Community | August 29, 2009 | 45 comments

Obama pays final tribute to Senator Kennedy

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/us/politics/30kennedy.html?hp

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BOSTON — During the funeral of Edward M. Kennedy on Saturday morning, the longtime senator was remembered as a “happy warrior” by President Obama, a figure of outsized public impact and of enduring private faith in a Mass that seemed as large as the life of the man being commemorated.

It brought together the extended Kennedy family, luminaries and political leaders from across decades, who offered praise for a scion of the country’s most storied political family and a towering liberal leader in the United States Senate, who died on Tuesday at 77. Mr. Kennedy will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery later in the day, next to his two slain brothers.

“Today we say goodbye to the youngest child of Rose and Joseph Kennedy,” Mr. Obama said in his eulogy. “The world will long remember their son Edward as the heir to a weighty legacy; a champion for those who had none; the soul of the Democratic Party; and the lion of the U.S. Senate — a man whose name graces nearly one thousand laws, and who penned more than three hundred himself.”

President Obama delivered the eulogy at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica, where Mr. Kennedy had once prayed daily while his daughter Kara was being treated for lung cancer. Speaking to an audience of 1,400 guests, including former presidents, dozens of senators and Congressional representatives, celebrities and dignitaries, Mr. Obama praised Mr. Kennedy as “the greatest legislator of our time.”

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Source: The New York Times Online
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45 comments // Obama pays final tribute to Senator Kennedy

  • cmdinc
    • 0
      cmdinc  

    • I have an interesting Senator Kennedy story: I was in Springfield Mass for the Div II final four. We stayed at Mariot. After sessions i went back to my room and there was a note on my door requesting my presence at a conference room to meet with Senator Kennedy. I didn't know what it was about so i went. The security gaurds eyed me as i handed them the note. They went into the conference room and i could hear the senators distinct voice. They came back explaining there was a mistake for the person they requested was in his 60's. I asked to at least meet him as i had gone to the trouble of coming down. He must have heard me as he came to the door and said he was sorry for the mistake, but he was very busy. After learning of the Senators passing i tried to find the note, but not yet.
      I did not nor do agree with alot of the Senators policies and am troubled by his past mistakes, but i will give him the respect that any Senator should get as i say Rest in Peace

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
  • NotFooled
    • 0
      NotFooled  

    • I propose instead of naming the healthcare bill in honor of him, I think we should pass legislation that would enact term limits so that no one will ever again surpass his length of public service.

    • 2 years ago
  • riteon
  • Stever_B
    • 0
      Stever_B  

    • Why doesn't current.com have an "Ignore" feature? Of all the sites I have frequented through the years, it would seem to be the most useful here.

      GodsnLiberals et al are not here to make reasonable, thought-provoking posts — they're here to make trouble and get any attention they can.

      The comment about even having to "watch this shit at Hooters" speaks volumes.

    • 2 years ago
  • hunzedog
  • stopnoise
  • riteon
    • 0
      riteon  

    • I know one family that will never forget him, Mary Jo's family has had to relive the death of their daughter everytime his face showed up on TV. Sad he didn't practice what he preached about looking out for the less fortunate, he should have looked out for her. Anyone else of less importance would have spend many years behind bars for driving drunk and killing someone.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
  • riteon
  • krag2112
  • mgerlach22
  • rebelution07
  • nata0204
    • 0
      nata0204  

    • the immature comments on tis page should really stop. a man died here an as someone mentioned before he was someones father, husband, brother uncle ect.. i believe ted was a great man that will be remembered by thousands of people for the great things he accomplished. those who dwell on this faults will fail to see the greatness an amazing qualities of this man. may he rest in peace.

    • 2 years ago
  • NotFooled
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • nata0204:

      Oh...I get it. You're being assholes preemptively. Anticipating how we will react to Dick Cheney's future death.

      Really? That's your excuse? Weak.

      I can promise you that I'll have the common decency not to pile garbage on Dick Cheney's grave. Frankly he's doing enough by himself. He doesn't need me to comment. As a bonus, when Laura Bush dies I promise not to mention the 17 year old boy she killed. See, that would be in incredibly poor taste and unlike many of you, I was raised right.

