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Ailing U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy urges quick replacement process
Posted: August 20, 2009, 4:56 PM by Kathryn Blaze Carlson
World, U.S. Politics

Kathryn Blaze Carlson

With his own health in question, and with the future of America’s health-care system in limbo, Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has asked that Governor Deval Patrick be allowed to appoint a temporary Senate replacement should he fail to serve his entire term.

Mr. Kennedy, a 77-year-old Democrat who was diagnosed with brain cancer in May, 2008, and whose term runs until 2013, fears that current laws could leave his seat vacant for more than five months — a lengthy span under any circumstances, but particularly precarious given upcoming efforts to pass landmark health-care reform legislation. Democrats  — who wield 60 votes in the 100-member Senate with the help of Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman —  face a testing months-long battle to to pass President Barack Obama’s reform legislation. .......................>>>>....................>>>>.............http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/posted/archive/2009/08/20/314278.aspx

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Ted Kennedy
Sen. Edward Kennedy, the longtime Massachusetts lawmaker whose personal tragedies along with his professional triumphs and losses unfolded in the public eye, has died at his home in Hyannis Port after battling a brain tumor. He was 77.

His family announced his death in a brief statement released early Wednesday.

"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever," the statement said. "We thank everyone who gave him care and support over this last year, and everyone who stood with him for so many years in his tireless march for progress toward justice, fairness and opportunity for all."

The Massachusetts Democrat was seen by many as an American version of a Greek tragedy. Born into political royalty, Kennedy's triumphs were often overshadowed by those of his brothers, John and Bobby Kennedy. But nonetheless, the younger Kennedy carved his own political legacy as one of the longest serving senators in U.S. history.

John F. Kennedy was elected to the presidency in 1960. He named his brother Robert attorney general. Teddy, as he was affectionately known, benefited from a placeholder filling his brother John's seat in the U.S. Senate, which he won in 1962.
......................>>>>................>>>>............http://www.foxnews.com/slideshow/us/2009/08/26/remembering-ted-kennedy

Quoted from bumblethru

When I think of Ted Kennedy.....I think of 9 hours! The 9 hours it took for him to report Mary Jo Kopenke's fatal accident.

Mr. Kennedy....'rest in peace'.

Quoted from 391

You are a first class jerk.  When I think of you I think of the day you will rot in hell for you are a vile, evil, trenchmouth who has no common decency and love for anyone else but yourself.  Now I have an excuse to piss on your grave!

Quoted from senders

Puddy sounds like he/she shared a can of tender vittles with the Kennedys every Thanksgiving......

I'm sorry to hear that he died young(I work in nursing home and that is young), his family will cry and miss him.....
I never personally knew him......

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Kopechne and Edward Kennedy left the party at 11.15pm. Kennedy had offered to take Kopechne back to her hotel. He later explained what happened: "I was unfamiliar with the road and turned onto Dyke Road instead of bearing left on Main Street. After proceeding for approximately a half mile on Dyke Road I descended a hill and came upon a narrow bridge. The car went off the side of the bridge.... The car turned over and sank into the water and landed with the roof resting on the bottom. I attempted to open the door and window of the car but have no recollection of how I got out of the car. I came to the surface and then repeatedly dove down to the car in an attempt to see if the passenger was still in the car. I was unsuccessful in the attempt."

Instead of reporting the accident Edward Kennedy returned to the party. According to a statement issued by Kennedy on 25th July, 1969: "instead of looking directly for a telephone number after lying exhausted in the grass for an undetermined time, walked back to the cottage where the party was being held and requested the help of two friends, my cousin Joseph Gargan and Paul Markham, and directed them to return immediately to the scene with me - this was some time after midnight - in order to undertake a new effort to dive."

When this effort to rescue Kopechne ended in failure, Kennedy decided to return to his hotel. As the ferry had shut down for the night Kennedy, swam back to Edgartown. It was not until the following morning that Kennedy reported the accident to the police. By this time the police had found Mary Jo Kopechne's body in Kennedy's car.

Edward Kennedy was found guilty of leaving the scene of the accident and received a suspended two-month jail term and one-year driving ban. That night he appeared on television to explain what had happened. He explained: "My conduct and conversations during the next several hours to the extent that I can remember them make no sense to me at all. Although my doctors informed me that I suffered a cerebral concussion as well as shock, I do not seek to escape responsibility for my actions by placing the blame either on the physical, emotional trauma brought on by the accident or on anyone else. I regard as indefensible the fact that I did not report the accident to the police immediately."

At the inquest Judge James Boyle raised doubts about Kennedy's testimony. He pointed out that as Kennedy had a good knowledge of Chappaquiddick Island he could not understand how he managed to drive down Dyke Road by mistake. For example, on the day of the accident, Kennedy had twice had driven on Dyke Road to go to the beach for a swim. To get to Dyke Road involved a 90-degree turn off a metalled road onto the rough, bumpy dirt-track.