Requiem
[The following is the transcript of Senator Edward Kennedy's speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.]
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Caroline.
My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here.
And nothing -- nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight.
I have come here tonight to stand with you to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States.
As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest days and the hardest days. Together we have known success and seen setbacks, victory and defeat.
But we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world. And I pledge to you -- I pledge to you that I will be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate when we begin the great test.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you.
For me this is a season of hope -- new hope for a justice and fair prosperity for the many, and not just for the few -- new hope.
And this is the cause of my life -- new hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east, west, young, old -- will have decent, quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.
We can meet these challenges with Barack Obama. Yes, we can, and finally, yes, we will.
Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender and group against group and straight against gay.
And Barack Obama will be a commander-in-chief who understands that young Americans in uniform must never be committed to a mistake, but always for a mission worthy of their bravery.
We are told that Barack Obama believes too much in an America of high principle and bold endeavor, but when John Kennedy called of going to the moon, he didn't say it's too far to get there. We shouldn't even try.
Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge, and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon.
Yes, we are all Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I've seen it. I've lived it. And we can do it again.
There is a new wave of change all around us, and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination -- not merely victory for our Party, but renewal for our nation.
And this November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans, so with Barack Obama and for you and for me, our country will be committed to his cause. The work begins anew. The hope rises again. And the dream lives on.
[The New York Times also has the video of Kennedy's speech, if you'd like to watch it again.]
Cross-posted at The Huffington Post
-- Chris Weigant
Democrats have always been excellent at speeches. They always know the right words to say and the right buttons to push.
This is not a slam or an attack. Eloquence has it's place and it's time and Democrats, as a rule, has always been able to hit the mark.
But, as history shows us, there comes a time and a place where words have to be converted to deeds.
This is where Democrats fall far short.
It's not enough to rally the troops. One must be able to follow thru.
Michale.....
That is a very nice way to remember Senator Kennedy...forever the fighter for justice and fairness.
The United States Senate has just become a very different place without the powerful presence of Senator Kennedy.
Politically, Senator Kennedy and I couldn't be farther apart in our views. With that said, I have always respected him as a man of conviction. He truely was the Lion and he will be missed.
Let not his death be in vain.
Teddy's death should do to health care what John's death did to Civil Rights. If it doesn't I think it is time to change my political affiliation.
I doubt we'll see any major change to DunselCare, as far as it's viability or possibility of actually making it to Obama's desk goes.
Democrats are already starting to get backlash from trying to use Kennedy's death to further their DunselCare agenda.
Plus there is still a good week or so of the "August" recess so there will be other news that will fade Kennedy's death.
Michale....
Michale there is a campaign to win and Election is at hand we could have another 145 days of Mass. 145 days of some average Joe trying to fill the Lion's shoes. A fresh new Knight to seat at the Kings table. A simple senate seat could turn into a National election at least in the publics mind. It is one thing to publicize a man's death it is totally different to carry out a dead man's wishes.