A Little Of The Old In And Out



(image via thecaucus)

In: Senator Ted Kennedy. One of the many mini-drama's unfolding in this hectic and historic campaign season is the fate of The Kennedy Legacy. Although the magic -- and the machine -- didn't quite work in Massachusetts against Senator Clinton, Ted Kennedy is still beloved in The United States Senate, the most aristocratic organization in the world outside of the college of cardinals, the so-called "Princes of the Church." If Senator Barack Obama manages to pass an inclusive national health care program it will probably be named "The Kennedy Plan" in honor of Senator Ted, who has spent most of his career leading to that conclusion. From TheHill:

"Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) returned to the Senate Wednesday for the first time since he was diagnosed with brain cancer and gave Democrats an unexpected victory on stalled Medicare legislation.

"In one of the most dramatic moments of the 110th Congress, Kennedy broke the stalemate on the high-profile bill that would avert a sharp cut in payments to doctors under Medicare. The bill had failed to advance on June 26 by one vote.

"The patriarch of the Kennedy family entered the chamber, alongside Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (Ill.), to a rousing ovation from senators on both sides of the aisle, some of them tearing up. Greeted with hugs and handshakes, Kennedy, bearing a big smile, went to the well and declared loudly, 'aye' in support of the legislation."