Politics Today: Kennedy Succession Talk Begins
Politics Today is CBSNews.com's inside look at the key stories driving the day in politics, written by CBS News Political Director Steve Chaggaris:
**Remembering Ted Kennedy
**Latest on speculation over Kennedy's successor in the Senate
**Health care fight continues
CBSNews.com Special Report: Ted Kennedy
Three days of remembrance begins today at 12 p.m. ET when family gathers for a private Mass at the Kennedy home in Hyannis Port, Mass. Following the service, a motorcade will take Kennedy to his brother's presidential library in Boston, but not before traveling by sites personal to him and his family throughout Boston before arriving at the JFK Library.
"At about 2:15, the procession is expected to wind its way through downtown, first passing through the North End, where his mother was born, then crossing the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway on its way to the State House, and ultimately passing the Bowdoin Street residence of President Kennedy when he first ran for Congress and the federal building that bears his name," writes the Boston Globe's Stephanie Ebbert.
Kennedy will lay in repose at the JFK Library tonight and tomorrow before an invitation-only "Celebration of Life Memorial Service" at 7 p.m. ET tomorrow night. CBS News has learned that expected speakers at Friday night's service include Vice President Joe Biden as well as Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and John McCain, R-Ariz.
On Saturday morning, Kennedy will be taken to the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, also known as the Mission Church, in Boston for a funeral Mass. President Obama will deliver the eulogy, a White House official confirmed to CBS News.
CBS News has also learned that Kennedy's sons Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., and Edward Kennedy Jr. are also expected to deliver remarks.
Following the funeral on Saturday, Kennedy will be flown to Washington and will be buried next to his brothers John and Robert in Arlington National Cemetery.
Today's Kennedy coverage online:
CBS News | Boston Globe | Boston Herald | Cape Cod Times | Wall Street Journal | Washington Post | Politico
"He left Washington in May, after nearly a half-century in the capital, and decamped to Cape Cod, where he would contribute what he could to the health care debate via phone and C-Span. He would sail as much as possible, with as little pain and discomfort as his caretakers could manage.
"He also told friends that he wanted to take stock of his life and enjoy the gift of his remaining days with the people he loved most.
"'I've had a wonderful life,' he said repeatedly, friends recalled."
USA Today's Martha T. Moore, "Kennedy's wives stood by him in trying times"
Washington Post's Lois Romano, "What's in a Name? For Some, a World of Power": "Decades before President John F. Kennedy inspired a generation and Robert Kennedy was elected to the Senate, before Ted Kennedy evolved from perceived playboy to respected legislator, before a new Kennedy generation filled glossy magazines, America had already seen its share of political dynasties that have left their mark on the nation."
"'I'd like the Legislature to take up the bill quickly and get it to my desk and I will sign it,' Patrick said in an interview with the Globe, reiterating in his strongest terms what he had been saying throughout the day, as the state and nation absorbed Kennedy's death and what it would mean for Massachusetts, and for the chamber he served for a half-century.
"Patrick's public statements add to growing momentum for Kennedy's plea, which he made last week in a poignant letter to the governor and legislative leaders. Kennedy said that while he supported the state's current method of filling vacant a Senate seat through a special election, Massachusetts could not afford to go without two senators at such a critical time."
"While Patrick hasn't discussed potential placeholders, the names of former Gov. Michael Dukakis, former Treasurer Shannon O'Brien and former Attorney General Scott Harshbarger have been floated," report the Boston Herald's Hillary Chabot and Jessica Van Sack.
"Neither [U.S. Rep. Michael] Capuano nor former U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan, who has nearly $6 million in campaign funds, would rule out a run for Kennedy's seat yesterday. U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton) told National Public Radio he won't seek the seat.
"The senator's nephew, Joseph P. Kennedy II, a former congressman with a $2 million war chest, also has been the subject of speculation.
"Potential Republican hopefuls include state Sen. Scott Brown (R-Wrentham), former Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey and former White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card."
