Ted Kennedy

It looks like some members of Senate aren't wasting any time to get one of Obama's key campaign promises out there:

Two of the Senate's most influential leaders are working separately behind the scenes on legislation that would dramatically alter the way Americans get health care, hoping their early efforts -- including the release today of a position paper -- will push President-elect Barack Obama to move rapidly on the issue and spare the incoming administration some of the missteps that killed Bill Clinton's health reform initiative in 1994.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) is unveiling a 104-page blueprint today that serves as the opening move in a fierce competition in the Senate to frame the debate. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), who is battling a life-threatening brain cancer, has directed aides over the past several months to convene negotiating sessions with a diverse group of stakeholders, including physicians, patient advocates, small-business owners and insurers. He intends to have legislation drafted by Inauguration Day.

A healthy America is key to a good economy. When workers are sick they can't perform. When insurance premiums keep skyrocketing, employers profits start shrinking and salaries go down. This is something very basic that Republicans can't seem to grasp. Paul Krugman is even calling this "very big news".

Ted Kennedy will be undergoing surgery today for his brain tumor. Let's all wish him the best of luck.

While working and listening to MSNBC this afternoon, I would have sworn Ted Kennedy had died. They were damn near eulogizing him on air. Positive thoughts anyone?

On while on that subject - My thoughts and prayers are with Ted and his family. I won't go into a dramatic MSNBC style wake, since I have faith he will be back in the halls of Senate in no time.

Talk about absurd. The New York chapter of NOW has slammed Ted Kennedy for endorsing Barack Obama

"And now the greatest betrayal! We are repaid with his abandonment!" the statement continues. "He’s picked the new guy over us. He’s joined the list of progressive white men who can’t or won’t handle the prospect of a woman president who is Hillary Clinton."

I don't know what pushed Kennedy to back Obama, but I got a feeling this past weekend may have played something into it. I know a few people that were backing Clinton, but changed to Obama this weekend. Is it because they suddenly became sexists? No! It's because of the piss poor way in which the Clinton campaign has been operating.

I also need to highlight how sexist the NY chapter of NOW is acting in this statement. Did they bother to lay out an argument of why Clinton is better than Obama? No they didn't - instead they are saying that Kennedy should endorse Clinton simply because she is a woman. What an insult to Clinton and women everywhere.

And this one comes from yet another Kennedy - Ted. Hillary has to be hating this.