Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Opinion

Robert Schlesinger

Will Healthcare Reform Be Kennedy's Final Legacy?

August 26, 2009 07:43 AM ET | Robert Schlesinger | Permanent Link | Print

By Robert Schlesinger, Thomas Jefferson Street blog

It is often observed of JFK that his legislative agenda, particularly with regard to civil and voting rights, was stalled on the Hill in November, 1963. The national grief surrounding Kennedy's assassination, the analysis goes, gave LBJ an opportunity to enact many of Kennedy's priorities. Speaking to Congress five days after JFK was assassinated, Johnson observed that the late president had exhorted in his inaugural, "let us begin." Johnson added: "Today in this moment of new resolve, I would say to all my fellow Americans, let us continue."

Ted Kennedy's driving legislative priority was healthcare reform. He used to say that he would see it passed if it was the last thing he did. And as recently as Sunday, Sen. John McCain argued that Kennedy's absence due to illness had critically hampered that push—the Massachusetts senator was a master at legislative deal making and would have known how to advance the process. His absence left a legislative leadership void no senator has been capable of filling.

The nation suffered a great loss last night. This is one of the few times that the wall-to-wall coverage the cable "news" nets will give us over the next few hours and perhaps days is actually merited. (If you doubt it, go over to his Web site and check out the 54 page list of legislative accomplishments posted there.) It seems unlikely that Kennedy's death will have the national galvanizing effect that his brother's did, but I wonder if it could on a much smaller scale, among his 99 remaining colleagues in the Senate.

Tags: healthcare | Ted Kennedy | John Kennedy

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David of ID

Incentive is what we all need, A lot of our problems stems from fewer parks because of more homes and less activity.

I believe if our activity level was greater than it is today because of technology. less people would be obis and our prisons would not be as full.

In this country we used to have barn dances and all kinds of activities. some of us still go fishing and hunting However a lot of people trying to get Ahead of everybody else has no time neither do there children and all of there activities are not always legal but makes good business since as they understood there parents who may not be around to straiten them out.

Do not get me wrong Technology is A wonderful thing We just did not adjust to it as we developed it.

We are able to make more than we need but rather than make use of it all, We destroy some or most of it to raise prices.

Sometimes we even ship it to third world countries for tax purposes and to keep it out of our market which is better than destroying it.

Yes we need incentive but it would be nice to be able to afford it or are you still thinking like a cave man and believes only the strongest will survive.

What do you want when you go to a restaurant, Clean floors?, clean tables? clean dish's? yet those are low paying jobs. What makes you better than the person that washes your dishes. And they cannot afford health care as it is but you obviously Can.

If you still have A cavemen mentality than nothing I have said makes since to you, But if some of what I said makes since then we have hope.

I like what you said about the dog I see that a lot in empty city counsel rooms and no grass roots groups around.

Don D. Brock

Bobby

Your post was dead on. Kennedy was a disgusting human being who was worshipped by the left. The only principle that guided him was the principle of " will it make Teddy happy and does it feel good".

Kennedy Legacy........,,,,,.........Please Read

Here is Ted Kennedy's Legacy

-Alcoholic

-womanizer

-adulterer

-killer of a young women in the prime of her life

-coward: as proved by not attempting to save the drowning woman)

-cheater (just ask Harvard university)

-rich on daddies money (obtained illegally through racketeering)

-never worked one day outside a goverment job

-showed no loyalty to his wife or his church

This is the debaucherous clown that you liberals are worshipping. Liberals have no class, no standards or morals and that is why Ted Kennedy was their hero. It really is this simple.

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Robert Schlesinger is a deputy editor at U.S. News and World Report and oversees all opinion editorial content. He is the author of White House Ghosts: Presidents and Their Speechwriters.

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