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comment on article 43 Comments
Posted on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at 11:47 PM


Ted Kennedy's gamble on Obama pays off as health care passes


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Somewhere Ted Kennedy is smiling.

His gamble on choosing Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton for President has paid off. The relentless Obama focus on health care, a legacy from Kennedy, has made possible the historic vote on health care which passed the House tonight.

There was a poignant moment tonight when Speaker Nancy Pelosi made an impassioned plea for the passage of the health care bill, and spoke emotionally about Kennedy's posthumous letter to Obama pleading for health care passage to be his legacy.

That looked like a failed dream when Sen. Scott Brown took the Kennedy seat, to the consternation of the Kennedy family.

But a few weeks is a long time in politics, and tonight Pelosi cobbled together a majority that ensured that the greatest change in health care since Medicare was passed will now become law.

Off to the side, watching Pelosi's speech, was Rep. Patrick Kennedy -- now in the last few months of his time in the House. As soon as Pelosi was finished, she strode over and embraced him.

They both knew Ted Kennedy's legacy is now secure. His wife Vicki issued an immediate statement saying it was the culmination of his life's efforts.

It is a sad he did not live to see his greatest legislative priority come into being.

But no doubt, he would have deflected the praise as he always did to others.

Nonetheless, history was made on health care tonight -- and in many ways, we have the Lion of the Senate, Ted Kennedy, to thank.