      Anyway...I look forward to your next lame excuse.

    • 2 years ago
  • NotFooled
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • nata0204:

      Hilarious.

      So in your world something that hasn't happened yet is considered a "fact". And you right wing hacks wonder why nobody takes you seriously. Like I said...L A M E.

    • 2 years ago
  • NotFooled
    • 0
      NotFooled  
    • nata0204:

      How many times on here has some one said that they hoped Pres. Bush or Dick Cheney would die a horrible death ? Thousands . How many times has it been said by some that they couldn't wait until they died ? Hundreds . So just because I am stating what has already been said then why am I a hack ? Because you know its true, but you like to act like you and all liberals are above that when liberals are the worst at it.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • nata0204:

      Oh...now its about wishing someone were dead. Instead of trashing a person when they actually die and when people are literally mourning their death.

      Nice try. Well...really it's not a nice try. It's yet another lame excuse. But keep digging. Every post exposes your pathetic lack of character.

    • 2 years ago
  • nata0204
    • 0
      nata0204  
    • nata0204:

      wow! u all need to chill out.. the fact is a man died an everyone should say somethin nice or nothin at all politics always come down to a popuarity contest anyways

    • 2 years ago
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  

    • To honor the life of Ted Kennedy, we owe him to create a national health service-- it was after all the cause of his life, as he proclaimed many times.

      I think we should also take a look back over his various public speeches.

      There was one thing he and both his brothers would say everywhere they spoke-- which is that "every single one of you can make a difference in this world."

      We should take that to heart, and see public service as they did, not as a career, or a hobby, but as a way of life.

      God Bless him, and may he rest in peace.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  

    • When I see people on this site who clearly don’t have the common decency not to politicize Senator Kennedy’s death with their tasteless remarks, I can only wonder what sad little lives they must lead that they so desperately seek this kind of attention. If only they could get some positive attention in the real world, maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to act out like this online. Oh well, most of us see it for what it is...a pathetic cry for help.

    • 2 years ago
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  
    • krag2112:

      drop the "cry for help" off the end of your last phrase, and I am in total agreement. Clay's comment is incomprehensible in so MANY ways. The coverage of Michael Jackson's death didn't bother me. Why would it? I didn't watch it. Just because a television is on doesn't mean it has to be watched. Also, all of the models I have seen come with all sorts of channel options.

      Why would anyone sit in front of a television and watch a program they didn't want to watch? Bizarre.

    • 2 years ago
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  
    • krag2112:

      drop the "cry for help" off the end of your last phrase, and I am in total agreement. Clay's comment is incomprehensible in so MANY ways. The coverage of Michael Jackson's death didn't bother me. Why would it? I didn't watch it. Just because a television is on doesn't mean it has to be watched. Also, all of the models I have seen come with all sorts of channel options.

      Why would anyone sit in front of a television and watch a program they didn't want to watch? Bizarre.

    • 2 years ago
  • TheEmpireGuy
    • 0
      TheEmpireGuy  

    • 1 elitist down and too many more to go.

      Yes, it's sad when someone dies, but let us not forget the life he left behind, the things he did, the people he harmed.

      I said it once and I'll say it again, death does not absolve one of their sins, it merely makes them more evident.

    • 2 years ago
  • pacianphoto
    • 0
      pacianphoto  

    • A United States Senator died.

      He was someone's father, uncle, cousin, friend, mentor, husband. People who loved him and people he loved, will mourn his loss. Let's not forget that!!

      Unbelievable disrespect no matter what his politics.

      I'm ashamed to have read this garbage.

      World Photographs 360°

    • 2 years ago
  • asherp
  • samthesixth
  • riteon
  • NotFooled
  • pjacobs51
  • kennymotown
  • Mosephine
    • 0
      Mosephine  

    • Obama's speech was very touching but Ted Kennedy Jr. is a brilliant writer and it was amazing how he was able to keep himself composed through his eulogy.

    • 2 years ago
  • pandaman2105
  • artemis6
    • 0
      artemis6  

    • The highest compliment I can think of , is this . He cared about people . That is why he inspired such loyalty . That is leadership . Others must resort to fear mongering and deceit , to harness hate , and divide us against ourselves . He cared . That takes more courage and integrity , by far .

