[linn37]

What right does the public have to know when this is a private medical matter?

I think only his wife can decide what information is allowed to be released.

[shrinkermd]

This is not a private medical matter. He is a US Senator with Constitutional duties. If he is no longer capable of exercising those duties this should be a matter of public knowledge.

If POTUS had the same lesion, same history VP Cheney would be in office and within a few weeks a panel would meet to determine POTUS's chance to return to office.

Now the Senate does not have such provisions and the only recourse the public has is accurate information and public opinion.

By the way, when you run for office you lose a good deal of what is often thought of as "private life." The public wants and deserves to know things about high elected and appointed officials because of their position and the implications of that information.

Those not wanting to submit to this, need not run for public office.

[LexBaird]

What right does the public have to know when this is a private medical matter?

The right of informed decision in vital public policy issues. Johnson isn't a private citizen. He is currently the tipping point of half of the legislative body of the most powerful nation on earth in a time of war. Every American deserves to know if he is capable of doing his job for the next two years. Nations all over the world are making policy decisions based on what they think the U.S. Senate will be doing until 2008.

Imagine if Reagan's medical condition had been kept a closely guarded secret when he was shot?

[Dog Gone]

It would be remarkable if he returned to the Senate at all. However, if he's in no danger of dying, there's also no chance of replacing him.

That's the political reality.

It would take a Supreme Court decision, and there's no chance that could be rendered prior to the expiration of his term in 2008 anyhow.

My guess is that his political career is over, and he might not even be able to physically sign his candidacy papers for the 2008 election. But we do have a medical blackout (which is the current law), so we're reduced to speculation.