Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!
By Logan Murphy Sunday Aug 24, 2008 9:46pm
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Undeterred by his ongoing treatment for brain cancer, Senator Ted Kennedy walked on to the stage tonight at the Democratic National Convention and gave one hell of a speech. As the crowd chanted "Teddy!" he inspired and captivated the audience with all the fire and passion we've come to expect from him over the years.
"...Nothing - nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight! I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America, to restore it's future, to rise to our best ideals and to elect Barack Obama President of the United States. As I look ahead I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest days and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat, but we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world. And I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate..."
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Yeah great.I love Ted, but thats preaching to the choir. Im still bored to tears WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ?! we are throwing away an entire day on THIS ?
....(cooling off now, no more caps)
We need to get fired up !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
we need to be on message !
I'll admit it, I was crying along with the rest of the crowd.
Hercules! Hercules!
I fear that when Ted is gone the last two Kennedy's with any fire in them will be RFK Jr. and to a lesser extent Caroline.
We will never see a Kennedy give a speech like this again. This is the last one. So, Max H. We are seeing the last of an era. He's the last of his generation and his family in the Senate. Ted has earned this moment. Be patient. This is going to go on until Thursday. Ted Kennedy has gotten the crowd emotional, excited and reminding us of the hope we had when his brothers were still around. I don't know how old you are, but I remember John and Bob. And I remember people actually standing up, protesting, getting rowdy. Different time. People reacted differently. And I miss it.
We've got three more nights to be on message. And just be thankful that at least we've got one. We don't have to worry about "third term Bush." So relax. Enjoy the moment. Remember that a lot of people might be tuning in to this just to get a feel of Obama.
Fantastic! Teddy was absolutely fantastic!
Great rousing speech. Ted-dy! Ted-dy!
Is there anyone out there who can tell us who the band is? (I know this will interest very few people)
Teddy was ON message. Health care is a right....we need to get it done.
Let's hope Hillary embarrasses McCain.
We need a Michelle thread. She was fantastic!
Dem party kind of lacks "fire and electricity" these days.
Hope springs eternal when you know why you work for change. Yea Teddy. Fantastice Michelle!!!!
No. 44 @ 9:
I agree! Hell, Michelle for President!
chicano2nd @ 11:
I think she meant your going to have to go to work. As in a job.
Has education reform been mentioned yet tonight? Because the stories on http://detentionslip.org keep getting worse and worse.
Reader @ 8:
Like I said, I LOVE Ted.Also, you were right that he was on message but this audience is NOT fired up and ready to go and the other speakers... I cant even remember what they spoke about. Who the heck was that ex-Republican ? All i could hear was "Bueller....?.....Bueller......?" This isnt the time or place for that guy,no matter how well intentioned, to be speaking. Colbert is going to have a "Make the democrats exciting green screen challenge" launched over this .
Ted talked about health care but we cant talk about health care without reminding the country that we saved social security from being privatized and poured into the deregulated Bush/McCain housing economy debacle. We can win Florida on that alone.
I started crying as soon as I saw the tribute video. And to hear him speak - after listening all day to people speculate if he would be able to give a speech - what a great moment for all of us!
Teddy's speech was great and Michelle's speech was great. The thing is somebody has to get some fire into this thing. So far it is looking too much like 2004, and that will not do.
I hereby call for a dept. of cute kids in the next administration.
SassySandy @ 17:
It's worse then 2004. Totally soulless and lacking life.
"McCain sending wife Cindy to apparently broker peace in Georgia war-zone"
http://www.americablog.com/2008/08/mccain-sending-wife-cindy-to-apparent...
Is this an attempt to bolster Cindy's accomplishments in comparison to Michelle Obama or could John McCain be trying to clear the way for Vicki Iseman?
What's amazing to me is that the Democrats actually have to work THIS hard to beat the most beatable of chumps in John Mc Cain. It didnt work against the even more beatable, incompetent Bush; it wont work this time either.
eric @ 20:
Cheney left for Georgia today. Cheney "will be delivering the word of America's support and also consulting on how these leaders in the region see the future playing out," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto.
