Hold the Eulogies, Senator Ted Kennedy Says

[ClarkUSA]

Since the diagnosis of his brain cancer last May, Mr. Kennedy has been given all manner of tributes and testimonials... even as those accolades have provided sweet solace — and even some dark humor... He considers unnecessary what his son Representative Patrick J. Kennedy of Rhode Island calls “the premature eulogizing,” or what Mr. Biden terms “a bordering on an obituary,” that has accompanied his life in recent months.

“Obviously I’ve been touched and grateful,” Mr. Kennedy said in a phone interview Friday from the rented home in Miami where he has spent most of the winter. “Beyond that, I don’t really plan to go away soon.”

Friends who have seen Mr. Kennedy describe him as driven and focused on work. He sometimes gets angry watching C-Span, pores over memorandums and speed-dials staff members and colleagues (sometimes from his sailboat, the Mya). He speaks frequently — and often on his trademark issue, overhauling the nation’s health care system — to President Obama; Mr. Biden; the White House chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel; and checks up on the Senate “chatter” with lawmakers.

“What has been essential to his recovery and motivation has been setting goals,” said Dr. Lawrence C. Horowitz, a former Kennedy staff member who has been overseeing his care. The first goal the senator set after cancer surgery in June was to speak at the Democratic National Convention (he did, despite kidney stones); then he resolved to attend Mr. Obama’s inauguration (he did, though he had a seizure afterward).

“Now, his goal is to play a central role in health care reform,” Dr. Horowitz said. “That’s what keeps him going.”

Keep going, Teddy. Americans need you, President Obama needs you and liberals need you to guide the creation of national healthcare through Congress!

[Kdillard]

1. Keep up the fight Ted.

[Cha]

2. This is really good news!

Some people just manage to pull through the worst diagnosis and Senator Kennedy is one who could do it.

I know I just signed a cyber birthday card for him turning 77 that was started by his wife, Victoria:party::patriot: And today is his birthday:party: Happy Birthday Senator Teddy!

http://famous-relationships.topsynergy.com/Ted_Kennedy/AstroData.asp

[Cha]

6. I just realized that Senator Kennedy

was born on George Washington's birthday..how cool is that!

[ginnyinWI]

3. the post title is misleading.

"hold the eulogies" can mean "conduct the eulogies", not "stop the eulogies". One of those quirks in the English language.

[ClarkUSA]

8. I took it the way The New York Times meant it.

But you're right. Are you an English teacher or writer?

[ginnyinWI]

13. I have a degree in English with a writing emphasis.

Not currently earning a living at it though.

[ClarkUSA]

18. It shows. I'm sure you'd have to grade DU on a curve.

;)

[Stinky The Clown]

4. I love this guy

Arguably the best senator to have ever served in the history of our country. And maybe the best, most accomplished national leader ever.

[Pab Sungenis]

5. Save yourself some work, Ted.

The best health insurance reform bill is already out there. Back Kucinich's Medicare-For-All bill and put your name on it. If you can move that one through, we'll all benefit.

[saltpoint]

7. Ted's a top-dog liberal and as tough as they come.

Go, Senator Kennedy.

[AtomicKitten]

9. Teddy isn't going out without a fight.

I hope he lives long enough to see his dream (and hard work) of healthcare reform come to fruition.

[sweetroxie]

10. He's my senator

and I'd really like him to stick around for a long, long time.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

11. Teddy is a true hero and one hell of an ass-kicker. Go Ted!

[Raine]

12. Hang in there Teddy ...

love you so much! :loveya:

[liberalla]

14. Damn, I love that man!

I hope we have him around for a long time. He's absolutely inspiring.

Thanks for the update.

[northernlights]

15. it's VICE PRESIDENT Biden, asshole

seriously, did they ever refer to darth vador as Mr. Cheney? Do they even now?

[karynnj]

17. Yes they do

I think their policy - even with the President is to use the title in the first occurrence with the first and last name and then use (Mr, Mrs etc) in later references. Notice that is what they do with Kennedy - referring to him as Senator only once. In the earliest reference to Biden, it is Vice President-elect because it was speaking of before he was sworn in.

[ejpoeta]

16. it's amazing that someone who doesn't have to worry about money

works so hard and cares so much to help the rest of us out here. wish there were more like him in the senate. mostly you get people who go into congress wanting to help people and then forget all about the outside world. these folks worry about legacies... the true legacy is finding something you are passionate about and working to get that done. I feel that long after he's gone, Teddy Kennedy will still be remembered where so many others will be forgotten.