Opinion: Vanity Fair Shouldn’t Dismiss RFK Jr.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The latest issue of Vanity Fair features an article called “Ted Kennedy’s Final Battle,” which is an excerpt from Ed Klein’s new book on the liberal lion. The article speculates heavily on which member of the Kennedy family will eventually pick up the torch of leadership – Patrick? Caroline? Joe? Kathleen? Christopher? – but seems to overlook the one believe to be the best qualified…Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

One of of our longtime bloggers wrote to voice her amazement at Klein/Vanity Fair’s out-of-hand dismissal of RFK Jr.’s capabilities, expressing the dismay many of Bobby’s supporters felt after reading the article. We’d like to share her Letter to the Editor with you below:

VANITY FAIR ARTICLE NEEDS CLARIFICATION

By Susanne Silverstein

 

Dear RFK Jr. News-Staffers:

It’s been a while since I’ve visited the web site but my heart still gets tugged when I read articles like this month’s Vanity Fair. 

I feel the article is totally unfair to RFK Jr. in it’s perception that he is not one of the heirs most likely to be active in this or next generation.  The article goes on to hype Joe Jr & Caroline as being the two new leaders of the Kennedy clan.  They discuss how RFK Jr. has a speech impediment that makes running for office a serious challenge.  

I beg to disagree!  He has been out there speaking in public for years, never letting his spasmodic dysphonia stop him from getting the message across. He hosts a weekly radio show on Air America and does numerous television interviews. In my opinion, he’s a better speaker than all the other Kennedy kids put together! 

I have also been aware that he has had to work with a speech impediment, but Bobby is nothing less than an electrifying speaker.  It is a shame what his family is pulling.  They are only hurting our country by their selfish short-sighted behavior.  All of us face some dysfunction in our immediate families and I just chalk this nonsense up to petty jealousies.

 I hope the members here can convince him that he is beloved by millions.  That there are millions more longing to hear him speak; and that he will be able to sort out his family’s nonsense for what it is.  Just a histronic reaction to the sad scenario of Ted Kennedy’s illness and probable prognosis. 

Bobby Jr; has accomplished so much more in public life than most of his cousins, brothers and sisters put together!  I once did admire Joe Kennedy’s prowess, but he seems to be truly happier working on his energy company.  He has kept a low profile until now. 

We need to get more letters over to Vanity Fair to set them straight about Bobby Jr’s real promise and qualifications as a real leader for the next generation of Americans! 

 

Thank you,

Susanne

RFK Jr. Pushes Caroline for NY Senate Seat

CAROLINE, PATTERSON STILL UNSURE

The odds of Gov. Paterson choosing Caroline Kennedy to replace soon-to-be Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in the US Senate are no better than 20-1, a source close to the governor said today.

The source was responding to news that Sen. Ted Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other family members have been pushing hard for Caroline to replace Clinton.

“It looks to me like [Caroline cousin’s] Bobby Kennedy may be trying to push Caroline more than Caroline is pushing herself,” a Paterson administration source told The Post.

Paterson, who confirmed Friday that he had discussed the Senate job with Caroline, was described as “liking and respecting” the last remaining child of former President John F. Kennedy, as well as seeing her as an “enormous potential drawer” of contributions to his own planned campaign for governor in 2010.

But the governor, who has the sole authority to name a new senator, was also said to be concerned that Kennedy, whom friends call “quiet and non-assertive,” doesn’t have the personality to be an aggressive fighter in the Senate on behalf of the state’s increasingly desperate need for federal financial help.

“The bottom-line question is: Can Caroline Kennedy by the tough, hard, calculating, aggressive, articulate and, yes, obnoxious type of senator New York needs and expects?” said a second administration insider.

Among others candidates said to be more likely chosen by the governor are Attorney General Andrew Cuomo or either US Rep. Carolyn Maloney of Manhattan or Kirsten Gillibrand of Hudson, a favorite of the state’s senior senator, Charles Schumer.

Time Warner Chairman Richard Parsons, once an aide to former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller and whose on-again off-again political ambitions have led him to be mentioned in recent years as a possible candidate for mayor, was also mentioned as a possible “long shot.”

