Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy dead at 77

[Jahfin]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/26/obit.ted.kennedy/

[ZPN]

How terribly sad. He was such a strong supporter of health care reform-what a shame he didn't live to see reform pass and be implemented. He was a great Senator-a true voice for the poor and working class. He handled his illness with such dignity and courage. He would have made a great president. My sympathies to the Kennedy family. I listen to his nephew (Robert Kennedy Jr) on the radio when I get the chance. I'm sure Senator Kennedy's death will get only a fraction of the coverage Michael Jackson's has gotten. That's shameful. I don't know if people really are reunited with their loved ones after they die, but I hope so. If we are, then the silver lining to Kennedy's death is that he can be with his brothers now. Earlier tonight MSNBC advertised a program about the Kennedy brothers that was supposed to air this Thursday evening (7PM, ET). Perhaps they will air the program as planned, or change it a bit, now that Ted has died.

[Electrophile]

Took one post for someone to say something shitty. How embarrassing.

At least his pain and suffering is over and he was surrounded by friends and family. My thoughts and prayers are with the family - Jean Kennedy Smith is the only sibling still alive.

[Electrophile]

Jack and Bobby were more the Sixties idealism, not Ted. Ted's work and what he stood for were more in the last 20-30 years.

[Deborah J]

This is very, very sad, he was a leader who did represent the people. This family has seen so much death. I for one will miss his voice....and yes, it would have been nice if he would have lived long enough to see heathcare change in this country as he tried to do this 40 years ago.

May he rest in peace.

[Mary Hartman]

Best regards to family, friends and political pals

An icon and a leader has passed.

[Pb Derigable]

Ill cover for you Steve Jones.

It's sad to see someone who was loved by so many to die, but if we where to listen to Sen. Kennedy and enact his goal in life, Universal Health Care, Sen. Kennedy would've died long time ago.

Atleast the myth that was the "Kennedy's" and "The Lion of the Senate", can be finally put the rest and we can concentrate more on the people who actually have done good in their life, and not those who covered up the death of one Mary Jo Kopechne.

Yes, I know it was hard to ride the Kennedy name for the last 30 or more years, and to get away with everything from being drunk 96% of the time, to the numerous affairs that have been reported over the years, but aleast he did it like a Kennedy, with no regard for anyone else's feelings.

[ZeppFanForever]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/26/obit.ted.kennedy/

How's it going "Jahfin" as well as our fellow die hard hard core ZEPPELIN fanatics? I hope that the week is treating all of you well. WOW "Jahfin," I'm sure glad that you posted this thread, this is another sad day this year. I swear, more famous people have died this year ALONE than any other year in the history of mankind. Now its Ted Kennedy, what more can the Kennedy family lose? There is a saying that the Kennedy family was cursed, I'm very inclined to believe that considering what the Kennedy family has lost through the years. I still can't believe that John F. Kennedy, Jr. is gone, he was only a year older than I am and was a great man. It seems that Caroline and RFK's son are the only living Kennedy's left if I'm not mistaken. What a sad day indeed! ROCK ON!

[Bong-Man]

RIP Ted

and Mary Jo Kopechne too.

[ro_a]

Here are things to know about the draft Kennedy-Dodd health bill released in June 2009:

The Kennedy-Dodd bill would create an individual mandate requiring you to buy a "qualified" health insurance plan, as defined by the government. If you don't have "qualified" health insurance for a given month, you will pay a new Federal tax. Incredibly, the amount and structure of this new tax is left to the discretion of the Secretaries of Treasury and Health and Human Services (HHS), whose only guidance is "to establish the minimum practicable amount that can accomplish the goal of enhancing participation in qualifying coverage (as so defined)." The new Medical Advisory Council (see #3D) could exempt classes of people from this new tax. To avoid this tax, you would have to report your health insurance information for each month of the prior year to the Secretary of HHS, along with "any such other information as the Secretary may prescribe."

The bill would also create an employer mandate. Employers would have to offer insurance to their employees. Employers would have to pay at least a certain percentage (TBD) of the premium, and at least a certain dollar amount (TBD). Any employer that did not would pay a new tax. Again, the amount and structure of the tax is left to the discretion of the Secretaries of Treasury and HHS. Small employers (TBD) would be exempt.

