Kennedy diagnosed with malignant brain tumor - Capitol Hill- msnbc.com

I send my condolences to the Kennedy Family about the brain tumour diagnosis which caused the seizures recently for Ted Kennedy.

I have rarely read a blog however have certainly read a few this evening. I have visited the USA on several occasions and been welcomed by many friendly and caring people on my travels.

I am an Australian and am of the age that remembers the politics of the 60's onwards. My family were
interested in politics in the USA and the United Kingdom. I remember when John Kennedy became President and learned over many years the contribution this family made to their country. They like many families have experienced great joy and also sadness, but have appeared to always bounce back because of their belief in a larger goal. Service and contribution to others.

Reading some of the vitiolic responses leads me to comment 'that no-one need judge a person who has not walked in his shoes' I particularly liked the article by Kevin P Kavanagh and his comments about what Theodore Roosevelt said......'it is not the critic who counts, nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, .....etc.....the credit belongs to the man in the arena......!!!

Regardless of Ted Kennedy's past mistakes his health situation at this time is very serious. If you have never had a loved one suffer from a brain tumor, then you do not know what lies ahead. It seems like people would have some compassion for a man who no doubt will have to endure a lot of pain and suffering in the days, months and years to come.

God Bless him!

I thank Senator Kennedy for being a selfless, humane voice in our country. Let him deal with his private demons. He has been a voice of moral conscience for our public ones.

Compassion?, sure, but feel sorry for the man?, I think not. Karma is always a b_____. I followed the whole Chappaquiddik mess at the time and could not believe the preferential treatment that family was allowed. I personally feel that 45 years in the Senate is too much time for anyone to serve, it leads to the "cronyism" and corruption that is costing our middle class dearly today. As a fellow Catholic, I pray for Mr. Kennedy and his family in this very difficult time.

The death of Mary Jo Kopechne was a tragedy, no question, and I doubt her family has ever recovered from it. However, Ted Kennedy has spent more than 40 years working for America and American families. Whether or not you believe it what he does, he has put himself out there tirelessly. He could have easily hidden himself away and coasted on his family's money and name and I admire him tremendously for not doing that. My thoughts and prayers are with him and his family at this most difficult time. And anyone who thinks this is an appropriate time to villify the man should be completely ashamed of themselves.

Although I disagree with Kennedy on almost all issues form abortion to universal health care I wish him well. Now that he is facing a health crisis he should be thankful he does not have national health insurance. He would likely die befroe he ever received treatment.

Kennedy's prognosis is not good. Glioblastoma treatment generally can provide an extension of life up to 2 years for some 20% of treated patients under 50. In consideration of his advanced years, historic tendencies of alcohol abuse and resulting probable weakened liver functions, thus lending him unable to utilize chemotherapy, the Senator will be lucky to last 8 to 10 months. If not for his vast wealth and government position he would most likely have been told to get his affairs in order and say his goodbyes.
Also lucky for him, the USA is not yet a national health insurance environment, as he would then be told because of his advanced years and alcohol abuse that he would not even be considered for treatment.

I am deeply saddened by this news and Teddy and his family remain in my prayers. I think his
impact is huge, he has been a part of virtually all major legislation over the last 46 years.
He almost died in a plane crash in 1964, when he was returning home to campaign after casting
his vote for the Civil Rights Act, which his brother had initiated.
I will never forget his moving and beautiful Eulogy to Bobby in 1968, and his equally moving
Eulogy to Jackie in 1994. So many tragedies, so much history.

Yes, Teddy made a tragic mistake in 1969 and no one can know what personal pain and guilt he's endured over that. Still, he's continued to serve his country when he could have easily spent his
life Sailing and relaxing. He's been the voice of the poor, minorities and the working middle class
for decades, carrying on the legacy of his brothers who died far too young. He's served as
surrogate father for their children and is loved and adored by his family. He is also loved
by millions of Americans

I think the genuine outpouring of sorrow from BOTH sides of the Isle yesterday was telling.
Senator Kennedy has worked with Senators McCain, Hatch, and Warner, just to name a few
recently, and I wish more elected officials, on both sides, would take a cue from him on this.

In this election, like many Democrats, I was resigned to Hillary as the nominee. I just
didn't believe America was ready to elect an African American, sadly. It was Teddy's
endorsement that made me stop and really take a good look at Obama and read up
on his policies. I voted for Obama in the CA primary, not because of Teddys endorsement, but
that, and the win in Iowa, are what caused me to really consider that maybe we were ready
to move past the color barrier. That remains to be seen, but it may be one of the final
gifts he leaves this country.

Goodbye and good riddance to the last political Kennedy brother. A true moral and physical coward, pampered and protected from the law by money garnered by a gangster father through illegal activities. Passive murderer of a young woman; Liberal icon with feet of clay. A lingering and painful death is merely just retribution for a spoiled, dishonest, cowardly political dilletante. Hopefully his vacated Senatorial seat will be filled by someone who posesses the moral and physical character that "Teddy" lacks!

I am deeply saddened by the news of Senator Ted Kennedy's diagnosis. I hope that he will be the exception to the rule and beat this, albeit a grim prognosis. He is truly a public servant. Thanks to him for his years of public service!!

I think those who wish to "throw stones at others, need to look within" when they openly say that Ted Kennedy is getting what he deserves! Shame on you! No one deserves a cancer diagnosis. Grow up!

Ted Kennedy is a piece of trash and I have no mercy for him.

Please will one of you flaming liberals name 3 things that Ted did in office all these years that bears any significance to this country.

No one will ever truly know what happened with Mary Jo. Remember, the FBI hated the Kennedy's and would stoop to any means to hurt them.

Senator Kennedy has worked tirelessly for us, the average working American. Unlike the champions of greed and hubris that we have now.

