At least for tonight, Orrin Hatch gets a white hat and a good guy award

[Stinky The Clown]

His genuine affection for Kennedy is so very obvious.

[Midlodemocrat]

1. yeah, he's doing a really good job.

[gateley]

2. Yeah, I'll like him for tonight. If Teddy can, so can I! nt

[malaise]

6. I'll try

really hard. :evilgrin:

[livetohike]

It's nice to hear these stories as only a good friend

can tell them.

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. And he is making me laugh

which is hard for a repubiican

[gateley]

15. You can't help but laugh -- great stories! And it's making me do a little

self-reflection. I've been guilty of the same thing I self-righteously accuse others of judging a person without knowing them. Not that I KNOW Hatch, now :7, but I'm a little more forgiving of his political stance -- like our side, I'm thinking he's doing what he believes in his heart is right. :shrug:

[maxpower]

4. Agreed

Very nice eulogy.

[WeDidIt]

5. Yep gotta hand it to him on this one.

:thumbsup:

[JohnnyLib2]

7. Yup.

[Bozita]

8. At midnight, that hat turns into a fucking pumpkin.

The dream lives on!

[EFerrari]

9. Yes, it is.

[nc4bo]

10. Touching. I'm actually enjoying his memories. nt

[Warpy]

11. I just posted that on the official thread

There's humor and a great deal of fondness for Kennedy.

I'm glad he's taken the road of a personal friend and not a political enemy.

[Catshrink]

12. The contrast between Hatch and McCain is stunning!

Hatch tells a good story -- and Ted is the center of his stories, not himself. McCain was all about McCain, delivered in a monotone. Hatch has surprised me tonight. In honor of Ted tonight, I'll be kind.

[Stinky The Clown]

16. It is, isn't it?

Hatch seems a genuinely nice man.

McCain remains a lout.

[gateley]

19. I honestly think McCain had a speechwriter. Hatch seems to be speaking from the heart. nt

[Hekate]

55. McCain was a stiff as a crutch, and the anecdotes seemed to be all about him.

Still not a nice man.

Hekate

[lib_wit_it]

81. Ha! I FFed through McLame's bit, telling my husband that his focus would be himself. I knew it.

What a loser.

[JohnnyLib2]

13. Obviously, he lost a close friend.

And honors him.

[stevedeshazer]

14. Credit where it's due to Orrin Hatch.

He's doing a good job.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

17. Sort of off topic,

but with all the well-deserved accolades being deliver to Vicky Kennedy, imagine how Joan must be feeling.

I saw a photo of her at the family compound at Hyannisport yesterday, when the casket was taken out - she was apart from the rest of the family, and clearly didn't travel to Boston with them.

How, I wonder, is she feeling?

[Barack_America]

24. I saw her greeting people at the library today.

She did take her turn.

I noticed she was wearing sunglasses though.

And finally, if I may add, Jean Kennedy is smokin' for her age.

[gateley]

32. Jean or Joan? Or both?? nt

[Barack_America]

38. Joan looks better than I expected...

But Jean is smokin'.

[Tangerine LaBamba]

44. This photo is four years old,

but she's not changed all that much - and I don't see any plastic surgery - she's got that Kennedy vibe about her - vivacious and lively - she looks like fun, doesn't she?

[Barack_America]

47. Totally. Whatever she's drinking, I'm buying.

Oh to have a conversation with that woman.

This is from two weeks ago. She's 80+? Je-sus!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

48. See how she's moving?

It's totally attitude.

She's the kind of woman I hope I can be, and maybe already am. She's something.......................

[gateley]

59. Rock on, ladies!

:headbang:

I didn't get a good look at Jean, but I'm sure I'll see pics in the upcoming days. :hi:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

36. Ah, good -

that's good. I feel better.

She's had dreadful plastic surgery on that pretty face, which is unfortunate.

But, you're right about Jean Smith. She looks wonderful, doesn't she?

And she's the last one.............................

[Barack_America]

40. Yep.

And thanks for reminding me that she's a Smith now (and has been for a long time).

Once a Kennedy and all that... :eyes: (self-directed, of course)

[gateley]

28. Another off-topic (and I'm almost hesitant to ask) --

but did Kennedy and the Clintons mend fences before he died? I've not seen or heard mention of either Bill or Hillary, and that's kind of sad. :shrug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

37. This is pure family -

old friends, close associates. Teddy wasn't especially close personally with the Clintons, so they would not have been invited.................

