This is sad news:

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy say he has a malignant brain tumor.

Doctors for the Massachusetts Democrat say tests conducted after Kennedy suffered a seizure this weekend show a tumor in his left parietal lobe. His treatment will be decided after more tests but the usual course includes combinations of radiation and chemotherapy.

The 76-year-old senator has been hospitalized in Boston since Saturday, when he was airlifted from Cape Cod after a seizure at his home.

His wife and children have been with him each day but have made no public statements.

His doctors said in a statement released to The Associated Press that he has had no further seizures, is in good spirits and is resting comfortably.

I may not agree with Senator Kennedy on many political issues, but this is still awful, sad news. Please join with me in wishing him the best of luck on a quick recovery. My thoughts and prayers go to the Kennedy family in this difficult time.

UPDATE:
Here’s heartbreaking video of Robert Byrd speaking on the Senate floor about Kennedy’s diagnosis; he’s moved to tears. I’ll say it again — I don’t wish this on anyone, and while I disagree with many of Kennedy’s politics, I hold nothing against the man personally. Also worth mentioning is how incredibly difficult this must be for his family and friends; Byrd’s emotional speech shows that. Everyone, let’s please treat this subject with grace and dignity. Keep Senator Kennedy and his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

To celebrate your tax day — everyone’s favorite day of the year — here’s a fun little video, featuring Senator Ted Kennedy:

Do as I say, not as I do. Right, right.

Was it just me, or did he look a little red-faced? Do you think maybe he’d had a few to drink?

Jeesh. Silly me. That was a dumb question. Wondering whether or not Teddy Kennedy’s been drinking is like wondering whether the Sun rises in the East or the West… the answer’s pretty obvious.

Hat Tip: Michelle Malkin

I wonder what he’ll write about Chappaquiddick.

Yes, folks, Teddy himself has sold the rights to his “memoirs” for a whopping $8 million.

The memoirs of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the youngest and last surviving brother of the America’s most famous political siblings and for decades an eminent liberal statesman and legislator, have been acquired by an imprint of the Hachette Book Group USA.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but a publishing official with knowledge of the negotiations said the agreement was comparable to the $8 million Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton received for “Living History” and the $9 million former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will reportedly get for his planned memoir.

The New York Times reported that Kennedy received an advance of more than $8 million.

“I’ve been fortunate in my life to grow up in an extraordinary family and to have a front row seat at many key events in our nation’s history,” Kennedy, 75, said in a statement. “I hope my reflections can contribute to a deeper understanding of many events in the history of this great country and to a more in-depth picture of an American family.”

Yes, this will be fascinating. He can explain all about Mary Jo Kopechne and the “accident” at Chappaquiddick. He can tell us all about how he was expelled for cheating at Harvard. He can list his favorite liquors, so that we all can be a drunken buffoon like him.

Jeez, I can’t wait. Sounds like a real page-turner, huh? This could be Teddy’s version of OJ Simpson’s “If I Did It”, right?

Right?

Hat Tip: Liberty Pundit

The Hill is reporting that the Senate phones have crashed due to a “modest increase” in calling:

Many Senate office phones were down Thursday morning due to a “modest increase in call volume,” according to an e-mail from the Senate assistant sergeant at arms and the chief information officer.

Opponents of the bipartisan immigration reform bill that stalled in the Senate after a 46-53 cloture vote this morning said foes of the bill had flooded Senate offices with phone calls.

“The Verizon telephone switch[board] serving the Senate is experiencing problems that are being exacerbated by this morning’s modest increase in call volume,” says the e-mail, which was sent at 9:45 a.m.

Verizon is attempting to resolve problems and the voicemail system has been temporarily disconnected from the telephone switchboard.

“Calls will still go to the voice mail system, but callers will receive the generic voice mail greeting (‘You have reached the United States Senate voice messaging service …’) rather than the voice mail greeting of the person or office being called,” the notice continued.

It is unknown when the telephones and voicemail service will be up and running again.
Senate Sergeant at Arms Terrance Gainer could not be reached for comment.

Yet, a good number of Senators — even with so many calls saying they don’t support this bill — still don’t get it. Hopefully this thing will die for good now.

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the picture of the day: