Google has compiled a list of the most searched terms in various categories for 2009, and at the top of the list for U.S. senators is the late Ted Kennedy. The only Republican to appear on the top 10 list is Chuck Grassley at number nine. On any list, Rush Limbaugh, not Glenn Beck, was the highest ranking conservative.
In a comprehensive speech before a joint session of Congress, President Barack Obama laid out his plans for healthcare reform, dispelled myths about reform, and invoked the late Sen. Ted Kennedy to argue the morality of healthcare reform. The intention of this speech was to change the tone and focus of the reform discussion.
Since Sen. Ted Kennedy’s death, the cry from the right wing has been that Democrats are going to exploit his death to pass healthcare reform, but it turns out that is the opponents of heathcare reform that are doing the exploitation. Dick Morris’ group the League of American Voters is using Kennedy’s death to raise funds to fight reform.
Powerful Senate Democrats Max Baucus and Ted Kennedy released a joint statement today saying that they will have a healthcare reform bill ready before the Senate takes its August recess. The fact that Baucus, who opposes single payer, released a statement with Kennedy is a clear sign that single payer is in trouble.
Former U.S. Senator Claiborne Pell (RI – D) died on January 1, 2009. I heard the late Senator speak in 1995 at a rally on Capitol Hill.
Ted Kennedy’s surprise speech tonight was not long, and the senator certainly looked frail, but none of this diminished the emotion and power of Kennedy passing the torch to Barack Obama.
Both ABC News and the Associated Press are reporting that if Sen. Ted Kennedy’s health allows it, he is going to Denver to make an appearance at the Democratic convention on Monday night.
Unless you are a part of the McCain campaign, Barack Obama’s selection of Joe Biden as his running mate is drawing bi-partisan praise from Chuck Hagel, Dick Luger, Hillary Clinton, and Ted Kennedy.