In the Kennedy-Dodd bill, the government would define a qualified plan: All health insurance would be required to have guaranteed issue and renewal, modified community rating, no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, no lifetime or annual limits on benefits, and family policies would have to cover "children" up to age 26.

A qualified plan would have to meet one of three levels of standardized cost-sharing defined by the government, "gold, silver, and bronze." Details TBD.

Plans would be required to cover a list of preventive services approved by the Federal government.

A qualified plan would have to cover "essential health benefits," as defined by a new Medical Advisory Council (MAC), appointed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The MAC would determine what items and services are "essential benefits." The MAC would have to include items and services in at least the following categories: ambulatory patient services, emergency services, hospitalization, maternity and new born care, medical and surgical, mental health, prescription drugs, rehab and lab services, preventive/wellness services, pediatric services, and anything else the MAC thought appropriate.

The MAC would also define what "affordable and available coverage" is for different income levels, affecting who has to pay the tax if they don't buy health insurance. The MAC's rules would go into effect unless Congress passed a joint resolution (under a fast-track process) to turn them off.

Health insurance plans could not charge higher premiums for risky behaviors: "Such rate shall not vary by health status-related factors, … or any other factor not described in paragraph (1)." Smokers, drinkers, drug users, and those in terrible physical shape would all have their premiums subsidized by the healthy.

Guaranteed issue and renewal combined with modified community rating would dramatically increase premiums for the overwhelming majority of those Americans who now have private health insurance. New Jersey is the best example of health insurance mandates gone wild. In the name of protecting their citizens, premiums are extremely high to cover the cross-subsidization of those who are uninsurable.

The bill would expand Medicaid to cover everyone up to 150% of poverty, with the Federal government paying all incremental costs (no State share). This means adding childless adults with income below 150% of the poverty line.

People from 150% of poverty up to 500% (!!) would get their health insurance subsidized (on a sliding scale). If this were in effect in 2009, a family of four with income of $110,000 would get a small subsidy. The bill does not indicate the source of funds to finance these subsidies.

People in high cost areas (e.g., New York City, Boston, South Florida, Chicago, Los Angeles) would get much bigger subsidies than those in low cost areas (e.g., much of the rest of the country, especially in rural areas). The subsidies are calculated as a percentage of the "reference premium," which is determined based on the cost of plans sold in that particular geographic area

There would be a "public plan option" of health insurance offered by the federal government. In this new government health plan, the federal government would pay health care providers Medicare rates + 10%. The +10% is clearly intended to attract short-term legislative support from medical providers. I hope they are not so naive that they think that differential would last.

Group health plans with 250 or fewer members would be prohibited from self-insuring. ERISA would only be for big businesses.

States would have to set up "gateways" (health insurance exchanges) to market only qualified health insurance plans. If they don't, the Feds will set up a gateway for them.

Health insurance plans in existence before the law would not have to meet the new insurance standards. This creates a weird bifurcated system and means you would (probably) be subject to a different set of rules when you change jobs.

The bill does not specify what spending will be cut or what taxes will be raised to pay for the increased spending. That is presumably for the Finance Committee to determine, since it's their jurisdiction.

The bill defines an "eligible individual" as "a citizen or national of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence or an alien lawfully present in the United States."

The bill would create a new pot of money for state gateways to pay "navigators" to educate people about the new bill, distribute information about health plans, and help people enroll. Navigators receiving federal funds "may include … unions, …"

This would have severe effects on the more than 100 million Americans who have private health insurance today:

• The government would mandate not only that you must buy health insurance, but what health insurance counts as "qualifying."
• Health insurance premiums would rise as a result of the law, meaning lower wages.
• A government-appointed board would determine what items and services are "essential benefits" that your qualifying plan must cover.
• You would find a tremendous new disincentive to switch jobs, because your new health insurance may be subject to the new rules and would therefore be significantly more expensive.
• Those who keep themselves healthy would be subsidizing premiums for those with risky or unhealthy behaviors.
• Far more than half of all Americans would be eligible for subsidies, but we have not yet been told who would pay the bill.
• The Secretaries of Treasury and HHS would have unlimited discretion to impose new taxes on individuals and employers who do not comply with the new mandates.
• The Secretary of HHS could mandate that you provide him or her with "any such other information as [he/she] may prescribe."

