Vicki Kennedy's plea

By GottaLaff

Every time I hear Senator Kennedy's name mentioned during this seemingly endless health care battle, I tear up:

Vicki Kennedy: "The bill before Congress will finally deliver on the urgent needs of all Americans. It would make their lives better and do so much good for this country. That, in the end, must be the test of reform. That was always the test for Ted Kennedy. He's not here to urge us not to let this chance slip through our fingers. So I humbly ask his colleagues to finish the work of his life, the work of generations, to allow the vote to go forward and to pass health-care reform now. As Ted always said, when it's finally done, the people will wonder what took so long."

Michael Steele on Obama reading Kennedy letter: "Bad form"

By GottaLaff

How many times can I say pot, kettle...

If anyone consistently displays "bad form" it's Steele. Let's see, which party celebrated Ted Kennedy's death? Would you consider that bad form, Mr. Steele?

When President Obama read the Kennedy letter, it was beautiful, touching, meaningful, and apt. And does the RNC chair really think Mrs. Kennedy didn't know what was coming? Are we supposed to believe she didn't give her approval ahead of time?

These Rushpublics are despicable. I'm sicker than sick of them and want them all out of office, out of the public eye, out of sight, now:

"I'm sorry, but I just felt a bit unnerved by it, in the sense he just passed... His wife was still clearly emotional. I just thought that was bad form."

-- RNC Chairman Michael Steele, in an interview with the Washington Times, criticizing President Obama's reference to the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's personal letter to him in his speech last night.

Go Cheney yourself, Steele.

Vicki Kennedy not interested

By GottaLaff

There's about to be a news conference from Deval Patrick on the date of a special election to replace Ted Kennedy, but meanwhile:

The trial balloon launched yesterday by Sen. Christopher Dodd and Sen. Orrin Hatch quickly deflated.

A "solid source" tells George Stephanopoulos that Vicki Kennedy won't run in a special election to fill the Massachusetts Senate seat and she's not interested in an interim appointment if it becomes available.

Meanwhile, all eyes turn to Joe Kennedy...

Two Senators Back Vicki Kennedy for Husband's Seat

By GottaLaff

It's happened before, if you remember... not far-fetched to think it couldn't happen again:

Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) -- two of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy's closest friends in the Senate -- said on CNN they thought his widow, Vicki, would be a good temporary replacement for him if Massachusetts legislators change the law to allow an interim appointment.

Said Dodd: "We talk frequently. Whatever Vicki wants to do, I'm in her corner. She knows that. She has expressed to me her own reluctance to do that. But she could change her mind. And if she did I'm for it. I think she'd be great, I think Orrin's right, she brings talent and ability to it... we can certainly use her in the Senate. But leave it up to her. She has a lot on her mind right now. And, frankly, I leave it up to her decision-making process."

Said Hatch: "Sure, I think Vicki ought to be considered. She's a very brilliant lawyer. She's a very solid individual. She certainly made a difference in Ted's life, let me tell you. And I have nothing but great respect for her."

I don't want to write this post

By GottaLaff

Photo by Angela Rowlings

Sometimes I am too optimistic. And unrealistic. After Ted Kennedy's Senate appearance when he voted on the stim bill, I had this little, tiny, weensy shred of hope that he'd be around forever. Sadly, my wee shred is now a micro-wisp:

Sen. Ted Kennedy, wintering in an undisclosed location in Florida, may never return to the Senate, friends say, as his battle with brain cancer enters its final rounds.

“He’s someplace sunny, near the water, where he can rest and sail,” said a pal of the senior senator. “Time is of the essence. It’s very sad.” [...]

“He’s very sick,” said another Kennedy associate. “He’s actually done well to get to this point.” [...]

Because of Kennedy’s condition, off-the-record speculation about the future of his Senate seat has been rampant this week - especially in light of a seven-part Boring Broadsheet opus that is being widely viewed as a premature obituary. And yesterday’s installment was interpreted by some close to the matter as the first step in a torch-passing to Kennedy’s wife, Vicki.

“It appeared to be setting up Vicki’s senate campaign,” said one insider.

The story described the former Victoria Reggie as “a great lawyer” with “tremendous political skills” and “great sense of humor.” [...]

Should Kennedy be unable to finish out his senate term, which ends in 2012, a special election must be held within 145 to 160 days of the seat becoming vacant. The big question is: Will Kennedy make it known that he wants his wife to succeed him - a move that would almost assuredly guarantee Vicki the seat?

My heart is breaking.

H/t: Hilz

Teddy Kennedy wants his wife to have his Senate seat

By GottaLaff
Teddy has chosen his successor:

Ted Kennedy has made clear to confidants that when his time is up, he wants his Senate seat to stay in the family - with his wife, Vicki.

Multiple sources in Massachusetts with close ties to the liberal lion say his wife of 16 years has long been his choice to continue carrying the family flame in the Senate. Kennedy won the seat in 1962; his brother John held it from 1953 to 1960.

Ted Kennedy could have suggested his nephew Joe, but he's been through a messy divorce and has also been tied to Hugo Chavez, who "assists his Boston-based fuel company for the poor."

The 54-year-old Victoria Reggie Kennedy, a former hotshot Washington lawyer, is a Louisiana native and the daughter of a politically active judge.

She was hailed for holding the family together when John F. Kennedy Jr. was killed in a plane crash in 1999.

By favoring his wife, Kennedy, 76, is bypassing his late brother Robert Kennedy's eldest son, Joe, a former congressman. [...]

Under current Massachusetts law, his successor for the rest of his term, which ends in 2012, would be picked by special election. [...] Political pros, however, say a dying Kennedy's endorsement of Vicki would likely carry enormous weight with state voters.

I'm still reeling from the news of his cancer. There are some people you think will magically live forever.