Administration insiders insist that Paterson is many weeks away from making a decision, since Sen. Clinton says she won’t resign until confirmed to the new office, which can’t happen until President-elect Barack Obama is sworn in Jan. 20.

A Democratic source said Clinton would be dead-set against seeing Caroline take her seat.

“Why would she want to see that seat go to someone who essentially double-crossed her?” the source said, noting the Kennedy family’s endorsement of Obama in the primary. “It’s a nightmare scenario for her.”

Story from the NY Post.

RFK Jr. Out of the Running for Cabinet, Senate

STRIKE TWO!

Looks like Mr. Kennedy won’t be going to Washington

Less than a month ago, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told the Huffington Post in response to rumors that he might be tapped to run President Obama’s EPA or Interior Department, “if asked, I will serve.”

Well, it seems that something has changed since then. Either he wasn’t asked, or was asked and after weighing the various options and potential consequences, decided that a cabinet post is not in his future.

Today, the NY Daily News is reporting that if asked, Kennedy most likely will not serve after all:

– Robert Kennedy Jr. sounds like he’s definitely taking himself out of the running for head of the Environmental Protection Agency. “I have six mouths to feed,” the eco-crusader told us at Monday’s Waterkeeper Alliance/Conde Nast soiree, where James Blunt performed. “But I’d love to be involved with anything the Obama administration does.”

Kennedy told the crowd he’s now “driving a Lexus hybrid. My daughters said it’s the first grown-up car I’ve had.”

So that, apparently, settles that! Looks like Mr. Kennedy won’t be going to Washington this year. Or next.

But what about that senate seat? Ever since President-elect Obama announced Hillary Clinton as his nominee for secretary of state on Monday, speculation has run rampant as to whether or not Kennedy would be appointed to fill out her term of office in the senate. But no, it appears he doesn’t want that gig, either. 

JUST SAY NO

Yesterday, RFK Jr. telephoned New York governor David Paterson and asked that his name be removed from the list of potential appointees. Considering that he has often expressed a strong desire to reclaim the senate seat once held by his father, the reaction to Kennedy’s announcement has been a mix of surprise and disappointment among his many faithful supporters.

The push for Kennedy as Clinton’s replacement was strong; there was even a short-lived Facebook group organized to promote RFK Jr. for the Senate (Kennedy was the only contender to have such support).

But Kennedy isn’t alone in his mad dash for the sidelines. He’s got good company on the bench. On Monday, Nita Lowey (D-Westchester), once considered a prime choice, withdrew her name from consideration. And on Tuesday, former president Bill Clinton announced that he was “not interested” in occupying his wife’s senate seat when/if it becomes available. So that’s three down, hundreds more hopefuls to go.

New York governor Paterson says he will wait to name Clinton’s replacement until after she leaves the U.S. senate, which would be next January if Hillary’s cabinet nomination is confirmed by her senate colleagues. 

Kennedy supporters shouldn’t despair too much. There’s still Caroline! While the martyred president’s daughter has always wisely eschewed a political career, the possibility that she might be under serious consideration to fill Clinton’s senate seat appears to be more than just talk. Even RFK Jr. sang her praises yesterday (while at the same time, withdrawing his own name) as a worthy contender for the job.

Earlier, it was suggested that Caroline might be named as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, but that idea was squelched a few days ago when Obama announced his foreign policy advisor, Susan Rice, as the nominee.

So that frees up Caroline Kennedy to do something else. Her appointment to Clinton’s senate seat would certainly present an interesting dynamic and plenty of drama. After many years of having a close relationship with the Clintons, Caroline shocked the world when she switched teams to support Senator Obama during the 2008 primary election season. I rather doubt that has been forgotten by the Clintons.

Kennedy Says “No Thanks” to Hillary’s Senate Seat

YES, NO, MAYBE? UH…NO.

* Just one day after President-elect Obama nominated Hillary Clinton to be his secretary of state, RFK Jr. put the quick kabosh on speculation that he may wish to reclaim his late father’s former U.S. senate seat. To all of our friends in New York State, we’re sorry to report that there won’t be another Senator Kennedy representing you anytime soon. Or perhaps ever.

