Mr. Kennedy's Brain

Senator Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. How awful.

In all honesty, as someone who spent his formative years as a young Republican, I was indoctrinated to see Ted Kennedy as a high-ranking demon, powerful and in control of legions of minion thralls, within the political cosmotology. This mindset has proven disturbingly hard to entirely shake. That, combined with his views about wind power on Martha's Vineyard, has made it difficult for me to see Kennedy as the great figure he is to so many lifelong progressives.

Regardless, I can think of nothing, with the possible exception of Alzheimer's disease, that would be a more frightening diagnosis than a malignant brain tumor. For someone who has spent his life speaking, thinking and debating, it must be devastating. I wish him the best, not because he is a political ally, but because he has been diagnosed with a disease that I can only describe as arbitrary and innately unfair. I would not wish it on anyone. The concept frightens me terribly. I honestly haven't the words.

So I suppose I'll step aside and give the conservative blabbershpere a chance to show their class. I'm certain they won't disappoint.