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I meant no disrespect for Ted Kennedy, nor for the Kennedy's generally (whom I have always admired). And I don't care a lot what most of the Republicans (& esp the very conservative fundamentalists). My point was simply that Obama (and the Democrats generally) ought not to be projecting Kennedy/Massachusetts liberalism in the coming NATIONAL election. When Kennedy ran against (& thereby considerably weakened) Pres. Jimmy Carter in the 1980 Dem. primaries, he both helped (however unwittingly) elect Reagan & thus demonstrated a real lack of understanding of politics in America on a national scale. the Clintons have a record of winning nationally (and governing) on a basically progressive agenda (albeit, moderately so). Obama running as the Kennedy's anointed heir will not win because America does not want to go back to the liberalism of the sixties.

BUSHED STATE OF THE UNION

Fail and farewell to the chief,

Every move a blooper;

In a perfect world he'd be

Deputy White House super.

little bush throws temper tantrum at Capitol

bush boldly predicts we will win a war we started

oily man bush learned about global warming

James (#4), we should worry less about what the Republicans think and more about what we think and what is right. Whoever the Democrats select, the Republican hatchet men and spin meisters will disparage and distort their record and we should be ready not just to defend but rather to set the agenda. When will we learn? It is trying to pick the most "electible" candidate i.e. mindread the other guy that cost us the 2004 presidential election! Vote for the candidate that inspires,motivates and shares your values whoever that may be and stop trying to second guess the opposition!!! In my mind the value of Ted Kennedy's endorsement is that it raises the stature of Obama and may lead some people to take a another look at his candidacy.

I will be 77 (on Feb. 22) and shook JFK's hand in a small auditorium at the State Dept. in 1962 (I was a secretary).

Ted Kennedy's support will please the hard-core Dems, but will antagonize the Independents, as well as the moderates in both parties. I think Hillary will benefit from this partisanship by Sen. Kennedy (and, recently, Sen. Kerry, whose credibility is more than questionable).

Sen. Obama may be a viable candidate 10-20 years from now, but only if Pres. Hillary Clinton succeeds in her effort to unite both the Dem. party and the country as a whole. Sen. Obama can do much to make this happen ... if he chooses to behave like a (potential)statesman.

Granny Joan

???

Some of the comments on here are just quite frankly bizarre: `Obama accepted Kennedy's endorsement so how could he be for change??????'

Yeah...so he should say "I reject your endorsement"????? That would just come off as incredibly juvenile. It's just an endorsement for crying out loud and any of the dems would take Kennedy's endorsement...

It's Ted Kennedy's endorsment he's accepting not the grand wizard of the KKK...get a grip!

Question:
Notwithstanding the reporting on the Kennedy endorsement of Obama, should we attach any significance to the fact that on this mornings news programs there was virtually no coverage of the State of the Union Speech until well into the second hour of programming?
Just a thought.
JC

The Kennedys represented a genuine political movement with all the euphoria of believing that a generation can change not only the priorities of our government, but the world.

We never called the 60s "Camelot" and didn’t think of it as such. But civil rights and feminism came of age in the 60s. Half the nation was passionately fighting for peace and government transparency and economic and social justice.

No one wants the Kennedys back. We want our country back. And we want to see our country model values that the world finds exhilarating and liberating and worth emulating. Every political event since the Kennedys and every person in our country has been informed by the spirit and accomplishments of that era when opportunity was expanded to many, when people felt they were part of the government, and when our government tried to lead by example. Many of us never lost the yearning for another glimpse through that extraordinary window of possibility.

At the moment only Obama allows our imaginations to soar and feel connected again to a common struggle and a common country that we all love. The last time we felt that was at the time of JFK and RFK. Even if Obama doesn’t succeed in the long run, I have to thank him for that.

Alie - 26 years old -
I think the Kennedy endorsement is fabulous! People are missing the point when they talk about Kennedy's being a moderate and partisan. That is what's so wonderful about Obama. He inspires everyone - democrats, republicans, independants, moderates, liberals, conservatives. That is exactly the unity that Obama is trying to create within our world.

Here's the main deal - People who believe in Obama care more about unity and equality and coming together then ANYTHING else. We believe in a more united society, because that is the only way to get things done. It is the same unity that we need to embrace in our global community. I trust Obama. I trust that he is good, and he will do what is right. Of course there will be corruption because there always is, but I believe he deeply good within his heart and he knows what is right.

I think the endorsement brings more crediblity to Obama's main pledge of unity because he bringing in such a significant family in our country's history, such an inspiring family.

Like one viewer said, this election is about voting with your guts, and in my gut I trust that Obama's message is the central theme to how I try to lead my life, embracing all people, seeing all points of view, and working together to create a better world.

Calm down and stop ranting about Ted Kennedy and how he symbolizes partisanship. He endorsed Obama, he didn't take his place as a candidate. What is Obama supposed to do? Decline the endorsment in the name of a post partisan ideal.

Think before you comment, please. Obama wants to transcend partisanship IF he becomes president. On the way there, they all have to follow the path to the presidency as chaotic and insipid as it may be. Stop coming up with unrealistic ideas of how YOU want him to behave according to your PERSONAL desires.

Hi Brian,

I'm listening to your show in Berlin, where Obama has been drawing glowing comparisons with JFK for a while now, so much so that German politicians have been urging restraint. Ted Kennedy's endorsement will only strengthen the conviction that Obama will restore the place of the US in the world, and its friendship with Germany which is clearly deeply cherished.

Kit Baker

Brian- Ted Kennedy is not "the most partisan Democrat". remember he worked on child left behind and the immigration bill- both huge compromises.

Hey #4,
I am sure Hillary would have loved Ted Kennedy's endorsement, don't you agree? If this happened, I find it extremely unlikely that you would be bashing Ted Kennedy.

I don't know how much of a person of change Mr. Obama actually is as much as a person of shift. Wouldn't you say that Dennis Kusinich (yes, that strange man) is the real person of change?

Worth noting that Ted Sorensen -- the JFK speechwriter who actually penned the words "Ask not...." and "The torch has been passed...." -- endorsed Obama last March and has frequently campaigned with him on the trail.

Many folks like myself who didn't like or were hesitant about Kennedy in the beginning changed their (our) opinion of him and we too were carried on the wave. I too think he would have been reelected.

Kennedys, Camelot, yada yada .....Lets not go back to the partisanship & divisions of the 1990s....lets go back to the peaceful, golden era of bi-partisanship & cooperation of the 1960s.....OH MY GOD!!! Is this what happens when the 'young' flock to political activism...complete & utter farication & mytholical reconstruction of the past???
Ted Kennedy, more than anyone save maybe Jimmy Carter is responsible for the Reagan-Bush era, from which the Clintons only began the process of retrieving America's faith in the government to do good. Now Ted wants to lead us again. Here we go again. The Dems will do what they do best...make the country turn to just about ANY Republican to run the place.

It seems odd that a candidate of CHANGE, Barack Obama, would embrace an old school Democrat (even more entrenched than the Clintons) and one that is so polarizing himself. That photo of Teddy and Barack is probably already being cut and paste into Republican fundraising literature.

There was a nice excerpt from Jacob Weisberg's new book published in Newsweek. It is an excellent piece. Learn about the nationwide immunization program for anthrax that Cheney was insisting on in 2001. Find out how Bush's problem with his parents is why he is such a bad President, etc.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/96372

Startlingly sensical idea from Greg Palast (last 2 graphs):

http://www.gregpalast.com/one-bush-left-behind/#more-1955