From the New York Times today:

Another name can now be added to the list of public figures withdrawing their names from consideration as possible successors to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental lawyer and son of the onetime senator from New York, said this morning that he had telephoned Gov. David A. Paterson and explained that he was not interested being appointed to the United States Senate.

Many had hoped RFK would run in 2000, but he ultimately bowed out

According to people who know the governor’s preferences, Mr. Paterson has been interested in a candidate who is from upstate, or a woman or someone who is Hispanic. But he has also been interested in appointing someone with the kind of marquee name that would generate enthusiasm — and campaign contributions — in defending the seat in a 2010 campaign.

And Mr. Kennedy, whose father served in the Senate from New York from 1965 until his assassination in as a presidential candidate in 1968, was one of those in that latter category. He has been a prominent environmental lawyer in the state, having written two books and several articles on environmental issues. That list of potential appointees also includes Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of President John F. Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy said he had concluded that a successful campaign would have left him too little time with his wife and six children and he was unwilling to make that sacrifice. He said he had spent time in the last few weeks speaking with other members of the Kennedy family before making his decision.

“I have spent lots of time thinking about it,” Mr. Kennedy said in an interview. “I have spent time talking with my uncle, by brothers, my cousin and, of course, my wife. And I think I’m in a good position right now doing what I’m doing.”

Mr. Kennedy is the third of the senator’s 11 children and a nephew of President Kennedy and of Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts. He is the host of a program on the Air America radio network and served as senior lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit organization that works to expand environmental laws. Earlier in his career, he was an assistant district attorney in Manhattan.

He is the second public figure in the last two days to turn down the idea of serving in the Senate. On Monday, United Sates Representative Nita M. Lowey, a Democrat who represents Westchester County, said through a spokesman that she did not want to be considered for the job, which will become vacant if Mrs. Clinton is confirmed by the Senate.

“Right now, I’m trying to help move the country in the transition from oil dependency to renewables,” Mr. Kennedy said. “I really enjoy my advocacy work. I am doing things right now that I truly enjoy and that I feel are really making a difference.”

Mr. Kennedy has long had an interest in politics and has at times hinted that he might be interested in running for public office. Last year, he indicated in a magazine interview that he might consider running for the Senate seat from New York if Mrs. Clinton were to win the presidential election.

He was also a strong supporter of Mrs. Clinton’s campaign, although his uncle Edward and his cousin Caroline were strong supporters of Barack Obama.

A few years ago, Mr. Kennedy considered running for attorney general in New York, but he decided against it for similar reasons. The winner of that 2006 race was Andrew M. Cuomo, who was once married to Mr. Kennedy’s sister Kerry.

When asked whether his cousin Caroline might be interested in the job, Mr. Kennedy said: “Caroline Kennedy would be the perfect choice if she would agree to it.” They have not spoken about it, he said, and he does not know what she would do.

He said that his uncle, Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts, had advised him that the right time for him to seek public office might come one day.

“He always advises me to spend time with my family,” Mr. Kennedy said. “He always tells me that, it often seems like things won’t open up. But yet they do. I hope one day that I’ll be able to do public service and government. It might happen one day.”

NYC’s Birthday Gift to Robert F. Kennedy

IT’S OFFICIAL: TRIBOROUGH BRIDGE RENAMED FOR RFK

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks at the dedication ceremony for the new RFK Bridge, Nov. 19th, 2008

The Triborough Bridge — Robert Moses’s three spans connecting Manhattan, Queens and the Bronx — was formally renamed on Wednesday for Robert F. Kennedy, just one day before what would have been his 83rd birthday. (Kennedy was born November 20, 1925)

At a ceremony in Astoria, Queens, Gov. David A. Paterson, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, former President Bill Clinton, other dignitaries and members of the Kennedy family paid tribute to Kennedy, the New York senator and United States attorney general in his brother’s administration who was assassinated 40 years ago [pdf] during his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The move to rename the bridge had the support of the Kennedy family and was championed by Mr. Paterson’s predecessor, Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who resigned in March. But doubts remain about whether drivers will use the new name, and some have questioned the use of $4 million in state funds to make new signs at a time when New York faces steep deficits. (Just check out some of the comments posted by irate New Yorkers on the Times story page here. Obviously, this symbolic gesture isn’t setting well with everyone.)

