Althouse: Teddy Kennedy is rushed to the hospital...

May 17, 2008

Teddy Kennedy is rushed to the hospital...

... with symptoms of a stroke.

We pause 10 seconds before adding: What effect will this have on the presidential election?

59 comments:

1775OGG said...: Having had a very minor stroke, hope the Senator recovers! Politics is not an issue regarding his health!; 5/17/08, 11:34 AM
Bob said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 5/17/08, 11:40 AM
Bob said...: I wish him a speedy recovery...so he can retire from the US Senate. That's as gracious as I'm prepared to be. It's one thousand times more gracious than you'd find on HuffPo or Kos, though, if the headline were about a Republican Senator.; 5/17/08, 11:42 AM
vbspurs said...: Barack and his family already extended their prayers to the Senator and the entire Kennedy family.

I know Caroline Schlossberg and her family go up to Hyannis Port for the Labour Day holiday (late summer). It would be curious to see what those the Hillary factions in the Kennedy family have to say regarding their support.

(Yes, it's like the Fanjul brothers, one who was a die-hard Clinton supporter, but the other, a die-hard Republican -- powerful people don't play politics like normal folk do. You have to butter both sides of your bread)

I don't like Ted Kennedy. But I don't wish him badly either. Here's hoping he recovers well.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 11:42 AM
rcocean said...: Given that he's a fat booze hound in his 70s Ted has been remarkably healthy.; 5/17/08, 11:56 AM
EnigmatiCore said...: I hope the old lion recovers well and completely.

To be dispassionate and answer the cold-hearted question, it helps the Democrats. Further, the worse it is for the Senator, the better it will be for liberals politically, as the tributes would paint liberalism in the best possible lights and his opponents in the worst.; 5/17/08, 11:58 AM
rhhardin said...: I don't care one way or the other.

Celebrity crisis, bah. Pieties are called out.; 5/17/08, 12:04 PM
Palladian said...: Mary Jo Kopechne wishes she'd gotten such prompt ambulance service.; 5/17/08, 12:05 PM
vbspurs said...: tributes would paint liberalism in the best possible lights and his opponents in the worst.

If he dies, you mean? Maybe. I think Obama is better served by the obsequies that will come this June 6, when the 40th anniversary of RFK's assassination will come around.

They'll certainly use visuals of that in the Democratic National Convention, to great emotional effect.

(It's not a slam. We did too, about Reagan)

However, if Ted were to die, that would be overkill, err, so to speak.

RFK was a polarising figure, but also inspirational. That's the last thing Ted has been, in his lifetime.

On the contrary. With Kennedy out of the way, being the oldest serving member of the Senate, the Clintons have a free pass to being the most important Democrats still active in America (since the Carters are a joke). It would be better for Obama Ted to rally.

BTW, OldGrouchy, I expected the worst on LGF, the flip-side of Kos/HuffPo. I went and checked the comments, and they are respectful.

Thank God.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 12:06 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Very sad.

Clinton beat Obama 56% to 40% in the Mass. primary. If Kennedy were unable to campaign in the fall for Obama, it would hurt him, not only in Mass., but elsewhere.

Mass went for Reagan in 80 and 84, but otherwise has gone Dem. since 1968. An April survey showed Obama and McCain running neck-and-neck.; 5/17/08, 12:06 PM
1775OGG said...: Vickie, O good, there's still a Brit with a heart. Are there any left in Old Blighty?

Ever been to Woolrich? My goodness, you are truly a member of the VRWC if you also are a LFG member; bhahahahahahahahahah! Such a tasty little morsel too!; 5/17/08, 12:20 PM
Bob said...: vbspurs:
BTW, OldGrouchy, I expected the worst on LGF, the flip-side of Kos/HuffPo. I went and checked the comments, and they are respectful.

Charles is wielding to whip mercilessly to keep it so, though. There's already been a couple of comments deleted, and Charles is threatening to close accounts of people who can't be civil.; 5/17/08, 12:22 PM
rcocean said...: I'm with you RH, I don't care.

Ted's lived a long life and did a lot of damage to this country. And I don't remember him being civil to anyone.; 5/17/08, 12:25 PM
vbspurs said...: Old Grouchy -- just a reader, as I am of Kos. And my heart belongs to America: she's my true love. :)

Bob -- actually, I misspoke, and meant you, but no matter! Good to know that about Charles.

(I have to phrase this carefully, since the topic is still fresh and I don't want my words misconstrued)

He's a good guy, with a whip-hand and decent standards of interaction considering the hi-voltage of the lizards' comments.

