Unreleased Kennedy Memoir Climbing Bestseller Lists

Senator inherits Kennedy's cause of health care reform

(NEWSER) - Jay Rockefeller shares little of the temperament of the late Ted Kennedy, but what they do share is essential. “Massive wealth and a virtual lock on his Senate seat frees a man to do what he believes in,” writes Margaret Carlson. And for both men—the West Virginia Democrat now more than ever—that means a dedication to health care reform. In his own teary, stubborn way, Rockefeller has assumed Teddy’s “health care mantle.” And like him, he is "unafraid to be liberal." More»

(AP) - Ted Kennedy's body is en route to Boston, where he will lie in repose at his slain brother's presidential library for 2 days of public visitation. The motorcade carrying the senator's body and members of his family departed the family compound on Cape Cod for the 70-mile trip to the state capital. Hundreds of people are lining the route of the motorcade, which will end at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. More»

Kennedy was sworn in fast, but under different circumstances

(NEWSER) - Republicans have been crowing that Scott Brown should be seated right away, just like Ted Kennedy was back in 1962, but there are some big differences between then and now. Senators are not supposed to be sworn in until they’re officially certified, TalkingPointsMemo explains. The Senate waived that rule for Ted for two reasons: first, he’d won by a landslide, and second, the Senate wasn’t in session, so it made little difference. More»

If he hadn't held his seat so long, Democrats would have more talent

(NEWSER) - Massachusetts Democrats are cursing Martha Coakley, a candidate so bad she might just lose Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat and scuttle the party's filibuster-proof supermajority. “Not since Grady Little gave away the American League pennant in 2003 has New England witnessed this level of ineptitude,” writes Jason Zengerle in New York . But in many ways, Kennedy himself is to blame. Kennedy held his seat for so long that “political sclerosis” set in in his home state. More»

Martha Coakley favored in less-than-energetic race

(NEWSER) - A handful of voters have been trickling into polls around Massachusetts today for the special election that will almost certainly determine Ted Kennedy’s successor. As few as 300,000 to 500,000 may vote in the Democratic primary, the winner of which is expected to trounce Republican Scott Brown. State Attorney General Martha Coakley is the favorite in the primary, with polls giving her a double-digit lead over Rep. Michael Capuano. More»