Maybe we can take a few minutes off from fighting and come together for our Great Elder Statesman

[Marrah_G]

When I think of Ted, I remember the story a few years back about some immigrant fisherman stuck on some rocks off Hyannis. Ted got in a little boat and went out there to try and rescue them.

The Massachusetts Democrat eventually left the rescue to Hyannis firefighters.

Kennedy was walking his two dogs on the shore at 11:15 a.m. when he spotted the men cut off from shore by the rising waters. They had been fishing on a jetty that begins at the tip of the Kennedy compound.
Click here to find out more!

Tides had risen over the patchy rocks, which made it difficult to walk back to shore.

Kennedy and a friend tried to rescue the men using a 13-foot boat but rough waters forced them back.

A crew from the Hyannis Fire Department picked them up. The men, in their 20s, were not identified. They were brought to Cape Cod Hospital with mild hypothermia.

This is what I think of when I think of my beloved Senator. He never forgets about the little guy. He always does the best he can for the working class. He has always, in my view, been a Senator for the people. Approachable, kind and generous. He raised his children to also serve the people in a country that has been so good to his family.

I am so sad today for his family. My sig. other just lost his father after battling a cancerous brain tumor. It's a rough journey and hard on everyone around them.

I expect he may retire sooner then expected now, and who can blame him. The loss of his voice in the Senate will be a loss for everyone in Mass and indeed for everyone in America.

So just for a little while today, let's put aside the divide and come together as Democrats and Progressives, and send a little Blue colored love to The Great Senator from Massachusetts.

[slinkerwink]

1. God be with Senator Kennedy and his family

[americanstranger]

2. Another story featuring TK and his beloved dog.

This makes me smile every time I think of it.

In 2003, my wife and I went to the first meeting in the Senate Office Building in DC to discuss advancing liberal media outlets (both Air America and Nova M were the eventual result of this conference). The entire day was a series of visits by senators to hear our ideas for advancement of liberal media in this country. About midway through, Senator Kennedy was scheduled to appear. We all took a short break and headed into the hall to wait for Kennedy to show up.

After a couple of minutes, the mood in the hall became electric, and people were buzzing that Kennedy had arrived. I looked down the hall and saw the senator approaching - with a dog on a leash!

I asked one of the Senate pages what the deal was with the dog, and he told me it was Teddy's dog, and he didn't go anywhere in the Senate without him. We re-convened to the conference room, the senator (with dog!) came in and took a seat to await his turn to speak. His dog curled up at his feet and went to sleep. Senator Kennedy made his remarks, took a few questions, then got up to leave. His dog, on cue, woke up and headed out of the room with him.

Many things have been said about Teddy Kennedy over the years, and the legend often outpaces the actual man. But I thought that day that any senator who takes care of business with dog in tow was just beyond cool.

Love the family, love the man. Sincerely hoping for the best in a bad situation here.

(Reposted from an earlier thread.)

- as

[Marrah_G]

12. Wow, thank you for that story! n/t

[izzie]

35. Thanks for the nice story. He is one of those people in DC

that seemed to just want to do the right thing. He did not need money and he really took to this job. As a young man he had his troubles but he over came them, I think, and helped people a great deal. That type are few in DC.

[BOSSHOG]

3. A Wonderful Idea and thanks for posting

Get Well Our Great Friend.

[shadowknows69]

4. Indeed

Good on ya for this post Marrah.

All prayers of healing and light to Senator Kennedy

[Egnever]

5. Just when he was about to be able to do so many things he has been fighting for

For so long. Its just tragic. Best wishes Senator Kenedy my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[TheDebbieDee]

6. I'm lots of positive energy in his direction........

and my very best wishes for Sen. Kennedy and his family!

[slinkerwink]

19. thank you for sending positive vibes his way

[Triana]

7. Much love to Teddy Kennedy and his family...

...the loss of his voice will felt very deeply and profoundly in the Senate and in the country.

[ClayZ]

8. Lighting a candle here...

K and R

[bunnies]

9. Cheers to one of this countries greatest Senators ever.

We love you Ted. :toast: :loveya:

[DearAbby]

10. ......

Prayers for TK and his family.

[Doityourself]

11. I wish him and his family the best

[chill_wind]

13. It feels........personal.

When tragedy has afflicted any of the Kennedy family over this lifetime of history they've given us, it always has.

I am so sad and sorry.

[qanda]

14. I shed a tear for Ted

If he goes then we will definitely lose a great man and a great voice. I hope he will be with us for many more years.

[FrenchieCat]

15. this news really makes me sad.

When I first heard that he had been taken to the hospital the other day, I was just waking up. I started crying before I even knew if he was Ok or not then. I've teared up again. I obviously care about Ted Kennedy more than I realized.......

[H2O Man]

Definitely.

DU should send flowers to him.

[Marrah_G]

20. Perhaps something more along the lines of ........

Some sort of tree or shrub. Flowers die. Maybe we could find a tree that is good in Cape Cod weather/soil and that says something about him.

I think a fundraiser to get him something from all of us to show our appreciation would be great.

[H2O Man]

22. I will contribute.

And I agree that a tree etc would be better.

[Marrah_G]

39. I was checking the Arborday foundation

I came across the American Elder (also called Elderberry) Tree. I works well on the Cape and I thought the name might be suitable too. I'm going to go poke around and ceck on the costs.

There is also the Rose-of-Sharon- gorgeous tree and his mother was Rose.

[chill_wind]

41. Really like that idea and your thoughts. n/t

[niyad]

16. my prayers are with him and his family, and all of us, who need him healthy and on the job.

[SeaLyons]

17. God Bless the Kennedy's....

[otohara]

18. A Beautiful Brain

I have hope this tumor can be removed after hearing a survivor on Ed Schultz.

We love you Sen. Kennedy

[pdxmom]

21. I have a personal story regarding Ted Kennedy. When I was about

7 years old (1965-66 or so), I got myself lost at what was then, National Airport. We had gone there to pick up my dad from a trip and my mom was never much for getting around D.C. or managing directions in general. I also had a 3 year old sister and my mom was VERY pregnant.

In the rush of trying to get there on time and my mom trying to herd us around with her huge belly, I got separated from them in the middle of a crush of planes deboarding. The person who found me and helped me out was Ted Kennedy. He was coming back into Washington, and saw me crying. He stopped and spoke with me, calming me down, and then had one of his security people help me find my mom. She wasn't that far away, but Ted stayed there until we were reunited and he had some nice words for my mother about how brave I had been.

He has been a hero to me ever since.

[americanstranger]

25. That's a great story.

Caring about people in trouble. That's always been the Kennedy Way.

Thanks for posting.

- as

[H2O Man]

26. That's nice.

Thank you for sharing that.

I saw a few seats down the row from him at Madison Square Garden for the second Frazier-Ali fight. Besides being the greatest US Senator, in terms of passing legislation, he touched a lot of people outside of politics.

[pdxmom]

34. I spent the first 15 years of my married life in a little town called

Marshall, VA, and lived right off the Interstate en route to Middleburg, VA (if you wanted to take the pretty, scenic drive). Quite often we would see members of the Kennedy family drive by (Jackie O. had an estate out there, as did other family members).

Many times I wondered if Ted remembered the little girl he helped out that day and what he would think if he knew that she was that woman he would wave back to whenever he drove by.

[dana_b]

28. cool story

glad you got back to your mom too!!!

He will be sorely missed from the senate- I can't imagine him going back. Good thoughts go out to him and his family.

[Marrah_G]

32. Another truly wonderful story, thank you so much for sharing that.

[chill_wind]

40. What an incredibly special and meaningful memory. Says everything about him

in its own small way.

[redstate_democrat]

23. I love Ted Kennedy. I'm just sick with grief right now.

[WA98296]

24. Our love and prayers to you and your family.

[Blue_Roses]

27. I'm so sad right now...

:cry:

[graycem]

29. Excellent idea..

I was just listening to different people tell personal stories that really illustrate the man's amazing character. There's no doubt that he's always been a man of the little people. That's always meant a lot to me, when people like him choose to work for the greater good, for humanity, when they obviously don't necessarily have to make that choice. I sure hope he has a quick recovery, even if he doesn't make it back to the Senate, he would still be an irreplaceable voice for advice to his peers and in defense of the little guy.

here's to Teddy :toast:


May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

[snooper2]

30. Bump and Best wishes Senator

:hi:





GOBAMA!

[DevonRex]

31. Thank you Marrah. I agree, let's put aside our differences at least

for a while today.

By the way, I nominate you for the best female Hillary supporter.

[Spooky_D]

33. Get Well Soon Senator...

Thank you for fighting for Democracy for so many years...

[K Gardner]

36. Send him a message at www.tedkennedy.com

[americanstranger]

37. I've been surfing across various sites, left and right-leaning.

Even the ones that we consider to be hate sites, like LGF, are nearly unanimous in their good wishes for the senator.

Even those who never agreed with his policies are showing true respect for the man.

We may all go back to our partisan ways tomorrow, but the outpouring of support for Kennedy today from both sides of the political spectrum gives me a little hope.

- as

[politicasista]

38. Thank you for this thread

I am so sad for Uncle Ted and his family. Two years ago in December, I lost my beloved aunt 2 weeks before X-mas to a brain aneurysm.

Thoughts and prayers are with you and the Kennedy family. :(

[ericgtr]

42. Thoughts and prayers with Ted and his family

Get well soon buddy, we need you!

[Catherina]

43. I just heard the news. This is so sad

He's your Senator? Lucky you Marrah :hug:

He's in my prayers for sure. I've been in tears since I found out.

[Marrah_G]

44. I'm fortunate enough to have Kennedy, Kerry and McGovern as my delegation

They are the best. Sen Kennedy has been my Senator my whole life. He entered the Senate 8 years before I was born.

[Forkboy]

45. Thank you Marrah.

He's one of the few politicians that I've truly admired. Today's news is sad beyond words for me.