Fox news correspondent Steve A!@#$%@ Jones forgot to name his sources.

[ro_a]

RIP Senator Kennedy, I'm glad I never missed an opportunity to vote for you, from 1992 until I left Boston in 2005.

[ninelives]

Wanna bet? This is going to be spun into a requiem for sixties idealism. No point turning a television on for at least the next two weeks.

It's shitty not because you aren't a supporter but the fact the man just died and you have to say something nasty. Why not keep that comment to yourself. No one's asking you like the man.

ON topic: It's the end of an era and another sad loss.

[ro_a]

Wanna bet? This is going to be spun into a requiem for sixties idealism. No point turning a television on for at least the next two weeks.

More than half of my music listening career is a requiem for sixties idealism. If your pissing on that, don't you think you are pissing on the foundation of rock itself? Right now For Profit insurers are preventing me from any health care at all. I don't want bonused out CEOs spending health dollars on lobbyists and pay offs to politicians.

I don't want the "health insurance" industry buying TV commercials to protect their self interest. All of that is money best spent on care. Bare in mind that our system allows business owners to pit my wage directly against that of an illegal worker. That drives my wage down and gives my employer no incentive to offer me health insurance. LZ.com, I'll have you know I'm in regular contact with my Oregon reps, and universal health care is an all or nothing issue for me. I've also called a few "blue dogs" to suggest they re register as Republicans.

Employer based health "insurance" is not sustainable, and on the surface a terrible idea. I need life based health care, not employer based "health insurance". I need to be covered as I am, not rated to see if I'm an acceptable risk to the for profit matrix.

Steve, you've ruined all the enjoyment I got out of your other posts. I don't read you anymore.

[ro_a]

You think I made it up? Google it.

We both know the proper practice is to site your references. footnotes are cool.

[TypeO]

It's shitty not because you aren't a supporter but the fact the man just died and you have to say something nasty. Why not keep that comment to yourself. No one's asking you like the man.

Take off your blinders - his remark had nothing to do with Ted Kennedy, nor was it "nasty".

He responded to the previous remark -

I'm sure Senator Kennedy's death will get only a fraction of the coverage Michael Jackson's has gotten.

which was a comment on the TV coverage.

And it's hardly unfounded, does anyone need a reminder of the circus that Sen. Paul Wellstone's funeral became?

I doubt Democrats will learn from their mistakes.

[Jahfin]

How do figure? Someone posted "it's a shame" he'll get a fraction of the Jackson coverage, and I stated he'll

get ample coverage given he was a champion of sixties idealism. The fact I don't care to follow it isn't shitty,

it's honest.

No disrespect intended towards either Michael Jackson or Ted Kennedy but the moment I learned of MJ's death (via the web), I didn't even bother turning on the TV for several days. That has more to do with the media than anything else. When I did decide to switch on the tube a few days later the CBS Evening News was devoted entirely to Jackson. That says more about the current state of television "news" than I could ever possibly put into words.

[TypeO]

Steve, you've ruined all the enjoyment I got out of your other posts. I don't read you anymore.

Wow.

If I took that approach I wouldn't be able to watch most movies, TV or listen to most of the music I like.

[Fan_S.]

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/08/26/obit.ted.kennedy/

A great loss. May you rest in peace, Senator Kennedy.

[ro_a]

I'm not "pissing on" anything. Since you asked, I don't agree the 60s or 60s idealism forms the foundation of rock. You'd have to go back to the 50s - Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry - and then keep going back to the blues.

So if anything the foundation of rock is rooted in rebellion, not idealism.

Health care is a divisive issue. I happen to believe another multi-trillion dollar entitlement program will cripple the country further and fundamentally change, for the worse, individual freedom, while you have an alternative

viewpoint. I think it's a bit draconian to stop reading my posts but (at the moment) it's still a free country.

