Kennedy Dies Aged 77 Years - GoodBye Teddy

Sen. Ted Kennedy dies at age 77 after year-long battle with brain cancer...aggregation of news sources (image: AP Photo):

"Edward M. Kennedy, the husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle we loved so deeply, died late Tuesday night at home in Hyannis Port (Massachusetts)," the Kennedy family said in a statement. Kennedy was diagnosed in May 2008 ...Senator Edward M. Kennedy is dead
Boston Globe - Martin F. Nolan - ‎25 minutes ago‎

Senator Edward M. Kennedy, who carried aloft the torch of a Massachusetts dynasty and championed a liberal ideology during almost a half century in the Senate, but whose personal and political failings may have ...Edward Kennedy, Senate Stalwart, Dies
New York Times - John M. Broder - ‎40 minutes ago‎

Senator Edward M. Kennedy worked on his remarks before a Patient's Bill of Rights rally at the Capitol in 2001. By JOHN M. BRODER Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts, a son of one of the most storied families in American politics, a man who knew ...

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"It let us have the chance to tell him how much we love him," said his son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy (DR.I.). "And him to be there to hear it."
more by Patrick Kennedy - 27 minutes ago - New York Daily News

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Edward Kennedy dies at 77; 'liberal lion of the Senate'
Los Angeles Times - ‎25 minutes ago‎

The Massachusetts Democrat was the last surviving brother of a legendary political family. He was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. By Rich Simon and Claudia Luther Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat and icon of American liberal ...Sen. Edward Kennedy Dies After Battle With Cancer
Wall Street Journal - Naftali Bendavid - ‎17 minutes ago

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WASHINGTON -- Sen. Edward Moore "Ted" Kennedy, a liberal icon and frequent Republican target who was one of the longest-serving and most accomplished lawmakers of the modern era, has died at age 77. In succumbing to brain cancer at ...

Ted Kennedy's Succession Plan: The NYT Comes Out Against It
Wall Street Journal Blogs - Ashby Jones - ‎15 hours ago

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It's not every day that the writers of the New York Times's daily editorials see eye-to-eye with the writers of the Wall Street Journal's ...Ted Kennedy Dies
The Right Perspective - ‎34 minutes ago

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Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy has died after an extended battle with brain cancer. He was 77. The “liberal lion of the Senate,” who was diagnosed with ...Will Another Kennedy Replace Teddy in the Senate?
Human Events - John Gizzi - ‎Aug 25, 2009

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Last week came the surprising letter from Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) urging Democratic leaders in the Massachusetts legislature to change ...
Kennedy's death another chapter in healthcare saga
Reuters - Thomas Ferraro - ‎13 minutes ago

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senator Edward Kennedy's death comes as a political struggle appears to be chipping away at the Democratic ...Kennedy death puts family dynasty in doubt
Reuters - Jason Szep - ‎19 minutes ago

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BOSTON, Aug 26 (Reuters) - Senator Edward Kennedy's death marks the twilight of one of America's most fabled political families, with no heirs ...US Senator Edward Kennedy Dies
Voice of America - ‎27 minutes ago‎

By VOA News US Senator Edward Kennedy, the youngest member of a politically powerful family that produced a US president, has died of brain cancer at the ...
Massachusetts, USA
Successor plan gains steam
Boston Herald - Hillary Chabot - ‎2 hours ago

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House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has given his behind-closed-doors blessing to an effort to hand Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint a ...Is Kennedy hypocrisy contagious?
Boston Herald - ‎19 hours ago‎

We live in Massachusetts. We don't need any stickin' rules. Democrats are allowed to run amok. Just look at the track record of the Senator schilling for ...Murray may shift on Kennedy Senate request
Boston Globe - Frank Phillips - ‎Aug 25, 2009

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Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray, who had privately expressed opposition to Senator Edward M. Kennedy's plea for a temporary ...
Boston, MA, USA
Edward M. Kennedy's roar falls on deaf ears
Boston Herald - Hillary Chabot - ‎Aug 24, 2009‎

A legislative committee co-chairman overseeing a bill to hand Gov. Deval Patrick the power to appoint a temporary successor to ailing US ...White House: Decision on Kennedy seat is a local one
Boston Herald - Gayle Fee - ‎Aug 24, 2009