[Barack_America]

43. I believe they are both on vacation out of the country.

But they both issued very nice statements.

Hillary's in particular was quite touching.

[trayfoot]

18. Hatch has done a wonderful job, BUT.............

Is it my imagination or does McCain look like a sour puss. He didn't stop when Vickie walked up to him, and several times when the camera was on him in the audience, he looked like he has a sneer on his face.

[nc4bo]

25. Camera caught his left eye winking (or was it twitching). Yuck. nt

[Catshrink]

26. I think McCain has a hatred for women.

He's a mean little man.

[XemaSab]

20. He's giving a terrific eulogy

:(

[calico1]

21. So much more class than McCain n/t

[EFerrari]

22. I never thought goddamm ORIN HATCH could make me cry.

[OhioBlue]

75. oh - me too!! n/t

[Creena]

23. He is doing great.

I was expecting something completely different.

[glowing]

27. Of all the people who made me cry, its Orrin Hatch.. Who would have thought?

[d_b]

34. qft

[d_b]

29. he hit it out of the park

very, very moving.

[Stinky The Clown]

30. Beautiful, Orrin. Beautiful.

Do one more act for your friend.

Support The Edward M. Kennedy Healthcare for America Act.

[goddess40]

31. I don't get it?

The republicans talk about all the good things Teddy did but they also voted against most of it. How can see it was good but justify voting against it.

[MichiganVote]

33. Well done Orrin...classy and a republican, who would have thought....

[calimary]

67. I never thought I'd enjoy listening to Orrin Hatch. Those were just truly wonderful,

heartfelt, poignant, genuine remarks. It was very genuine and very dear. True affection you sensed in there. He dabbed at his nose several times with his handkerchief. I'd watch that speech again any time. And get choked up again.

Nicely done, Senator Hatch. I'll always remember that about you.

:patriot:

[auntAgonist]

35. a wonderful tribute.

[iamjoy]

39. There's A Lesson In This

but it could be taken as a good one or bad one.

First, let's get the bad one out of the way. The political "rivalry" we see is all for show. In reality, the Democrats and Republicans are in cahoots on how to best screw over the American people while improving the lot of themselves and their friends.

Maybe that's too cynical. It could be genuine and human. Politicians can disagree with an opponent, even heatedly, but still love that opponent. If an arch-Conservative like Senator Hatch can have so much affection for the "Liberal Lion" maybe all of us should do more to get along with people who hold different political views. We should resist the temptation to see them as "evil" or "stupid" or to condescend to them as "misguided." Rather, we should make more of an effort to accept that they are intelligent and principled people who just happen to have a different view than we do.

[medeak]

45. indeed

we all fight and argue and hate while they are playing tennis together and socializing and making their deals. I totally agree and have been saying the same for years to Repubs..."look at Ted Kennedy and Orin Hatch...don't you get it?" We're all being played by cable news and radio while congress is gentlemanly or ladylike with each other.

[RagAss]

46. Yup...it's Pro Wrestling and we're the audience.

[Samantha]

71. Yep, it's mostly political showbiz

and the voting public is simply the audience. There's always a "great compromise" at the end of the show, and we the people have seen the roar of the political crowd and smelled the greasepaint, and accept we can't get what we want but should be happy that at least got something. Right.

Sam

[armyowalgreens]

41. Clearly a man suffering greatly at the loss of a friend.

[Ocracoker16]

42. I was quite impressed

[stray cat]

49. I so wish we had more of that comraderie and less lying and grandstanding in politics

[Raine]

50. Yes, very nice rememberances.

I wish he would remember Teddy when he votes instead of his rethug masters.

[Fire1]

51. I was thinking the same thing, Stinky. I also think Sen. Culver

is a great storyteller!

[Island Blue]

52. He gave a nice eulogy and he pissed McCain off.

It was a twofer. Now come on Orrin, honor your good friend Ted by voting for health care. You know you want to.

[Jennicut]

53. He gave a really nice, moving tribute to his friend

I will give Orrin Hatch this...he decided to allow Teddy into his life even when others in his party gave him grief about it.

[Hekate]

54. Yes he does. He made me LOL, & I'm glad he got the "Angel Gabriel" atop the new LDS temple in Boston

Well done.

