The Liberal Lion Roars Again

On August 25, 2008 a man stepped onto the
stage of the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado to speak a word of unity

to a conflicted wing of the Party and a message of hope to the Party at large
as well as an inspirational word to all Americans.

At certain moments in human history
"anointed" men and women have stepped onto the stage to lift and lead the
world, a nation, a country or a people. Those chosen individuals have possessed
the power and poise to inspire and steer humanity in the right direction during
tough and trying times. In the cruel crucible of a civil war Julius Caesar led
Rome from a Republic to an Empire. Augustus declared "I found Rome as clay and I
left it in marble." Harriett Tubman stepped onto the stage and led slaves from
bondage in the south to freedom in the north via the Underground Railroad.
Abraham Lincoln stood at Gettysburg and declared "that this nation, under God,
shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the
people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." Caesar, Augustus,
Harriett and "Abe" stepped onto the stage when a nation or a people were
struggling to define themselves and provided a powerful path forward that
served to unite their respective nations. There was something in their words
and ways that rallied the people to whom they spoke and caused them to believe
and become encouraged. When their nation needed them most, they stepped onto
the stage.

On August 25, 2008 a man stepped onto the
stage of the Democratic Convention in Denver, Colorado to speak a word of unity
to a conflicted wing of the Party and a message of hope to the Party at large
as well as an inspirational word to all Americans. This man was born for a
moment like August 25. Our nation is in a recession, gas prices are
unjustifiably high, the housing market has crashed, 80% of Americans say that
we are on the wrong track and the Clinton faction of the Democratic Party still
has their marbles in their pockets. Who will speak to us and for us at such a
pivotal point in the race for the Presidency of the greatest nation on the
planet Earth? Enter the Liberal Lion.

His steps are no longer as swift as they
once were. His endurance is not what it used to be. His stamina has been
stunted. Why? Because the health gods were unkind to him and struck him with a
brain tumor. Hence, he exited the stage in June and had only emerged once in
the hallowed halls of the United States Senate and that to save Medicare. That
was until August 25 when his Party and Obama needed him most.

While the Liberal Lion's steps, stamina
and endurance have been cruelly curtailed by life, he defied his doctor's
orders and boarded a plane to Denver because the stage was calling for him. His
physicians were against the trip, especially his exposure to crowds because of
the weakness of his immune system after weeks of chemotherapy and radiation
treatments. On this night a tumor could not tumble the Liberal Lion and
chemotherapy and radiation had to take a back seat because the Lion had decided
to leave his lair. After a nice video introduction set up by his niece,
Caroline Kennedy, Senator Teddy M. Kennedy emerged from behind the stage and
stood at the podium refusing a stool that had been offered to him to sit on.
Stunted stamina, shorter steps and eclipsed endurance had to give way to the
Lion's Roar! Yes, Teddy still has his roar! Lions become weak through the
process of life. They arrive at a point where they can no longer hunt or move
about as swiftly as they once did. However, they keep their roar and the entire
jungle knows who is still king.

The Liberal Lion roared over the
fanatical crowd who was glad to see the lion who has rescued so many cubs
during his 9 terms in the United States Senate." My fellow Democrats, my
fellow Americans, it is so wonderful to be here," he roared. "And
nothing, nothing is going to keep me away from this special gathering …"
Welcome back Teddy the Liberal Lion.

And the lion roared, "I have come here
tonight to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals
and to elect Barack Obama president of the United States." Roar
interpreted: Let's get behind Obama and change America's future.

And the lion roared, "Together we
have known success and seen failure … victory and defeat." He said this
is the time for victory, for the election of Obama. "For me this is a
season of hope … new hope … and this is the cause of my life, new hope that
we will break the old gridlock …" Roar interpreted: Hope will lead us to
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue with Obama as the tenant.

And the lion roared, "The hope
rises again and the dream lives on." Roar interpreted: We will write
another chapter in this great pageantry of hope and pass the dream on to a new
generation.

Hope and dreams is a powerful thing in
the hearts of those who cling to both. Aware of his own mortality, the Lion
personalized hope and dreams in these words "I pledge to you that I will
be there next January on the floor of the United States Senate."

Teddy M. Kennedy rallied and relayed
hope and unity to our Party on last night. We needed him and he needed us but
we needed him more. We needed to hear the Lion roar and roar he did. Caroline
summed up the night's roar better than anyone when she said that her uncle "has
been a senator for all who believe that the dream has never died." She
said "Uncle Teddy" and Obama are "two men who have changed my
life and the life of this country.

"Leaders like them come along
rarely," she said. "But once or twice in a lifetime, they come along
just when we need them the most. This is one of those moments. "She said that
in this campaign Obama "has no greater champion" than Kennedy. "When
he is president, he will have no stronger partner in the United States Senate."

Teddy you can return to you lair and we
will see you real soon. Thanks for the roar!