Sen. Edward Kennedy at June 2007 immigration event. AP photo by Susan Walsh.
by Frank James
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) is due to achieve a milestone today. He will cast his 15,000th Senate vote, having served in the Senate since 1964, holding the seat once occupied by his brother John F. Kennedy.
He doesn't hold the Senate record however. That belongs to another Democratic old-timer, the 86-year old Sen. Robert Byrd of W. Virginia. Byrd is upwards of 18,000 votes. As fellow W. Virginian Rep. Nick Rahall said during a House floor speech in June when Byrd hit that mark: "I will be very surprised if anyone ever breaks this one. It would take a Senator on super steroids!"
Kennedy has been accused of many things in his long career though being on super steroids isn't one of them.
Kennedy's milestone vote will come on the confirmation of former Republican congressman Jim Nussle to be director of the Office of Management and Budget.
Some Senate Democrats are lining up against Nussle to send a message to both President Bush and voters about the administration's fiscal policies while others seem to be inclined to vote for him.
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Comments
and what % were sober
Posted by: Andy | September 4, 2007 3:34 PM
Countdown to the Wingnuts bringing up Ted Kennedy's past from nearly 40 YEARS AGO
4...3...2...1 Ding Ding Ding
Posted by: John E | September 4, 2007 3:37 PM
Byrd may have his Klan hood and 18,000 votes but Teddy has one confirmed kill with his 15,000 to even things out.
Posted by: whatnow | September 4, 2007 3:40 PM
Hmmm, shouldn't Girlfriend Killer Kennedy have been forced to resign from the Senste like almost 40 years ago now?? Nahhhh, criminal acts by Democrats are A-OK with the Loony Left and Demoncratic party! What was I thinking??
Posted by: John D | September 4, 2007 4:09 PM
15,000 Senate votes bought and payed for. kennedy's votes go to either the highest bidder, or that which benefits HIM the most. Step down Herr Kennedy. You should have done that over 40 years ago.
Posted by: Rob S | September 4, 2007 4:13 PM
How many of those votes was he sober for?
Kennedy is a bigger embarassment then our Senator trbin here in Illinois
Kennedy is a poster child for term limits
Posted by: BOB | September 4, 2007 4:15 PM
kennedy is also the poster child for one who better hope the atheists are right. Because if they are not, then there will be a large kennedy wing in the realm down under.
Posted by: Rob S | September 4, 2007 4:57 PM
John D,
Maybe he should have resigned (and there have been other episodes that could be deemed resignation-worthy since then), but the public at the time, for whatever reason, decided no. A lot has changed, some for better, some for worse, in the dynamic between the public, media and politicians since then. The fact is the voters of Massachusetts, the same ones who elected Mitt Romney governor, have re-elected Kennedy again and again. If you are bitching about Larry Craig again (and I know you are), maybe Bruce can run a poll for you on what the Idaho voters who elected him want him to do. And throw in what his own party leadership wants him to do. I think you know what those results would be.
Posted by: kb | September 4, 2007 5:10 PM
Dyslin,
Don't you know it's unhealthy to carry around all that hateful baggage. You were still wearing diapers in '67, let it go.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rj-eskow/cheneys-chappaquiddick-i_b_15711.html
Posted by: Chappaquiddick II | September 4, 2007 5:21 PM
What a reprobate. "Accused of many things" in his career? Hardly. Convicted is a better description.
Posted by: Mary Jo | September 4, 2007 6:22 PM
JohnnyD...sniffing the printers ink again! Live in the now wingnut!
Posted by: Neal | September 4, 2007 6:34 PM
15,000 votes of which 500 were done sober
Posted by: Terry | September 4, 2007 6:46 PM
So are the voters of MA wrong for electing this pretty much ridiculous, inept, undeserving man, and thus displaying their lack of political acumen? That reflects on the Mittster then, yes? Or if they make sense electing the Mitt "Dog abuser" Romney, then they must be right about the K guy too. Can't have it both ways folks. Pick yer poison.
Posted by: snitramc | September 4, 2007 7:29 PM
Kennedy (D) A man that swam away from a drowning young girl is still in congress.
Barney Frank (D) A man who's apartment was used as a homosexual escort service is still in congress.
William Jefferson (D)The F.B.I. found $90,000.00 of cash in his freezer,in $10,000.00 increments,wrapped in aluminum foil and stuffed in empty frozen food containers is still in office.
Us Republicans hold ourselves to a higher standard....a mens room stall foot-tap...and you're gone!
Paulo
Posted by: Paulo | September 4, 2007 9:10 PM
"What was I thinking??
Posted by: John D | September 4, 2007 4:09 PM"
No one has EVER accused you of thinking, John D!
Posted by: BC | September 5, 2007 4:29 PM
Complain all you want. The people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the cradle of liberty and home to a highly educated and informed electorate, have re-elected Ted Kennedy handily over the years because they appreciate all he's done for MA and the nation.
Posted by: Ellen | January 28, 2008 5:34 PM