Kennedy provided a balanced and reasonable way to clean up the crazy quilt and often dysfunctional processes we use to fill vacancies temporarily in the Senate while maintaining the continuity of our government.

Sargent Shriver never attained elective office as the three Kennedy brothers and assorted offspring did, but he achieved something as important, or more so.

The royal status the Kennedys temporarily achieved will seem bizarre to future generations--perhaps it already does even for those of us who can remember the 1960s.

In Massachusetts, where Republicans have long felt like outcasts, the atmosphere in the last few days has been nothing short of electrifying.

While Ted Kennedy leaves the contemporary political stage, the man who served longer in the U.S. Senate than all but two others is now an indelible part of our political history.

The CLASS Act was a failure, but the need for something like it remains and will grow. In fact, without a replacement policy, we could end up with the bigger nightmare

While Obama complained about "politicians" blocking comprehensive immigration bills, he was one of them himself. Some new approach is needed, and Obama did little to point the way. El Paso was all about election 2012, not serious immigration reform.

Senator Edward Kennedy's time in the Senate has been marked by hard work, a strong staff, and commitment to find bipartisan solutions to national problems.