Happy Birthday to Senator Ted Kennedy~ He would have been 82 years old.

[Cha]

Teddy is celebrating here on his 77th and last birthday B-Day on Planet Earth with Victoria, the Obamas and Friends in 2009..

"President Obama, along with the First Lady, led a rousing rendition of "Happy Birthday" to Sen. Ted Kennedy, at a star-studded 77th-birthday tribute to the political legend at Kennedy Center on Sunday night.

Among the stars who performed at the celebration were comedian Bill Cosby, actresses Lauren Bacall and Bernadette Peters, singer James Taylor and conductor John Williams."


Barack and Michelle Obama celebrate Ted Kennedy's 77th birthday at the Kennedy Center on Sunday night.


Obama leads the singing of "Happy Birthday," alongside singer James Taylor.


The First Lady greets Senator Kennedy and his wife, Victoria, as Senator John Kerry listens.

More pics.. the rest of the story..
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/09/obamas-celebrate-ted-kenn_n_172947.html

Sorry, this is so late in the day.. I just realized it was Teddy's Birthday today(out here on Kaua'i) and well, bless his heart. Mahalo, Teddy Kennedy~

[Cha]

1. Well, thanks folks for the RECS.. I'll just kick

it myself then alone

[ProSense]

2. Can I add these:

[Cha]

3. Of course, you can, sweetie!

Now that's what I call a

I love those pics

Excellent, ProSense Mahalo!

[DonViejo]

4. Ahhh, what we've lost...

I wonder how differently the last 5 years may have gone if he had been with us. Thanks for the great pics and Happy Birthday Senator!

[Cha]

6. You're Welcome, Don!

Thank you!

Happy Birthday, Senator Kennedy~

[freshwest]

5. Some of my most favorite people there:

Not sure what to think about that singing picture. Wonder if Obama was miked on that?

[Cha]

8. A very loving tribute to America's Senator, fresh~

[freshwest]

12. I hope he still felt the love as he passed over... n/t

[Cha]

13. I can't help but think he did.. there was such an outpouring..

President Obama's Remarks on the Death of Sen. Ted

"In his comments, President Obama observed, "I can think of no one who engendered greater respect or affection from members of both sides of the aisle. His seriousness of purpose was perpetually matched by humility, warmth, and good cheer... And that's one reason he became not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve our democracy."

the rest..
http://usliberals.about.com/od/tedkennedyliberallion/a/ObamaKennedyDeath.htm

[freshwest]

26. Thanks for the pictures and the link to such a great website! n/t

[Cha]

40. You're so Welcome, fresh!

Thank you!

[TexasTowelie]

7. K&R

Teddy was one of our best advocates in the health care debates. It's sad that he didn't live to see the changes that are occurring.

[Cha]

10. I know, TexasT!

So very sad.. but, I'm thinking he would be happy with the progress we've made and he'd keep pushing for better. He would have been appalled at the teabagger Congress trying to REPEAL it 50 or so times.. and would have had some choice words for them. rofl

[ucrdem]

9. Good catch Cha ...

they all look so happy ... Happy Birthday EMK!



... and to all the guests at Teddy's last bash!

[Cha]

11. That's what I do.. I remember birthdays..

more or less. I was out running today and I thought Teddy's birthday is on the 23rd of Feb.. so I got home and discovered it was the 22nd!

Good call giving the happy guests a .. thank you, ucr!

Happy Birthday Senator Ted Kennedy~

[Hekate]

14. Teddy Kennedy is so very missed--glad we had him for so long

Somewhere on my hard drive I still have the tribute cartoons of his passing. My favorite depicted his three brothers coming by for him in a sailboat -- the three of them so young, and Teddy grown to be the elder statesman....

[BlueDemKev]

15. Yep. We did indeed.

I just wish it could have lasted a little longer...like until he was 85...or 90...or...100.

[Cha]

21. I hear ya, BlueDemKev!

[Cha]

20. Here it is Hekate.. Mahalo for thinking of it..

[Hekate]

30. Brings tears to my eyes even now

You just know that when he steps aboard, the years will fall away.

[Cha]

31. That's a sweet thought~

[awoke_in_2003]

16. I know he did a lot of good...

but he holds some of the blame for getting Reagan elected. You do NOT primary a sitting president, unless he is some sort of monster or something.

[Cha]

22. Yes, he wasn't perfect but

we're celebrating all the good Senator Kennedy did, today.