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OAK BLUFFS - The White House refused to get dragged into the controversy surrounding US Sen. Edward M. Kennedy's coveted Senate seat today, ...Pol: Edward M. Kennedy uproar GOP 'nonsense'
Boston Herald - Edward Mason - ‎Aug 23, 2009‎

A Democratic state senator pushing for swift approval of a plan that would let Gov. Deval Patrick name a successor to ailing Sen. ...
District of Columbia, USA
Mass. Sen. Ted Kennedy, Dies at 77, After Cancer Battle
Washington Post - Joe Holley - ‎27 minutes ago‎

Edward M. Kennedy, one of the most powerful and influential senators in American history and one of three brothers whose political triumphs ...Ted Kennedy, 77, dies on Cape Cod
Politico - David Rogers - ‎38 minutes ago‎

Edward Moore Kennedy, Camelot's youngest brother who never reached the White House but grew into the most accomplished ...In tragic family, Kennedy had gift of years
The Hill - Taylor Rushing - ‎33 minutes ago

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Obama's First 100 Days: 63 Days In & Counting

We are 63 days into the administration of President Obama...and where does the American public's approval rating on him stand regarding the following categories such as Overall Administration, Economy, Energy, Healthcare, Education, Military Conflicts, Diplomacy, Domestic Security??? Personally, the only guide-stick I am using to determine his success as a President is simply that if Obama can keep Americans safe for the duration of his term, then I will consider him a more than adequate leader of our nation. The many other challenges that face him I hold as a distant set of items that need his attention...keeping us safe from threats of any kind, especially on our soil should be his prime concern...because a safe America will be a strong America. According to the latest CNN polls the aforementioned categories show approval ratings as follows (click on the image at left to get a better view of the results in a pie chart format):

OVERALL: 64% approve / 34% disapprove / 2% no opinion

ECONOMY: 59% approve / 49% disapprove / 1% no opinion

ENERGY: 63% approve / 33% disapprove / 4% no opinion

HEALTHCARE: 57% approve / 41% disapprove / 2% no opinion

EDUCATION: 65% approve / 30% disapprove / 5% no opinion

MILITARY CONFLICTS: 67% approve / 29% disapprove / 5% no opinion

DIPLOMACY: 66% approve / 28% disapprove / 6% no opinion

DOMESTIC SECURITY: 61% approve / 35% disapprove / 4% no opinion

Obama's Cabinet Nominees Still In Turmoil

President Barack Obama has now filled nearly all of the major posts in his new administration...but some shuffling of people chosen is still going on. More turmoil in the choices occurred today, February 3rd when Republican Senator Judd Gregg was announced as the nominee for the Commerce Secretary cabinet role. Ironically, Mr. Gregg voted to abolish the Commerce Department in 1995!!! At least half (8) of the 15 Cabinet appointees are millionaires. Now, Tom Daschle has just withdrawn his name for the Health and Human Services Secretary this after only several hours ago that Nancy Killefer, who had been picked by Obama to serve as the country's chief performance officer, had withdrawn from consideration for the post. The 15 Cabinet members and four other Cabinet-level officials (the U.N. ambassador, E.P.A. administrator, budget chief and trade representative) remain subject to Senate confirmation. Click this link for the latest nominee profiles and photos as well as confirmation status regarding the Obama Cabinet. Also here is the slideshow of Obama's staff on Vanity Fair.

Obama's First Mistake As President

Oh well... just seconds into his term, President Barack Obama made a mistake about the history of his new office. In the second paragraph of his inaugural address, Obama said, “Forty four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.” Sorry. While Obama IS the 44th president, he is actually only the 43rd American to take the oath. Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms. He is counted as the 22nd president, serving from 1885 to 1889. He won back theoffice four years later, and is counted also as the 24th president, serving again from 1893-1897. Two presidents – but one American.

source: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/

See Obama's Inauguration Live On The Internet !!!