You know, there are a fair amount of ladies who post on LGF, but I don't get that impression on Kos. Am I mistaken? The demographic is also unbelievably young on Kos. They talk about video games sometimes...

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 12:27 PM
William said...: Politicians do not retire from the Senate; they retire to it. Looked upon not so much as a deliberative body but as a nursing home, the Senate has worked wonders. The Senate shows how with proper funding and good will we can offer a life of dignity and meaning to the elderly and infirm. Sen Byrd is just one of many examples.; 5/17/08, 12:29 PM
1775OGG said...: Well, good to know where your heart is! However, do you cutesy when you meet with Auntie?

I'm still ticked that John Adams did when he was Amb. to Old Geo III; should have saluted the old f't with his middle finger! A good Yank bows only to his God and to no man!; 5/17/08, 12:35 PM
Dave said...: Good riddance. Couldn't have happened to a drunker guy.; 5/17/08, 12:36 PM
vbspurs said...: Well, good to know where your heart is! However, do you cutesy when you meet with Auntie?

The Queen once went to my school, and I was chosen as alternate flower girl in case the first one up and died (there was a 'flu outbreak in my boarding school that week). We were taught to curtsey for something like 2 sessions-worth. I was prepared to curtsey! Well, I mean, when you're 13, you ain't got many options.

But having taken an Oath of Allegiance to the US of A, forswearing allegiance to foreign princes and potentates, I would not curtsey to the Queen now.

I would happily shake hands with Senator Kennedy.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 12:43 PM
cryptical said...: William said: Politicians do not retire from the Senate; they retire to it. Looked upon not so much as a deliberative body but as a nursing home, the Senate has worked wonders. The Senate shows how with proper funding and good will we can offer a life of dignity and meaning to the elderly and infirm. Sen Byrd is just one of many examples.

Repeal the 17th Amendment.; 5/17/08, 12:46 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I don't care for the man or his politics but I don't wish ill on him either.; 5/17/08, 12:55 PM
Unknown said...: Kennedy Hospitalized After Suffering Seizure

Senator Underwent Surgery To Clear Major Neck Artery Last October
BOSTON (WBZ) ― U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was airlifted to a Boston hospital Saturday morning after suffering an apparent seizure at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, the senator's office said Saturday afternoon.

He was first rushed to Cape Cod Hospital, and after being in the emergency room for two hours he was transported to Barnstable Airport and was then flown to Massachusetts General Hospital.

In a released statement, Kennedy's office said, "It appears that Senator Kennedy experienced a seizure this morning. He is undergoing a battery of tests at Massachusetts General Hospital to determine the cause of the seizure. Senator Kennedy is resting comfortably, and it is unlikely we will know anything more for the next 48 hours."

http://wbztv.com/local/senator.ted.kennedy.2.726409.html; 5/17/08, 1:01 PM
John Stodder said...: Musicians and U.S. Senators tend to live longer than average, assuming they survive their wild years. Few were wilder for longer than Ted Kennedy.

He was, however, the smartest liberal legislative strategist of his era. He was not predictable, and his alliances were sometimes brilliantly perverse.

So if he must die or retire, that will be a definite loss for the Democrats. I'm sure President Obama would much rather be working with Ted to get his agenda through the Senate than with Harry, Hillary or Chuck.; 5/17/08, 1:08 PM
vbspurs said...: Lumiere, that's the exact link I used earlier. Thanks for pointing out that they're calling it a seizure.

Recent reports are downplaying the "stroke" wording, according to one of my readers.

BTW, one nonplussed email I got, probably from a newbie, queried why I had written what appears to be an unfortunate thought sequence.

"Ted Kennedy Suffers Possible Stroke. Just hitting the news wires: .... I Touch Myself · Caroline Kennedy Demonstrates A Profile In Courage"

Oh dear, Google.

Another update:

"But a family spokesman later characterized his condition as a seizure, the Associated Press reported.

CNN said Kennedy relatives were optimistic he would recover. Other reports said Kennedy made a phone call after being transported to the hospital to cancel a luncheon.

The Cape Cod Times said local fire officials received a call from the Kennedy compound around 8:30 a.m. Eastern time. Kennedy, 76, was treated at Cape Cod Hospital before a helicopter transfer to Massachusetts General around 10:15 a.m., the report said.
Kennedy's hospitalization comes seven months after the senator underwent surgery to remove blockage in his left carotid artery."

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 1:37 PM
cardeblu said...: Ace's place has also mandated that if you can't say anything nice, then....

...

vbspurs: "I would happily shake hands with Senator Kennedy."

I would shake hands with him, yes.

