Posted on 03/24/2010 7:51:28 AM PDT by Zakeet
The political odyssey of health care reform in many ways is the story of Ted Kennedy, and as President Obama signed the historic bill into law Tuesday, Kennedy's gravesite was a place of quiet celebration and poignant reflection.
The late senator's widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, spent hours Sunday at the simple white cross at Arlington National Cemetery marking where her husband was laid to rest only seven months ago. Ted Kennedy's youngest son, Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), visited on Monday morning and left a hand-written note that read: "Dad, the unfinished business is done."
And on a dreary Tuesday morning, dozens of school children and health care advocates paused at Kennedy's tombstone to commemorate the man who for decades made overhauling the nation's health-care system his life's mission.
Kennedy's legacy was not lost on anyone who filled the East Room of the White House for Obama's bill-signing ceremony. Members of Congress wore blue "TedStrong" wristbands in his honor and posed for pictures with Patrick Kennedy. Caroline Kennedy, the senator's niece, sat in the front row, with other members of the storied family. Vicki Kennedy walked into the room with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.).
Obama received a thunderous applause when he evoked the ghost of Ted Kennedy near the climax of his speech.
[Snip]
When Obama sat to sign the bill, Patrick and Vicki Kennedy stood behind him. Finally, Ted Kennedy's dream became the law of the land.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
Incidentally, there wasn't enough room in the headline to publish the "barf alert which is customary for stories such as this.
The WaPo is such a POS rag.
Queen.
I’d also like to leave something there.
Dad, now that you are out of the way, we finally got what we wanted. After decades of your obvious failures.
Next, we’ll fix your other big failure, immigration.
Coudn’t get it done with you!
Is he planning on completing the drive Ted was on “that” night?
PS: Dad, say Hello to Mary Jo if Satan ever lets you out
The unfinished business is still unfinished until Pat joins daddy. And he will be the one who puts himself there.
This should have had a HUGE barf alert!
My hope is to live long enough to see the end of the Kennedys........but I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Dad, we pulled a Chappaquiddick on freedom and prosperity!
“Dad, revenge against this country for your brothers deaths is complete. We destroyed it like you wanted.†So sad for America. God bless our Republic.
What did he kill some slattern that was only injured by Teddy?
Gag me!
Theater.
They should have worn life jackets with that slogan.
Such a drama queen.
Wow, is that supposed to make us all warm and fuzzy inside like a Hallmark moment? I’m sure Mary Jo would be moved.
My uncle used to refer to it as “Pravda”.
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