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May 19, 2007
The Gushing Begins
Adversaries praise a relentless Kennedy
Boston Globe
WASHINGTON
On Wednesday night, Senator Edward M. Kennedy stared at an exhausted negotiating team of 20 senators and two Cabinet secretaries and said, "Let's shoot for 10 o'clock tomorrow morning."
The negotiators were tantalizingly close to a historic deal to remake the nation's immigration system. But at several points, nervous senators were ready to give up. Republicans wanted to give temporary visas only to workers taking undersubscribed jobs. Democrats wanted to allow family members of immigrants to come in more quickly.
But Kennedy, the Senate's consummate dealmaker -- still indefatigable at 75 -- pushed hard at his fellow Democrats, wavering Republican moderates, and even members of the Bush administration, insisting that the deal-makers work all night Wednesday to beat the deadline imposed by the Senate leadership.
Yesterday, the two Cabinet secretaries -- both of whom have been subjects of Kennedy broadsides in the past -- lauded the Democrats' aging lion as the one indispensable player in the negotiating process.
"He's awesome," gushed Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff , as he left a news conference announcing the bipartisan agreement. "I'd say he was one of the critical leaders in putting together this deal."
Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez called it "a real privilege" to work with Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat and liberal stalwart who spends much of his time trying to thwart or undo Bush administration policies.
"It's obvious we're in different parties. We don't always agree," Gutierrez said. But, he added, Kennedy "is focused. He's very determined."
Kennedy's demand that negotiators have a deal by 10 a.m., Gutierrez said, was the "stimulus" that got the deal done.
A pact on immigration appeared dim at the beginning of the year. Several of the key Republican senators -- John McCain of Arizona, Mel Martinez of Florida, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and Lindsey O. Graham of South Carolina -- were starting to feel the pressure of election-year politics
But Kennedy -- aware that an immigration pact would need to be finished by summer or it would collapse in the heat of campaigning -- moved quickly.
"There were times he [Kennedy] blew up, and I had to calm him down. There were times I blew up, and he calmed me down," said Graham . But he said the Massachusetts lawmaker refused to let things drop.
"He was informed, determined, practical, and essential," Graham said. Asked whether there was a moment when Kennedy had saved the package when it appeared to be crumbling, Graham said, "112 moments."
At 8 a.m. yesterday , Kennedy called Graham. "This is coming apart, that's coming apart," Graham recalled Kennedy telling him. Kennedy cajoled the team into a final negotiating session, and the group came to an agreement by midday -- two hours after the deadline set by the Bay State senator.
Wild Thing's comment........
This is just sooooo nauseating! Bush had Clinton work with his Dad, and the Barbara Bush said how Clinton was like another son to them. And now because of the Bush and Kennedy duo we have to hear about the so called Republicans no other word for it then gushing all over Kennedy.
Posted by Wild Thing at May 19, 2007 12:55 AM
Comments
Gee, I wonder if they're going to wear kneepads next time they meet with Kennedy?
Posted by: BobF at May 19, 2007 07:07 AM
Kennedy is a big fat moron who believes his own crap don't stink.
He caused a beautiful young woman in the prime of her life to die and we did nothing! Because he's a Kennedy.
His ideals, while coming out as caring and sympathetic, are not. They are aimed at destoying this very nation that continues to vote him in despite his past, so his descendants will have NO chance at the life he's enjoyed or any other descendancy of anyone else.
This comes across as treasonous--he's selling us a bill of goods that is worth nothing to us, but everything to illegals.
He should be caring more about how they came here illegally and refused to assimilate, how they are pushing their lifestyle and views on us and standing against lawbreakers. But he won't because he's a lawbreaker himself. He killed someone.
Why do we keep electing such a-holes to office?
Do we like being put last instead of first?
He should be concerned with his constituants, not some criminal in another land who came here illegally.
Posted by: Lynn at May 19, 2007 07:53 AM
Years ago, there was a saying that the way to tell which Nurse was the Head Nurse, she was the one with the 'Dirty knees'
But in this case, It would be anyone bending over for Toaddie Kennedy and it seems like they all have that problem.
George wallace was right, 'There's not a dimes worth of difference between a democrat and a republican'.
Posted by: Mark at May 19, 2007 11:33 AM
UM...I am a South Carolina native and they all HATE Lindsey's sorry ass back home. His time is SHORT in the Senator's seat...I'll be fisking that YUKYUK photo for use in a RINO post....and THANK YOU KINDLY for the permission???? I will attempt a trackback, but whenever I do it, it will be for the "GREATER GOOD", so I don't think you will mind, right?
Lindsey Graham makes my ass hurt. And I have a feeling it wouldn't bother him to know it...heh.
I LOVE this blog. Thanks for stopping by seejanemom.com
xoxoxo
Jane Stewart
Posted by: seejanemom at May 19, 2007 12:22 PM
Graham is getting the ten-minute Kennedy prostate exam in this one, and it tickles.
The doof on the left is playing the castinettes while McCain impersonates Speedy Gonzalez to mariachi music.
Posted by: Rhod at May 19, 2007 01:49 PM
Oh yeah. Notice the sign. "Quiet Please".
Posted by: Rhod at May 19, 2007 01:51 PM
Lynn, we have to remember, we as a nation didn't vote Kennedy into office, the people of Massatwoshits did. The very same people who continually elect Barney Frank and John Kerry. It makes you wonder whey these people would continually elect men who want to destroy everything this nation has ever stood for.
Posted by: BobF at May 19, 2007 02:50 PM
I have always wondered about Massachewshits, is it the water or the air that screws people's minds up so bad that they keep making the same mistake for more than 45 years.
The more time goes on their mistakes keeps getting larger and larger, first it was Toad, then came kerry and then frank, they just seem to compound their error as time goes by, ... Nobodies that stupid ... Are they ?
Posted by: Mark at May 19, 2007 04:27 PM
These senators laugh and guffaw at giving America away. I wonder if Kennedy has any awareness that the incoming hordes of Third(Turd)World Latinos still hate his Irish European ass.
Posted by: TomR at May 19, 2007 05:47 PM
The Palmetto state is our second home and I thought the two U.S. senators and governor were Republicans... the conservative types? Go Tigers, Gamecocks, Chanticleers and Myrtle Beach Pelicans! Sorry Mr. Graham - you $old US out bigtime!! How do you say 'Palmetto' in Spanish?
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at May 20, 2007 12:13 AM
Bob those knee pads are just what they need.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 12:38 AM
Lynn, everything you said is so true.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:02 AM
Mark, thanks, the line that used to be drawn between the two parties seemed to be a big one when I was growing up. But it has gotten thinner and thinner over the years.
Yes you are so right, there really is not much difference anymore. Too few true Conservatives can get elected and backed by the GOP and RNC and that is killing us too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:14 AM
Hi Jane nice to see you.
Yes I was peeking at your blog last night, it is really a good one. Thank you for stopping by and for your kindness and comment too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:17 AM
Rhod, hahhaaha I hadn't even noticed the sign till you mentioned it. Thank you Rhod.
What jerks they all are, they can't even respect a simple sign like that.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:19 AM
Mark........"they just seem to compound their error as time goes by"...... they sure do!!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:22 AM
Tom that is exactly what they are doing, They are lauging about it and it also feels like they are laughing at we the citizens too. They have no respect for any of us.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:23 AM
Darth, that is just what they did, sold us out, sold out America, our laws, the whole thing.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:25 AM
Darth, we spent some time at Myrtle Beach and had such a great time. That was about 15 years ago.
Posted by: Wild Thing at May 20, 2007 01:26 AM
