That was the last year a Republican won the "Kennedy seat".

Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. held the seat from 1947 to 1953, before a guy named John F. Kennedy beat him. After resigning the seat to take over the presidency, Benjamin Smith was appointed for two years. The seat then returned to the family, as Ted Kennedy won a 1962 special election and served in that capacity for nearly the next 47 years.

Following his death, it is a special election that may take it away, in the bluest of states, from the Democrats.

The last time a Republican held either one of the Senate seats in the Commonwealth was 1979, when Edward Brooke lost a re-election big to Paul Tsongas. And so it was written that Democrats shall be the voice of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Well, not so fast my friend.

As I write this sentence, the polls open in about 15 minutes, for a special election that, you'll have to pardon me for the insensitivity here, could be seismic in American politics. Yes, I understand that this seemingly pales in comparison to the devastation this weekend, but in the United States, many would say this election means life or death. If you are to believe the arguments that thousands of Americans die do to lacking health care coverage, well, this special election can mean life or death.

Republican Scott Brown, a state Senator, is a fiscal conservative who has pledged to be the "41st vote against health care." Right now, Brown appears poised to make that vote. As I noted last night, Brown has found his way to double-digit leads in several polls, an unthinkable feat considering that just a week ago he was in the neighborhood of 17 points down.

Here are Politico's "Five Things to Look for" in today's special election, one that purely comes down to voter turnout, as these things often do.

The candidates crossed the snow-covered state yesterday, making their final pitches to voters, with Martha Coakley hoping that her last pitch wasn't bad knowledge of the Boston Red Sox.

The finger pointing is well underway in the Democratic party. How in the world could this happen.

Undoubtedly the Fix will have great coverage all day. As quite likely will FiveThirtyEight. By the way, there is truthful mention on that site that the State of the Union will be held Jan. 27, meaning it will not conflict with the premiere of Lost.

I'll be around throughout the day, but especially on Twitter.


And, on a bright and cheery note, could a Mariners deal with Felix Hernandez be imminent?

As the sun set on the hillside of that most hallowed ground overlooking the capitol of the republic that he so tirelessly served, a lone man played Taps.

That song and those 21 gun shots, pound like nails in a coffin of finality.

A co-worker of mine had a Twitter update that said, "Washington, DC is such a special place to live. When something happens here, the world watches."

The world has always watched the Kennedy's. The world watched as its strongest country was led by three brothers through one of its most difficult times. It watched as that country showed the same weakness and unwillingness to change that they themselves had long experienced. It watched as the youngest, the baby, Ted became the lion that would lead for decades in the cause of those people that were human.

And it watched as that country, so changed and progressed, laid the final brother to rest, back at home next to the two other icons of his iconic family. And yes, an era of American and world history lays on that hillside. Living on by the eternal flame.




Ted Kennedy was not a hero. Heroes have one great act and are superhuman. Ted Kennedy was human. Only someone who had failed as greatly as he had could understand so uniquely the plight of humans. And only a human with his influence could fight for those people for five decades. No, Ted Kennedy was a legend. Someone of his stature, with his compassion, could only seem mythical.

He was legendary in the sense of the quote from the great children's movie, The Sandlot: "Heroes get remembered, but legends never die."

Had to get this up there quickly:

I just did a post on ActGreen about UW being named the greenest college in America. Don't forget to hit play down at the bottom.

Also, pay visit to GoHuskies.com when you get a chance. The opening video had me fired up. And go check out my Facebook for a really awesome video from the 2009 National Champion Washington softball team.

Oh, how I miss UW.

Is Glenn Beck getting fired?



The entire Politico newspaper is about Ted Kennedy today. My favorite headline: The next Ted Kennedy? There isn't one. And this article, Never forget you saw this man

Michael Vick makes his return to the NFL tonight.

And Barkley has been named the starter at USC. Yes, he's a freshman.

Later.

But let's start it out on a positive notes. The M's swept the A's in a battle the last two places in the AL West. You have to give the M's credit though. Now five games over .500 and battling despite injuries and trades all over the place. This really could be a good baseball team in 2010.

Back to what can't be ignored, however. On the ride in this morning I read a lot more coverage on Ted Kennedy. The main news now is that he will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, next to his two brothers. One person yesterday was quoted as saying the Kennedy's were, "America's first Royal Family."

There is some truth to that. Consider that every one of them ran for President, almost in succession. Consider that Robert probably would have won and had it worked right it would've been right after his brother, John, had finished his two terms. Then consider that save for an accident that he ran away from Ted may have been in the White House as well. But it wasn't just those three. One of the greatest accomplishments of any of the siblings had to be Eunice, who created the Special Olympics. This family were not just giants in American politics; for a while, they were American politics. They were exactly what American families strive to be. Good family with successful children who make a difference working for Americans. The disgusting irony of Ted dying during the most bitter healthcare battle in 20 years is not lost.

But even as someone who grew up long after the hey day of the Kennedy's, I can tell there is a void. America identifies with the name Kennedy. His Saturday morning service which will see the likes of President Obama, President Carter (who beat Kennedy in 1980), President Clinton, both Bush presidents and Senator McCain, while not quite the spectacle of Princess Diana's in England, will have that same feel as if the country has lost a son. A void that once was just filled with the next brother in such a great line of a great family, cannot be filled again.

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The country goes on, however, and news pours in. First, I've just decided to use the blog for some serious sports analysis starting next week. Look for football updates and such as the season goes on. Some of you know that I tend to only answer questions pertaining to analysis of teams when I am asked them, but hey, I don't work in an athletic department anymore. And no, UW is not going to win 10 games. If you think that you should probably be the football coach at Garfield High School. Anyway, I am excited for it. Maybe, if they can be convinced, the sportswriter Jesse and rabid sports fan Jim and I can all join together and do some sort of blog. Ideas just flowing. Stay tuned.