"But having taken an Oath of Allegiance to the US of A, forswearing allegiance to foreign princes and potentates, I would not curtsey to the Queen now."

That's good to know; however, although I can trace my family way back to at least 'his' arrival here in about 1699 from Scotland, I think I, still, would do some kind of curtsey or a little head or body dip if I were to meet the Queen. It would be an automatic deference, which is just a little disturbing to me.

I will never, ever forget, though, when Liz came to visit the US in the late '80s/early '90s. She went to a house in Florida (I believe) where kids with AIDs were living and being treated. The person running the care facility was a big (and I mean big) black woman, who came trotting up to the Queen, practically squealing with delight, and gave her majesty a body-rocking, side-to-side hug. The expression on the Queen's face was priceless. It was at first a look of absolute astonishment, quickly followed by composure and then a look of pure delight, herself. I thought that was probably the most emotional, physical, human response she had ever encountered, possibly more so than even from her own family.; 5/17/08, 2:02 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Seems to have not been a stroke but rather a seizure. I wish him a speedy recovery. I've had seizures and they're a total drag. What follows is a battery of tests to discover the cause, which is a process of elimination that go so far as a myelogram which is another name for lower lombard with dye, which is another name for what it actually is, spinal tape, and not matter what they tell you, they hurt like hell. Recovering from the tests is far more dreadful than the original seizure. He has my sympathy -- empathy, straight-up actually.; 5/17/08, 2:03 PM
ricpic said...: Really, what difference does it make what I might wish on Ted Kennedy? He's won. The United States as the finest and fullest expression of the ethos of the white protestant peoples is gone. And more responsible than any other act in its undoing was and is the 1964 Immigration Act, whose chief and most effective proponent was the Senator from Massachusetts. He managed to turn The American People into a collection of populations. Whattaguy.; 5/17/08, 2:06 PM
Swifty Quick said...: I don't care for the man or his politics but I don't wish ill on him either.

It's unhealthy to wish ill will upon someone over political disagreements. It does you far more harm than it'll ever do them.; 5/17/08, 2:16 PM
EnigmatiCore said...: "The United States as the finest and fullest expression of the ethos of the white protestant peoples is gone."

Of the white protestant peoples?

My oh my.; 5/17/08, 2:18 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Anyone else notice it is not on Drudge yet? Drudge is slipping especially on weekends.; 5/17/08, 2:24 PM
Paddy O said...: But having taken an Oath of Allegiance to the US of A, forswearing allegiance to foreign princes and potentates, I would not curtsey to the Queen now.

I went to the Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral last year for a Sunday morning mass. I'm very much a Protestant but enjoy experiencing other traditions. We went to the earliest service, because the monsignor who led that service was a great preacher.

We walked around a little after, slowly making our way to the courtyard, where we saw Cardinal Mahony greeting parishioners. They were kissing his ring and he was blessing them.

I had a bit of a crisis. I respect his role and authority. I don't have a bit of anti-Catholic bias, and yet... I'm very much a Protestant with a lot of theological study and opinions on why.

He began walking our way, greeted by others, dear souls who kept kissing his ring.

There I stood. I decided I wasn't going to submit. Men and women had died rather than cave into that. Even if it was just symbolic and respectful I wasn't going to do it.

He walked over to us. Held out his hand and said, "Thanks for visiting the Cathedral this morning. Peace be with you." I shook his hand, and said, "And also with you." We smiled at each other and went our way.

Somehow I must have had an aura of Protestant fervor about me, and a religious crisis was averted.

As for Kennedy. I pray he has peace and healing and gets better. I disagree with a lot of what he does but I think given all his qualities I can complain about he is seeking to do good for many.

I can't imagine this is going to impact the race too much at this point. He's done his part. Now he should get some rest.; 5/17/08, 2:37 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Did I say tape up there? Of course I meant tap.; 5/17/08, 2:43 PM
Goatwhacker said...: People who aren't very familiar with medicine call all kinds of things strokes and seizures, so who knows what happened.

I don't care for the guy but whatever happened I wish him well and that he recovers fully.; 5/17/08, 2:46 PM
reader_iam said...: Jeez, am I the only person who's sort of amused, in a semi-exasperated, semi-disgusted sort of way, with regard to the whole "this one's wielding the whip hand, that one's also saying make nice" ... ?

I mean, sweet jumping nanny, this is making me think of last Saturday, when our son attended his first funeral and open-casket viewing and I had to have the conversation about not pointing at or making loud or inappropriate comments about the dearly departed (no snark--this person was a friend who dropped dead suddenly and unexpectedly last week). To which my son, 7, who of course was a bit freaked by the open-casket idea, simply said, "I know, Mom," and proceeded to be a complete class act and trouper for the entire long, long day (we actually "worked" at the funeral and luncheon, as well as attended them), no second conversation needed.

