KGO news just said Teddy is IN DENVER! YEAHHH!!! n/t

[napi21]

[bdamomma]

1. I thought I read that he will be talking at the Dem Convention

[napi21]

3. It's been reported that he made a video that would be played, but

nobody knew if he would be healthy enough to physically there. It was only 5-10 minutes ago that Thom Hartmann asked Helen Ratner if Ted was going to be able to be there, and she said that was the $64,000 question. That convention Center is going to go NUTS when he appears!

[Individualist]

5. Patients undergoing chemotherapy are immuno-compromised

and are advised to avoid crowds. I can't imagine his doctors okaying his appearance at the convention.

[napi21]

7. I feel horrible even saying this, but is it possible that their diagnosis

really was right, and that his cancer is incureable, so being immuno-compromised doesn't really matter? I really don't want to accept that, but I haven't been able to shak that feeling since I first heard about his illness. It's much the same feeling I had when Tony Snow's illness was announced. He too put on a good show and kept saying he was doing fine, but............

[Growler]

10. my Mom's cancer turned out to be incureable...

and she was immuno-compromised for a very long time near the end. She fought long and hard just so she could spend as much time with my nephews as possible. So why'd she decide to stay home and miss a few important holidays, if the eventual outcome wasn't in doubt? Well, she wanted to eke out as many weeks/months as possible so she could see the grandkids from time to time.

Plus: maybe, maybe, maybe....

[napi21]

11. I understand. I'm so sorry about your mom. I guess anyone in that

circumstance wants to do what's most important to them. I suspect attending this convention really IS important to him.

[Growler]

12. thanks

My mom's immune system was a mess (so naturally she died of pneumonia, not anything directly related to cancer...) but sometimes she just said "the hell with it, I'm going out!" When you are in the last stages of life, you play a lot of it by ear, I think.

[bdamomma]

8. I don't think wild horses could keep Teddy away.

[napi21]

9. I agree, but I'm really HAPPY that he's well enough to make the

appearance. I'm still very very worried that we won't have him much longer, but it will be WONDERFUL to see him tonight!

[MadrasT]

2. Woot!

:bounce: for Teddy!

[L. Coyote]

4. Senator Kennedy's Decades of Service to Party and Country to be Honored

Plans will now change to some degree, but here is the DNC website release from before the announced visit:

Senator Kennedy's Decades of Service to Party and Country to be Honored
http://www.demconvention.com/senator-kennedy-s-decades-of-service-to-party-and-country-to-be-honored/
August 24, 2008

DENVER – The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) and the Obama for America campaign today announced additional details surrounding Monday evening’s tribute to honor Senator Edward M. Kennedy. His niece, Caroline Kennedy, will speak to his extraordinary work over the last 46 years on behalf of this country, as well as his future plans in the United States Senate. A video tribute, directed by documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Mark Herzog, will also portray his love of country, family, politics and the sea.

The opening night of the Convention, themed as “One Nation”, will highlight Barack Obama’s life story, his commitment to change, and the voices of Americans, including Senator Kennedy’s, calling for a new direction for this country.

Senator Kennedy’s story is told through a combination of original interviews, archival footage and still photographs that chronicle his enormous contributions to this country and his deep dedication to his work on behalf of the American people. The film also describes his hopes for the future including what Barack Obama will do as President to change the course of this country.

The video features Senator and Mrs. Kennedy as well as conversations with Massachusetts Senator John Kerry and Georgia Congressman John Lewis. It also incorporates interviews with individuals who have worked closely with Senator Kennedy and whose lives he has touched, including:

* Brian Hart of Bedford, Massachusetts, who speaks of losing his son in Iraq in an attack on his unarmored humvee. Senator Kennedy and the Hart family have worked together to ensure that troops in Iraq and Afghanistan now have enough properly armored vehicles and body armor.
* Sixteen-year-old Lauren Stanford of Plymouth, Massachusetts, who suffers from juvenile diabetes. Senator Kennedy asked Lauren to testify in support of stem cell research before his health committee. Senator Kennedy and Ms. Stanford have continued to advocate for increased investments in medical research.
* Jasmine Harrison who met Senator Kennedy when he read to her each week for five years, beginning when Jasmine was in the second grade, at a public school in Washington, DC as part of the “Everybody Wins!” program. He continued to encourage her over the years and she enters college this fall with plans to major in education.
* Alan Khazei, Co-Founder of City Year, who speaks of Senator Kennedy’s work to create Americorps and commitment to inspiring all Americans to give back to their communities.

The video, produced by Burns and Herzog along with their colleagues Sarah Botstein and Christopher G. Cowen, will run approximately eight minutes.

[stillcool]

6. this is the best news ever!

the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.