Senator Edward Kennedy Dies

I was flipping through my Google Reader feeds and the news broke around me that Senator Edward Kennedy has died. From ABC News (where I saw it first, via memeorandum)

Sen. Ted Kennedy died shortly before midnight Tuesday at his home in Hyannis Port, Mass., at age 77.

The man known as the "liberal lion of the Senate" had fought a more than year-long battle with brain cancer, and according to his son had lived longer with the disease than his doctors expected him to.

"We've lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives, but the inspiration of his faith, optimism, and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever," the Kennedy family said in a statement. "He loved this country and devoted his life to serving it."

It's a strange reaction to the passing of a person I don't really know, like the passing of a favorite uncle. I've always admired Senator Kennedy. I saw him as a tireless public servant, working hard in many key legislative battles all the way back to the Civil Rights Act. He was always fighting the good fight on such issues as equal rights, education and, yes, health care legislation.

Half-Baked Political Analysis

I hate to be so cynical, but the health care debate is over and the opponents of reform won. Oh, I believe we'll eventually get something called "reform," but that it will be a watered-down piece of legislation bearing only a passing resemblance to real reform. It will probably be a boondoggle for industry; that always seems to happen when corporate interests and the public interest collide.

The president, Democrats, and those of us praying for reform lost the battle before it even began by not getting out front of the opposition in the race to reach the ill-informed. Rush, Fox News and suspiciously well-funded policy groups transmitted some misinformation that the birthers, the teabaggers and the other disaffected decided passed the "truthiness" test, and turned town hall meetings into scenes reminiscent of the Jerry Springer Show.

Real reform died a quick death as some of the right-wing themes took hold in the public consciousness. There amongst the Twinkies and the theme song to Gilligan's Island, the collective id pondered "death panels" and "rationing" and decided that they weren't sure reform was needed after all.

While the right was framing the debate, President Obama was playing it low key, almost Zen-like, preferring to pass the agenda to Democrats on the Hill. Sure, Obama had a few town halls of his own and a few interviews where he tried to set the record straight, but the damage was done.

And House and Senate Democrats set out to prove Will Rogers right when he said, "No, I'm not a member of any organized political party. I'm a Democrat."

Of course, a single-payer solution was not even considered and the public option plan melted away in favor of the co-op plan that the Republicans still won't consider. And Democrats keep trying to negotiate a bipartisan solution with Republicans who think the system is just fine the way it is...unless there might be a way to increase the corporate take. And even if the Republicans stayed out of it completely, the fractious Democrats could never be whipped to agree about much of anything.

Obama might be able to turn this thing around. He might one day unleash the resources that got him elected and awaken the public, but I'm not optimistic.

Digby hit the nail on the head...

Watching a Democratic president and a large Democratic majority unwilling to pass decent legislation in the face of the dysfunctional, impotent clownshow that currently calls itself the Republican Party is about the most depressing thing I've seen in all my years observing politics. I can't even imagine how I would feel if I were 20 years younger and a lot less cynical.

as did Krugman...

How will this all work out? I don’t know. But it’s hard to avoid the sense that a crucial opportunity is being missed, that we’re at what should be a turning point but are failing to make the turn.

Science Ponders 'Zombie Attack'

I'm glad scientists are focusing their attention where it belongs -- on the hunt for the living dead. Researchers in Canada have been studying a zombie attack and have concluded that we are doomed unless we strike the zombies hard and fast. It's a little more serious than it sounds. Professor Neil Ferguson, a UK science advisor, says the study has parallels with the spread of some infectious diseases, and adds...

"The paper considers something that many of us have worried about - particularly in our younger days - of what would be a feasible way of tackling an outbreak of a rapidly spreading zombie infection.

"My understanding of zombie biology is that if you manage to decapitate a zombie then it's dead forever. So perhaps they are being a little over-pessimistic when they conclude that zombies might take over a city in three or four days."

Sounds like a Quote of the Day, especially that last paragraph.

Weekend Assignment: Writers or Actors?

Karen's latest Weekend Assignment...

Weekend Assignment: #281: Who has a greater impact on your decision to go to a movie or watch a tv show, the actors you see on the screen, or the behind the scenes writers, producers and/or directors?
Extra Credit: Who is your favorite actor?


Aren't they both important? Doesn't one group complement the other? I'd lean toward the writers, producers and directors, but my set of favorites would be small. The actors would influence my decision, but the material, the kind of movie or show it is would influence me the most. I'd rather see Kevin Costner in Dances with Wolves than The Bodyguard.

I'm not sure about a favorite actor. I have many. Give me someone who doesn't revert to the same character in every movie they appear in. Give me someone who can appear in a wide range of movies, someone like a Gene Hackman or a Robert Duvall, comfortable in almost any role.

The Prodigal Returns

A four-month hiatus and I'm behind the wheel again. Clear the sidewalks. I'm back with fingers crossed -- my financial situation has eased somewhat but my computer is acting very buggy. Will it come back on the next time I want it to? I guess we'll find out together and if I disappear again suddenly, you'll know why.