Ted Kennedy is making a final press for universal healthcare, from his sickbed

[babylonsister]

Ted Kennedy is making a final press for universal healthcare, from his sickbed

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) listens carefully during the closing session of the White House's forum on health care reform in the East Room of the White House March 5, in Washington, DC.
As Congress wrestles with legislation to give Americans access to quality care, which the Democrat worked toward for 46 years, the senator is sidelined with brain cancer, but not out of the game.

By Faye Fiore and Noam N. Levey
July 26, 2009


Reporting from Washington -- Ted Kennedy wakes up mornings in his house on Cape Cod to a packet of news clippings put together by his wife. If there's a hearing going on in Washington, he watches on his computer.

Five hundred miles away, Congress is wrestling with historic legislation to give every American access to quality healthcare. It is the moment the Massachusetts Democrat has worked toward for 46 years. But instead of marshaling the crowning achievement of his political career, he is sidelined, battling brain cancer.

"He has lived for this day when America would finally extend this right to every citizen. There's no doubt if he could, he would be here in the thick of this," Kennedy's son Patrick, a Democratic congressman from Rhode Island, said in a recent interview, sitting on a bench on the Capitol grounds with tears in his eyes.

But history's third-longest-serving senator isn't out of the game yet. Exerting what influence he can from his sickbed, he advises his aides in Washington over the phone. He has made himself the poster child of what he calls "my life's cause," and is using his illness in a final press for universal healthcare.

Kennedy, 77, seems determined not to miss this. He has outlasted medical expectations since doctors diagnosed a malignant tumor last spring, and is not above expending every last bit of his political capital to deliver the bill he will be most remembered for. Democratic leaders plan to bring him back to the Senate floor later this year in a wheelchair, or a bed if necessary, to cast his vote for healthcare reform.

more...

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-kennedy26-2009jul26,0,3003331.story

[Botany]

1. ATTN Harry Reid & Max Baucus

:grr:

[tj2001]

2. A big thanks to the Blue Dogs

or whatever those assholes call themselves

[bobbolink]

14. I believe it's now Blue Cross Dogs

May they all disappear.

[foginthemorn]

3. But his plan is modeled on the Mass Plan. Just last week

another 30,000 were denied access --they could not sign onto the plan because it was broke. The plan still is controlled by insurers--and the new Kennedy US plan will be.

[babylonsister]

5. I need links to everything you're saying, thanks. nt

[foginthemorn]

6. It's my asssessment based on lots of reading this last few weeks.

So, no links at the moment.

[ipaint]

7. Your right in your assessment and the links to the

info that backs up your claim have been plentiful. I've posted many links regarding the Mass. plan in threads with the very same people participating as this one.

Universal healthcare has nothing to do with the reform currently being crafted.

That said I am sorry that senator kennedy is sick and glad we provide him with the type of health care that takes care of his needs.

[foginthemorn]

8. I have

probably been reading some of your links. Thank you.

I hope Ted is not suffering and the pain relief he needs. He has done a lot for the people of this nation but I do think his committee plan is not the right kind we need.

Later.

[Heidi]

4. Thank you, Senator Kennedy!

:kick:

[Wednesdays]

9. K&R

:kick:

[Fla Dem]

10. Profile in Courage,,,

this is what a public servant really means. Too bad there aren't more like him.

Hang in there Ted, we're all pulling for you.

[spin]

11. K&R

[Cha]

12. I hope Senator Kennedy

is able to recover from his illness and see the fruits of his labor.

[lefthandedlefty]

13. I hope he does also

My mom died from the same thing he has after spending a year in a coma

[Olney Blue]

15. I am not surprised to know that Teddy is going to fight for this until

his last breath. I wish he was there on the Hill- we need him so much.....

[TexasObserver]

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