Here Today... Gone To Hell!

BOSTON (AP) - Sen. Edward M. Kennedy was airlifted to a hospital Saturday after suffering a seizure at his home, and did not appear to have had a stroke as initially suspected, his spokeswoman said.

The 76-year-old Democrat, the lone surviving son in a famed political family, was undergoing tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure, spokeswoman Stephanie Cutter said.

"Senator Kennedy is resting comfortably, and it is unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours," she said.

Kennedy went to Cape Cod Hospital on Saturday morning "after feeling ill at his home," Cutter said. After discussion with his doctors in Boston, Kennedy was taken to Massachusetts General.

 
(AP) Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., applauds during a ceremony to award the Profile in Courage Awards,...
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An official who declined to be identified by name, citing the sensitivity of the events, had earlier said that Kennedy had stroke-like symptoms. The hospital declined to comment on his condition.

In October, Kennedy had surgery to repair a nearly complete blockage in a major neck artery. The discovery was made during a routine examination of a decades-old back injury.

The hourlong procedure on his left carotid artery - a main supplier of blood to the face and brain - was performed at Massachusetts General. This type of operation is performed on more than 180,000 people a year to prevent a stroke.

The doctor who operated on Kennedy said at the time that surgery is reserved for those with more than 70 percent blockage, and Kennedy had "a very high-grade blockage."

On Saturday, Hyannis Fire Lt. Bill Rex said a 911 call came in from the Kennedy family compound at 8:19 a.m. A man was transported to Cape Cod Hospital and transferred by air at 10:10 a.m. from Barnstable Municipal Airport to Boston.

 
(AP) Democratic presidential hopeful, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, stands with Sen. Ted Kennedy,...
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David Reilly, a spokesman for Cape Cod Hospital, said that Kennedy was brought to the hospital around 9 a.m. and stayed for about an hour before being flown by helicopter to the Boston hospital.

Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts did not talk to reporters when he arrived at the hospital shortly after 1 p.m.

Kerry later issued a statement, saying that Kennedy "been a fighter who has overcome adversity again and again with courage, grit, and determination. Teresa and I are praying" for Kennedy's family.

"We know that everyone in Massachusetts and people throughout the nation pray for a full and speedy recovery for a man whose life's work has touched millions upon millions of lives," the statement said.

Kennedy, 76, has been in the Senate since election in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.

 
(AP) In this Jan. 23, 2007, file photo, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, and Sen. Edward Kennedy,...
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Kennedy is the lone surviving son in a famed family. His eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, beginning a tour of hospitals in Eugene, Ore., told reporters that he had been in touch with the senator's family.

"Ted Kennedy is a giant in American political history. He's done more for health care than just about anybody in history. We are going to be rooting for him. I insist on being optimistic about how it's going to turn out," he said.

Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, New York. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, also issued a statement.

"My thoughts and prayers are with Ted Kennedy and his family today," she said. "We all wish him well and a quick recovery."

 
(AP) Spokeswoman for Edward Kennedy says the senator is under evaluation at Massachusetts General...
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Kennedy gave Obama's presidential campaign a big boost this year with his endorsement and has campaigned actively for the Illinois senator.

Kennedy was preparing to host the annual Best Buddies Challenge event on Saturday afternoon, a fundraiser for the Best Buddies organization founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver that helps people with intellectual disabilities.

Hundreds are expected to participate in the event, which started with a 100-mile bicycle ride from the Kennedy Library in Boston to Hyannisport, and closes out with a concert at the Kennedy compound.

A man walking by Massachusetts General was startled by the news when he asked about the reason for the large media presence.

"Ted? Is he all right? Jeez, I'm taken aback. I just saw him on television yesterday," said Jerry Leonard, 76, a retired bartender.

"He's a Kennedy. His name is synonymous with this area. I'm a Bostonian, too, and he's done a lot for us around here and for the senior citizens in particular. I don't know him but I feel a connection."

 One of the greatest bulwarks to Democracy in the last hundred years.

Get Well Soon!

Lets hope he gets better.

Breaking News: He has a malignant brain tumour  :(

Ugh...that's horrible.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24728667/

I would expect we'll get official word of his retirement shortly...

Maybe he'll try to soldier on, but I rather doubt it.  I suppose it depends, ultimately, on what specific diagnosis they come up with (specific tumor type).  I guess we'll see.....

He's had a great career and lived a good life.   Sucks to see it go down this way.

IF they caught it early, and it's one of the more treatable types of cancer, it's possible he survives this.

But the chemo and radiation necessary really suck....there's no other way to put it than that.  I'm not sure he can effectively serve and get treated at the same time.  Maybe.....he's a tough old bird....but given his age, etc.   I'd think he might take this chance to retire.....

Did anybody see the 60 minutes article about the Kansus (spelling?) machine?

Maybe...

Guy is a radio something or other...get's cancer...and makes some machine that he says cures cancer?  Uses radio waves. Tests show it might work (so far..but it's early)?  Something like that?

I VAGUELY remember the piece, if that's the one you're thinking of.

That's it. Looked very promising and would eliminate chemo.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200805210001

Classy....Michael Savage played a Dead Kennedys song yesterday to go with the news. Shadow of Mustaine must be proud.

yeah i heard him today doing it again....not too thrilled about that...Savage was getting pissed because the media was really kissing Kennedy's ass the last 2 days talking about what a "great" man he was for America....Savage argues that he was HORRIBLE for america, so he spent the past 2 days outlining all of his policies...like being pro-partial birth abortion, gay marriage, illegal immgration blah blah blah.....bottom line Savage needs to understand that the media will kiss Kennedys ass up to and right after he dies...thats what they do...whenever someone dies they go on an on about all the "good" they did...its understandable....And while I do think that Ted Kennedy is a murderer(and a bad driver) and an awful person for America now is NOT the time to go over all that nonsense..I think the persons life is more importat than his views and policies....so that was a pretty dick thing for Savage to do..even though today he said he was upset with the mans actions and polices not the man himself...still..not appropriate at this time.....I expect that out of Coulter but not him....

Like Laura Bush?

Youre doing the same thing Savage is, so dont try to take the high road, nobodys buying it.

Very sad, about Sen Kennedy.   

^ That it is. Truly a great American; one who has always supported the Constitution of this great land.

once again booker...being ridiculous...I am not trying to sell anything for you to buy...I am being honest...I think Ted Kennedy is a fucking asshole and has been a disaster for this country...I want to throw up whenever I hear him talk on television....but I think Michael Savage was out of line to take a dying man's illess and exploiting it for ratings......Just because Ted Kennedy is dying doesnt change my opinion of him...why should it?.I feel sorry for the man and his family.....if President Bush were dying im sure all of you on this board wouldnt all of the sudden become Bush lovers so dont come to me with your bullshit booker....I said I had a problem with what Savage did....end of story..playing a Dead Kennedy's song is a dick thing to do...making fun of it is a dick thing to do...where did I make fun of the fact that Kennedy is dying?  Not to mention I was dragged into this coversation because I was mentioned in this thread...

In addition... I would really like to NOT make this thread about my opinion of Ted Kennedy..or even worse turn it into  an argument that goes back and forth.Thats not what this thread was intended for....so im not commenting any further on this topic....no matter how hard Booker tries to start shit up...

fair enough