The Last Hurrah

Some scenes from Boston and Washington on the day of Teddy Kennedy's funeral:

* Teddy, Jr., not a public person, gave a riveting eulogy for his father centered on the day Teddy, Jr., with a prosthetic leg after cancer surgery, cries on the ice of their steep driveway after falling down. "Pretty much the end of the world," is how it feels for a 12-year old to lose a leg. He says he can't get up the hill; his father Teddy says, "I know you can do this" and they will try all day if necessary. They make it.

* The rain on the stones and pavement outside the Basilica in Boston as the funeral ended. Real weather in a true city for a man in full who has reached the end of the race in the highest esteem of his family and friends. It is good to be Irish today.

* Ethel Kennedy stopping to hug and kiss Joan Kennedy after the Mass had ended. It turns out that Joan had been present throughout these past days but had kept back.

* Two Irish operators waiting in the cemetery for the body to arrive: Vice President Joe Biden and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick in conversation near the newly dug grave, cardinal's hand on veep's shoulder--what are they talking about? The Red Sox?, Washington or Church politics?, what a darlin' man Teddy was?, and didn't Teddy, Jr. do himself right today? In a novel it might be too much, but we really are saying goodbye to the last of the four sons of Joe and Rose Kennedy today and Biden and McCarrick have nailed it-- Church and state, in the persons of two white-haired Irish guys, have come to bury a dear mutual friend.

* Teddy's letter to the Pope--hand delivered by the President of the United States, thank you very much--is read by Cardinal McCarrick. It is lovely but after a time one hears a Catholic boy explaining himself to his parish priest on report card day. (Been there, done that.)

* The glory of living in a democratic republic: the gates of Arlington open at 8:00 tomorrow morning, twelve hours after one of the greatest U. S. senators in our history is laid to rest there, and the American people can walk right up and pay their respects to him: thank you, Teddy, for being brave and out-witting the gunman, for making this a better country, and for teaching wild and imperfect people how to triumph over themselves.

* Rest now in the Lord's peace.

There Will Be Blood

The AP reports that there were at least twelve people publicly displaying guns--pistols and rifles--outside the building where Preisdent Obama was addressing the VFW today in Phoenix. At least one man's two guns were loaded. This is the second time in a week this kind of thing has happened. The first was in Portsmouth, NH where where a man had a loaded pistol strapped to his leg. Also in Portsmouth, a man snuck into the hall--eluding security--where Obama would address a meeting on health care in a few hours. This man had a knife on him and a pistol with a bullet in it in his truck.

Are some people saying in a manner that presents a clear and present danger that they wish great harm to come to the President of the U.S. Yes they are. Have they forgotten about 1963 and 1968? Perhaps they approved of those assassinations, who knows what is in their miserable minds?

The Secret Service should consider these gunmen to be making overt threats against the president and start files on them, visit them, quiz their families and friends, and watch them closely if Obama returns to their cities. One or more of these guns is going to go off and an innocent person will suffer--a local policeman, a Secret Service agent, an ordinary citizen. What shame these Obama-haters are calling down upon themselves!

Eunice

Maria Shriver said today that her mother "wore men's trousers, smoked Cuban cigars, and played tackle football." What's not to like about this lady? More than anyone else she changed--for the better--the way mentally handicapped people are seen in the world. Her work was great and she didn't misspend a moment of her 88 years. I'm sorry Eunice Kennedy Shriver has left this life.

Of Joe and Rose Kennedy's nine children only two are now left--Jean and Ted, and he was unable to attend his sister's funeral today. A page of American history is being turned on Cape Cod and it is fair to say that we won't see another family like this one again. Well done, Eunice, and all of you.

The Liar Grassley

I would like to see President Obama cut loose Sen. Grassley who has shamelessly backed Palin's lies about "death panels." So far the president seems commited to a bi-partisan approach on health care but all he gets in return are insults and recklessness. Cut the bastards loose! Sic Rahm Emanuel on them and then pass this thing with Democratic votes alone. It will lead to Democratic dominance for a generation. Mr. President, these Republican low-lifes aren't worth another minute of your time.

Required Immediately: Sane Americans

Mrs. Palin "writes" last weekend that President Obama's health reform plan calls for "death panels" to decide who lives or dies. Two days later she says civility is needed in public discourse. There can no longer be any doubt that this woman is insane or that her condition is getting worse. No doubt either that her madness is symptomatic of a large portion of the Republican Party today (a Republican senator from Georgia (!) called her comments on health care "nuts.") Ignorant people screaming at representatives and U.S. senators, calling Obama a Nazi, and provocatuers on Fox and nut-radio egging them on. What the hell is going on here?

If there is blood it will be on the hands of Limbaugh, Beck, Hannity, O'Reilly, and the Republican leaders unwilling to stand and face the lunacy they helped to grow.