H

[BooBluePotion]

56. There was a constant theme from Orin tonight

"I went to Senator Kennedy for help" I believe Orin tried to send his party a clear message tonight.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

57. I agree ... genuinely touching & heartfelt. n/t

[RagAss]

58. Impressive and funny. He was a true friend.

[Individualist]

60. Much as I despise the man, I have to agree he was a class act tonight.

[DaveinMD]

61. Hatch and Kennedy

were the best of friends along with Chris Dodd.

[mascarax]

62. Agree - great eulogy

I was moved.
And I kept saying, "Do the right thing, Orrin."

Glad he got McCain (who, typically, looked ticked - and *no excuse* in my eyes for snubbing Vicky!). God, I detest that man.

Again, Orrin: do the right thing. It's not about you. It's about everyone.
Stand up.

[Spazito]

63. I agree, his grief was very visible and very deep....

His tribute very genuine.

[Sugarcoated]

64. For all their differences

I think they're two men cut from the same cloth in many ways.

[PatSeg]

68. Or possibly their differences

were what brought them together. The only common ground I could see was mutual respect. A lot of good friendships are like that.

[mmonk]

65. He did well tonight. I enjoyed it.

[Captain Hilts]

66. Yes. Kudos to Hatch. nt

[targetpractice]

69. He called Ted his "liberal friend" in his poem...

There is no greater honor than when friend takes the time to write a poem, compose a song, make a dance, paint a picture, etc. about another friend.

I thought comments and poem were very moving... and, brave. Especially because he acknowledged who Ted Kennedy was... an opponent, a liberal, but above all, a friend. I believe he loved his liberal friend for who he was.

[lib_wit_it]

86. OK, so how about each of us creates a work of art asking him to honor

Teddy by supporting Single Payer and send it to him?

[PatSeg]

70. I agree

His stories were great and I got a lot of great visuals from them. A real life "odd couple".

[Hamlette]

72. I missed it, if you see it online, would you be so kind as to post it? Thanks. n/t

[mmonk]

74. Here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvYX28kzc5U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzX3yVSratI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPLybQjIHig

[Wheezy]

79. thank you for the links! n/t

[mmonk]

83. You're welcome.

[Hamlette]

80. thank you so much, I tried YouTube but couldn't find it. Maybe I was too early. n/t

[mmonk]

82. no problem.

Glad to help.

[backwoodsbob]

90. a repub made me cry

that was amazing

[liberalhistorian]

73. I was really moved by his genuine emotion; it was obvious

that he was trying hard to maintain control and not lose it. I'd known that TK had plenty of Senate friends across the aisle and that he excelled in building bridges and coalitions; hell, he's even good friends with Cal Thomas. But I had no idea of the genuinely strong friendships he had with them and it was truly moving to see that. I felt bad for Hatch, it was obvious he was really feeling it. Having just lost my nearly lifelong best friend several months ago, I knew something of what he, McCain, Kerry, Dodd, Biden, etc., were feeling.

[backwoodsbob]

88. yeah Cal Thomas did a commentary about him

He seemed genuine.

He said Ted came to a party for him and all his friends jaws dropped that the *liberal* was there

[OhioBlue]

76. He did a great job and made me respect him.

even if I don't agree with him, I do respect the fact that he had the heart to help with SCHIP - he was moved by the personal stories he heard. He does have a heart.

[Neecy]

77. I thought he was really moving

Who would have figured Hatch would have written a poem for it?

I sort of groaned when he came to the podium, but he ended up being one of the highlights of the night. Classy guy.

[nevergiveup]

78. Hatch did good.....very very good.

[Vinca]

84. Orrin Hatch has a human side . . . who knew.

[Cetacea]

85. Always felt contempt for him. Now I don't.

That was sincere, courageous, geniune, funny, moving. He has a heart. Why else would Teddy have liked him?

[etherealtruth]

87. Wow

Genuine, eloquent and full of love.

Orin Hatch ..... wow

[jberryhill]

89. "What Else Did I Agree To Last Night?" - ROFL

Thank you Sen. Hatch for sharing these stories with us.

[create.peace]

91. hey, we liberals are fun friends if you are a friend back!

this is maybe a stereotype, but i have found that being liberal usually makes you more open to more varied experiences, or maybe it is the reverse!