On to the links:

The teachers in Kent, Wash voted to strike. Unofficially this has to be the fifth or sixth in the last 15 years in Western Washington.

Not sure what the word is for this move by Ohio State. Classy certainly comes to mind. One of my favorite parts of Washington National's games is the recognition of the military at every game.



And apologies, but due to the fact that just about the entire Homeland Security department just rolled up outside my office - at least 25 SUV's, motorcycles, etc, we're going to postpone further link sharing.

Later.

A second good morning to you. Went to see if flags were flying at half mast today and the only one I could see was not. Would imagine they are somewhere or will be tomorrow.

All in recognition of news of the saddest kind that broke just after 1 am ET last night. Senator Ted Kennedy, who can only be described as an icon in America and American politics, has died after his lengthy battle with cancer. He was 77.

Not to age some of you who read here, but many will know more of his greatness than I, and that of his brothers as well. In a link I posted yesterday, John McCain spoke fondly of Sen. Kennedy and about how much he is missed during the current session.

Make no mistake - this is a mammoth political loss. However, the current Senate will continue on. It has spent much of the session without Sen. Kennedy already. What is more is the loss of another member of this family of giants. Sen. Kennedy was on of just two remaining children of Joseph Kennedy and Rose Elizabeth Fitzgerald. He is obviously the last of the boys to pass, the only to survive the 1960's. And Sen. Kennedy becomes the second in his family to die just this month.

He was the man who used his first Senate speech to rally for the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That should seem especially major today considering that it is the 89th anniversary of women receiving the right to vote. He was a vocal, adamant supporter of Barack Obama. He has made healthcare available to more people than it has ever been and yet the "cause of his life" is in the middle of maybe its most important hour.

But now he is home, with maybe America's greatest family. At peace.

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Right now I am going to stay away from some of Ted Kennedy's other problems. Most of you probably know about the double standards and such, but death precludes those right now. What we will see, however, is the tremendous effect this is going to have on a healthcare fight that seemingly has been in the 12th round for weeks. This is not the knockout punch. But it is a blow. One that seemingly only Ali, or Kennedy, could come back from.

But the fight will go on.

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Teachers wear so many hats. But this has got to be the scariest one and they deserve to be recognized. Many lives were saved.

The situation with the reality show where a woman was murdered has been big news, but I forgot one crazy part. No one dying is funny. What this is, is more of a sign of the apocalypse type thing. The evolution of modern "medicine".

Missouri is taking a groundbreaking approach at youth rehabilitation in correctional facilities.

I am not going to link to GoTopless day coverage, but those have been happening throughout the week across the country. Women wanting "equal rights" to go topless in public, just like men. Just a guess that many would just assume most men keep their shirts on too...

Almost the entire Politico front page is about Sen. Kennedy.

On how America struggles with talking about depression - Michael Beasley.

Blue Scholars just dropped a new EP.

It is pretty fun that FIU would complain this much about having to play UNC instead of Ohio State. It's going to be at least a 30-point blowout regardless.

Delayed Congrats to Jesse Baum, who is writing full-time for a newspaper in Lewiston. Yep, that's in Idaho folks. He'll be alright though.

And lastly, my brother turns 13 today. Yes, he made it to the teenage years.

More later

So if you're like me - and if you are I suggest you see a doctor or do something to right yourself - you slipped into the small conference room in your office for a minute to watch the end of the Mariners game. You actually cut a meeting short in order to do it. And what you saw made you cringe as your Michigan-dominated office celebrated their hometown team breaking the hearts of M's fans.

Okay, maybe a little dramatic, but only a little.

C'mon Kenji, you gotta catch that ball.

M's are now seven games out of the wild card and fading fast, though not as badly as last year.

On to other things while I have a minute.

"There aren't many jobs for gun-toting, unstable women, unless you want to run for Governor of Alaska." - Letterman last night. And check this out. Wish I'd posted this morning Barney Frank's reaction to a woman calling Obama a Nazi:



John Stewart was in rare form. But in all seriousness, Frank did the right thing. These comparisons between Obama and Nazis are ridiculous. They have to be ignored. Nothing good comes from them. Not to mention, as Stewart mentions, Frank is a Jew. So...pretty much wrapped that one up.

Election in Afghanistan. Obama is good with it.

Cash for clunkers is getting junked. Really it's just ending, but hey, you know, trying to sound witty here.

Ted Kennedy wants a faster way to replace himself in the inevitable event that the unthinkable happens...and what do you know, Republicans don't like it.

Did someone join the mile high club publicly?

That is way more exciting than the long email exchange I had with my co-worker today about why my cream cheese got stolen from the fridge. Wish I could copy it here, but really? All I know is that it is someone else's fault - according to her - that I watched her eat my cream cheese.

A black AG indicting a bunch of Mexican drug dealers. Hmmm...think this will bridge the gap between our two cultures? No racism whatsoever. I am serious. But if I were Holder I'd move for a while. At least someone got it right when they blamed this problem on the U.S. having a drug problem.

This is not funny, at all. But I find it somewhat ironic that we have so much trouble convicting famous people, especially athletes, that actually kill people. Yet, despite the pride my co-worker talked about after watching Plaxico Burris make a big TD catch in the SuperBowl, the former receiver pulled a Cheddar Bob and shot himself, leading to gun charges that are going to land him in prison for two years. Like I said, not funny, but it definitely makes you scratch your head.

Usain Bolt needs to sign with the Seahawks Just have him run by people.

I do like that NASCAR is visiting Dems. Also that the President called NASCAR the "American sport", as is the weeklong tailgate that comes before it.

Which reminds me 14 DAYS TIL FOOTBALL!

Holla.