Teddy in Trouble

It's not the first time and no one can say he was a saint his whole life, but if anybody has ever redeemed himself through legislative service, it's Senator Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy.

And now he has an inoperable brain tumor. Per Shannon at Frank:

The particular type of tumor affecting Sen. Kennedy is a malignant glioma, the most common among adults. Survival ranges from less than a year to five years, depending upon type and responsiveness to treatment.

Intense NY Times piece here, the Senator's website with Best Wishes form here. But embedded in the above post comes is rather staggering list:

Legislation and causes Sen. Kennedy has either introduced or supported includes:

-Civil Rights Act of 1964
-Economic Opportunity Act of 1964
-Establishment of the National Teachers Corps, 1965
-Created a national health center system, 1966
-Bilingual Education Act of 1968
-Older American Community ServiceEmployment, 1970
-Voting Rights Act extension, 1970
-Meals on Wheels, 1972
-Women, Infants and Children program, 1972
-Bipartisan campaign finance legislation, establishing public funding for presidential elecions, 1973
-Family Planning Initatives, 1975
-Individuals with Disablities Education Act, 1975
-Civil Rights Commission Act Amendments of 1978
-Deregulation of airlines, bringing down prices for consumers, 1978
-Civil Rights for Institutionalized Persons Act, 1980
-Refugee Act of 1980
-Congressional support of Low-Income Energy Assistance Programs, 1981
-Job Training Partnership Act of 1982
-Reinstatement of the Summer Jobs Program, 1982
-Voting Rights Act Amendments, 1982
-Opposed Star Wars program, 1983
-Supported Nuclear Arms Control, 1983
-Legislation requiring polling places be handicap-accessible, 1984
-Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans, 1986
-Handicapped Children's Protection Act, 1986
-Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments, 1986
-Minimum Wage Increase, 1987
-Welfare to Jobs incentives,1987
-Even Start program, 1987
-Fair Housing Act Amendments, 1988
-National Military Child Care Act,1989
-Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990
-Ryan White CARE Act, 1990
-Immigration Act of 1990
-Civil Rights Act of 1991
-Head Start Improvement Act,1992
-Summer Jobs for Youth Program improvements, 1992
-Mammography Quality Standards Act, 1992
-Budget Reconcilliation Act of 1993
-National and Community Service Trust Act, creating AmeriCorps, 1993
-Family Medical Leave Act, 1994
-School to Work Opportunities Act, 1994
-Human Services Reauthorization Act,1994
-Crime Act, 1994
-Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, 1996
-Mental Health Parity bill, 1996
-State Children's Health Insurance Program, 1997
-Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Act, 1998
-Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act, 2000
-Public Health Threats and Emergencies Act, 2000
-Pediatric Graduate Medical Education Program, 2000
-No Child Left Behind, 2001
-Bioterrorism Preparedness Act, 2002
-Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform, 2002
-Project Bioshield Act, 2003
-Gulf Coast Recovery and Preparedness Act, 2005
-Family Opportunity Act, 2006

Maybe the most impressive record in United States Senate history. A case where term limits would have been a bad idea. And the Boston Herald says that losing him at this critical unity juncture is less than desirable:

Political analysts say Kennedy is among a small group of top Democrats who has the popularity and influence to mollify disenchanted activists who have fought tooth and nail for Clinton. Those activists are seen as critical to generating the money and organizational strength needed to defeat GOP contender John McCain.

“There is no Democrat who is better able to pick up the phone and get disparate groups of people in the room together,” said strategist Michael Goldman.

Kennedy was among the first national political figures to endorse Obama’s candidacy this year. He has been a mentor and adviser to the Illinois senator and was among officials who counseled him to challenge Clinton for the nomination.

So if the Clintons can get over Teddy's encouraging their defeat, he could be the unifier. Maybe by his appeal to older Democratic voters? Women, who's rights he's been defending for decades?

Maybe he lives long enough to bring everyone together. Maybe his being stricken gives the Clintons and their supporters a healthy sense of mortality, ergo fallibility.

Just the novelistic view, so incredibly apt this election season. Giant.