[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/06/09/art.senkennedy.0609.gi.jpg caption="Senate Democrats are missing the knowledge and passion of their veteran colleague."]
WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Lion of the Senate looks ready to roar again, a colleague says.
Sen. Christopher Dodd told a news conference Tuesday that he dined on Sunday night with Democratic colleague Sen. Edward Kennedy, who is battling brain cancer and has been away from the chamber for months.
"He was strong; he was vibrant," Dodd said of Kennedy, who led the drafting of an initial comprehensive health care reform bill despite his illness. "I very much hope Sen. Kennedy will be back."
Dodd has assumed Senate command of the health care issue in Kennedy's absence, and he said Tuesday that Senate Democrats are missing the knowledge and passion of their veteran colleague.
"He wants to come back and be a part of this, obviously," said Dodd, a close personal friend of Kennedy. Still, Kennedy insists that Congress should act on health care now, whether or not he can be there, according to Dodd.
"He is absolutely adamant that we go forward," Dodd said.
The first, and only person that made me lose all respect for Ted Kennedy was...............MaryJo Kopechne
Just what we need – Kennedy, Byrd and Reid – the THREE SENILE STOOGES to run the country even further into the ground. Do America favor – STAY HOME!
If he feels up to it and can function, so be it.
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By function, you mean bodily – not mentally, right?
There should be mandatory retirement. He is past his ablility to make rational decisions.
he can stay home...go fishing
he has done nothing for america other than get richer and fat!
worthless.....how can anyone vote for this coward?
he has never been fit to serve JFK is rolling over in his grave
The people that have a say so are the people who elected him – and frankly he is probably better now than a lot of the people in Washington anyway........go get em Ted!
There is so much tax payer money to steal, he just can't wait. apparently Dodd isn't able to steal it all by himself. There must be some new young girls in Georgetown these 2 old perverts (one is a murderer) to impress.
Dodd who loves lying and Ted the lying Liberal, congratulations Democrats, two losers who have never worked a day in their lives are your heroes.
We seriously need to start pushing for term limits! I'm willing to bet that most of these old crones are suffering from the early stages of something or other, take your pick! I'm not saying they haven't done a good job, I'm just saying when you reach a certain age you should retire and pass the torch to someone whose younger and more in tune with the times! I'm not a big fan of having better than 70% of Congress having one foot in Washington and the other in a nursing home is all. Am I wrong?
The Dems won the recent election with the help of 'votes' from the already deceased (factual records) – so it isn't surprising that they would consider someone obviously ill to still be viable to cast a vote.
before health care can be passed.... Kennedy would be needed! it no easy task to build anew.... gentlemen! -- Ben Franklin.
Maybe Teddy should spend more time in his home state of MA.
He has definitely lost his influence in MA considering he endorsed Obama in the primary there last year yet Hillary won the state by 15 points.
Or maybe he can spend some time with his niece Caroline – she needs all the help she can get judging by her less than stellar performance as a senate candidate, (you know).
This is the man who promised that the Immigration Act of 1965 would not change the ethnic makeup of the U.S. In other words, a liar who helped destroy this nation. He deserves all the suffering he's getting.
It's time for Ted to go home to his mansion and live out the rest of his days quietly.
Please stay home and rest up for the remainder of your term. As the saying goes, "If you think health care is expensive now, wait until it's 'free.'"
Time for this old horse to be put out to pasture.
just go away Ted!
Hopefully Senator Kennedy can return and be productive but I'm not sure that's realistic.
My brother passed away 2 years ago at the age of 41 with the same diagnosis as Kennedy. He was a 3 year survivor, however the last year of his life was spent with much short term memory loss. My brother was strong and fit in body but not the mind.
I think Kennedy's best hope to participcate and see healthcare reform would be this year.
Stay well sir, you are well appreciated......Single Pay this year......
Ted has to answer questions about the accident where he covered up. Dodd is another cheat.
We pray that Sen. Kennedy's strength will allow him to continue serving at this very important time. May the Force support him all the way.
I love Teddy and all, but what about us in the same situation. Would OUR jobs be held for us indefinitely???? At best we get 6 months short-term disability and our job is GONE!!! Enough with the government living by a different set of rules for ALL of them, republicans and democrats alike. Once they get in, FREE healthcare for LIFE. BIG pensions for life after one term. Do we get any of that? HELL NO!!! But we pay for it, year after year after year.
You go Ted, but why not take a trip from Rio to Paris first.
where's the job to be an illegal immigrant. THey've got the REAL American dream anymore. Free Healthcare, don't pay into SS. That's the best gig you can get.
I just watched a younger, cleaner living relative die from what he has now. No matter how I dislike this Kennedy ( I was totally for JFK) I don't wish this sickness on anyone. He may be OK for now, but money won't fix this type of cancer.