Sen. Kennedy falls ill; taken to Boston hospital by helicopter

Cape Cod On Line ^ | May 17, 2008

[COUNTrecount]

HYANNIS -- U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy was rushed by ambulance to Cape Cod Hospital this morning after falling ill at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport.

Hyannis fire responded to the compound after a call was made around 8:30 a.m. It's unclear what Kennedy's medical condition is, but after he spent almost two hours in the emergency room a decision was made to transfer him to Mass General Hospital in Boston.

Kennedy, 76, was placed on a stretcher and wheeled out to the MedFlight helicopter around 10:15 a.m. where it took off from Barnstable Municipal Airport.

The Kennedy family is preparing to host the annual Best Buddies Challenge event in Hyannisport this afternoon, which is a fund-raiser for the organization. Best Buddies was founded by Anthony Kennedy Shriver and helps people with intellectual disabilities.

Hundreds are expected to participate in the event, which kicked off this morning with a 100-mile bicycle ride from the Kennedy Library in Boston to Hyannisport.

A concert at the Kennedy compound is scheduled for tonight.

Kennedy has represented Massachusetts in the United States Senate for forty-three years.

He was elected in 1962 to finish the final two years of the Senate term of his brother, Senator John F. Kennedy, who was elected president in 1960.

Since then, Kennedy has been re-elected to seven full terms, and is now the second most senior member of the Senate.

Mod Note: We're watching this thread and are more than happy to hand out suspensions

[girlangler]

Doesn’t sound good at all, Petronski. My hubby had major blockage like that before he had the surgery. They caught it just in time, because they told him he would have had a MAJOR stroke had they not caught it.

[Farmer Dean]

I’m fully prepared to shut off the tv if that happens...

[Abathar]

Good point, I wonder if he dies how his memorial will go.

Clinton, Barack, and all the others wanting to speak, it will be a circus for sure.

[roses of sharon]

Cal Thomas said we as Conservatives should not demonize his good, good, friend Ted Kennedy.

That demonizing your political opponant is wrong.

LOOK WHAT KENNEDY DID TO RONALD REAGAN, SAME AS HE DID TO PRESIDEN BUSH:

There’s a new book on Ronald Reagan making the rounds, The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism. Its author, Paul Kengor, unearthed a sensational document from the Soviet archives. That document is a memo regarding an offer made by Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts via former Senator John Tunney, both Democrats, to the General Secretary of the Communist Party, USSR, Yuri Andropov, in 1983. The offer was to help the Soviet leadership, military and civilian, conduct a PR campaign in the United States as President Ronald Reagan sought re-election. The goal of the PR campaign would be to cast President Reagan as a warmonger, the Soviets as willing to peacefully co-exist, and thereby turn the electorate away from Reagan. It was a plan to enlist Soviet help, and use the American press, in unseating an American president.

[gc4nra]

Bagging means breathing for him using a resusitation bag.

[advance_copy]

CNN: Hospital representative to make a statement “in a matter of minutes”.

[refreshed]

haven’t heard, neither have I ever been to the site, just seen it mentioned countless times here on FR.

[ninergold3]

In other words, we don’t always have to “feel” what we are praying in order to be obedient in prayer.

Very good point. I honestly hadn't thought of it that way. I've always thought that I had to feel what I was praying about or I wouldn't be sincere. Hmmmm - that has given me something to chew on today. Thank You :)

[processing please hold]

The offer was to help the Soviet leadership, military and civilian, conduct a PR campaign in the United States as President Ronald Reagan sought re-election. The goal of the PR campaign would be to cast President Reagan as a warmonger, the Soviets as willing to peacefully co-exist, and thereby turn the electorate away from Reagan. It was a plan to enlist Soviet help, and use the American press, in unseating an American president.

Thanks for reminding FReepers of that.

[Sudetenland]

Are you only civil to those for whom you have respect, or are you civil because it is the right thing to be.

Ted Kennedy may have much to answer for, but it is not I, nor any other human being to whom he must answer.

I have reviled everything this man pursued in his political and personal lives, but I cannot hate him. God allows the rain to fall on the "evil" as well as the "good." If He can forgive Ted Kennedy, how can I as a Christian not do the same?

I have always attempted (though not always successfully) to separate my political opinions from my emotions because I believe a true Conservative is a rational being, not an emotional one. I pray for Senator Kennedy's recovery and for the comfort of his family.

[atruelady]

“I wouldn’t go over to the DUmp to find out, but have you perchance heard whether or not those clowns have had any comments regarding JimRob?”

That is worth investigating but it seems the creeps at DU are never changing in their vitriol.

[Guenevere]

I realize you're busy, but I would like the courtesy of why you deleted my post.

Anyone who knows me knows I couldn't have said anything offensive, especially for a man who is very ill at this time.

Also, what is a PITA?....(other than a type of bread)

[NautiNurse]

With the time of the 911 call (~8:30AM), it is possible that he was found hours after a CVA during the night. Of course, this would bode worse prognosis than if the event was witnessed at the breakfast table.

[takenoprisoner]

What a great opportunity to get to speak of “royalty” and to associate it with Obama for the next 48 hours.

[Coldwater Creek]

Thank you!

[definitelynotaliberal]

True, no doubt, but I think that such comportment might help how we look in the Lord’s eyes. All he asks us to do is to see Christ in everybody. In the case of Edward Kennedy, I and others are having an inordinately hard time, but we’re trying.

[retrokitten]

Pain in the a.... (I’m just the messenger!)

[jrooney]

"Prayers for his speedy recovery and retirement."

My sentiments exactly.

[modest proposal]

Hmm it is a good thing my dad doesn’t post on free republic or you would have to remove his comments :D

Not a big Kennedy fan to say the leat.

It is strange, I was just thinking about Ted last night because I was wondering how much beer and tartar sauce he has eaten in his life. No joke.