In Praise Of One Of Ted Kennedy's Finer Moments

Senator’s Ted Kennedy’s outstanding services to our country are so numerous, and cover such a long period, it is beyond my abilities to even start a list of them.   But, I would like to extend my appreciation, once again, for Kennedy’s heroic and lonely defense of our constitutional government against the Bush-Cheney administration's many transgressions.

And in particular, for his call on Feb 09, 2006, for President Bush to keep his promise to hold Dick Cheney and others accountable, for leaking classified intelligence about Valerie Plame as part of their broader deception to sell the Iraq War to the American people of false pretenses.  

Senator Ted Kennedy Calls For Bush To Clean House If Cheney Involved In NIE Leak

It may not seem like much, especially as his call was largely ignored, but it meant a lot to me.  It was a dark and lonely time for those of us hoping to hold the executive branch accountable.  It seems like so long ago, it is too easy to forget that Senator Kennedy was among just a handful of our leaders such as Congressmen Hinchey, Waxmen, Conyers, who kept up the call for accountability for Bush, and in defense of our constitution.    

Then out of the blue, Senator Kennedy lent the prestige of his name to those calling for accountability.

On Thursday afternoon, Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., issued a statement saying that any implication of Cheney as the one who authorized release of classified information would require Bush to honor his promise to "clean house" of anyone who had anything to do with the Plame leak.

Kennedy's press release:

These charges, if true, represent a new low in the already sordid case of partisan interests being placed above national security. The Vice President's vindictiveness in defending the misguided war in Iraq is obvious. If he used classified information to defend it, he should be prepared to take full responsibility. President Bush has clearly said he would 'clean house' of everyone who had anything to do with the Plame leak.

The American people are also entitled to know whether the President knew that classified information was being used for this purpose, and whether he authorized it himself.

In addition, they are entitled to know that the case will not be scuttled by the administration when the decisions are made on declassifying documents necessary for the trial.

Wow! Some of you younger folks may find it hard to imagine what a boost of encouragement such bold words were back in those dark days before we had so much daily good news to cheer us onward.

One of my comments reflected the mood of many of us here at the time.

Finally, we are getting some involvement from MSM and mainstream politicians on this story.

Go Senator Kennedy

Go Prosecutor Fitzpatrick

Go Team!

Rah, Rah, Rah, and Hurray!

Although, we ultimately failed in our quest, Senator's Kennedy's help will long be remembered and appreciated.

This is perhaps not a good time or place, to engage in brainstorming, but as I’ve been thinking about the sad news of Kennedy's brain tumor, along with some recent diaries about this long episode of the Bush - Cheney administration and their many transgressions against our constitution, international law, torture, domestic espionage, and so much more, I’ve been wondering if it is too much to hope, that Senator Kennedy may be able to help us out, at least one more time?  

We have not heard yet, what Kennedy’s plans are, in terms of serving out the rest of his term.  Certainly, we shall support him 100%, if he should decide to focus on tending to his health and spending time with his family.

But if he does continue to serve in the Senate, I wonder if he has at least one more historic opportunity to press his call for accountabilitiy a step further, in the service of a more gracious period of healing and transition for our nation?  

That of at least designing, if not heading up, some new and different kind of hearings, and symbollic ritual, to restore our commitment to our constitution.  

It does not seem likely, the country will be in the mood for impeachments or mass indictments of underlings who were "just following orders."  On the otherhand, we need to do something to symbolically acknowledge that we veered from our constitution, we regret it, and we fully recommit ourselves to the rule of law, in our constitution, in the Geneva Conventions, and in international law (renouncing the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive, unilateral war without the sanctions of the UN).  

Otherwise, we will risk the slow erosion of the culteral institutions and expectations that give our paper constitutional documents the living strength they need to have any practical relevence in the day to day life of future generations.

One of Bush's most shameful comments was that the constitution was just a bunch of paper.  Little did we suspect, at the time, he, did not just mean this metaphorically.  But intended to test it, and would prevail.  We cannot let this travesty persist unchallenged.  

But, whatever choices Senator Ted Kennedy and his family make, our prayers and appreciation are with him.  

We are indeed lucky to have leaders of Kennedy’s caliber, courage, and wisdom, and I thank him so much for his lifelong service to our country.

Even though I mentioned only this one example, that meant a whole lot to me, I invite everyone to expand the list and note others especially meaninful to them, in the comments.

May god bless Senator Kennedy and we pray for a successful recovery.