While, I’m hardly qualified to properly eulogize Senator Edward Kennedy, I thought I would throw this video up. First, a little context:

[July 9, 2008] WASHINGTON (CNN) — Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy on Wednesday made his first appearance in Congress since being diagnosed with brain cancer nearly two months ago, casting a single vote to help break a Republican filibuster of an important Medicare bill.

Colleagues greeted Kennedy with a lengthy standing ovation on the Senate floor just after 4:15 p.m.

The bill would reverse a 10.6 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors. The cuts in Medicare payments — part of a scheduled cost-saving formula — went into effect July 1, although the Bush administration said it will hold off processing claims until mid-July to give Congress time to reach a compromise.

In a written statement, Kennedy said, “I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens — and that’s to protect Medicare. Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here. I wasn’t going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference.”

That’s the United States Senate. Not a campaign rally. Not a bunch of Democratic strategists or staffers. The US Senate, giving a standing ovation.

America lost a great man today.

Tags: Edward Kennedy, Senate

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