I hope that Senator Kennedy is able to see the new President of the United States, Barak Obama when he is inaugurated. With all my heart I hope.
THIS is what we were missing four years ago. Teddy, Michelle, the family members, the kids. Sincere, and heartfelt.
I think this was just about perfect. Nice to be able to say I saw Teddy give the last great political speech of his career. (he's has given many) It was a great night to be a Democrat.
Now let's hear some solid ideas on the economy, the Wars, energy and voting reforms that include a paper trail. I know we aren't likely to hear that over the course of the convention, but it would be great to start hearing it soon after.
(hell, even David Brooks seemed a little bit caught up in the moment...let's see what crap he writes tomorrow.)
LA@22, Why so melancholy?
“McCain sending wife Cindy to apparently broker peace in Georgia war-zone”
It won't work, unless she brings a better brand of beer.
I was afraid for our country. I thought we were going to lose the good that we had and all that so many had fought for through the years, not just in war but in depression, in hard work on the railroads and the factories, on the land, I thought it was gone. And so many times, too many to count, during the last eight years I emailed Ted Kennedy and I begged him to keep fighting for the average voter. He gave me hope that we still had a country. He gave me strength to keep believing.
He has done more for this country than almost anybody. He is a man of iron, a statesman, honest in his determination to fight to the death for his countryman.
Thank you Senator Kennedy.
P.D. @ 25:
He's a sad, sad man!
Yes, I admit to getting goosebumps.
I had anticipated seeing him in a wheelchair - weak and barely able to speak.
His appearance and his strength were a complete and pleasant surprise.
Tonight - Pelosi = Bullseye
chicano2nd @ 11:
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring these ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance----Few men are willing to brave the disapproval of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than courage in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change the world which yields most painfully to change."
Excerpt from the "Ripple of Hope" speech
Robert F. Kennedy
South Africa, June 6, 1966
ElleninBigD @ 5:
I don't know about that. Just piss off a Kennedy and you got a speech. They're fighters.
I cried my eyes out. The whole 1st day of the convention was great and very moving. Can't wait to see the rest of it. Kudos to Ted and Caroline. America love you.
It should build to a climax. The first two days is about building the brand, demystifying the family Obama to folks who worry about their 'differentness.'
By the time Warner and Biden and Obama speak, that's when the electricity should flow. I mean, I've seen enough of these things that it's become like watching a circus. We're not even to the clown cars, so don't start screaming for the lion tamer yet.
Teddy was a perfect opening night speaker: he's the lion nobody ever quite tamed.
i don't know what anyone else feels about what we are seeing, but i feel like i'm watching a show that is somewhere between "the price is right" and "lifestyles of the rich and famous".
one more mention of "the land of opportunity" or "the realization of the american dream" and i think i'm gonna be sick. if strengthening the economy is a matter of enabling people to become bigger consumers of a whole lot of useless shit that we don't even need (not to mention the effect this has on the environment) then i would argue that encouraging the perpetuation of this pursuit of a lifestyle is one that will inevitably lead to the destruction of both planet and people.
peace!
“McCain sending wife Cindy to apparently broker peace in Georgia war-zone”
Perhaps this is his way of getting her out of the picture in favor of Paris Hilton.
Paris is younger, has the money and heck, even has a better energy policy!
It's not like he hasn't done it before.
Teddy was fired up! I really do hope he's back for many more years in the Senate starting January '09.
Michelle saved it for me. The night served some purpose. I wont blow my brains out. It scares me how many folks still think hes a secret Muslim or at least claim to as some sort of moral cover for their "uncertainty" over his pigment. She addressed those false issues well in this national platform but overall this was a lot of poorly used time.
But Paris probably also has better taste in men.
[Deleted. Banned-Sitemonitor]
bmw 528 @ 31:
A Fantasitic Man!
Teddy Kennedy's speech was absolutely rousing tonight. We need someone who can remind us of why we are Dems in the first place. And that's exactly what Sen. Kennedy's words did.
And as Sen. Kennedy warmed up the crowd, Mrs. Obama used old time oratory to hit the point home. She was stupendous and powerful tonight.