I played with my phrasing on the rock history bit. Believe me, I've got enough Chuck to keep my RCA 45 player twice stacked. I see your point about rebellion, but that brings me right back to my point. What was being rebelled against? The establishment perhaps? Working for nothing? Being exploited? Wearing Khaki's every day?

My need for health care and my eligibility for it changed in one event. I have a real need, and, despite being in better shape than friends my age, I now have a "pre existing condition". It only takes one f@#$ up to leave you in a disadvantaged position for life. I've stepped over that line through my own carelessness. The bill I got for my accident was a 5 digit figure. Not a little one either. Now what?

If a public option arrives, and the figure is no more than 2x my auto insurance,

that is the policy I'll be taking. I hope others will join me. I want the same health coverage for life, not employer based health "insurance", where they pick and choose.

I'm taking all fears of the cost of the public option and comparing it directly with the cost of undeclared war fought by private mercenaries, and the lack of fear about that. It costs more to pay Xe/Blackwater to bomb Afghanistan with drones than the US Air force, doesn't it? I'm for fiscal responsibility, and, as far as I know, my elected leadership practice the "paygo" philosophy, and newly introduced budget items are offset by cuts in that same budget.

I'll prolly keep reading "mysteries", in secret, when no one is looking.

[The Rover]

I'm sure Senator Kennedy's death will get only a fraction of the coverage Michael Jackson's has gotten. That's shameful. Earlier tonight MSNBC advertised a program about the Kennedy brothers that was supposed to air this Thursday evening (7PM, ET).

I'm sure Sen.Kennedy's death will get as much coverage as the Obama Administration decides that it will to benefit their Health Care Agenda.

Who killed the kennedys? When after all. It was you and me.

The Kennedy Dynasty is truly Dead . . . after all these decades. The vestiges left cannot fill the void left...

The Demoncratic Mass. Legislature wants to change the Senatorial succession law --- AGAIN ----after just changing it in 2004 . . .

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9AAM41G1&show_article=1

The NAKED and MANIPULATIVE attempts of the legislators from Mass. in order to hold onto power are shocking ! ! !

[cryingbluerain]

I'm sure Sen.Kennedy's death will get as much coverage as the Obama Administration decides that it will to benefit their Health Care Agenda.

How long for the Dems to exploit Ted Kennedy's death? A Kennedy Memorial Health Care Bill on the way?

Let's wait and see...

[Aquamarine]

The man was human and he was flawed--very flawed--but he also did an enormous amount of selfless public service when he could have stayed home counting his money. I'm disgusted by the tone of much of this thread, which seems to be taking the earliest possible opportunity to put the boot in.

I for one will mourn his loss. Don't bother to tell me I'm naive or have no footnotes to back up his selflessness, I'm not listening.

[Jahfin]

I could really give a shit about Ted Kennedy one way or the other but I must say I find it a bit odd (not to even mention contradictory) how some of the same folks that got all up in arms over "speaking ill of the dead" in the wake of Michael Jackson's death haven't wasted a second of time in that regard in relation to Kennedy's passing.

[Uncle Bill]

How long for the Dems to exploit Ted Kennedy's death? A Kennedy Memorial Health Care Bill on the way?

Let's wait and see...

It's starting already:

"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office sent an email to reporters at around 2:30 a.m. today, just hours after his death, calling for the passage of health care overhaul. “Ted Kennedy’s dream of quality health care for all Americans will be made real this year because of his leadership and his inspiration,” the statement read.

Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, also issued a statement this morning calling for the passage of health care overhaul. “Let us continue his cause,” Stern said. “Let us take action this year to pass health care reform. And let us continue to build Kennedy’s vision of America.”

South Carolina Rep. James Clyburn, the House majority whip, said: “As we move forward with health reform legislation, his absence will be palpable. But let us use his inspirational words as our guide, to rise to our best ideals and finally provide decent quality health care to all Americans as a fundamental right, not a privilege."

[eternal light]

Senator Ted Kennedy Dies.

Rest in peace, Ted Kennedy.