Sometimes I despair.; 5/17/08, 2:46 PM
vbspurs said...: I will never, ever forget, though, when Liz came to visit the US in the late '80s/early '90s. She went to a house in Florida...black woman, who came trotting up to the Queen, practically squealing with delight, and gave her majesty a body-rocking, side-to-side hug. The expression on the Queen's face was priceless. It was at first a look of absolute astonishment, quickly followed by composure and then a look of pure delight, herself.

Heh! I blogged about it actually. Complete with a photo of that very expression.

Don't Hug the Queen

Ah, it wasn't in Florida, but DC. Barbara Bush was showing her around some black neighbourhoods.

When she really came down to Miami, in 1991, the British consulate here held a party for her and the Duke, at our local "Versailles" mansion = Vizcaya. Local expats were invited, so my parents went. Dad bowed. :)

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 2:49 PM
reader_iam said...: Victoria, unless I'm recalling incorrectly (always possible), through some method or another it was determined a while back that the Kos Kids weren't really kids, or even particularly young, but rather closer to my own decidedly middle-aged. (Maybe this has changed.) Which leads one to the conclusion that maybe some of them, in some situations, just simply aren't grown-ups--a whole different thing than being "young."; 5/17/08, 2:56 PM
reader_iam said...: The latter part of my just previous comment could also apply to some LGFers, of course; it's just I was responding to Victoria's "young" comment with reference to Kossacks.; 5/17/08, 2:58 PM
vbspurs said...: Seriously? Wow. They lack historical perspective and have a rage kids have with authority figures around them; they feel impotent, so they hit back in petty ways like kids do. Squibbles on the bathroom wall about the female vice-principal having the lesbian hots for the PE teacher. That's Kos to me.; 5/17/08, 3:04 PM
dick said...: Interesting that if you check the CBS online story, the comments are running about 5-1 for Teddy to meet up with Mary Jo and soon. I would hardly call that a conservative site. I guess that conservatives are just more compassionate with their opponents.

Remember that Bush wished Clinton well with his bypass surgery and the AP reported that the crowd booed. The tape of the event showed no booing. Be interesting to see how this is portrayed on the Sunday morning shows.; 5/17/08, 3:28 PM
reader_iam said...: OT: Good Lord, another earthquake in China (this one 5.7). /OT; 5/17/08, 3:41 PM
john said...: Kos/kids rage?

Victoria, I agree with readeriam. I think the demographics of that site are decidedly middle age. That's not too hard to get your mind around, however, if you recall what and who you saw the last 10-15 "antiwar" or pro-illegals demonstrations: the relict 60's bunch, and only a few kids who were dragged there by their parents.

The gen/y set has left this balding/ponytail Kennedy worshipping bunch in the dust a long time ago.; 5/17/08, 3:51 PM
Anonymous said...: RFK got the brains. JFK got the looks and personality. Teddy got the production from the south end of a northbound mule.

I won't wish him ill; but if I were to measure his contribution to the universe on a scale of 1 (least) to 10 (greatest), he would place somewhere around minus 28 million, give or take a couple million.; 5/17/08, 4:03 PM
katiebakes said...: I'm surprised no one has brought up the parallels to McCain and his age. That's the first thing that came to my mind.; 5/17/08, 4:53 PM
Kev said...: Musicians and U.S. Senators tend to live longer than average, assuming they survive their wild years.

This is true, and perhaps one reason is that members of both groups never seem to retire. For Senators, that's often a bad thing, but for musicians, it's great, as people have been known to be creative well into their 90's. (And think about all the people who retire and simply wither away; some of them don't live very long afterwards.)

As a musician, I have no intention of "retiring" per se. Rather, I harbor the standard fantasy of dropping dead on the bandstand at a ripe old age, preferably after a really good solo.

(P.S. Apologies for the long commenting hiatus [if anyone missed me, LOL]; it was quite a busy semester.); 5/17/08, 4:54 PM
1775OGG said...: Reader_iam and Vickie: Charles has always(How long is that?) demanded proper behavior on his blog, ie.) do not use derogatory terms for Arabs, as just one example. His point is an excellent one; how can one criticize the Kos kids if one is doing that same damned thing. I found out the hard way when his auto-translator changed my comments to "Darned Arab Arab;" kind of lost its original intent but than that's Ok! He doesn't have a whip but does exact civility gently!; 5/17/08, 5:05 PM
reader_iam said...: OldGrouchy: My point was more related to the fact that Charles has to expend so much effort reining in some (and notice how I used the word some in my original comment, too) of his commenters, or, more to the point, that some of his commenters seem to so much require reining in, as if they were small children or something, such that he ends up having to be a "daddy," whether he likes it or not.