SassySandy @ 17:
Fire is coming, but tonight was about legacy and reestablishing the brand in marketing parlance and it was to introduce Michele Obama and let the world hear her story and see her values...
Caroline Kennedy listed off all of the legislation that Ted passed in his career in the senate that has benefited all Americans from medicare and veterans benefits to the raising of the minimum wage and educational assistance for families and the family leave act.
Ted's speech and the video were about the legacy of JFK and Bobby and passing the torch to a new generation... Michele and Barack's generation.
Tomorrow the tempo picks up... Hillary is speaking and the fire really begins, then Wednesday its Barack, Biden, and Bill Clinton... major flame thrower night. Count on it!
Thurday... its the public launch of the Obama rocket!
The Lion Roars Again! What a great way to start the convention. And Obamas daughters at the end were fantastic.
I know someone above said this, but is that really true? The only "visible" Kennedys left after Uncle Teddy goes is RFK, Jr. and Caroline Kennedy? There aren't any others that might have potential? Aren't there others out there (despite Patrick,Kathleen Kennedy and [as I had to hold my nose in saying this] Maria Shriver Schwartzenegger, AFAIK) in the political spectrum?
Does anyone have any info?
Great speech.
jerzen @ 35:
There is an old saying in India... when the sage walks down the street, the pickpocket only sees the pockets!
Your comment about only seeing "life styles of the rich and famous" would suggest that you only can see the pockets... and not "to those whom much is given... much will be required."
Caroline Kennedy said it quite well:
http://finance.boston.com/boston?GUID=6397313&Page=MediaViewer&ChannelID...
Tonight was legacy night and that list of accomplishments of that "rich guy" has touched you and members of your family whether you wish to acknowledge it or not.
Teddy may not live to see Obama become President, but his legacy and his dream will live on. It has been said "what is a man if he does not leave the world a better place?" In Teddy's case... he is the gold standard for what a life well lived should be.
rasputin -- i think you may have missed the point completely. within the framework of "the american dream" TK is without a doubt an inspiration. and within that framework i have nothing but respect for TK. however, providing an incentive for all americans to strive to attain such a dream is itself a fallacy. it is neither practical, nor sustainable. that said: i believe that TK genuinely cares for the people he represents, and is doubtlessly one of the best of the lot.
i know that saying from India, and it's a good one, but in this case it doesn't apply.
cheers!
Thankfully, this convention is not about reporting for duty, but about showing up all the time. Teddy of the noblis oblige; Michelle of the working class, who can realize the American Dream when a more even playing field allows the best to achieve through hard work and dedication.
In true Colorado fashion, we toasted Teddy with an Old Chub from Oskar Blues, and in a serendipitous last beer in the fridge manner, we had a Lakefront Brewery Pumpkin Lager with dinner while watching Michelle. These two speeches were two of the best political moments that I can recall. Teddy passes the torch (he could have echoed JFK more effectively by saying "to those born in the last half of the century," but I digress), while vowing to continue to fight in the face of insurmountable odds. Michelle reintroduces America its heart. Great first day!
PS Just curious how many Hillary delegates, who say they have no problem voting for Obama, will have to be interviewed before the dissension storyline becomes to absurd to broadcast.
L.A. Confidential @ 19:
Maybe we need to pass out flip flops with mccain's name on them to everyone in the crowd. Purple fingers? Fleetwood Mac?
jerzen @ 48:
No my friend... sadly it is you who have missed the point... the point of the "American Dream" is social justice and equality... equal opportunity, the lack of discrimination. While it is true that few in life are granted a position like a senate seat where they may be such a direct force for good as Ted Kennedy has been... the fallacy is not to try to do what you can within your own situation to make the world a better place.
If the "American Dream" to you is only about material things... that is a shallow understanding of the phrase. To someone like Ted Kennedy it is about removing barriers that prevent people from realizing their potential, its about compassion and a view that society in its best sense is an extended family, its about looking beyond the superficial differences between people that divide us and seeing those traits we have in common that will bind us to common purpose... it is about aspiring to something greater than our individual selves.