[sheshe2]

17. More~

[url=http://postimage.org/][img][/img][/url]

Statement on Passing of Beloved Senator Edward Moore Kennedy


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 26, 2009

Statement of Robert J. Haynes, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO on the passing of beloved Senator Edward Moore Kennedy

“Today the working families of Massachusetts mourn the passing of the biggest voice and the biggest champion of the ‘little guy’ to ever serve in the United States Senate. His legacy on workers’ rights, civil rights, and human rights lives on in the quality of life and freedoms he ensured would be extended to all Americans, regardless of race, religion, gender, disability, economic status or any other factor. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO joins the entire world in expressing our condolences to the Kennedy Family during this incredibly solemn time. The enormity of the loss of Ted Kennedy cannot be overstated, especially in terms of the impact his life has had on the pursuit of social and economic justice in this country. Ted Kennedy epitomized humanity in every sense of the word. His larger-than-life presence was only outpaced by his kindness in the form of even the smallest, most humane gestures. Few public figures had the impact on others that Senator Kennedy had, traversing the entire spectrum from the indelible mark he left in both the history books and on individual lives.

“The great lesson of his life is that even the hardest challenges are no match for determination in the pursuit of what is right. The working men and women of organized labor, and all working families, have been so fortunate that Senator Kennedy’s mission for a better country matched the virtues of our Labor Movement. We are overcome at this monumental loss, but we will honor his life and his legacy the only way we know how. In the spirit of one of Ted Kennedy’s favorite poems, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO will strive, seek, find and not yield in the pursuit we shared with our Senator of improving the lives of all workers in this nation. Through that work, the dream will indeed live on.”

http://www.massaflcio.org/statement-passing-beloved-senator-edward-moore-kennedy

We miss you Teddy. Happy Birthday~

Beautiful Cha, just beautiful~

[Cha]

23. Thank you, she.. the more pictures of Sen Ted Kennedy's life

the merrier!

This is classic!


Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy - confer before State of the Union speech by President George Bush, Washington DC, January 28, 2008

http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/barack-obama/photos/198527/19662

Mahalo, she, for the statement on his passing from Robert J. Haynes, President, Massachusetts AFL-CIO!

"We are overcome at this monumental loss, but we will honor his life and his legacy the only way we know how. In the spirit of one of Ted Kennedy’s favorite poems, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO will strive, seek, find and not yield in the pursuit we shared with our Senator of improving the lives of all workers in this nation. Through that work, the dream will indeed live on.”/

[sheshe2]

25. I so love that photo Cha!

Happy Birthday to a much loved Senator from Massachusetts.

His legacy will live on.




I miss him~

[Cha]

27. I bet you miss him, she..

That's right.. Mahalo, sheshe~ The Dream Shall Never Die~

[BlueDemKev]

18. Miss him so much!

82 candles for arguably the greatest United States senator our country ever had.

[Cha]

24. Perfect Kev!

[Samantha]

19. A kick for the memory of this late, great Senator

At the last minute, a few years ago, I learned of a book signing by him at Border's Book Store. I thought of everything he has given this Country, and I decided I needed to attend to say thank you. It was a privilege I will never forget to be able to stand so close and listen to his remarks. It was the only time I saw him in person.

Thanks for posting this thread, Cha.

Sam

[Cha]

28. Wow, Samantha~ That's a wonderful memory and

a gift from the Universe that you became aware of the "book signing" and were able to go at the last minute.

Just brilliant!

You're Welcome, Sam.. Thank you!

[bkanderson76]

29. Sure Miss Him....A Lot Of These Current Acting Legislators Couldn't Hold His Jock...And

it shows in this country.....Salute Mr. Ted Kennedy....RIP

[Cha]

35. Thank you, bkanderson..

[Nuclear Unicorn]

54. "A Lot Of These Current Acting Legislators Couldn't Hold His Jock"

Well, the one person who was supposed to got left in a river.

[sheshe2]

32. Ted Kennedy Jr. remembers his father

snip

He was not perfect, far from it. But my father believed in redemption and he never surrendered. Never stopped trying to right wrongs, be they the results of his own failings or of ours.

But today I'm simply compelled to remember Ted Kennedy as my father and my best friend. When I was 12 years old I was diagnosed with bone cancer and a few months after I lost my leg, there was a heavy snowfall over my childhood home outside of Washington D.C. My father went to the garage to get the old Flexible Flyer and asked me if I wanted to go sledding down the steep driveway. And I was trying to get used to my new artificial leg and the hill was covered with ice and snow and it wasn't easy for me to walk. And the hill was very slick and as I struggled to walk, I slipped and I fell on the ice and I started to cry and I said "I can't do this." I said, "I'll never be able to climb that hill." And he lifted me in his strong, gentle arms and said something I'll never forget. He said "I know you'll do it, there is nothing you can't do. We're going to climb that hill together, even if it takes us all day."

