Reply #18: According [View All]

[Libertas1776]

to this NY Times article...
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/us/politics/27year.html?em

The once-indefatigable Ted Kennedy was in a wheelchair at the end, struggling to speak and sapped of his energy. But from the time his brain cancer was diagnosed 15 months ago, he spoke of having a “good ending for myself,” in whatever time he had left, and by every account, he did.
<snip>
As recently as a few days ago, Mr. Kennedy was still digging into big bowls of mocha chip and butter crunch ice creams, all smushed together (as he liked it). He and his wife, Vicki, had been watching every James Bond movie and episode of “24” on DVD.
<snip>
He began each morning with a sacred rite of reading his newspapers, drinking coffee and scratching the bellies of his beloved Portuguese water dogs, Sunny and Splash, on the front porch of his Cape Cod house overlooking Nantucket Sound.


It seems his last days, even quite recently, were spent quite well, both peaceful and relaxing. I am very glad for that. I don't know whether or not he was aware of the town hall fiascoes, but even if he was, I know he was a strong willed man with a strong heart and such bickering would have affected him little. If anything, being the altruistic man he was, Ted may have regretted not having more time to engage and convince these people. I am sure he viewed them as misguided citizens (most at least) and not the plethora of derogatory labels we have given them. We here on DU are not above partisan opining (mostly justified, I might add) nor should we be; that's what DU is all about. But Ted Kennedy was above all that; he had the charisma and fortitude to transcended the ideologies and partisanship of the American people. Just look at the outpouring of consolation, if not outright grief from the other side (save the truly RW bat shit crazies) People who did not agree with Kennedy politically, could still concede that he was a decent and honorable man who had the common man first in his heart. That is, in my humble opinion, what makes him a better person; better than me and better than most of us.