Posted on 05/17/2008 9:02:55 AM PDT by 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
Haven’t read everything, so don’t know if this has been posted, but here are the statements issued by the 3 candidates:
“I was very sorry to hear that Senator Kennedy has taken ill, and like millions of Americans, Cindy and I anxiously await word of his condition. Senator Kennedy’s role in the U.S. Senate cannot be overstated. He is a legendary lawmaker, and I have the highest respect for him. When we have worked together, he has been a skillful, fair and generous partner. I consider it a great privilege to call him my friend. Cindy and I are praying for our friend, his wife, Vicki and the Kennedy family.”
Senator Hillary Clinton issued a statement: “My thoughts and prayers are with Sen. Ted Kennedy and his family today. We all wish him well and a quick recovery.”
Senator Barack Obama, campaigning today in Eugene, Ore., told reporters: “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.”
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/05/mccain_issues_a.html
I think McCain’s was generous and probably genuine, Hillary’s was fine, but Obama really seemed to me to inappropriately focus first on policy, and then on himself—and his own supposed attribute of optimism—with what he offered.
LOL!
Careful! You have errands to run.
I hope the medical treatment he receives is as effective and good for him as his 1965 immigration bill was good for our country.
Oh! Good morning! And how are you this fine day?
Maybe he realizes how dumb the next generation actually is. Joe Jr? Patches? Robert Jr? Kathy Townsend? Schriver? Dumber than a bag of rocks.
Hockey??
Stars/Redwings on NBC, 1 to 1 at the end of the first...
* neener neener *
Now that I have a minute ... 106 was not yours.
Sorry for the confusion.
I thoroughly detest and despise this man’s politics, as he has been a consistent a-hole for most of his life, but as a fellow human being, I will pray for his well-being.
C’mon, you guys! I don’t feel well as it is. All this laughing is upsetting my stomach...
Unreal isn’t it? Obama couldn’t resist making a statement of sympathy and best wishes into a political statement.
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