    • 2 years ago
  • booksellergirl
    • 0
      booksellergirl  

    • Senator Kennedy, the lesson of your life to me is that anyone can rise above their mistakes and make their lives worthy with service, commitment, and a dedication to doing for their fellow man what is right. And you did this all while keeping a sense of humor. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy and may you rest in peace.

    • 2 years ago
  • pjacobs51
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  

    • I'll ignore ignorant comments for now, I can then now assume the likes of the last commentator have never done anything for their common man. Some people will never really get it. Are you a relative of the late Dick Nixon, or what.

    • 2 years ago
  • kennymotown
    • 0
      kennymotown  
    • kennymotown:

      Oh you got me clayjj, I haven't done a thing! Wait there was that homeless guy I gave money to, and that food drive I worked for, for nothing but to help, and going door to door working for a change in health care for regular people. I could go on and on but I'll save you the time.

    • 2 years ago
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  
    • kennymotown:

      kenny..i know that you try to help..but you and your kennedy version of "helping people" is really FUCKING them more than actually helping them..

      let me ask you when you do all those work..do you do it because you care or because it makes you feel good??

      it makes a lot of difference..most liberals cannot tell the difference..that is why EVERYTHING THEY TOUCH..everything they champion..get pretty fucked..

      name one that worked..

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
  • GodsnLiberals
  • kivol
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • GodsnLiberals:

      Thank you GodsnLiberals for your tasteless post. It's posts like this that make it that much easier to dismiss anything you have to say in the future. So thank you for eliminating yourself from future discussions. We'll all be better off for it.

    • 2 years ago
  • booksellergirl
  • current89
  • krag2112
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • GodsnLiberals:

      @Clayjj05...your comment was pointless. As it seems most of them are. I'm not your brother, but I am relaxed. And you pinning me down on anything is hilarious. Have another Bud and keep throwing your garbage on Senator Kennedy's grave. Every comment you post only proves how classless you are.

    • 2 years ago
  • kstein
    • 0
      kstein  
    • GodsnLiberals:

      I find it fasinating that you can find it appauling his comment on aborting {to abort means to remove, or stop} an adult human being when its perfectly acceptable for a tiny young life. R.I.P. Senator, devout, Catholic, who followed your mothers teachings on humanity.

    • 2 years ago
  • krag2112
    • 0
      krag2112  
    • GodsnLiberals:

      @kstein

      Regardless of your views on abortion, reasonable people can agree that GodsnLiberals comment was tasteless. If you don't...then I'm more than willing to entertain the notion that you're not reasonable.

    • 2 years ago
  • cztheday
    • 0
      cztheday  
    • GodsnLiberals:

      Yes, I made a few comments about Bob Novak. I said that he was not given to introspection, that there were many who felt that his poor judgment utlimately led to deaths on both sides in conflict in Iraq and that I did not think that history would be kind to him. So you would describe those comments as being comparable to saying that his death was "a long overdue abortion?" -- because to me the latter statement sounds more like the product of a recent, successful lobotomy...

    • 2 years ago
  • asherp
    • 0
      asherp  
    • GodsnLiberals:

      @clay

      Really?

      Ted Kennedy has written legislation that has advanced the rights of the oppressed, he has been a moral authority in the Senate when it comes to matters of the lies that were told to get us into the war in Iraq, he has been a champion of human rights the world round.

      And Bob Novak helped to peddle the lies that led to a disaterous and immoral war, and committed treason by outing a covert agent who was doing no wrong-- rather this covert agent was helping to expose the fact that the government was lying.

      Ted Kennedy was a hero for human rights.
      Bob Novak was a shameless criminal, and a hack journalist.

      There's no comparing the two. Sorry, there just isn't.

      It's like saying that it's hypocritical to defend the honor of Mohandas Gandhi, and simultaneously decry the actions of Stalin.

    • 2 years ago
  • diabolical44
    • 0
      diabolical44  

    • Teddy Kennedy is one politician that I always had complete faith in. He genuinely fought for the little man, the working man, and those less fortunate. He is the picture of what public service should be all about.

    • 2 years ago
  • current89
  • Nettle
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