Axis Mundi X discussion

While not a perfect guy, "The Lion of the Senate" had a career of civil service that benefitted so many of us in this country. More than 300 bills that Kennedy and his staff wrote have been enacted into law. He was known for his ability to work with Republicans and to find compromises among Senators with disparate views. Here is a partial list of some of his accomplishments during his career:

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965
National Cancer Act of 1971
Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Ryan White AIDS Care Act in 1990
Civil Rights Act of 1991
Mental Health Parity Act in 1996 and 2008
State Children's Health Insurance Program in 1997
No Child Left Behind Act in 2002
Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act in 2009
Increased the minimum wage in 1981
Made access to health care easier for the indigent
Funded Meals on Wheels for fixed-income seniors
Reduced the voting age from 21 to 18
Title IX, which gave women's athletics much better funding

Liberals will mourn him, Conservatives will miss making fun of him.

Good list.

And the dream will never die...

Depends whose dream you refer to, Ruth. I could get very nasty here, but I won't - unless provoked. I'll say this, what really died with Ted was the era of true bipartaniship. Peoples tend to forget how much he reached across the isle. When folks speak of "No Child Left Behind" through clenched teeth, they forget that Teddy owned 50% of that. My point is, Ted was of a different era, one which we could sorely use right now. What we are left with is a legislature locked in an ideological battle that shows no quarter. The violence level is ratcheting up. Heard about the bombings? The assaults? Most likely not. We have a definite leadership vacuum in this country and we're being torn apart as a result. Ted Kennedy Jr will be missed.

He was old school in the best sense of the term.

I think Ted Kennedy Jr is still very much alive.

heh

Speaking of Teddy being missed - Chris Dodd now has noone to make waitress sandwiches with.

ew... not a visual I needed.

...you have no idea.

and I hope to keep it that way.