What Senator Edward Kennedy meant to me.

For me, Edward Kennedy has been the face of the Democratic Party my entire life. I was born in the early 70's, so I missed out on his brothers and LBJ. My first political memories are vague ones of Carter, but Kennedy stands out in my mind clearly. My dad was a lifelong Democrat who really disliked Carter, but he loved the Kennedy's. Coming of age during the dark years of Reagan and Bush, Ted Kennedy was the beacon. His speeches inspired me in my teens as no one else. I will always see him as a link between my generation and the years before I was born. He was part of that great family and integral to the civil rights and social advances of the 60's, while also having a huge impact on my own times. This is a great loss for me. I feel like a part of my childhood has been lost.

Just my take, it is hard to put these feelings into words.

The torch has been passed to our generation... Nice post VMI Dem :)

My mom always made me pay attention to Ted Kennedy from my early teens to now - he always roared for those us that were ignored and were not heard. I sometimes envied his constituents in Massachusetts because I wished we had strong Democrats supporting us in the US Senate from North Carolina. When I think of Ted, I always thought of how he roared and the name "Lion" is perfect for him. I woke up this morning to get ready for work and that is when I heard the news that Ted had passed my heart sunk. He will be truly missed... I remember a year ago yesterday jumping up and down in front of my TV while watching the Democratic National Convention from Denver at the sight of Ted coming to the podium. I knew for sure that he would not miss this moment to speak to us and I took so many lessons from his life. I remember hearing a story about the week after he first had treatment for his brain cancer how all he cared about was sailing his boat during a race that weekend. When I heard that story I told myself that is how I have to live my life: whatever happens you have to keep on sailing - through storm and sunshine, keep on SAILING. I am going to have a drink for Ted later this evening. I love politics = I grew up in a place where being a young black girl who loved politics was sometime frowned upon but always in the back of mind I am pretty sure that Ted would have listened to me when nobody else did. The torch is passed on to us now and we have to do something good with it.

Thanks TED!!!!!!!

Ever since I was young, mostly because of my parents, I learned to love the Kennedy family. Since JFK died, every single Kennedy at some point honorably served his country to live up to JFK's legacy. Washington could always use a Kennedy serving within it's city walls. Any Kennedy, simply because of their name, belongs in Washington!
We'll miss you, Ted; God Bless!