The Unfinished Business is Done

Many Americans only seem to care that today, Joe Biden may have cursed (no, he didn't swear out loud intending for people to hear), failing to see the bigger picture, distracted from the positive impact of what just happened. This brings it home:

The late senator's widow, Vicki Reggie Kennedy, spent hours on 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." WaPo

If you're tiring of hearing of the tea party revenge, the attorneys general revenge, the republicans revenge, here's some praise for Obama.

Obama Remembers Ted Kennedy at St. Patrick's Day Lunch

Obama's great, great, great, great, great grandfather was Irish. Joe Biden also recalled Kennedy today.

Brown Gives Gracious Victory Speech - Video

Scott Brown, the new Massachusetts senator, said the first call he made was to Vicki Kennedy. Classy. In his speech, he said he hoped he would be a worthy successor to Ted Kennedy. There was no venom spilling from his mouth. He wasn't mean, though he did bring Mitt Romney on the stage. Ick. Brown's not Sarah Palin, for sure. He's smart, charismatic and in tune. So is his daughter Ayla, who you might remember from American Idol.

I don't agree with Brown on issues but I now understand the appeal. Democrats are demonizing him, but instead of that, they ought to look at what's to be learned here.

Here's his speech:

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Healthcare Contingency Plans If Massachusetts Votes for Republican

Again, I think the "panic" is over stated. Gibbs is predicting a win. So is David Axelrod. I think Coakley's going to win. This is just controversy too good for the media not to exploit. But what if Coakley doesn't? Savannah Guthrie calls the options "a mess." Mark Halperin says healthcare will be easier to pass if Coakley loses. Eh. Biden blames the 60-vote filibuster.

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Obama Speaks on the Passage of Senate Healthcare Bill Dec. 24

Mark Knoller's photo of Obama family on Marine One. Destination: Hawaii

Merry Christmas! Even to the wingnuts! You're going to love health care.
Seven presidents have tried and failed to pass healthcare. Watch Biden, who presided over the vote. Now, the House and Senate bills must be reconciled.

Obama called 12 senators and thanked them for their work on the bill, according to CBS' @markknoller. He also called Vicki Kennedy. Ted would be proud. He called David Turner, a man who had his healthcare taken away by his insurance company. Obama also called 10 soldiers overseas. Now, Obama and the First Family are off to Hawaii.

Transcript here.

Watch a glowing Harry Reid:

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Obama family ready to board Marine One:
Photos by CBS reporter Mark Knoller

Vicki Kennedy: Ted Kennedy Was Inspired by Obama

Vicki Kennedy Urges Passage of Healthcare Bill

The bill is not perfect, writes Vicki Kennedy, Ted Kennedy's widow, but it would do a lot:

The bill before the Senate, while imperfect, would achieve many of the goals Ted fought for during the 40 years he championed access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans. If this bill passes:

-- Insurance protections like the ones Ted fought for his entire life would become law.

-- Thirty million Americans who do not have coverage would finally be able to afford it. Ninety-four percent of Americans would be insured. Americans would finally be able to live without fear that a single illness could send them into financial ruin.

-- Insurance companies would no longer be able to deny people the coverage they need because of a preexisting illness or condition. They would not be able to drop coverage when people get sick. And there would be a limit on how much they can force Americans to pay out of their own pockets when they do get sick.

-- Small-business owners would no longer have to fear being forced to lay off workers or shut their doors because of exorbitant insurance rates. Medicare would be strengthened for the millions of seniors who count on it.

-- And by eliminating waste and inefficiency in our health-care system, this bill would bring down the deficit over time. Read the whole op-ed at WaPo

Obama's Remarks at Edward M. Kennedy Institute

Obama spoke yesterday at the Institute, named after Ted Kennedy, which educates the public, students, new Senators and staff about the Senate:

Obama's Speech to Gay Rights Group Video Oct. 10

Obama gives an inspiring speech tonight to the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group. Obama shows why he's a Peace Man. Obama will end Don't Ask Don't Tell, which will allow gay people to serve freely in the military. He'll also soon be signing the Hate Crimes bill (introduced 10 years ago) in honor of Mathew Shepard.

Obama jokes: "It's a privilege to be opening for Lady Gaga:"

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Tomorrow, there will be a National Equality March in DC:

On October 11, meet at the Human Rights Campaign building, 1640 Rhode Island Ave. NW, at 11:00 a.m. The march will take us through D.C. and end with the National Equality March Rally. The march begins at 12:00 p.m.

Joe Solomnese gave a pretty darned good speech too:

New Health Committee Chair Ready to Roll

Tom Harkin of Iowa replaced Ted Kennedy as chair of the Health Committee. Senators won't vote against a health reform bill just because it has a public option in it, he says:

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Obama's Speech to Congress Sept. 9

Read the text here.
I'm astonished and quite disturbed that about half way through the speech some ugly republican yelled "lie" during Obama's speech. Obama had said reform wouldn't cover illegal immigrants. Republicans proved themselves the fools tonight. Representative Joe Wilson of South Carolina is the heckler. If you're on Twitter, here's his address: @CongJoeWilson. Phone: (202) 225-2452 / (803) 939-0041. What's wrong with South Carolina politicians? Poor Joe's website just crashed. Wilson will be up against Rob Miller in 2010.
GOP ought to know that tea parties are the place for ugly behavior, not a president's speech to Congress. Watch Obama's eyes in the video. He gets mad but keeps it together.

Live chat following the speech at whitehouse.gov

Read the text of Ted Kennedy's letter that Obama referenced here.

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Update Reaction to Obama's speech positive:

Ted Kennedy's Gravesite

Kerry: Kennedy Would Fight Hard For Public Option and Then

Sen. John Kerry said on This Week that Kennedy would fight hard for the public option, but if it wasn't going to happen he'd work on what he could make happen.
Watch it here.
Near the end of this video (highlights of the Sunday political shows) Sen. Chris Dodd says Obama needs to step up and frame the debate again. The Obamas are headed back to DC today, so we shall see what's next. We shall see if we can shake the wingnuts.

Deval Patrick's Mother: I love Me Some Kennedy

If you haven't listened to all the Kennedy tributes that I've posted here, you should. They're all such wonderful stories. Deval Patrick said Kennedy convinced him that politics could be a noble calling. He also tells a great story about Kennedy's gesture at the funeral of Yitzhak Rabin, former Prime Minister of Israel.

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John Kerry Talks About Kennedy's Paintings

Ted Kennedy's painting of his boat Mya on the cover of Cape Cod Life in May


Here's a doodle Obama did of Harry Reid and Kennedy:

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Family Friend Remembers Kennedy's Love of Song by Singing

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Joe Biden Speaks at Kennedy's Memorial

Orinn Hatch on the Graciousness of Kennedy

Sen. Orrin Hatch pays tribute to Kennedy and his wife, Vicki. Their marriage saved Kennedy, he said.

If you missed Orrin Hatch's song for Kennedy, you shouldn't. Listen here.

John McCain Speaks at Kennedy's Memorial

Chris Dodd Tells Funny Kennedy Stories

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