That is the "American Dream" that was talked about his evening... it wasn't about opulence or acquiring wealth or the latest stock pick or the next big gadget... it was about values and vision.
The American life style is changing and the consumer society is changing as it must... that is not sustainable. The world has limited resources and our numbers are too great to sustain it.
For myself in that regard, my own personal motto is, "Live simply, so that others may simply live."
Not a bad speech as these things go, but what's with playing "Still the One"?
That's the lamest convention cliche after chanting "Four more years."
Indulging in this kind of backslapping is not change we can believe in.
Obama is bringing a new tone to campaigns and will bring a new tone to government. Please bring a new tone to conventions as well.
Bill @ 52:
This was not intended to be "red meat for the base night" that is Wednesday with Obama, Biden, and Bill Clinton... stay tuned.
I thought he was wonderful, and so was Caroline. The video enlightened me on a lot of things I didn't know about. He may be incredibly wealthy, but he doesn't have to read to kids every week, or show up at a convention when he is dying of a brain tumor. Chemo and the rest of what he's going through, and he came to show support for a good candidate. He didn't have to do that, he has no political future to suck up for.
He did a lot for this country and I wish all you people who can't stand anything that lasts for more than a millisecond or doesn't involve screaming voices & waving sticks, shut up. He has certainly earned the right to speak, and on his terms not yours.
Words just wont come to express what a speech like this one meant, not just for Obama, but the whole world got an opportunity to see The great Teddy Kennedy in action.
I believe he would have crawled to be there tonight, if he had to, but thank God he was able to give it everything he had and he did.
Ted Kennedy is a man, among men and when he speaks, people pay attention to his every word. He is so valuable to all of us for what he has always been able to do as a Senator and a great leader and I wish him well as he continues.
I had my XM going and C-Span, who are doing a wonderful job of showing us all the wonderful speakers, without all the negative commentary, was just great.
I did watch Keith on MSN, but just could not stomach CNN and Fox, as they are one of the same.
I really feel sorry for Donna Brazil and Rolland Martin of CNN. It must be very difficult to work with and for the kind of people she has to keep a strength face and suck it all in. I can't imagine working under that kind of pressure, that you have to grin and bare it.
They get a few shots in, but are most times just drowned out or ignored, by the buzzards, who are on this never ending crusade to mislead and distract the American people from what they all know is the truth.
It was good that most well thinking Americans tuned them out. I hope they lost money, the great love of all of them, is the all mighty buck, so lets continue to take as much as we can.
A man with his type of illness managed to do something that McCain could never do - speak articulately and from the heart
Ted is the only pol I've heard of who actually survived one of those mysterious plane crashes that seem to happen:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennedy_Curse
He is an inspiration.
I watched him and remembered, remembered what it was like, remembered what they fought for, remembered what they'd won.
It's not over, it'll never be over.
StCyrlyMe2 @ 55:
Did you see Olbermann and Scarborough go at it. I think Keith wanted to kick Joe's ass. I know I did.
While I agree with those who are saying that there needs to be more fire and attacks against McSame et al I want to be more patient. If the Dems follow the negative Repubs, entirely, then they will be no better. Leave the big hits to Biden and Obama rather than wear down the themes of Bush/McSame wrong doings.
I'm certain that the Repub convention will be nothing but negatives (and nervously giggling about it) because they have nothing positive to present....except to the rich folks.
Liberal AND Proud @ 59:
Yeah...KO pretty much shut scarboy down....I swear I saw his bottom lip stickin out.
As for Kennedys speech...wow...absolutely awe inspiring....I was fightin back tears...and had my brother not been there, I might not have been able to.
I wonder how the Kopechne family felt during that "moving" tribute to America's favorite murderer. Why was there no mention of that last night, and let's not forget where all that Kennedy money came from in the 20's. That's right, old man Joe was a bootlegger during Prohibiton. I'm a leftist, but it irks me that the left can throw stones at Prescott Bush for being in league with the Nazis, but everyone seems to not be able to remember old Joe K.