Sure enough, he held me around my waist and we slowly made it to the top, and, you know, at age 12 losing a leg pretty much seems like the end of the world, but as I climbed onto his back and we flew down the hill that day I knew he was right. I knew I was going to be OK. You see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable and it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father's greatest lessons. He taught me that nothing is impossible.

Nothing is impossible, nothing.

Thank you Cha! You honored a very great man.

[Cha]

38. Thank you sheshe.. brilliant to bring Edward Kennedy Jr's

tribute to his father's passing.

It would be so traumatic for any kid to lose his leg..

I knew I was going to be OK. You see, my father taught me that even our most profound losses are survivable and it is what we do with that loss, our ability to transform it into a positive event, that is one of my father's greatest lessons. He taught me that nothing is impossible.

What a father to have to teach you such a valuable life lesson~

[sheshe2]

39. He taught me nothing was impossible...

yes Teddy you did!

[niyad]

33. k and r--thank you so much for posting this, cha. cannot help but wonder how different things

would look right now if he were still with us, and still working.

[Cha]

36. Yes, niyad.. I cannot help but

think his dynamics would have made a huge difference in the Senate if he were able to be with us longer.

[Loaded Liberal Dem]

34. Amen

He did more as a Senator than most Presidents!

[Cha]

37. To Senator Ted Kennedy..

a brilliant workhorse, Loaded Liberal Dem.

[tritsofme]

41. 1980 will always leave a sour taste in my mouth

with his betrayal of President Carter. But his prior and subsequent work was admirable and he was a great man committed to public service.

[Cha]

42. Thank you, trisofme

I wonder if Teddy ever kicked himself for that?

[ucrdem]

44. I don't think it was determinative.

I honestly can't remember Teddy's challenge but I do remember the hostage crisis and I don't think Carter had a chance, poor guy. He was forked just like Obama was nearly forked by forces beyond his control, so to speak. In any case Teddy made a few mistakes just like we all do but I don't for a minute doubt that he did what he thought he had to for the benefit of the country. That's the strong impression I got from watching a YouTube of his 1980 convention speech a few years ago which left the impression that he'd made a painful decision.

[Cha]

45. Thanks for your thoughts on this, ucr..

two people have mentioned it on this thread. I didn't start paying attention to politics until 1999.. so I had on clue.

Here's an interesting thread I found on it from the DU archives..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6334222

[ucrdem]

49. Thanks Cha, very interesting indeed. . .

great thread, with some really thoughtful analysis!

[Cha]

51. Thought so too..

Very enlightening to me.

[Cha]

47. Pic of Carter and Ted Kennedy on the 1980 podium..

After winning a second nomination for president in 1980, President Jimmy Carter, left, shakes hands with Sen. Edward Kennedy on the podium at the Democratic National Convention in New York's Madison Square Garden

Your morning jolt: How Ted Kennedy and Jimmy Carter created each other

Fascinating..
http://blogs.ajc.com/political-insider-jim-galloway/2009/08/26/your-morning-jolt-how-ted-kennedy-and-jimmy-carter-created-each-other/

Guess who's between them?

[ucrdem]

50. The late great Tip O'Neill of Boston of course!

and behind Teddie Charlie Rangel looking very chipper and behind Carter it looks like Jerry Brown with hair! The others look familiar too but I can't place their names . . . will click the link and see ...

[Cha]

52. Oh yeah.. I didn't know the others but I see that

now.. a young Jerry Brown and Charles Rangel.

Doesn't say in the link who anyone is besides Carter and Kennedy.

[BlueDemKev]

56. About the '80 Campaign...

While I'm happy that Kennedy did run for president at least once, I'm surprised that he chose to give it a go in 1980, when we had a sitting Democratic president. Yes, Pres. Carter had his share of problems and he would have had an uphill battle against Reagan in the fall no matter what. However, Kennedy challenging him for the nomination deeply divided the party, plus Carter entered the fall campaign still limping from a bruising primary.

I wish that Kennedy had run against Reagan in '84. Doubtful he'd have won, but he would have been a far better candidate than Walter Mondale.

[Cha]

43. Kick for Teddy!

[Jenoch]

46. I do admit that I still struggle with his

incident with Mary Jo Kopechne.

[Cha]

48. Understandable, Jenoch.. imagine

a man in later life like Ted Kennedy and his remorse with his involvement in Mary Jo Kopechne's death?

[orpupilofnature57]

53. Happy Birthday, Real Democrat !!!!

Thanks for deciding to help us, and taking the heat for your humanity, instead of living a life of unchecked opulence, and Entitlement as you were Born with the wealth to do it .

[Cha]

55. Kick!

[Coyotl]

57. K&R. Thanks Cha!

[Cha]

58. Thank you, C!