Qurly.net » politics

Senator Ted Kennedy Passes Away at 77

Qurly — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 06:13:01 +0000

U.S. Senator Ted (Edward M.) Kennedy – known as the “Liberal Lion”, and youngest brother of President John F. Kennedy and Senator Bobby (Robert F.) Kennedy – has just passed away in Massachusetts from his fight with brain cancer. This death is roughly two weeks after his sister Eunice Shriver Kennedy passed away at 88.

Senator Kennedy has been a long-term senator and recently an active supporter of President Barack Obama as well as healthcare reform. President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom this month. His death leaves only one remaining sibling from the legendary Kennedy clan – the Senator’s older sister Jean Kennedy.

Eunice Kennedy Shriver Passes Away

Qurly — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:52:51 +0000

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, member of the famous Kennedy clan and advocate for disabled athletes, passed away today at 88. Shriver’s advocacy was inspired by her puportedly disabled sister Rosemary Kennedy (who passed away in Jan 2005 at 86). She later co-founded the Special Olympics. Shriver worked for the U.S. State Department and later over the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation, which existed to advance the causes of disabled people. She was accompanied by her family in hospital at the time of her passing.

Other Kennedy siblings include John F., Bobby, Ted Kennedy and Jean Kennedy. The latter two are the only remaining living Kennedy siblings.

35th Anniversary of Nixon Resignation

Qurly — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:46:51 +0000

Today marks the 35th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s resignation, which came after pressure due to the Watergate “edited tape” scandal. According to the LA Times, Nixon was the first president to resign in disgrace.

Sonia Sotomayor Sworn in to Supreme Court

Qurly — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:01:22 +0000

Sonia Sotomayor today became the nation’s first Hispanic sworn in as a Supreme Court justice. She is the 111th person to take the office – replacing David Souter – and the third woman in the court’s 200+ year history. Her mother, Celina Sotomayor, held the Bible for the swearing in. The televised event did not take place at the White House, breaking with a tradition started in 1981 with Sandra Day O’Connor. However, President Obama will receive her next week.

Florida Senator Mel Martinez Resigning

Qurly — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 18:37:20 +0000

Florida’s Senator Mel Martinez (R) has announced to his staff that he will be resigning – a move that follows up his previous December 2008 announcement that he will not seek re-election in 2010 (his term ends in 2011). He’s claiming that his priorities are elsewhere, especially with his family, and that he plans to return to Florida from D.C. Martinez, who is 62 and the only Hispanic Republican in the Senate (according to Fox News) will not be returning to Congress after the August recess. The task of appointing an interim replacement falls to Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R), who announced in May that he plans to run for the seat, but denies he’ll appoint himself.

President Obama Turns 48

Qurly — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 03:00:08 +0000

United States President Barack Obama celebrated his 48th birthday in Washington, D.C., today by singing happy birthday to a reporter, Helen Thomas, who was celebrating her 89th birthday. Thomas is a veteran White House correspondent.

North Korea Pardons Two American Journalists

Qurly — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 20:03:27 +0000

The NY Times is reporting that former U.S. President Bill Cllinton has met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and managed to get a special pardon granted for two American journalists. The journalists, Laura Ling (younger sister of TV journliast Lisa Ling) and Euna Lee, were originally sentenced to 12 years hard labor for illegal entry into N. Korea. It’s not clear yet how soon the journalists can leave N. Korea.