Obama needs to distance himself from the old guard Democrats if he ever hopes to win this election.
dvdoff @ 62:
Makin yourself rich sellin shine is TOTALLY different than trying to overthrow the US govt. by collaborating with nazis.
One may be criminal, but the other is definitely treason.
L.A. Confidential @ 19:
LA CON: I've seen "totally souless and lacking life," and it's name is the republickon partee. You are a poopy pants, aren't cha??
OOPS............not it's but its. Must get more coffee.......organic beans, of course.
Rasputin @ 51:
No my friend... sadly it is you who have missed the point... the point of the "American Dream" is social justice and equality... equal opportunity, the lack of discrimination.
your kidding right! what planet do you live on where you have experienced such things. i'm not saying that they haven't been fought for, what i'm saying -- is these things are not the "american dream" that is being talked about. but you make me laugh, so keep (american) dreaming.
My dreams are much bigger than America, and they don't exclude anyone. If you want to believe in some yankee-doodle fantasy, well, there's nothing i can do about that. I have never seen the Dali Lamas words, "live simply so that others may simply live" attributed to the "american dream" -- certainly not in practice.
jerzen @ 66:
Sorry that you don't understand and it would seem that you've never read a book on the history of the United States or the civil rights movement or the women's suffrage movement. There was a time when African Americans were slaves and women couldn't own property or have a voice in politics and vote. Now we have seen an African American and a woman run for the highest elected office in the land.
America still has a long way to go in the dealing with discrimination because of race or sex or sexual preference or creed, but to deny the progress that is staring you in the face is stupidity of the first rank. Is America perfect? Absolutely not... but it has made significant progress and it continues to evolve. There are times when it leaps forward and times when it regresses, but it always returns to forward movement over time.
For what ever reason, you have become the victim of your own cynicism and discontent and that is truly sad.
jerzen @ 66:
Um...I think you did kinda miss the point Jerzen...
dvdoff @ 62:
I'm old enough to remember the Kopechne incident - murder was never proved.
Joe Kennedy was a bootlegger in the 20's during prohibition - but so were a lot of other wealthy business men. That's how they got rich.
As far as Prescott Bush goes - his joining the nazis was traitorous.
My favorite author was George Bernard Shaw and he said "if you find skeletons in your closet, make 'em dance." Oh, if we only could.
Check your closets - you may have skeletons.
The Lion of the Senate can still pound the podium with the best of them.
Thanks goes to the wonderful healthcare provided to our Senators and Representatives. The ability for them to have access to the best cancer treatments allows us to see Senator Kennedy give this great speech.
If this was just an average American stricken with brain cancer he or she may be bankrupt by now trying to get the same treatments. They would probably have a few cans with their pictures on it sitting on counter tops begging for loose change to help pay for the healthcare they need.
Universal Healthcare Now!
Give me a break, have we all forgotten that Ted Kennedy left a poor girl drowning while he saved himself yea he doesn't remember because he was drunk! People are putting down McCain because his wife owns 7 houses and is worth billions, that's her money not McCains, but it's ok to watch Kennedy on a multimillion dollar yacht.
jsparrow @ 73:
And Ted Kennedy has been at the forefront of the fight to get that health care available for all Americans and establish health care as a fundamental right not just a luxury for the rich.
Is Teddy perfect... no he is but a man and has made some terrible mistakes and Yes I am talking about his role in the death of Mary Jo Kopechne. But taken as a whole his life has served as attonement and as Caroline pointed out:
Who among us has not made mistakes? How many peoples lives has he saved with the health care plans that he has gotten through the senate against Republican opposition and the DINO's on the lobbyist dole? If you are honest about it... there isn't a family in America whose life has not been touched in a positive fashion by the achievements of this man.
I thought is was disappointing that in the Ted "documentary" there was no footage of an overturned car in a river with a dead body---
Go Ted--dy!!!
BrokenArrow @ 65:
He's a fraud!
76....your comment should be deleted...promptly....!
Teddy you looked Fantastic! I was so happy to see that!
PresidetM @ 76:
You are a douche bag.
blah, blah teddy go away, status quo man.