Councilman Peter F. Vallone Jr., who represents Astoria, said in a statement on Wednesday:

Robert Kennedy was a great man, but this isn’t the time. While one agency that gets money from the state is raising fares and cutting service to the neighborhood at the foot of the bridge, another has somehow found a way to spend millions of dollars on changing the signage of it.

None of that criticism, however, was evident at the ceremony itself, which was attended by members of the Kennedy family.

The Kennedys and their friends boarded buses to the event outside the Waldorf-Astoria on Wednesday morning. The caravan proceeded with a police escort to the bridge.

Upon arrival, family members were given gold apple pins for their lapels to distinguish them from other guests. Among those in attendance were William J. vanden Heuvel, who was an aide to Kennedy at the Justice Department, Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, former Mayors Edward I. Koch and David N. Dinkins and Robert M. Morgenthau, the Manhattan district attorney who was one of Kennedy’s boyhood friends.

Ethel Kennedy, seated in the front row next to Mayor Bloomberg, stepped to the podium to receive the signed bill renaming the bridge from Gov. David A. Paterson. She also helped unveil the new green road sign, designating the bridge, at the end of the ceremony.

During his remarks, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made a point of naming family members on the stage who had not yet been mentioned — “so I don’t get into trouble later” — among them Max Kennedy, Rory Kennedy, Joseph P. Kennedy II, Caroline Kennedy and Jean Kennedy Smith.

Mr. Clinton, in his remarks, made one noteworthy mistake: He discussed the importance of the bridge in linking Harlem, Queens and the Bronx — where Kennedy had done important work in “Bed-Stuy.” Mr. Clinton — who prides himself on being an adopted New Yorker with an office in Harlem and a wife who represents the state in the United States Senate — should probably know that Bedford-Stuyvesant is actually in Brooklyn.

The Triborough Bridge has been renamed for Senator Robert F. Kennedy. (Photo: John F. Kennedy Library)

Mr. Paterson, who signed the bill renaming the bridge over the summer, called the renaming “a fitting tribute to the man and his legacy.” He added, “Robert F. Kennedy was a champion of social justice and human rights and his spirit is kept alive by his family’s continued commitment to those causes.”

Mr. Bloomberg cited Robert Caro, Moses’s biographer, and Jack Newfield, the journalist, and mentioned that Tony Bennett, the singer, helped entertain the gathering when Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia dedicated the Triborough Bridge in 1936. Mr. Bloomberg added:

I think it’s only fitting that the name of such an incredible bridge reflect both the grandeur of its scale and the significance of its purpose.

Robert F. Kennedy is a perfect match in both regards. He climbed mountains — literally. In fact, there’s one in Canada named for him. But he also scaled plenty of mountains in his political career, cracking down on organized crime, helping his brother resolve the Cuban Missile Crisis, and fighting for equal opportunity for all Americans — from Bed-Stuy to Birmingham.

As United States attorney general, a U.S. senator from New York, and later, as a candidate for president, Robert F. Kennedy thought on a grand scale and achieved what many thought impossible.

He stood at the summit and saw the true soul of America. And like the great bridge that stretches above us, he tied us together: people of every color, every class, every creed. He united us — as New Yorkers and Americans — in the common cause of social justice. He devoted his life to the belief that America should be a place where any child — regardless of race or religion — has an equal shot at realizing the American dream of getting a good education, and of being elected to our nation’s highest office. He knew that day would come. And it has.

(Wikipedia has already responded, redirecting its Internet visitors to the old Triborough Bridge page to the new page for the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge.)

After the ceremony, streets were closed to allow the convoy of Kennedy relatives to return to Manhattan. A party to celebrate the renaming is scheduled for Wednesday night at Chelsea Piers.

 

Story from the New York Times.

Obama: A Cabinet Full of Kennedys?

FROM THE RUMOR MILL

It appears that Senator Barack Obama is already thinking forward to January, and has some very firm ideas in mind as to who will serve in his administration.

According to Politico.com, a couple of Kennedys are on his short list, and RFK Jr. is one of them.

Citing “sources close to Barack Obama,” the article says that Caroline Kennedy may be tapped as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is being given “serious consideration” for Secretary of the Interior.

