May 20, 2008 1:38

Ted Kennedy

Posted by Joe Klein | Comments (38) | Permalink | Trackbacks (0) | Email This

I've had friends who have survived malignant brain tumors and we can only hope for the best. I've known the guy my whole adult life and it was wonderful to watch him, over the past ten years, find peace--and the utter freedom to speak his mind--in his public life and true love with Vicky at home. That love will bolster him now, and our prayers, too.

And, no doubt, he will find some joy and hope in the fact that a cancer survivor, Jon Lester, pitched a no-hitter for his beloved Sox last night.

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Reader Comments (38)

attaturk:

Best wishes to Kennedy who is a giant of the Senate, in all the best ways.

I'm from Minnesota so this brings back painful memories of Hubert Humphrey withering away, who was also a giant.

Posted by attaturk | May 20, 2008 1:49 PM

bitterpill8:

Sen Kennedy: the best to you as you cope. To Mrs Kennedy and family: my prayers are with you all.

Posted by bitterpill8 | May 20, 2008 1:53 PM

Southern Bell:

My thoughts and prayers are with the senator and his family.

Posted by Southern Bell | May 20, 2008 1:55 PM

Olufemi:

All the best to Senator Kennedy and his family - we wish you strength and courage as you begin this struggle.

We have this consolation; that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph - that which we obtain too cheaply, we esteem to highly.

God bless!

Posted by Olufemi | May 20, 2008 1:56 PM

Todd and in Charge:

Well-said, Joe.

I hate to do this, but I give credit to both President Bush and Senator McCain for their gracious comments and gestures of good will.

Posted by Todd and in Charge | May 20, 2008 1:58 PM

Terrapinion:

Well said, Joe.

Best wishes to Senator Kennedy and his family.

Posted by Terrapinion | May 20, 2008 1:59 PM

Casey Morris:

Malignant brain tumor, though it sounds certainly scary, there is still hope yet.

Better glioma than glioblastoma. And if it's operable, better still, though operating on gliomas is a bit like brain jenga.

Better news is that it's primary, so not from somewhere else.

There's hope to be had. And of course, still, prayers and love to his family. And my Aunt has already put him on her prayer chain and novena chain. Her novenas kick ass!

Posted by Casey Morris | May 20, 2008 2:00 PM

Paul-no not that one:

Nicely done Joe. Thanks.

Posted by Paul-no not that one | May 20, 2008 2:03 PM

grape_crush:

Well, that just sucks. Guess I'll have to send good thoughts Kennedy's way with the hope that he can win his bout with cancer. Best wishes and good luck...

Posted by grape_crush | May 20, 2008 2:04 PM

mr albany:

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery Senator. The second date with Mary Jo can wait.

Posted by mr albany | May 20, 2008 2:07 PM

Urgon:

Sorry to hear that. My thoughts go out to his family and friends. However, I'm just curious about what Joe wrote about him finding peace with "his true love Vicky at home". Isn't it well known that he liked to "play the field", so to speak? Or maybe he got to old for that and finally became a good husband during the last few years. Not that I think there's anything wrong with fornication (it a great spice!), I'm just curious... ;-)

Posted by Urgon | May 20, 2008 2:08 PM

superterrificdelegate:

This really makes me sad. Kennedy has been a great example of how effective a senator can be once he/she let's go of presidential ambitions. Here's wishing him a full recovery.

Posted by superterrificdelegate | May 20, 2008 2:12 PM

Robert Sullivan:

I have not always agreed with Senator Kennedy, but he is one of the few legislators left who understand how to build a working majority and craft legislation. He also seems to genuinely care about people. I would hate to lose him.

Posted by Robert Sullivan | May 20, 2008 2:14 PM

QUESTION HILLARY

http://www.time-blog.com/swampland/2008/05/three_things_for_tuesday.html

DAVID LETTERMAN SAYS 600,000 DEAD IN IRAQ, SENATOR WEBB HAS NO REPLY.

But by all means, let's cut over to the free clinic for the latest on Senator SCUBA's drinking legacy.

= CITGO ACCOMPLISHED =

Posted by QUESTION HILLARY | May 20, 2008 2:15 PM

obamish

Clearly, Kennedy is now unfit to serve.

He should resign from the Senate immediately.

Posted by obamish | May 20, 2008 2:17 PM

QUESTION HILLARY

Yes, let's get all pre-emptively choked up about Mary Jo's sloshed secret valet.

Nothing better for a complete coward's legacy than the restless press on a slow Iranian IED day.

Not that TMZ and Time can't handle the critical task of reforming something that never wuz.

= CAMEL HUMPS ACCOMPLISHED =

Posted by QUESTION HILLARY | May 20, 2008 2:21 PM

Elvis Elvisberg

Deflating, upsetting news. Thanks for the post, I hadn't heard of this. Let's hope he is able to recover.

As an Irish Catholic Massachusetts native, the Kennedys and the Red Sox are right there at the center of the pantheon. I hope he got to see Lester's no-hitter.

Posted by Elvis Elvisberg | May 20, 2008 2:25 PM

QUESTION HILLARY

BTW Joe, since you're so tight with clan Kennedy, when do they begin to allow unrestricted, unfettered press and public research access to their Camelot library archives -- including any tapes or transcripts about the civil rights years, and their comments to the FBI and LBJ and each other on same?

Hello?