Shorter: It wasn't a whack at Charles.; 5/17/08, 5:16 PM
T J Sawyer said...: What effect will this have on the presidential election? Well, thank god it doesn't appear to be this bad, but my first thought was:

Two old guys from the 1930's

One dies physically.

The other attends the funeral and dies politically.; 5/17/08, 5:33 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: I will always remember the morning my mother woke us all up with the news RFK had been killed.."The bastards killed another one" she cried.

She was the youngest of 7 kids, born in 1918, her father killed in a traffic accident a few months before she was born. The three boys were sent away to the orphans school in Illinois called Mooseheart.

My mother graduated with honors from West Catholic High School and got an academic scholarship to UPenn. Ivy frigging league. What a great country huh? She became a public school teacher, retired at 61 and died on her next birthday. I wonder what she would think of how Teddy's life turned out. I bet she would be ashamed of what he became.; 5/17/08, 6:29 PM
Anonymous said...: I hope he recovers. He has done well by his extended family under horrific circumstances, and that says a lot about a man.

Effect on the race? Negligible. It's only a select, narrow class of people who carry a torch for Camelot and think of Teddy as part of it.; 5/17/08, 6:52 PM
Unknown said...: aj lynch wrote:

"...The three boys were sent away to the orphans school in Illinois called Mooseheart."

Mooseheart is still there, or, it was, last time I drove to see my brother in Batavia, Illinois. Wasn't that long ago so I saaume it's still around.; 5/17/08, 6:57 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Luniere:

I know - drove by it on business about five years ago- I was looking for Paula Zahn :). It is her hometown I believe.

One on my uncles claimed when he was at Mooseheart that he played football against Red Grange. The Galloping Ghost.; 5/17/08, 7:02 PM
vbspurs said...: Shorter: It wasn't a whack at Charles.

Yeah, but it's the internet, RIA. Only loony-tunes behave like some people do online, in real life.

My parents freak whenever I show them some comments online. My father especially doesn't get it. "Some people have no shame, do they?". Yep, anonymity does that, dad.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/17/08, 8:03 PM
Peter V. Bella said...: The Senator is a stroke.; 5/17/08, 9:16 PM
Methadras said...: Somebody get him a Chevez quick?; 5/17/08, 9:57 PM
Methadras said...: Actually, even though Ted Kennedy is anathema to me, I wish him a speedy recovery and I'll pray for him and his family as well.; 5/17/08, 9:59 PM
cardeblu said...: Vbspurs, thank you for that link of the Queen and the hug. I was looking for something like that. I don't think it's the same one I saw years ago on the news, but I'm probably wrong.

"Dad bowed. :)"

As well he should. I see it more as simply showing respect, honor, and as a matter of decorum, with no sense of fealty involved whatsoever. If one doesn't feel like the Queen or any other monarch deserves that respect, that's another thing and is one of the great advantages of being an American.; 5/18/08, 12:21 AM
vbspurs said...: Katieblakes wrote:

I'm surprised no one has brought up the parallels to McCain and his age. That's the first thing that came to my mind.

True, but "consider the life".

Ted Kennedy is, let's face it, a near-alcoholic playboy coddled by family and supporters all his life.

That's not McCain's life. That's also not the life led by the very spry Pope Benedict XVI (81), or Elizabeth II (82), or even her husband, Prince Philip (87).

Cardeblu: He also was in HM's service as an Army officer, so yes, he has good reason to bow. :)

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/18/08, 12:41 AM
rhhardin said...: Lazlo Toth sent a letter to the Queen apologizing for President Ford playing ``The Lady is a Tramp'' at her state dinner.; 5/18/08, 8:15 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: RRHardin:

Lazlo Toth letters. That was a funny book. Topically, there was a gas crisis too when the book came out and one of Lazlo's letters was a proposal to build mobile shopping centers that would come to your neighborood so consumers did not have to drive to the mall.

The letter even had a drawing of the mobile mall. Too funny! It is one of the only books I regret losing.; 5/18/08, 10:22 AM
vbspurs said...: RH and AJ:

Awesome. The reviews on Amazon are superb, at that. And fancy, Father Guido Sarducci has another alter ego!

You can consider it bought, so thanks to both you gentlemen.

P.S.: I get the most book tips on Althouse of any blog I visit, including Instapundit.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/18/08, 12:50 PM