The SCHEDULE: Presidential Inaugural Committee's full schedule of events is available here with the following ways to experience it listed below via the internet by streaming, phone or social web technologies:

Via STREAMING:

• The Official Sites: Just in case you don't have it bookmarked, add the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies' official site to your list of viewing venues. The JCCIC will have live video streams (with closed captioning), and the site itself has a wealth of information on everything inaugural, including clips of previous presidents' ceremonies and tons of minutiae (including recipes for inaugural luncheons, like Obama's "brace of American birds." The Presidential Inaugural Committee will also have streaming coverage, but it has to be noted that viewing the stream requires installing Microsoft's Silverlight 2 platform (and which, thereby, leaves Linux and mobile users out in the cold). If you're cool with that, though, ReadWriteWeb has a great blow-by-blow schedule of the PIC's offerings.
• NBC/CBS/ABC: The Big Three are all in online with free streaming coverage. NBC's coverage is actually over at MSNBC's inauguration page. CBS' Inauguration webcast kicks off at 7 a.m. EST Tuesday and wraps up with a web-only wrap-up hosted by Katie Couric at 10 p.m. EST. CBS' coverage will also be carried on Joost's Everything Obama site. ABC News will likely host its live coverage at its 44th President site.
• Hulu/Fox: Fox.com, Fox News, and Hulu will offer the same stream via Hulu's Obama video page starting at noon EST, then "on-demand" video from there on out. Hulu generally has top-notch video quality, even in full-screen mode—unless it gets jammed, as it did during some presidential debates. The site likely learned a few lessons in scaling, though, so it's definitely worth checking out.
• C-SPAN: The non-partisan channel your cable company pays offers up all four of its channelsinauguration should be no different. Stay tuned to C-SPAN's main page, however, for the debut of an Inauguration Hub that will feature, according to CNET, a kind of "control room" that lets visitors switch between four feeds of the goings-on on the fly. online at all times, and Obama's
• Facebook/CNN: CNN.com and Facebook team up to offer a live inauguration feed with a social twist: You can sign into your Facebook account starting at 8 a.m. EST Tuesday at CNN.com Live and update your status alongside the streaming coverage, while seeing a real-time stream of your friends' status updates as well.
• Current/Twitter: Same type of deal as above, just with Current doing the streaming at 11:30 a.m. EST and micro-blogging platform Twitter providing real-time tweets/updates. Multi-taskers checking out Current Twitters the Inauguration should twitter with the tag #current in their message.
• Ustream.tv Upstart live-streaming site Ustream is offering a live video feed of the inauguration at this page. No indication of what will be covered, exactly. A pre-recorded video of Obama's acceptance speech looked quite grainy when full-screened; if you're an iPhone/iPod touch user, scroll below to check out Ustream's (beta-invite) streaming app.
• Other sites: Also likely to offer live video streams are the Washington Post, New York Times, and the BBC. Livestation offers international feeds from Al Jazeera, BBC, Euronews and France 24, while USA Today and the Associated Press will also offer live streams and coverage clips.

Via PHONE:

• Ustream through your iPhone: If Ustream.tv gets their iPhone app approved before Tuesday, then simply search for "ustream" and you'll get a live feed of the Ustream coverage mentioned above. If not, TechCrunch has details on getting a beta invite. Ustream's site also suggests an email to iphone@ustream.tv might do the trick.
  
• InaugurationReport apps: For both iPhones (search "inaugurationreport") and Androids (search IR09), the join project's mobile apps let you view semi-real-time Twitter updates, Flickr photos, text messages, and content upload from other mobile IR users from one handy app screen.
  

Via SOCIAL-WEB:

• InaugurationReport.com: A joint project of NPR, CBS, American University, and many more, the site rounds up all the contributions made by on-the-street citizen reporters through Flickr, Twitter, text message, YouTube, and IR's own mobile apps (see below). It's a nice way to condense all of those mediums into one regularly-refreshing page. For a similarly crushed-together view, try a Big Buzz search on Icerocket.
• Flickr: The official multi-user inauguration pool is here, but the Presidential Inaugural Committee has its own stream, as does the president-elect himself (though not update in a while ... wonder why?).
• Twitter search: The hot searches are inauguration and the #inaug09 tag.
• Photosynth to create massive 3D compilation of oath-taking: If you or somebody you know in D.C. for the big moment wants to contribute to a gigantically cool 3D mesh of the moment Obama takes the oath, email a photo (one at a time, up to 10MB per pic and three separate submissions allowed) to themoment@cnn.com, then, later that day, head to cnn.com/themoment to see the big mash-up, powered by Microsoft's Photosynth technology.
  

(source:lifehacker.com)

Obama's Cabinet Nominees Up For Approval

This week, starting on January 13, 2009 marks the beginning of the official approval process for Barack Obama's Cabinet Nominees. Here is the current approval schedule:

Tuesday, Jan. 13

Secretary of State
Hillary Clinton
Appears before the Foreign Relations committee

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
Shaun Donovan
Appears before the Budget Committee

Secretary of Energy
Steven Chu
Appears before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Secretary of Education
Arne Duncan
Appears before the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee

Wednesday, Jan. 14

Secretary of Agriculture
Tom Vilsack
Appears before the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee

Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Eric Shinseki
Appears before the Veterans Affairs Committee

Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
Lisa Jackson
Appears before the Environment and Public Works Committee

Thursday, Jan. 15

Secretary of the Treasury
Timothy Geithner
Appears before the Finance Committee

U.N. Ambassador
Susan Rice
Appears before the Foreign Relations Committee

Secretary of the Interior
Ken Salazar
Appears before the Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Secretary of Homeland Security
Janet Napolitano
Appears before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Attorney General
Eric Holder
Appears before the Judiciary Committee

Bill Richardson Gives Up Cabinet Nomination

Bill Richardson, New Mexico's Governor, has given up his nomination to be commerce secretary just revealed today. He believed an ongoing federal investigation into a business relationship his state's administration had with a company in California that won municipal bond business there (after making donations to various causes championed by Richardson) would slow down his confirmation as Obama's Commerce Secretary. The Governor is quoted as saying,"I do so with great sorrow. But a pending investigation of a company that has done business with New Mexico state government promises to extend for several weeks or, perhaps, even months. Let me say unequivocally that I and my Administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact. But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process. Given the gravity of the economic situation the nation is facing, I could not in good conscience ask the President-elect and his Administration to delay for one day the important work that needs to be done." Obama accepted the withdrawal with "...deep regret...Governor Richardson is an outstanding public servant and would have brought to the job of Commerce Secretary and our economic team great insights accumulated through an extraordinary career in federal and state office," Obama's statement read. "It is a measure of his willingness to put the nation first that he has removed himself as a candidate for the Cabinet in order to avoid any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time. Although we must move quickly to fill the void left by Governor Richardson's decision, I look forward to his future service to our country and in my administration." (source:cnn.com)

Barack Obama's Current Cabinet Nominees

Here is the list of President-Elect Obama's cabinet nominee's so far:

Agriculture, Secretary Tom Vilsack (nominee)

Books by Tom Vilsack

Commerce, Secretary Bill Richardson (UPDATE: nominee - resigned on 04JAN2008)

Books by Bill Richardson

Defense, Secretary Robert Gates (nominee)

Books by Robert Gates

Education, Secretary Arne Duncan (nominee)

Books by Arne Duncan

Health and Human Services, Secretary Tom Daschle (nominee)

Books by Tom Daschle

Housing and Urban Dvelopment, Secretary Shaun Donovan (nominee)

Homeland Security, Secretary Janet Napolitano (nominee)

Books by Janet Napolitano

Interior, Secretary Ken Salazar (nominee)

Books by Ken Salazar

Justice, Attorney General Eric Holder (nominee)

National Security Adviser James L. Jones (nominee)

State, Secretary Hilary Rodham Clinton (nominee)

Books by Senator Clinton

Transportation, Secretary Ray Lahood (nomineed)

Treasury, Secretary Timothy Geithner (nominee)

Books by Timothy Geithner

Veterans Affairs, Secretary Eric Shinseki (nominee)

Books by Eric Shinseki

Inauguration Day 2009 Events For Barack Obama

Inauguration Day 2009 information and resources are available here: At 12:00 noon on Inauguration Day 2009 (Tuesday, January 20, 2009, as set by the Twentieth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution), Barack Obama will become the 44th President of the United States. The Inauguration Day 2009 Schedule will keep you informed about what is happening and when on this important day. The schedule of Inauguration Day events tells you what to see, where to be, and when to be there. Can't make it to DC in person? Find out how to watch the ceremony and parade on TV, Radio, and online.

Schedule of Day's Events
TV/Radio/Internet Broadcast
Bulletin Boards

Inauguration Housing Bulletin Board The DC metropolitan area has 95,000 hotel rooms; more than a million out-of-town guests are expected. See this 11/28/08 article in the New York Times describing the problems of finding housing for Inauguration Day.

Inauguration Schedule of Official and Unofficial Activities:

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A schedule of some official and unofficial activities surrounding Barack Obama's inauguration on Jan. 20:

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SATURDAY, JAN. 17

-- President-elect Barack Obama and his family ride the train from Philadelphia to Washington, stopping in Wilmington, Del., for Vice President-elect Joe Biden and his family. Train will stop in Baltimore for speech before heading south.

