Ted Kennedy Tribute at our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica

Many of the top Washington players showed up today at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Basilica in Roxbury for the funeral service of former Senator Ted Kennedy. This was the first time since he died that he wasn't upstaged by pictures of of JFK and RFK, and the unescapable legacy of his brothers. It's about time.

George Bush Jr was there sitting next to Hillary Clinton. Assigned seats we assume. Wonder if they put Attorney General Eric Holder next to CIA director Leon Panetta, given Holder's decision last week to hire special prosecutor to look into Bush era torture methods.

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Joe Biden, W. (Sr was too ill to attend) John McCain, Arnold Sgwarzenagger. They were all there. Where was Dick Cheney? Must have been out shooting his buddies on a hunting trip somewhere. He better have a written note from Scooter Libby as to why he missed this one. I bet Sarah Palin wishes she could have a press conference outside of the church this morning to make the claim that Obama's death panel would have left Ted Kennedy on the outside looking in after being diagnosed with brain cancer last year anyway. Rush Limbaugh too. He's still patting himself on the back for predicting that Kennedy's death would precede any health care bill being passed.

The coverage from the Church on CNN has not had a peep for the last 20 minutes. A far cry from the Apollo theater tribute for Michael Jackson sponsored by Al Sharpton's National Action Network. That tribute was a dance-a-thon hosted inside by the best DJ's from 98.7 highlighted a dirty dancing moment with the Reverend and a female fan while Spike Lee laughed his ass off on stage next to them. Different approaches to tributes in

This church contains the most powerful people in the United States. The street sweeping bomb sweeping dog sniffing units had to be off the charts before this one. This of course is not the right time or place but it would be great to see W get up there and do a slapstick stand up comedy routine. It's just so solemn in the church.

As we discussed on Shock And Awesome Friday on East Village Radio, Kennedy's legislative record has been impressive. Look we all know about Chappaquidick and the drunk gaffes from time to time. in the end though it doesn't feel right to say anything else but RIP Ted, job well done.