Ted (Edward) Kennedy … The Liberal Lion of the Senate has Died at the Age of 77

Ted Kennedy, the US Senator from Massachusetts has died over night after succumbing to brain cancer home in Hyannis Port, Mass at the age of 77. Kennedy had battled brain cancer for more than a year after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May 2008. The nine term Massachusetts Senator has passed away.

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.”

I think we all knew that there was not too much time left for Ted Kennedy when he could not attend the funeral of the recently passed Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

The Kennedy family has released a statement.

Being a history buff, in retrospect it is hard to believe they are all gone

As Michelle Malkin states and I agree that this is a moment to put aside political differences, “there is a time and place for political analysis and criticism. Not now”. We all know that the MSM is going to go overboard and link Kennedy’s death to the now sudden need to pass Obamacare. They have already started as some have said, let’s rename the healthcare bill in his name. Trust me, it will not be long and it has already started that the MSM and Left is using his death to benefit Obamacare. We will not stoop to that level.  Let that be a battle and a post for another day.

As stated at Town Hall, this is a moment were we use our humanity to pause and remember the life and career of Ted Kennedy. Our prayers go out to his family and may Ted rest in peace.

I have never been a fan of Ted Kennedy or of the perceived Kennedy Royal Dynasty. Having witnessed it for so many years, you either loved it or hated it. However, having family members that have battled brain cancer I can empathize with the family and put politics aside. My own person note, I can remember almost 10 years ago when John Kennedy Jr died on July 16, 1999 as I was driving on the Mass Pike when it occurred. I passed through a toll and it was closed. The green lights were on and no toll booth operators were present, just a paper sign that said “no ticket,do not pay”. I thought to myself, how am I supposed to get a ticket. The first thing that came to my mind for the State of Massachusetts to not want money from a toll road was, “What happened, a Kennedy die?” Sure enough, I would hear on the car radio that JFK, Jr died in a plane crash.

The Boston Globe probably sums up Ted Kennedy’s personal, political and life as a Kennedy the best by stating his highs and lows.

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who carried aloft the torch of a Massachusetts dynasty and a liberal ideology to the citadel of Senate power, but whose personal and political failings may have prevented him from realizing the ultimate prize of the presidency, died at his home in Hyannis Port last night after a battle with brain cancer. He was 77.

Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy dies after cancer battle

President Obama learned about Kennedy’s death at 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to a senior administration official. Obama later called Kennedy’s widow to offer condolences.

In a statement, Obama says: “An important chapter in our history has come to an end. Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time.”