To Senator Kennedy and his family my wife and I say: Thank you and God bless you. Get well!

It seems to me it's the conservatives on this board that are showing their true colors. I detest
George W. Bush, and will never forgive him for the murder of over 4,000 fine Americans, the
wounding of over 29,000 and the death of countless innocent Iraqi citizens. For allowing
Americans to die of thirst on the street of an major American City, while congratulating the doofus
he appointed to handle such disasters. For trampling over the US Constitution on a daily basis.

That said, I would not wish a brain tumor on him or rejoice in such a diagnosis. I would feel
sad for his family and refrain from comment on the man at such a time. It's quite a comment
to see that conservatives consider Teddy morally lacking, but find nothing morally wrong
with rejoicing in the diagnosis of a terminal illness of another human being.

Didn't he cosponsor the bill that gave our Social Security to all those needy illegals

Here is a link about the Laura Bush tragedy Trying to equate Laura Bush's accident to what Ted Kennedy did is a very, very, far stretch. Ted Kennedy was drunk and left the scene to save his political ***. Being a Kennedy, he knew he would get away with it. With that being said, has a Christian my prayers are with Ted Kennedy.

Ted Kennedy a great man? Well let's see, we have Chappaquiddick accident, he has been a flaming drunk in the senate for thirty plus years, Kennedy family owns at least 3 oil companies(Kenoil,Mokeen oil co.,Artic Oil Co.) look it up. Yet he is a champion against BIG OIL and profits...hmmmmm. How is the Cape Wind project coming along in Massachusetts? Libs wanted to put in wind mills to help the environment yet Teddy boy objected because it would interfere with his Kennedy compound, but hey he's a champion for the environment isn't he. He also loves to say America should provide free health care for all, yet his thousand plus employees in his Kennedy real estate companies are only "part time" employees so the Kennedy's don't have to provide health care to any of them. This man is a disgrace to all, how do the idiots in Massachusetts keep electing this walking,drinking,killing hypocrite ?

Senator Kennedy's plight is a good example for limiting the number of terms that a member of the Congress may serve. How long has the Senator's illness been affecting his judgement? A brain tumor can and does affect the thought process and personality. How many of his votes in the Senate have been influenced by his condition? A man his age may also be suffering from senile dementia, Alzheimers, or one of many mental or physical afflictions suffered by the aged. Senator Byrd of West Virginia, 90 years old and wheelchair bound, is another example.

We have minimum age limits for running for certain political offices; shouldn't there be a maximum age past which one cannot hold office?

Shame on anyone leaving a negative comment on this board about the Senator during such a difficult time, surely this is very upsetting for his family. Senator Kennedy has devoted his entire life to improvement and progress for this country. He has worked so hard in a thankless job.The faces and words of his Senate colleagues prove just how important Ted's work is to all of us. Aside from his public service he was also a dad to his brother's children as well as his own, he has always been there for all of them. The Kennedys have endured so much heartache over the years, as caring Americans we have gone through it with them, the death of JFK JR was finally just too much. Ted had to oversee all the sadness again. I'm glad to see he has enjoyed a happy marriage and I hope he gets well.
Thank you to the Senator for all his hard work!

Always thought you had to have a brain before a tumor could be discovered there----

Whether he realizes it or not, Ted Kennedy has been given a gift - he knows he is not going to be around much longer; therefore, he has time to make peace with God. What would make me respect the man is if he acknowledged publicly that he renounces abortion and all of the other evils he has promoted and supported during his tenure in the Senate. That takes courage and humility. I pray that Mr. Kennedy will find peace through the sacrament of confession and that through the gift of the Holy Spirit, say "I was wrong," publicly. Maybe this will be a wake up call to all of the other "so called" Catholic politicians. My prayers are with you, Senator, and with your family.

To Susan 285984:

You call President Bush a murderer for sending troops to war. If that is the case then the Kennedy family is responsible for 58,000 dead in Vietnam and 400,000 wounded too since President Kennedy escalated that war with his brothers beside him. Every Democrat who voted for the Iraqi war is equally as guilty too. They now run and hide and say if they would have known then what they know now they would not have voted for the war. If President Bush knew then what he knows now he would not have started the war either. Both parties had the intelligence and both were apparently wrong. You go on to say Bush has trampled on the constitution via the Patriot Act I assume. Name a single American citizen who has had their rights violated as a result of the Patriot Act. There are none!!! As to your statement about Bush leaving the citizens of New Orleans to die of dehydration again name one. President Bush offered help immediately. It was the Democratic Governor and Mayor that refused aid initially and botched the whole thing up. Beyond that, they squandered money meant for levy improvement on their own agenda and pet projects and now try and blame the federal government. I wish you were equally as vehement for all the wrongdoing in the Clinton White House. Durimng that administration there was presidential perjury, first lady obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI, the Lewinsky, Whitwater, Trqavelgate, Filegate, Firing all the US Atty's. not just eight and the list goes on and on. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones!!!

I've never been a fan of Ted Kennedy or his policies, but my heart goes out to him and his family. My father died of a glioblastoma (sp) in less than 4 month after his first seizure. His was operable which the surgeon described as trying to get fruit out or jello. Radiation was useless, which the surgeon had said. Also had a cousin, age 52, who lived almost a year after 2 operation. It was not life, just living. And my husband died in a little over a year, but not or brain cancer. Feel for the family and their feelings of helplessness. AND YES, VICKY, HE SHOULD RACE THIS WEEKEND, he should do every d**n thing he wants. God's given him a time frame, which is more than his brother's got. My heart goes out to the Clan, and you all need more compassion

personally i dont see what the big deal is. i believe tony snow was wished dead, and mrs reagan also so for me it is just one more political theif with a pickled liver bites the big one bye bye teddy