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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: political dynasty

political dynasty stories: 16 news summaries

analysis

 Jay Rockefeller 
 Is the New Teddy 

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... More »

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Congress Senate Ted Kennedy West Virginia health care reform Jay Rockefeller political dynasty public option Edward Kennedy

 Top US Political Dynasties 

Kennedys, Rockefellers, and Harrisons sit at the top, while newer Bushes rank 6th

(Newser) - The Constitution states "no title of nobility shall be granted by the United States," but political dynasties are "as American as apple pie," writes Stephen Hess, who ranks America's top political families in the Washington Post. With one president, three senators, four reps, and a cabinet... More »

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George HW Bush Franklin D. Roosevelt Kennedy family political dynasty Rockefeller family John Adams Edward Kennedy

 Kennedy to Pope: Pray for Me 

Senator wrote letter delivered by Obama

(Newser) - In the months before he died, Ted Kennedy penned a letter to Pope Benedict beseeching the pontiff's prayers—and enlisted no less a messenger than the leader of the free world to deliver it, reports CNN. “I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI Ted Kennedy faith Catholicism prayer Catholic political dynasty brain cancer President Obama letter

(Newser) - When Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with brain cancer, he insisted that he would have a "good ending for myself," and friends tell the New York Times that the late senator's last 15 months were filled with joy. He and his wife Vicki spent evenings watching 24 and James... More »

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Senate Ted Kennedy Chris Dodd Kennedy family political dynasty brain cancer

(Newser) - Ted Kennedy will be buried at Arlington Cemetery near his brothers, MSNBC reports. Other details are firming up: His funeral will be Saturday at Mission Church in Boston, and a two-day wake will take place Thursday and Friday at the JFK Library and Museum, also in Boston. Kennedy will be... More »

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John F. Kennedy Ted Kennedy Arlington National Cemetery burial political dynasty senator

(Newser) - Over the years, Ted Kennedy relied a lot on his wives, first Joan Bennett and then Vicki Reggie, and the two women couldn’t have been more different, writes Martha Moore of the USA Today. Joan, one of the celebrated Camelot-era Kennedy wives, was reserved and troubled, but it... More »

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Ted Kennedy political dynasty Victoria Reggie Kennedy women's issues Joan Kennedy

 Biden Chokes Up 
 in Kennedy Tribute 

Discusses 'friend,' 'anchor' at energy department event

(Newser) - At an energy department event today, Vice President Biden departed from the planned topic for an emotional speech on his “friend” and “anchor” Ted Kennedy, ABC News reports. Kennedy, with whom Biden served as a senator for 36 years, “made everybody he worked with bigger, both his... More »

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Joe Biden Ted Kennedy vice president speech political dynasty tribute remembrance

SLIDESHOW
(Newser) - Sen. Ted Kennedy's office wrote about 2,500 bills during his nearly half-century of service, points out the Boston Globe, more than 300 of which have become law. But when it comes to illustrating highlights, a picture speaks a thousand words. Click on the image box to the left for... More »

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Ted Kennedy obituary political dynasty US Senate women's issues

Appreciation
(Newser) - On the weekend of his inauguration, John F. Kennedy gave his youngest brother a cigarette case engraved with the words, “And the last shall be first.” Fifty years later, that prophesy has come true, writes Richard Lacayo of Time. The "long shadow of Chappaquiddick" may... More »

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John F. Kennedy Ted Kennedy Chappaquiddick political dynasty Robert F. Kennedy senator appreciation Kennedy

OBITUARY
(Newser) - Sen. Ted Kennedy, patriarch of one of the most powerful political dynasties in American history and long-time liberal lion of the Democratic Party, died late last night at his Massachusetts home in Hyannis Port, reports the New York Times. “We’ve lost the irreplaceable center of our family and... More »

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Ted Kennedy obituary Massachusetts Democratic Party political dynasty JFK women's issues Kennedy Hyannis Port

Kim Names 3rd Son as Next 'Dear Leader'

25-year-old set to rule North Korea when father steps down

(Newser) - Kim Jong-il has designated his youngest son Jong-un as his successor to lead North Korea, according to reports in the South Korean media. It's the latest sign of dramatic transformation in the isolated nation that launched a highly controversial nuclear test last week. It remains unclear whether Jong-un, 25, will... More »

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North Korea Kim Jong Il political dynasty succession Kim Jong-Un

GLOSSIES

 Kennedy Drinking Again: Book 

Family fighting over Lion's legacy

(Newser) - Ted Kennedy’s grim health prognosis has driven him to drink, according to Ted Kennedy: The Dream That Never Died, a new book from longtime Kennedy scribe Edward Klein. In an excerpt in Vanity Fair, Klein says Kennedy’s wife moved him to Florida after the seizure because his Hyannis... More »

OPINION
(Newser) - Should Gov. David Paterson give Caroline Kennedy a chance to serve New York in the Senate? No! “Dynasties suck,” reasons Alex Pareene of Gawker, and we should take the opportunity to quash this one. Although it’s not fair, Caroline has become the left’s Sarah Palin, and... More »

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Congress media Senate entitlement programs Democrat Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg political dynasty Fran Drescher

ANALYSIS

Dynasty Politics Turning Senate Into House of Lords

The Senate is America's House of Lords Dynasties continue to dominate supposedly democratic politics, especially the Senate

(Newser) - The winning presidential ticket this year was the first since 1976 without a son or grandson of a senator on it. But don’t let that fool you: Royalism is on the rise in American politics, writes Charles Mahtesian for Politico. In the Senate, there are two new Udalls, a... More »

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Senate Beau Biden Ken Salazar nepotism Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg political dynasty Tom Udall Mark Udall

OPINION

Sorry, Caroline, We're Over Political Dynasties: Klein

Joe Klein comes out against Kennedy scion

(Newser) - Caroline Kennedy used to be described as “self-effacing,” but now that she’s signaled her interest in Hillary Clinton's Senate seat, she’s shown she has another “eminently New York quality,” Joe Klein writes in Time: chutzpah. Kennedy assumes that America still loves its dynasties,... More »

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Hillary Clinton Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg political dynasty David Paterson Joe Klein

OPINION

Bushes' Brother Act Goes Out With a Whimper

Lifelong rivalry leaves both siblings at loose ends: Weisberg

(Newser) - In perhaps the final chapter of their peculiar sibling rivalry, Jeb Bush's political aspirations lie smoldering in the ashes of his brother's disastrous presidency, Jacob Weisberg writes in the LA Times. "Jeb's position as favorite son rankled his brother," the Slate editor writes, and "George's mistakes have... More »

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White House Jeb Bush sibling rivalry legacy Bush dynasty political dynasty George W. Bush

16 Stories