Anyone homer?

These people aren't liberal heroes.

They're literal HYPOCRITES.

Time, indeed.

Posted by QUESTION HILLARY | May 20, 2008 2:26 PM

grape_crush:

QH: Yes, let's get all pre-emptively choked up about Mary Jo's sloshed secret valet.

Ladies and gentlemen, the conservative sense of 'humor': ripping on a cancer patient because you don't agree with his politics...

...Great fun, if you're a pathetic excuse for a human being.

Posted by grape_crush | May 20, 2008 2:30 PM

obamish

Stop eulogizing this bogus pandering drunken JERK.

He's not dead, he's not a combat veteran, he's not a sage, he's not a role model, he's not even a decent shallow water swimmer.

He's the Big Dig, and nothing more.

Posted by obamish | May 20, 2008 2:33 PM

Paul-no not that one:

Hard to understand how the republicans ended up a minority party.

Posted by Paul-no not that one | May 20, 2008 2:35 PM

obamish

Of course lefties care about Kos klown Kennedy.

He's their only living link to the few known allegedly American appeasers of Hitler.

Papa Joe, and all that.

Too bad Joe Junior and JFK didn't last long enough to right Ted's historical ship (or even hypocrite Booby's), and set him further straight on his father's anti-Semitic nut case legacy.

Or teach him how to swim.

Posted by obamish | May 20, 2008 2:45 PM

Aaron:

Racist, sexist commentator(s) hate Ted Kennedy?

Good for him, and God bless.

Posted by Aaron | May 20, 2008 2:47 PM

FastEddie:

Of course lefties care about Kos klown Kennedy.

He's their only living link to the few known allegedly American appeasers of Hitler.

Papa Joe, and all that.

Luckily we still have all of Prescott Bush's descendants to appease us.

Posted by FastEddie | May 20, 2008 3:05 PM

rmrd0000:

My prayers go out to Sen Kennedy and his family.

I will also pry for QH and obamish. Their commentary solidifies the impression that they and their ilk should never be anywhere near a seat of power.

There would be no difference in how free people would be treated by a government controlled by QH or obamish and one controlled by the Taliban, Al-Queda, etc.

Posted by rmrd0000 | May 20, 2008 3:25 PM

obamish

"I will also pry for QH and obamish..."

Save it for Sunday, sister.

When does Mary Jo get her grand pre-eulogy?

Or chance to watch some more Sox games?

TEDDY LEGACY UPDATE # 347 (collect them all):

- DRUNK

- DRUNK BEHIND WHEEL

- DRUNK ON BEACH WITH COUSIN'S CO-EDS

- DRUNK IN PARIS

- DRUNK IN LAW SCHOOL

- MAYBE DRUNK WATCHING OLDSMOBILE SINK WITH MAYBE PREGGERS SECRETARY

- DRUNK ENOUGH TO DODGE MANSLAUGHTER TIME IN STATE PEN

- Built the highly successful Big Dig project with John John Kanary

- DRUNK, AGAIN

Have I missed anything?

Oh, sorry, forgot one:

- DRUNK APPEASING ANTI-SEMITIC SLACKER

Play ball!

Posted by obamish | May 20, 2008 3:50 PM

gtrzan:

My Prayers go out to Sen.Ted Kennedy&his family at their time of need,God Bless you all.
Love,GTRZAN

Posted by gtrzan | May 20, 2008 4:18 PM

KathyR:

When Jon Lester walked the first batter of the ninth inning last night, he said he had to step back and remind himself he didn't have to pitch so fine, that he had a team behind him to catch the ball. That's a hard lesson for most of us to learn, and my guess is that cancer helped Jon keep things in perspective. Not many of us, in September 2006, would have predicted this could happen for him in May 2008.

I wouldn't be surprised if Ted Kennedy's long acquaintance with grief had taught him this lesson too, and I hope it will stand him in good stead now. I love this man and what he has stood for in public life. I hope and pray that life now brings him healing.

Posted by KathyR | May 20, 2008 4:37 PM

johnr:

You know, for a minute there, I thought obamish was talking about the Dubya Bush legacy. But then I remembered that Kennedy has actually accomplished a few positive things in his life.

Posted by johnr | May 20, 2008 4:47 PM

rmrd0000:

Remember the furor when a few over the top comments about Dick Cheney on websites like HuffPost raised concern in the MSM? Liberals were heartless according to the MSM script.

The Conservative Free Republic website has a plethora of comments similar to obamish and QH regarding Sen Kennedy. There will be no comment about this phenomenon by MSM punditry.

Double standard in plain sight.

Posted by rmrd0000 | May 20, 2008 6:32 PM

jimincalif:

I am a lifelong conservative to middle of the road republican. There have been few issues where Sen. Kennedy and I have been on the same side. Though I do not often agree with him I have to respect him for his dedication to his party and efforts to get others to work together. I do wish him all Gods blessings and help at this his time of need. Our prayers will be with you.

Posted by jimincalif | May 20, 2008 11:52 PM

Speaker for the Center:

You know, it was shaping up to be a nice and fuzzy little tribute to Senator Kennedy, and then QH and obamish barge in.

Freedom to have bad taste is not a constitutionally protected right.

As for Senator Kennedy, I pray that everything will turn out well for him, and that he will live for years to come.

Posted by Speaker for the Center | May 22, 2008 1:10 PM

m7mmad: