2008 Kennedy
posted by on August 25 at 18:22 PM
The Kennedy signs are being distributed throughout the floor, so a Kennedy is up—the word is Ted Kennedy will be making an appearance, though Caroline will probably be the only one to speak.
OK, so it’s just Caroline for now: “I’m here tonight to pay tribute to two men who have changed my life—and the life of this country: Barack Obama and Ted Kennedy.”
The repeated refrain is “Teddy is your senator too.” Caroline’s droll delivery doesn’t punch it up much, but if the man makes an appearance all will be forgotten.
And… she introduces a video tribute, featuring testimonials from John Kerry, John Lewis.
At the conclusion of the video, the words EDWARD M. KENNEDY flash on the screen, and he comes out to the podium. The crowd is chanting “Teddy, Teddy, Teddy” and shaking their Kennedy signs.
“My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans,” Kennedy begins. “It is so good to be here. And nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight.” Huge applause.
It strikes me that the one thing the Obama campaign has to be given credit for is making a fundamentally negative campaign (the last eight years have been awful) sound irrepressibly optimistic. After speaking about his central issue, health care, Kennedy pounds out the words, “Yes… we… can, and finally, yes we will!” In between shoutouts to the gays and the American military (separately, natch), he talks about the moon and the heights and everything lofty. It nonetheless sounds gravelly and serious.
“This November, the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans,” Kennedy concludes. “The work begins anew! The hope rises again! And the dream lives on.”
There was some nice suspense—and real human emotion—in that bit of political theater.
(No one listened to the following two speakers. The floor was buzzing with conversation.)
A giant.
And in what could be his last major speech to a national audience, he mentions gay rights -- directly, not in a veiled reference to "all people."
God speed, Senator.
It's nice to listen to politicians who have a command of the English language.
I will always love Teddy Kennedy. He really did a great job tonight, and looks fantastic.
...and what Joe Biden said on Saturday: "The reckoning is now."
I am SICK that I missed this speech. Aargh.
Watched it on the youtubes.
His sense of humor intact, and a sense of hope after all he's seen. An amazing man, and there will never be another like him.
We're lucky to have a man like that on our side.
Wonderful and moving words from both Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama tonite. They both managed to evoke some pretty heartfelt emotions in me from long distance, can't imagine what it must be like to actually be there. Outstanding!
Anyone have a good link to TK's speech?
Dear God! It sounds like the tired reunion of the Democrat Class of '72!
Where's George McGovern and Muskie? They're dead, right? Well, someone haul in all those "freshmen" Congress People from the Early 70s so they can relieve the Negative Income Tax and "Workfare".
I want to hear a 60 hour debate between Bella Abzug (dead, right?) and Betty Friedan on why Norman Mailer (dead, right?) can't insert his 500 page "plank" in the platform.
It was a super beginning - best possible - the last thing America expected was a major speech in prime time from so very ill Senator Kennedy, remember he was an early Obama supporter.
A total buzz. Visual WOW. The bar I was at were on their feet cheering. The man could die at any moment.
Caroline is really in the center stage and that is great too. She is well spoken and credible. She will be in politics soon. It looks like it is her milieu.
TO fuck head John above, you have the common sense of an insect, history in your view and you scoff - stupid and shallow and shrill and boring - indeed. Go back to your stupor.
Bella debating with who? Where do I get a ticket?
Oh, call an angel. Will do.
Oddly the retrospective on Teddy missed the part about Chappaquiddick and the uncomfortable moment at the 1980 Democratic Convention where Kennedy avoided shaking hands with Jimmy Carter. Talk about cherry picking the moments for the video!
Cato -
And I expect the Rebumblicans will neglect to show the image of ol' pappy McCain hugging Prez Chimp with his head buried deep in Chimp's abdomen, on his way down...
@12 - didn't mention Chappaquiddick? How observant. Be sure to note at the RNC convention whether the names of 4,147 Americans who've died in Iraq are mentioned. At least Teddy had the balls to attend Mary Jo's funeral. Bush been to any servicemen's funerals? Didn't think so. So inconvenient to attend funerals where you might be viewed as the deceased's murderer.
Who knew Democrats would not be able to handle people being critical of their won party? Stop acting like Republican sheep and be skeptical. Remember, it was another Democrat who signed the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996, the second time a President signed discrimintation against Gays and Lesbians into law. The same guy signed into law "don't ask don't tell".
Spare us all your blind devotion to the Democratic Party, they are only the lesser evil of the two choices. Besides, would YOU want to get into the car with Ted Kennedy?
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