A perfect description of Ted Kennedy

Of all the words written in the last 24-plus hours following the death of Sen Edward Kennedy, these, written by John M. Broder of the New York Times, are my favorite:

"He was a Rabelaisian figure in the Senate and in life, instantly recognizable by his shock of white hair, his florid, oversize face, his booming Boston brogue, his powerful but pained stride. He was a celebrity, sometimes a self-parody, a hearty friend, an implacable foe, a man of large faith and large flaws, a melancholy character who persevered, drank deeply and sang loudly. He was a Kennedy."