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Posted by killowen on Mar 27, 2010, 10:45 AM EDT
The Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act, otherwise known as CLASS, provides for a national insurance program to help cover the cost of long-term care
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Posted by irishathens on Mar 26, 2010, 11:53 AM EDT
I posted a right of reply to IrishAndProud...where is it?
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Posted by shuvonn on Mar 25, 2010, 05:41 PM EDT
I am mystified how people can want the right to bear arms but those same people think that having health insurance that is affordable is forced upon them? There is not one law that is passed without some back room dealing and DEMOCRACY means that if there is a majority vote on something it passes. And IF you do not agree with something and it gets voted in by a legitimately voted in MAJORITY, that IS democracy, and tough !
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Posted by katieherk on Mar 25, 2010, 12:12 PM EDT
Now Teddy Kennedy is getting the praise (blame, I say)for passing this horrible bill. Nobama will pay in the end as will all the people who voted for such an unspeakable trashy bill. Goodbye America!!
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 24, 2010, 03:12 PM EDT
FYI, irishathens, the American people have always been the most generous there's ever been, through charity, giving and reconstruction (and still are) -- and we didn't get there by imitating YOUR socialism. If it wasn't for us, you'd be speaking GERMAN, now, and there would BE no Ireland.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 24, 2010, 03:09 PM EDT
irishathens, like a typical hard-core leftist you define compassion as confiscating people's hard-earned money and using it to pay for government entitlement programs which they did not want, cannot afford and which bankrupt the next two generations. 'Compassion', to you, is taking my money to pay for your politics. You call r-ping taxpayers 'compassion.'
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Posted by irishathens on Mar 24, 2010, 11:28 AM EDT
Ted Kennedy did not gamble. I think he remarkably analysed a situation. He judged Obama's previous work, met with and had a long conversation with him and realised they were in fact walking on the same road. I didn't fully realise until now that the American people are so money orientated..Have they forgotten compassion and fellowship?
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 23, 2010, 11:12 PM EDT
And hyattsville...why should the government take what little money I have to involuntarily pay for others, all the time? Remember, this is MY money you'r talking about confiscating, for this rag of a bill. That's the big difference: I may choose to be generous with my money -- and an Obamanik ALSO chooses to be generous with my money.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 23, 2010, 11:09 PM EDT
Further, killowen, your giddy praise of The One is so utterly over-the-top and over-done, it's frankly embarrassing. Work on containing that excessive excitement, just a bit. Perhaps you should re-name yourself OVERKILLowen.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 23, 2010, 11:06 PM EDT
(cont'd) This farce won't even be implemented for four years (though the taxes of course will kick in, much sooner). Fortunately no 'victory' is permanent; the Dems have a megatsunami headed their way, this November...which I'm only smiling, about. They don't even see it coming.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 23, 2010, 11:05 PM EDT
No, it won't be accepted, 'derrylass.' The MAJORITY (not just 'some') of the American people opposed -- and still oppose -- this nonsense. Obama's approval rating (just today, mind you) from CNN is the LOWEST, EVER...and Pelosi is only polling 11% approval. The only ones this thing was a 'victory' over is the majority of the country, who were steamrolled to pass it.
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Posted by hyattsville on Mar 23, 2010, 04:46 PM EDT
Yeah how dare the uninsured expect access to some form of health insurance say the insured and healthy, until they become unemployed and uninsurable owing to a pre-existing condition!
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Posted by Derrylass627 on Mar 23, 2010, 11:22 AM EDT
This landmark legislation will prove to be a Godsend to millions of Americans and over time will be accepted by many of the nay-sayers. It's too bad that some of the people who opposed healthcare reform are such sore loosers and unable to accept what is and get on with their business. They act like sulky babies! Congratulations to the U.S. Senate and Congress and everyone who supported health care reform.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 23, 2010, 11:13 AM EDT
No other family gave so much except perhaps the O'Sullivan brothers. Audie Murphy was hero of WWII. Cite some others on us - who've done great things - MLK comes to mind and John Barry Father of American Navy, not that John Paul (added Jones to hide) who was a true mercenary who went off to serve in Russia while Barry stayed true to his American cause. Mason fellow Jones gets elevated with body shipped over from France and buried in Indianapolis.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 23, 2010, 11:10 AM EDT
Obama the Profiles In Courage winner for CHANGE true to his promise. Awesome human in spite of his Masters voice. The average citizen does what he's programmed to do. The Repugs ruined the country to name but; Nixon and the Bushies. Lucky that McSame and Palin pair got pushed to the curb. History will be very good to what the Kennedy family brought to this land.
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Posted by porkheaven on Mar 22, 2010, 10:13 PM EDT
This a bad thing for the US and never though that Ted Kennedy was a great man he should have served time in prison. The average citizen is not in favor the big O is ruining our country and thinks he is the anointed one.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 22, 2010, 07:50 PM EDT
Obama is going down in history books as the greatest stick-too-it president ever. Besides Washington and or Lincoln whom can anyone out there cite another with such chutzpah. Second termer bah humbug is his Profile in Courage attitude.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 22, 2010, 06:47 PM EDT
And btw...if the country is so 'divided' (which I agree it is), does that not flatly admit that there is an entire half (actually it's a lot more, now) who just might NOT agree with Obama/Pelosi/Reid, et al?
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 22, 2010, 06:45 PM EDT
McNamara, exactly what the hell have YOU done, for your country...beyond demanding that it accept being overrun with illegals and then rewarding them with citizenship? I know, I know...here come the stories of military service, educational resumes, etc, etc. OBAMA is a despicable person, McNamara...for it is HE that has divided this nation as never before. Rus is a radio host, with no power whatsoever -- he can't make anyone do anything.
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Posted by on Mar 22, 2010, 05:40 PM EDT
Hurrah! And thank you, Ted, for sure you are still with us.
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Posted by irishwxman on Mar 22, 2010, 05:05 PM EDT
hyattsville, Rush didn't say he would move to Costa Rica you goon. He said he would go there for his health care. Pay attention next time.
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Posted by irishwxman on Mar 22, 2010, 05:03 PM EDT
that's good, Invoke that murderer Ted Kennedy when you talk about the destruction of America. They both go hand in hand. The United States of America died yesterday. Obama Pelosi and Reid murdered it. We are all socialists now.
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Posted by McNamara31 on Mar 22, 2010, 04:46 PM EDT
hyattsville...I'm with you about Rush. He's a despicable person who has worked 24/7 to demean the office of the president at the cost of splitting this country in two. The coverage of the tea party members cursing the Dems, and spitting on them along with calls of "baby killer" on the floor are all connected to the atmosphere of hate and fear created by Rush and Beck two loser who hve never done a thing for their country.
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Posted by peterson on Mar 22, 2010, 03:55 PM EDT
Three fourths of the American people were against this form of health care. Obama and friends had to bribe and threaten fellow Democrats to pass the monstous bill with almost 2,000 pages of BS. The battle is far from over !!
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Posted by hyattsville on Mar 22, 2010, 03:42 PM EDT
Am I being paranoid or does IrishAndProud single me out for attack? Maybe I should shut it and just be flattered at the attention.
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Posted by IrishAndProud on Mar 22, 2010, 03:11 PM EDT
Uh...hyattsville...Obamanation-Care does not get implemented for FOUR YEARS...however the tax hikes to fund this frankly illegal takeover kick in much sooner. And you can bet, the people of this nation who oppose this thing by rather sizeable margins will be doing all they can to stop it in the meantime...like giving us an entirely new Congress come November. The Dems have just slit their throats.
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Posted by jdi2269 on Mar 22, 2010, 01:26 PM EDT
MARK MARCH 21,2010 ON YOUR CALENDAR. THIS WILL END UP BEING THE SINGLES WORST LEGISLATIVE VOTE IN OUR HISTORY. LET'S SUM IT UP! SENIORS WILL LOSE MANY MEDICARE ADVANTAGES AND ILLEGALS WILL GET THEM. HUSSEIN OBAMA IS DESPICABLE!
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Posted by hyattsville on Mar 22, 2010, 11:44 AM EDT
Good. Now let’s see if Rush Limbaugh makes good on his promise to move to Costa Rica should Obamacare be implemented. I’ll happily help him pack his suitcases.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 22, 2010, 11:35 AM EDT
My wife's hospital visit along with some tests, some of whom I wonder about - we are obliged to err on the side of doctor being right - all of which figured in the meteorotic rise in premiums. I pray Prez Obama magic can get me back close to premium payments pre 2009. Will premiums for Long Term Care figure in reduced payments as well. Gosh I hope so.
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Posted by killowen on Mar 22, 2010, 11:34 AM EDT
In anticipation of its passing my company in conjuction with Empire raised my 2010 premiums to $5,500 a year. For year 2009 my premiums shot up to $2500 from less than $500 over previous years.




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