Obama, Kerry, Patrick and two Kennedys in Boston

I hope Obama has the car keys.

One of the best political speeches I have ever heard. I hope it is replayed so everyone has an opportunity to see it.

With all those liberal heavyweights up there... do you think the stage was tilting to the left?

Paulo

It's ironic that Ted Kennedy is endorsing the one candidate who is on record as intending to delay or end the best achievement of the Kennedy administration - the space program. Obama wants to slash funding for the low orbiter shuttle and delay the Moon-Mars mission, and use the funds to beef up public education. Guess he's not into the 'teacher in space' program. Getting rid of the space program - is this what they mean by 'turning the page'? Is this what all the talk about 'change' means?

Real nice. Welcome to the 18th Century.

Surrender monkey Kerry supports Obama. The guy who graciously conceded when Bush stole election #2 while John Edwards seethed. Note that the politically involved Kennedies, not the high royalty or the controllable woman (I mean who would MARRY Arnold?) supported the less experienced candidate. Give me a break. Pardon me if i don't sing with Scarlett Johnansen. Some of us know we can BECAUSE WE DO everyday. We live paycheck to paycheck and yes we've had hope long before the kid from Hawaii came along. Keep it up and you'll not like the results tomorrow--I just may decide not to vote for Edwards and go over to Hilary.

This is a great event. Obama, Kerry, and Patrick and The Kennedy's - historic, just as is the NY Giants win versus the Pats. If you want to see the final drive, look here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9vMKw5Ur7M

I don't remember who said it before but...Kennedy has been in DC how long and NOW he thinks they need change?

"Has the car keys"

Oh Terry, you are soooooooooooooooooo funny -bringing up what happened nearly 40 years ago.

The only keys that are important are the ones to the White House that Barack will receive next January!!!

Bob in Atlanta: So because Kennedy killed a young vibrant women over 30 years ago somehow that makes it not relavant. I would bet that if Mary Jo Kopechne were your daughter you would think different. I wish someone in the media would do their job and ask Mary Jo's family about how they feel about Kennedy's support.

Paulo, I was on that stage behind Obama, the Kennedy's, Kerry, and our Governor Patrick. Not only was the stage not listing to the left -- I was sitting up there amid a number of Veterans for Obama. There was no "Better Dead Than Red" or "Love It or Leave It" sentiment among those veterans, and they were just about the most enthusiastic Obama supporters of all.

"It's ironic that Ted Kennedy is endorsing the one candidate who is on record as intending to delay or end the best achievement of the Kennedy administration - the space program. Obama wants to slash funding for the low orbiter shuttle and delay the Moon-Mars mission, and use the funds to beef up public education. Guess he's not into the 'teacher in space' program. Getting rid of the space program - is this what they mean by 'turning the page'? Is this what all the talk about 'change' means?"

Did it ever occur to you that by beefing up education now, the likelihood of having thousands of new minds involved in a fresh space program in the near future is more possible? Spend the money on education now, and you're investing in the future. We're broke right now. It's not a good time to spend money on space exploration. This is strategy and planning at work.

Vinny:

You are right - her family has never spoken out about that night. Maybe because it is NOT your business, or anyone else's how they feel. I would think they would probably say that this happened a long time ago, and they have moved on since then. Plus the last time I checked, Ted was not running for office.

If things should be that way, shouldn't we ask the parents of the boyfriend that Laura Bush killed in that car accident how they feel about her? Shouldn't we ask ANYBODY who has something like that in their backgrounds how their victims feel about what happened, and what they think about this person's support of a candidate?

What about the parents of the nearly 4,000 soldiers who have died in Iraq? Once McCain is nominated and endorsed by W, can we then go to the parents of those soldiers, like Cindy Sheehan, and ask THEM how they feel about McCain being endorsed by Bush??

You know, when I think about changing politics in America, the names John Kerry and Ted Kennedy sure jump to the tip of my tongue. No question. Just like when I think of those whose judgment I trust on governmental ethics, the names Todd Stroger and Richard Daley spring to mind. Go Obama!

Megan, just in case you visit here again - yeah, no kidding, investing in fresh new minds is great. My brother is a Chem professor; I get to hear him talk about it all the time.

What he also tells me is that the funding cutbacks to basic science in the US means he has lost several postdoc students who would have worked on his research with him, taught, etc.

Science can't stand still. If we pull money from a scientific program, the scientists and scientists-in-training will have to go where the money and jobs are to stay in the field. You can't flip burgers for 5 years, waiting for a program to be geared up again. It takes longer than the 5 years to get up to speed again. By that time, the field will have passed them by; wannabe astronauts will be too old, etc.

You have to keep going at the same time that you are investing. Do you know of any successful company that shuts down for 5 years to train a new batch of workers? No - they keep on operating and train their new workers at the same time.

By the time the US under Obama decides its ready for a moon-Mars mission, the Chinese will already be there. We may have to pay rent. Not the most progressive, forward looking idea.

If we are going to be isolationists, we should just say so and quit urging kids to be dream about programs that won't be here anymore.