Ted Kennedy; Boston and my political life

I moved to Boston in 1963 when Teddy Kennedy was a new Senator. Not having been very politically active in New York, I quickly jumped in the political frays of the '60s in large part due to my friend/professor Freda, who died in July. and the Kennedys who were my President and my Senator [although I remained a registered NYer for a while.] And I lived for years on Francis Street, near where Teddy's funeral mass was recently held.

Even after I left Massachusetts I continued to write to Ted Kennedy about political issues as I felt he truly represented ME! No other Senator or Representative since has come close to being "my" person in Congress and that is a sad commentary on the current crop of politicians. [But I have ranted about the state of being a DC insider elsewhere.]

So Teddy's funeral marked a weird kind of ending in my life. My political gurus and motivators both died this summer and I am left to wonder who will take their places for the up and coming generations ready and willing to jump into a fray.

Yes we have the ideologues ready to feed lies to a new generation and teach them to yell and scream louder than anyone else - but that's not a way to solve problems; only a way to create more. We have alleged liberals who sell their souls for corporate donations and vote for legislation that their Masters wish for.

Hopefully some energized people will come into politics and become the "new" progressives.

Sen. Edward Kennedy Iraq Speech at National Press Club

Here's Kennedy speech on escalation at the National Press Club. He used to be my Senator and I still like him.

But, I was recently reflecting, I have never lived in a state that could be considered "red" so I have usually had at least one Senator I liked.

Poll ratings

On the sort-of-eve of the shrub's escalation speech...polls show he has tanked...and he hasn't even opened his mouth yet.

Of course in the ago of instant "news" and floating trial balloons to see-what-the-polls-say-we-should-say WH - we know he is asking for an escalation...and please let's use the correct term....it is an escalation.

King shrub probably has to practice his speech all day today and tomorrow so there is not much of a chance of it changing...so it's possible by tomorrow night only Laura and Barney will be the lone supporters of whatever he sputters!

And a big thank you to Ted Kennedy who proposes "to prohibit the use of funds for an escalation of United States Forces in Iraq above the numbers existing of January 9, 2007."