So, Other Than Saying "No" a Lot and Losing Elections, What Have the Republicans Done Lately?

A partial list of the accomplishments of Sen. Edward Kennedy:

• The Mental Health Parity Act of 1996
• State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)
• Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act of 2009 (Americorps)
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965
• Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
• Fair Housing Act of 1968
• Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986 (overturning a SCOTUS decision)
• Ryan White Care Act of 1990 (AIDS care)
• Americans with Disability Act of '90
• Civil Rights Act of 1991
• Minority Health & Health Disparities Research & Education Act of 2000
• National & Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (Americorps)
• Mammography Quality Standards Act of 1990
• Military Child Care Act of 1989
• The WARN Act of 1988 (60 days notice prior to plant closings)
• Employment Opportunities for Disabled Americans Act of 1986
• Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 (vetoed by Reagan)
• Job Training Partnership Act of 1980
• Refugee Act of 1980
• Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act of 1980
• Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act - 1975
• Title IX of Education Amendments of '72 (bans sex discrimination by schools getting Fed $)
• Establishment of Women, Infants & Childrens ("WIC") Nutrition Program at USDA
• Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Act of 1970
• Older American Community Service Employment Act of 1970
• Occupational Safety & Health Administration Act of 1970
• The Voting Rights Act amendments of 1970
• The Bilingual Education Act of 1968
• The Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 (War on Poverty: Head Start, Job Corps)

He had his faults, to be sure -- serious ones at various times -- but he raised his own family as well as those of his brothers, and I’ll put his record up against any modern Republican’s record. Let’s see who really did more for the common man ...