The list of other potential cabinet officials is long and fascinating, indeed – how about Sen. Gary Hart as Homeland Security Director? Bill Richardson as Secretary of State? Al Gore as “Ambassador at large on climate change” (hey, is that a real job?) and even a few Republicans as well, most notably California Governor (and Kennedy cousin-by-marriage) Arnold Schwarzenegger as Secretary of Energy.

If Obama wins the presidency next Tuesday, it looks very possible that for the Kennedys, an Obama administration could become a “family affair.” This lineup would constitute the greatest number of Kennedys serving in any U.S. cabinet in the nation’s history – and we can’t help but say that’s a good thing.

“The Dream Lives On” – Ted Kennedy at the DNC

* An amazing moment like this speaks for itself.

God bless you, Teddy.

(VIDEO)

Obama/Kennedy `08? Michael Moore Thinks So

OBAMA/KENNEDY IN `08?

(NO, NOT THAT KENNEDY)

Michael Moore published an open letter across the web yesterday in anticipation of Obama’s V.P. announcement, which is expected any minute now…

Moore’s letter makes an enthusiastic plea for an Obama/Kennedy ticket in 2008, but the Kennedy on Moore’s mind is Caroline, not RFK Jr.

Considering that Caroline has never expressed the slightest interest in seeking any political office, we think that unfortunately, chances of her joining the ticket are slim to none.

However, we would respectfully like to direct Mr. Moore’s attention to another member of the Kennedy family who we think would fill the bill quite nicely indeed…and who is definitely willing to serve his country if called.

Here is Michael Moore’s letter in its’ entirety. Your thoughts?

AN OPEN LETTER TO CAROLINE KENNEDY

From Michael Moore

Dear Caroline,

We’ve never met, so I hope you don’t find this letter too presumptuous or inappropriate. As its contents involve the public’s business, I am sending this to you via the public on the Internet. I knew your brother John. He was a great guy, and I know he would’ve had a ball during this thrilling and historic election year. We all miss him dearly.

Barack Obama selected you to head up his search for a vice presidential candidate. It appears we may be just days (hours?) away from learning who that choice will be.

The media is reporting that Senator Obama has narrowed his alternatives to three men: Joe Biden, Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine. They’re all decent fellows, but they are far from the core of what the Obama campaign has been about: Change. Real change. Out with the old. And don’t invade countries that pose no threat to us.

Senators Biden and Bayh voted for that invasion and that war, the war Barack ran against, the war Barack reminded us was the big difference between him and Senator Clinton because she voted for the war and he spoke out against it while running for Senate (a brave and bold thing to do back in 2002).

For Obama to place either of these senators on the ticket would be a huge blow to the millions that chose him in the primaries over Hillary. He will undercut one of the strongest advantages he has over the Hundred-Year War senator, Mr. McCain. By anointing a VP who did what McCain did in throwing us into this war, Mr. Obama will lose the moral high ground in the debates.

As for Governor Kaine of Virginia, his big problem is, well, Obama’s big problem — who is he? The toughest thing Barack has had to overcome — and it will continue to be his biggest obstacle — is that too many of the voters simply don’t know him well enough to vote for him. The fact that Obama is new to the scene is both one of his most attractive qualities AND his biggest drawback. Too many Americans, who on the surface seem to like Barack Obama, just don’t feel comfortable voting for someone who hasn’t been on the national scene very long. It’s a comfort level thing, and it may be just what keeps Obama from winning in November (”I’d rather vote for the devil I know than the devil I don’t know”).

What Obama needs is a vice presidential candidate who is NOT a professional politician, but someone who is well-known and beloved by people across the political spectrum; someone who, like Obama, spoke out against the war; someone who has a good and generous heart, who will be cheered by the rest of the world; someone whom we’ve known and loved and admired all our lives and who has dedicated her life to public service and to the greater good for all.

That person, Caroline, is you.

I cannot think of a more winning ticket than one that reads: “OBAMA-KENNEDY.”

Caroline, I know that nominating yourself is the furthest idea from your mind and not consistent with who you are, but there would be some poetic justice to such an action. Just think, eight years after the last head of a vice presidential search team looked far and wide for a VP — and then picked himself (a move topped only by his hubris to then lead the country to near ruin while in office) — along comes Caroline Kennedy to return the favor with far different results, a vice president who helps restore America to its goodness and greatness.

