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27 Aug 2009 20:45

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U.S.: Obama’s vacation got screwed up, so he’s taking another one

  • Dammit, Ted. Ted Kennedy’s death has put a damper in Obama’s plans to chill at Martha’s Vineyard for a few days and then get back to work. So, Obama’s trying to rush in some R&R, head up to Boston for Kennedy’s funeral tomorrow night, go back to D.C. on Sunday, and … head to Camp David on Wednesday. How did Barack Obama spend his summer vacation? Having to work, then immediately taking another one to make up for lost relaxation. source

27 Aug 2009 10:06

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Politics: Editorial cartoonists remember Ted Kennedy through creativity

Editorial cartoonists of all stripes took a stab at the legend that is Ted. The sheer number of angles taken is pretty awesome. source

26 Aug 2009 21:26

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U.S.: When Mass. last had an open Senate seat, leg warmers were popular

  • 25 years since both Senate seats weren’t filled by somebody source

26 Aug 2009 10:23

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U.S.: Barack Obama remembers Ted Kennedy as a “great leader”

  • An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States senator of our time.
  • President Barack Obama • In a speech regarding the death of Ted Kennedy. Obama was close to Kennedy, even when the Senator was quickly declining in health. “Even as he waged a valiant struggle with a mortal illness,” he said, “I’ve profited as president from his encouragement and wisdom.” Kennedy’s endorsement of the president was seen as a turning point in last year’s campaign, even if it came at a cost of damaging longstanding relationships with former president Bill Clinton. • source

26 Aug 2009 03:06

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U.S.: Ted Kennedy’s death creates a scramble for his seat

  • It has a profound impact on Massachusetts politics and elected office. Everything’s going to fall down because everyone will start moving around either jockeying for his seat or for the other positions that could open up.
  • Boston University statehouse program director Fred Bayles • Discussing the “domino effect” Kennedy’s death will have on politics in Massachusetts. Kennedy’s death leaves a reliable Democratic Senate seat open at the peak of the health care debate. While Kennedy had recently pushed for finding a replacement, he made the announcement just days before his death, leaving the state with little time to come up with a suitable replacement. We’re guessing the two-thirds majority stays put. • source

26 Aug 2009 02:53

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U.S.: Why Ted Kennedy was truly a significant political force

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  • A Kennedy first Ted Kennedy outlived John. Ted Kennedy outlived Robert. He never became president, but he arguably had just as big a political legacy. He came from a lineage that began with their father, Joe and continued through his son, Patrick (who’s currently a Congressman). The line doesn’t go away with Ted, but it loses its brightest strand with his passing.
  • A liberal second Ted Kennedy was the liberal to end all liberals. He wore that chain around his neck with no shame, despite the connotations that the phrase has earned through years of erosion in the press, on talk shows, and through Fox News. He frequently got vilified for it, much like Nancy Pelosi does now, but it never prevented him from fighting for them.
  • A leader thirdFate intervened from making Ted president – in 1969, a car crash in which his passenger died made a run verboten. But over five decades in the Senate, he shaped the political landscape through countless issues, and was well-loved on both sides of the aisle. He was that rare kind of elder statesman that comes along once in a century. source

26 Aug 2009 02:10

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U.S.: Ted Kennedy, dead at 77; one of our nation’s greatest Senators

  • The political icon was 77. Ted Kennedy, the leader of one of the nation’s most iconic political families, had been suffering from brain cancer in the last few years. “We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever,” a statement from his family said. Just a few weeks ago, he lost his sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver. source
 

26 Aug 2009 01:48

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23 Aug 2009 22:26

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Politics: Max Headroom: We want a Joe Lieberman/Alec Baldwin battle royale

  • Lieberman smacks back A while back, Alec Baldwin threatened to move to Connecticut to essentially run against Democrat-turned-indie politician Joe Lieberman. Lieberman’s response: “Make my day.” It’s on now.

  • Wrong place, wrong storyFox News gets this great idea: Let’s take Geraldo Rivera and put him near Hurricane Bill … so that he can discuss Obama’s declining poll numbers. Shouldn’t you be discussing the storm?

  • McCain misses Ted. Bad.It doesn’t matter that they’re in opposite parties: John McCain laments the declining health of Ted Kennedy and the fact that it’s kept him out of the health care debate. It’s tearjerking.

30 Jul 2009 17:21

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U.S.: Obama hands out Presidential Medal of Freedom to 16 famous peeps

  • Talk about vip. Obama announced the 16 recipients of the 2009 Presidential Medal of Freedom today. Among those to get America’s highest civilian honor: Stephen Hawking, Ted Kennedy, Harvey Milk and Sidney Poitier. I know, right? Pretty exclusive. We have to keep working on that cure for cancer, then maybe we’ll have a chance. source