his foes embrace him because they know he made them bigger? He made them more graceful by the way in which he conducted himself.

John McCain

"Ted Kennedy had this unique way of doing hand-to-hand combat on the floor of the Senate," McCain said on CNN. "And as soon as we stopped our speechmaking, he'd come over and put his arm around you and make everybody appreciate that we had our differences, politically, but personally we could be friends and work together as colleagues and friends for the good of the country."

"Probably the most overrated aspect of the United States Senate is that people keep their word," added McCain, who worked with Kennedy on immigration overhaul, education, and other issues. "Ted Kennedy always kept his word. He would keep his word to the point where he would vote against his positions in order to preserve a carefully crafted compromise."

Robert Byrd

In his honor and as a tribute to his commitment to his ideals, let us stop the shouting and name calling and have a civilized debate on health care reform which I hope, when legislation has been signed into law, will bear his name for his commitment to insuring the health of every American.

Orrin Hatch

"Today America lost a great elder statesman, a committed public servant, and leader of the Senate. And today I lost a treasured friend."

A humorous Joe Klein story involving Hunter Thompson.

A few months later, I was back at Ethel Kennedy's house — living there as the deputy to Richard Goodwin, the J.F.K. speechwriter who had been tapped as the Rolling Stone Washington bureau chief. On July 4 weekend, Hunter Thompson showed up, and I don't remember much else after that, except that a fair number of Ethel's children were involved. Word spread quickly, as word will do in Washington. That Monday, by coincidence, I had an appointment with Kennedy to talk about a story I was working on, and he said, "Joe, before we get started, can I ask you something off the record?" I said sure, and he continued. "What on earth is happening at that house?"

"Why nothing, Senator," I said, summoning all the false gravity in my tiny arsenal. He smiled, raised an eyebrow. "O.K., O.K.," he said. "I asked."

Hillary Wins Massachusetts & California

So much for the Ted Kennedy endorsement helping Barack Obama.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) was projected to win Massachusetts Tuesday night even though her rival, Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.), famously won the endorsements of both Sens. John Kerry and Edward Kennedy.

For Clinton, the state is a big win in the Northeast where Obama was thought to be surging.

The Clinton campaign was calling the win "the upset of the night," saying that the even the endorsements of Kerry, Kennedy and Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick didn't stop Bay State voters from voting for Clinton.

Lessons to be learned for aspiring presidential candidates. Do not let John Kerry endorse you. The other lesson is Hillary has a far better campaign staff than Obama. That has been obvious for months.

The Clinton campaign lowered expections for California. Matt Yglesias reports that Hillary won the state. It would be nice if Matt would cite his source. The CBS News delegate scorecard has Hillary with 533 delegates. Obama has 437. I'm thinking what to say about Mike Gravel and I can't stop myself from laughing.

I can imagine the dialogue Gravel is having with himself.

"Do you smell that?" Gravel asks his imaginary campaign staff. "That gasoline smell... smelled like victory. Someday this election is going to end."

Don't forget to buy your Gravel gear. You can wear this T-shirt with your George Allen for President button.

Ted Kennedy Endorses Barack Obama

In his endorsement of Barack Obama, Ted Kennedy takes several shots at Hillary and Bill Clinton.

We know the true record of Barack Obama," Kennedy told the crowd. "There is the courage. When so many others were silent or simply went along. From the beginning he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth.

"With Barack Obama we will turn the page on the old politics of representation and distortion," Kennedy added. The Senator asked Bill Clinton to tone down his attacks on Obama. Clinton refused. The Clinton campaign will slime Obama until they either lose or get the nomination.

Personally, I am becoming less impressed with Obama. An Obama presidency will Jimmy Carter without the policy wonkery. How does he plan to deal with Republicans, if he can't get the Clintons to play nice with him. Hope is a campaign slogan. Not a plan.

Bush: Stay In Iraq Forever

President Bush wants to maintain an "enduring" relationship with Iraq. The short version is a continued U.S. military presence.

Security: To support the Iraqi government in training, equipping, and arming the Iraqi Security Forces so they can provide security and stability to all Iraqis; support the Iraqi government in contributing to the international fight against terrorism by confronting terrorists such as Al-Qaeda, its affiliates, other terrorist groups, as well as all other outlaw groups, such as criminal remnants of the former regime; and to provide security assurances to the Iraqi Government to deter any external aggression and to ensure the integrity of Iraq's territory.

Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Bob Casey (D-PA), Robert Byrd (D-WV), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Carl Levin (D-MI) and Hillary Clinton (D-NY) responded to that with a terse letter to the President. Short version: not without Congressional approval.

The future of American policy towards Iraq, especially in regard to the issues of U.S. troop levels, permanent U.S. military bases, and future security commitments, has generated strong debate among the American people and their elected representatives. Agreements between our two countries relating to these issues must involve the full participation and consent of the Congress as a co-equal branch of the U.S. government. Furthermore, the future U.S. presence in Iraq is a central issue in the current Presidential campaign. We believe a security commitment that obligates the United States to go to war on behalf of the Government of Iraq at this time is not in America’s long-term national security interest and does not reflect the will of the American people. Commitments made during the final year of your Presidency should not unduly or artificially constrain your successor when it comes to Iraq.

The letter is a waste of time. When does Bush ever listen to anyone that is not a neoconservative when it comes to foreign policy matters. I am open to bases in Kurdistan, as well as diplomatic efforts to ease the tensions between the Kurds and Turkey. The Kurds have made it quite clear they have no interest in a longterm U.S. military presence.

The sad thing is the Kurds are the most friendly Iraqis towards the United States. When they want Americans gone that shows all efforts to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis is over. Nouri al Maliki only wants the United States to stay because his days of political power are over the moment the last boots leave the ground.