“The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die.” Ted Kennedy spoke those words upon conceding the 1980 Democratic Presidential nomination to then-President Jimmy Carter. That speech was a barn-burner if ever there was one, and years later, those words rank among the most famous in American political lore. There is wisdom in those words, and as some have begun to question whether or not Massachusetts is losing its national voice, Massachusetts residents would do well to make those words their mantra.
Our commonwealth finds itself in an unusual state of flux. Kennedy is dead. A bare majority of Massachusetts voters saw it fit to replace him with Scott Brown, a man who embodies an ideology which Kennedy fought his entire life. As a result of a residential migration elsewhere, the state population is decreasing. As such, Massachusetts will in all likelihood lose at least one member of its Congressional delegation pending a final tally of the 2010 Federal Census. This fall, Governor Deval Patrick will ask the voters for a second chance in the batter’s box. Whether voters give it to him is still uncertain.
In times like these, it’s understandable that pundits would start railing on across all media platforms about the diminishing importance of Massachusetts’ voice on issues of national importance. They will cite the loss of Kennedy as insurmountable. John Kerry has done a lot of good for this state, and his intellect, drive, ethics and record of service to this state and to this nation deserves equal recognition. But he is now our lone voice in the Senate for the issues which matter most to us, for make no mistake: Scott Brown does not represent our interests or values.
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Our unemployment rate is significantly below the national average, our equal rights movement is now gaining traction in other states, our senior senator is the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and our use of federal stimulus money is paying for the sort of clean, efficient light rail system that will serve as a national standard for energy conservation and job creation.
http://dailycollegian.com/2010/02/05/liberal-lions-dont-die/This is a really wonderful spirited op-ed that tries to look beyond the current shock of a Republican MA Senator and the gloom that causes to try to fight as Kennedy would have wanted us to.
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