The educational system in this country needs some help. This is the best bill Bush could get through the evenly divided Congress, and he needed to get Kennedy's help to do it.
Kennedy is, as someone said earlier, an icon to many in this country, who remember the days of JFK and Bobby. He is the sole heir of their tarnished legacy, and with his character flaws could never have been president. He is entrenched in Massachusetts until he retires or dies, so he is not going away anytime soon. He has one loser of a son, a failed marriage, a new wife he can't keep up with, and a drinking problem that is publlic knowledge. His health cannot be too good.
I imagine the drinking stems from the urge to wash away some nightmarish memories from a certain car accident many years ago.
He is an old, sad man who once had a chance to be great, but let it pass him by. I don't think it hurts to be nice to someone who maybe, in the twilight of his life, is regretful of things done and undone.
"The quality of mercy is not strained;
It droppeth as a gentle rain from heaven..."