-- BET Honors, an awards ceremony, at the Warner Theater.

-- People's Inaugural Gala Celebration at the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

-- Will.i.am "Yes We Did" concert.

-- Concert with Mary J. Blige, Common and Nelly at nightclub Ibiza.

SUNDAY, JAN. 18

-- Obama will kick off inaugural activities with a welcome event on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday afternoon. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. Beyonce, U2, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban and James Taylor are among the musicians scheduled to perform.

-- Presidential Inaugural Luncheon and Fashion Show at the Ritz-Carlton.

-- EMILY's List Inaugural Luncheon with scheduled guests including Cabinet appointees Hillary Rodham Clinton and Janet Napolitano, Sens. Kay Hagan and Jeanne Shaheen, and North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue.

-- African-American Church Inaugural Ball at the Grand Hyatt Washington.

-- 2009 Latino Inaugural Gala with Marc Anthony at Union Station.

-- Aloha Inaugural Ball, organized by former Obama campaign workers, held at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel at 7:30 p.m.

MONDAY, JAN. 19

-- National Day of Community Service event: To honor Dr. King's legacy, Obama, Biden and their families, joined by Americans across the country, will participate in activities dedicated to serving others in communities across the Washington, D.C. area.

-- Black Tie & Boots Inaugural Ball, sponsored by the Texas State Society, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

-- Green Inaugural Ball at the Donald W. Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture. Ball hosted by former Vice President Al Gore.

-- Huffington Post preinaugural ball at the Newseum.

-- Hip-Hop Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts. Hosted by the Hip-Hop Summit Action Network, Russell Simmons, LL Cool J, among others.

-- A children's evening concert at the Verizon Center honoring military families. Event hosted by Michelle Obama, who will attend. Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers are among the entertainers.

-- Obama to attend three private dinners to honor former secretary of State Colin Powell, Biden and Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, for their public service. Dinners at the Hilton Washington, National Building Museum and Union Station.

TUESDAY, JAN. 20 (INAUGURATION DAY)

Gates to the Inaugural Ceremony open at 8 a.m. The inaugural festivities are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. They will include:

-- Musical selections of The United States Marine Band, followed by the San Francisco Boys Chorus and the San Francisco Girls Chorus.

-- Sen. Dianne Feinstein provides call to order and welcoming remarks.

-- Invocation by the Rev. Rick Warren.

-- Musical selection of Aretha Franklin.

-- Biden will be sworn into office by Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

-- Musical selection of John Williams, composer/arranger with Itzhak Perlman, (violin), Yo-Yo Ma (cello), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet).

-- Obama will take the Oath of Office, using President Lincoln's Inaugural Bible, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts. Scheduled around noon.

-- Obama gives the inaugural address.

-- Poem by Elizabeth Alexander.

-- Benediction by Rev. Joseph E. Lowery.

-- The National Anthem by The United States Navy Band "Sea Chanters."

After Obama gives inaugural address, he will escort outgoing President George W. Bush to a departure ceremony before attending a luncheon in the Capitol's Statuary Hall.

The 56th Inaugural Parade will then make its way down Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House.

Later that day, the Presidential Inaugural Committee will host 10 official inaugural balls:

-- Neighborhood Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.

-- Obama Home States (Illinois and Hawaii) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.

-- Biden Home States (Pennsylvania and Delaware) Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.

-- Midwest Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.

-- Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.

-- Western Inaugural Ball at the Washington Convention Center.

-- Commander in Chief's Ball at the National Building Museum.

-- Southern Inaugural Ball at the National Guard Armory.

-- Eastern Inaugural Ball at Union Station.

-- Youth Inaugural Ball at the Washington Hilton.

Unofficial balls include:

-- Congressional Black Caucus Inaugural Ball at the Capitol Hilton.

-- Creative Coalition Inaugural Ball at the Harman Center for the Arts.

-- Recording Industry Association of America's ball for Feeding America.

-- BET's Inaugural Ball at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

-- Africa on the Potomac inaugural celebration at Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Va.

-- American Music Inaugural Ball at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel.

-- Inaugural Purple Ball at the Fairmont Hotel.

-- Human Rights Campaign's Equality Ball at the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel.

-- Inaugural Peace Ball at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum.

-- Impact Film Fund ball.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21

-- The president, vice president and their families will participate in a prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral.