The Liberal Lion

Today marks the passing of the United States Senate's liberal lion, Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA). He did more than his famous brothers John or Bobby to change this country for the better and will always have a lasting legacy as one of this country's most influential legislators in history. He authored so many important bills that have affected more Americans that he will be remembered throughout history as a tireless fighter for social justice, which came from his Catholic faith. I can't begin to express how sad I am at his passing, especially now that real attempts are being made at health care reform on the federal level. We needed his voice and his ability to get things done at such a critical time as this, and now he's gone and we're without the Senate's most influential liberal to see this through to completion. I can only hope that whoever replaces him can continue the work he did for the past 46 years in the Senate and can help guide through real and meaningful health care reform. Whatever his personal flaws were in life, they were more than overshadowed by his skill and tirelessness in getting things done when they most needed it. Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia is also ailing and in his 90's, and we may not have him around much longer, either, and without these two men in the Senate, Democrats are going to be hard pressed to find a leader to push through legislation that embodies the Democratic agenda of social justice. So I guess you could say that we are witnessing the changing of the guard now. The old guard is on their way out, and we need the younger members of the Senate to step up and take the places of those who are ailing and dying and fill their shoes, big ones indeed, but it can be done. We just need to find a leader in the Senate who's got the moxie and influence like Senators Byrd and Kennedy who can do what they did so well for so long. Senator Kennedy, rest in peace, you will be sorely missed. Your legacy will live on forever.