"His wife, confidante and policy adviser, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, has been the subject of speculation as a possible successor, but friends have said she is not interested," adds the New York Times' Abby Goodnough.
Cape Cod Times' Matthew M. Burke, "Protocol for Kennedy successor debated"
Politico's Josh Kraushaar, "Pols eye once-in-a-generation opening"
"…The Senate did without Kennedy for months while he received cancer treatments and lived out his final days at his family's Cape Cod compound. But his absence will be acutely felt in the coming months as Democrats consider how much to give up in exchange for some GOP support -- and whether they can hold their own ranks together if they compromise.
"All of this underscores a cold reality about the limits of Democratic power in the Senate. On paper, the party, with the help of two independents, has been sitting atop a majority of 60 votes -- the magic number needed to break a filibuster and control the balky institution. Now they have only 59, at least until Kennedy's successor is chosen."
"The debate is about to enter a new phase, which will require much stronger leadership from Obama," adds Politics Daily's Jill Lawrence.
"He'll have to define what he wants and keep Senate Democrats on course. He'll have to choose between continued negotiations with Republicans or moving ahead with Democrats alone. And he'll have to decide whether and how much to invoke Kennedy's memory in his call to action.
"A multitude of people and groups (from MoveOn.org to the National Jewish Democratic Council and the Business and Professional Women Foundation, to name just three) are urging that reform be passed quickly as a tribute to Kennedy. John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff who now heads the liberal Center for American Progress, said some senators will take from Kennedy's death a resolve 'to push forward and push through health reform.'"
New York Times' Carl Hulse and Katharine Q. Seelye, "Kennedy Death Adds Volatile Element to Health Fight": "The death of Senator Edward M. Kennedy has quickly become a rallying point for Democratic advocates of a broad health care overhaul, a signature Kennedy issue that became mired in partisanship while he fought his illness away from the Capitol. ... Yet Democrats have serious internal differences on how to approach health care, and Republicans and Democrats remain deeply divided on the policy proposals — a gulf some say Mr. Kennedy was uniquely equipped to bridge.
"It seemed unlikely that Republicans would suddenly soften their firm opposition in the aftermath of Mr. Kennedy's death or that Democrats would relent on their push for substantial change, especially for a government-run insurance plan, which Mr. Kennedy endorsed."
5247141Meantime, the heat is still being felt by members of Congress at town halls around the country.
"Sen. John McCain met with an angry crowd at a town-hall meeting about health care reform Wednesday, sometimes having to fight to talk and telling one woman who wouldn't stop yelling that she had to leave," reports the Associated Press' Amanda Lee Myers.
"The Arizona senator hadn't yet opened up the meeting at McCain's central Phoenix church to questions when one audience member continuously yelled over him.
"'You're going to have to stop or you're going to have to leave,' McCain told the woman. When security guards approached to escort her out, he told her 'Goodbye, see ya' to a round of applause."
Wall Street Journal's Neil King Jr. and Jonathan Weisman, "Vote Is Lost at Key Point": "Democrats quickly tried to turn the death of Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy into a new spur for their stalled health-care overhaul effort. But the liberal icon's passing could as well hobble the campaign, by depriving the majority party of a key vote at a critical juncture in the debate."
Boston Globe's Lisa Wangsness, "Health care champion's twin battles offered a bitter irony": "All year, a bitter irony suffused the agonizing health care negotiations on Capitol Hill: Just when legislation guaranteeing affordable health care for all Americans appeared to have its best chance of passing in years, its greatest champion was dying."
Washington Post's Shailagh Murray, "Both Parties Mourn Loss of Kennedy in Health-Care Debate"
Wall Street Journal's Fawn Johnson and Laura Meckler, "Abortion Is New Front in Health Battle"
McClatchy Newspapers' Halimah Abdullah, "Health care industry contributes heavily to Blue Dogs"
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