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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

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Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Ted Kennedy is back in the Senate

Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 4:02 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: ,

From NBC's Ken Strickland
Sen. Ted Kennedy has just arrived back in the US Senate for a vote at 4:00 pm on Medicare.

*** UPDATE *** Kennedy issued this statement: "I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens -- and that's to protect Medicare. Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn't going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference. Medicare should not be a partisan issue. Illness and age know no party boundaries. The 44 million Americans who rely on Medicare to meet their health care needs are both Democrats and Republicans. Like all Americans, they have worked hard all their lives. They've raised their families. They've built our towns and cities and farmed the land. They've served in our military."

"We owe them so much for the part they have played in making America a great country. So today I proudly cast this important vote for them -- a vote to keep the Medicare program strong and effective for the future."

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G-D bless Senator Ted. Welcome back. We need you!


love,
The Lion is back.  That's the best news of the day.  Good to see you Senator.  You're looking good. Take care of yourself.
I hope the vote goes the way Ted wants it to after taking such a long plane ride to DC.  Chemo is not a fun thing to undergo when you are younger (I was 45).  He is in his mid 70's and is also undergoing radiation therapy.  

I hope he is okay.  Take care Ted.
Yeah!  That is what I'm talking about!  Go Ted!!
Hey....what was Kennedy's position on FISA?  Just asking.
I'm sure he arrived to a warm reception by all those in the Senate today. Good to see him back.
The lion's roar will be felt. But, please take it easy. Welcome back!
Good timing - Byrd hasn't had his diaper changed in over a month.
McLame can't make it to the Senate,but Ted Kennedy, God bless him, can? And he is fighting a brain tumor,maybe McLame is fighting Alzeihmers or dementia, maybe he forgot there was a vote today!
Go Ted! Soon too.
Welcome back senator Kennedy. Has your time off changed your mind about any of your ultra-liberal views on policies that might protect the unborn, abused and neglected?
This is wonderful news - way to go Senator Kennedy!
Ted is always there when we need him.  Where is John McCain?
What a PATRIOT!!! Sick yet still shows up to do his duty in the Senate. Unlike McLame who it seems lately making every excuse not to show up to vote on Senate issues.
God Bless you Ted Kennedy. You are a great man may god heal you to the fullest.
"...But I am concerned that using force against Iraq before other means are tried will sorely test both the integrity and effectiveness of the coalition. Just one year into the campaign against Al Qaeda, the Administration is shifting focus, resources, and energy to Iraq. The change in priority is coming before we have fully eliminated the threat from Al Qaeda, before we know whether Osama Bin Laden is dead or alive, and before we can be assured that the fragile post-Taliban government in Afghanistan will consolidate its authority.

No one disputes that America has lasting and important interests in the Persian Gulf, or that Iraq poses a significant challenge to U.S. interests. There is no doubt that Saddam Hussein's regime is a serious danger, that he is a tyrant, and that his pursuit of lethal weapons of mass destruction cannot be tolerated. He must be disarmed.

How can we best achieve this objective in a way that minimizes the risks to our country? How can we ignore the danger to our young men and women in uniform, to our ally Israel, to regional stability, the international community, and victory against terrorism?

There is clearly a threat from Iraq, and there is clearly a danger, but the Administration has not made a convincing case that we face such an imminent threat to our national security that a unilateral, pre-emptive American strike and an immediate war are necessary.

Nor has the Administration laid out the cost in blood and treasure of this operation."

___________
His speech was much much longer however, it doesn't matter now does it?

The media ignored him completely back then. They must have thought him just one more unpatriotic citizen.
Good to see Senator Kennedy back in the senate. Hope his chemo does the trick.  My mother had chemo in her early 80's and did pretty well with it.

We love you, Ted. I pray for a full recovery, because you deserve it.
when will he and his idiot nephew support wind farms, they killed the ones planned for cape cod, the old "not in my back yard" trick
Ted Kennedy has a brain tumor and can still show up in the Senate.

John McCain released his health records which claim he is in good health but he's a no-show.

Go figure.
You mean Ted Kennedy, the murderer?

He is getting his just desserts, don't you think?
I wish Ted kennedy all the best.

However, I must add that his influence is greatly exaggerated.  Witness the Hillary landslide in MA despite Kennedy’s endorsement of Obama.  That’s the strength of the Hillary Clinton brand!


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