Caroline, you are one of the most beloved and respected women in this country, and you have been so admired throughout your life. You chose a life outside of politics, to work for charities and schools, to write and lecture, to raise a wonderful family. But you did not choose to lead a private life. You have traveled the world and met with its leaders, giving you much experience on the world stage, a stage you have been on since you were a little girl.

The nation has, remarkably (considering our fascination with celebrity), left you alone and let you live your life in peace. (It’s like, long ago, we all collectively agreed that, with her father tragically gone, a man who died because he wanted to serve his country, we would look out for her, we would wish for her to be happy and well, and we would have her back. But we would let her be.)

Now, I am breaking this unwritten code and asking you to come forward and help us in our hour of need. So many families are hurting, losing their homes, going bankrupt with health care bills, seeing their public schools in shambles and living with this war without end. This is a historic year for women, from Hillary’s candidacy to the numerous women running for the House and Senate. This is the year that a woman should be on the Democratic ticket. This is the year that both names on that ticket should be people OUTSIDE the party machine. This is the year millions of independents and, yes, millions of Republicans are looking for something new and fresh and bold (and you are the Kennedy Republicans would vote for!).

This is the moment, Caroline. Seize it! And Barack, if you’re reading this, you probably know that she is far too humble and decent to nominate herself. So step up and surprise us again. Step up and be different than every politician we have witnessed in our lifetime. Keep the passion burning amongst the young people and others who have been energized by your unexpected, unpredicted, against-all-odds candidacy that has ignited and inspired a nation. Do it for all those reasons. Make Caroline Kennedy your VP. “Obama-Kennedy.” Wow, does that sound so cool.

Caroline, thanks for letting me intrude on your life. How wonderful it will be to have a vice president who will respect the Constitution, who will support (instead of control) her president, who will never let her staff out a CIA agent, and who will never tell her country that she is “currently residing in an undisclosed location.”

Say it one more time: “OBAMA-KENNEDY.” A move like that might send a message to the country that the Democrats would actually like to win an election for once.

Yours,
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com

 

 

Kennedy for Obama’s VP?

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

OBAMA/KENNEDY?

Well, at least a lot of folks out there seem to think so. In fact, one dedicated RFK Jr. fan is encouraging like-minded Democrats to bombard Senator Obama with letters/emails asking him to consider Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his Vice Presidential running mate in 2008.

Of course, we think that’s an excellent idea – and with Bobby’s cousin Caroline Kennedy on Obama’s VP selection committee, it might even be a possibility, however remote at this point. As a longtime Clinton supporter, Kennedy would certainly bring a lot of Hillary voters to the ticket…uh, not to mention all those Kennedy voters!

Here’s a letter we got this week from an RFK Jr. fan who found it on Pearl Jam’s message board and wanted us to pass it on to our readers. If you support this idea, now is the time to take action!

The Democratic party convention starts next month in Denver, so write or call Senator Obama today! Details on how to do it are below:

RFK JR. FOR OBAMA’S VICE PRESIDENT

Hi guys,

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while, but I feel this topic is extremely urgent….

Senator Obama is about to choose a running mate soon. Last I heard it was possibly a Gov. Tim Cain. Personally, I have never heard of him.

It suddenly occured to me that Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (RFK, JR.) would be the perfect running mate. He is an activist, and environmentalist, Time magazine voted him as one of “Heroes for the Planet” …a Pearl Jam fans’ dream candidate!

Please check out his website. http://robertf.kennedyjr.com/about.html

And a website run by some of Mr. Kennedy’s fans and friends who hope to draft him for President:
http://RFKin2008.com

Last night, I wrote to Senator Obama recommending he choose Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. for his running mate for Vice President.

Today, I wrote Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and FW’d the same letter I wrote Senator Obama….and asking him if it was okay to throw his name in.

Today, I called Obama Campaign Headquarters and actually talked to a real live person! The HQ phone number is 1-866-675-2008…Press “6” to talk to some very nice people.

The lady I spoke with was very surprised at my choice, and also very excited. RFK, Jr’s cousin Caroline Kennedy, is working on the Obama Campaign.

She quickly got my recommendation off to her supervisor, who wrote back almost immediately.

Robert F. Kennedy, Jr, is the son of Robert F. Kennedy, who ran for President in 1968 and Nephew of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Ted Kennedy.

RFK, Jr also hosts a radio show on Air America “Ring of Fire” Sundays.

http://ringoffireradio.com

Then, PLEASE call Obama Headquarters and overwhelm them with phone calls!

This is the first time I have ever got involved in politics….but I feel this strongly about our future.

Watch Emileo Estevez’s movie “Bobby” to find out more about his father.

Peace,
Lona

Teddy’s Return to the Senate Elicits Cheers and Tears

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., followed by Caroline Kennedy, enters the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, July 9, 2008. (AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke)

KENNEDY RETURNS TO THE SENATE; GETS STANDING OVATION

Senator Edward Kennedy got a standing ovation from his colleagues as he returned to the US Senate Wednesday for the first time since being diagnosed with brain cancer.

The Democratic icon showed up for a vote on the Medicare state health program for seniors during a break from radiation and chemotherapy treatment, after undergoing surgery on a brain tumor last month.

He walked slowly from a car into the US Capitol building, then was greeted with a standing ovation from Republican and Democratic senators standing in the well of the Senate as he cast his vote.

“Aye,” the 76-year-old Kennedy said in a loud voice, smiling broadly and making a thumbs-up gesture as he registered his vote.

Spectators in the galleries that overhang the chamber burst into cheers — a violation of decorum that drew no complaints.

Kennedy made his way into the Senate on his own power, appearing little the worse for his illness. A patch of scalp was clearly visible through his familiar white hair, although it was not clear whether that was a result of surgery he underwent or the effects of chemotherapy or radiation that are part of his treatment.

He walked into chamber accompanied by Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, his party’s presidential nominee-in-waiting, as well as fellow Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry and Kennedy’s son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island.

KEEPING A PROMISE

“I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens and that’s to protect Medicare,” Kennedy, the patriach of the Kennedy political dynasty, said in a written statement.

“Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn’t going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference.”

Seated in the Senate gallery were Kennedy’s wife, Vicki, and Caroline, his niece. As the tourists and senators alike rose in a standing ovation, Vicki Kennedy wiped away tears.

So did many of Kennedy’s colleagues and several Senate clerks.

Kennedy’s dramatic return gave Democrats the impetus they needed to free Medicare legislation from gridlock. It had received 59 votes on an earlier test, one short of the 60 needed to advance. Kennedy made 60, and when Republicans saw the outcome was sealed, several of them joined Democrats to pad the margin.

Obviously, Teddy’s vote did make the difference today. After taking care of Senate business, Kennedy flew back to Boston for his scheduled weekly cancer treatment.

Doctors at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina said last month that Kennedy’s brain surgery had been successful and was a first step in a treatment plan.

Kennedy was rushed to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston on May 17 after suffering a seizure at his family’s compound in Hyannis Port on Cape Cod.

Following results from a biopsy, doctors diagnosed Kennedy with a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe, an area of the brain which controls speech, among other functions.

THE PROGNOSIS

Doctors have not publicly offered a prognosis for Kennedy. But the US National Cancer Institute has said the outlook for such a diagnosis is poor, with average life expectancy depending on the stage of the tumor, from a few months to up to five years.

About 13,000 Americans die annually from malignant tumors in the brain or spinal cord, comprising 2.2 percent of all cancer-linked deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. Survival has improved over the past decade due in part to new drugs.

The tumor kills 50 percent of patients during the first year after diagnosis and few live beyond three years. Without treatment the tumor grows back between two to three months after being surgically removed.

The brain tumor diagnosis sent shockwaves through the US Congress, where Kennedy has been a dominant figure for nearly half a century and is a champion of causes such as health care, education, workers rights and immigration reform.

Kennedy’s eighth six-year term in the Senate expires in 2012. The Senator’s nephew, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has been mentioned in recent weeks as one family member who might eventually pick up the liberal lion’s torch in the U.S. Senate.

 

AFP and the Associated Press contributed to this report.