Sanders' Heart Attack

[kurtcagle]

I voted for Sanders in the 2016 primaries, but do not expect to vote for him in 2020.

I have chronic heart disease and have had a couple of heart attacks over the years. I'm in my mid-50s. I take a handful of pills that keep my blood pressure in check, but even with them, I am still fighting exhaustion, disease, reduced energy and shortness of breath with almost any exertion every day. The closest I can come to describing the effect is to imagine walking around with a fifty-pound backpack every moment of the day.

I know, after my last heart attack a couple of years ago, I ended up being sidelined for nearly four months as my body recovered, and even now, a few years later, I no longer have even close to the energy I used to have.

At 78, if Sanders isn't planning to drop out after Iowa, I would question his judgment to be president. I question Biden's health as well, though I believe that he's in physically better shape. However, I see in Sanders a lot of the same mannerisms as I have developed in recent years: the need to physically prop oneself up, shortness of breath, unsteadiness in the hands, an economy of movements, sleepiness, especially in an extended setting. In a heart attack, the heart itself has been damaged, certain cardiac muscles no longer work and arrhythmias and tachycardias are much more likely to occur.

It also means that the potential for falls, always a danger at this age, jumps dramatically. Many times such falls are less due to slipping than they are dizziness and fainting due to a sudden drop in blood pressure, something else which people familiar with heart attacks can tell you all about.

I doubt he will drop out between now and Iowa (I don't think his pride will permit it, if nothing else), but I do believe that the heart attack will weigh heavily in the minds of voters that are otherwise predisposed towards him.

[pangaia]

1. As far as I know, there is no evidence of Sanders having chronic heart disease.

[NurseJackie]

12. His heart attack, in conjunction with the "slip-and-fall" episode in the hotel bathroom...

His heart attack, in conjunction with the "slip-and-fall" episode in the hotel bathroom are strong indicators to me that it was more than just an ordinary fall. More likely is that he suffers from Afib and when the out-of-synch heart valves are unable to properly circulate blood to the brain, it causes dizziness. (It can also lead to stroke.) So, based on what we already know to be fact, this is also a reasonable conclusion.

He should return to Vermont and just be content to finish the rest of his term and then retire to one of their beautiful houses.

[pangaia]

13. Your unfailing love for Senator Sanders is well- known among DU' ers.

[Evolve Dammit]

19. What was that?

[NurseJackie]

20. Ha! I've claimed no such affection for BS...

... what did I say to that would cause you to arrive at such erroneous conclusion?

[George II]

17. It actually wasn't a "slip and fall", he supposedly walked into the shower door. Interesting...

....about a week later there was absolutely no sign of an injury over his eye.

[mopinko]

2. on top of the fact that he was already falling in the polls

i really wish he would drop out sooner than later, but i suppose his hard core would be pretty pissed.

it would be really good to have him out, and see if it gives any of the lower tier candidates could catch a little wind.
but...

[ritapria]

3. With excetion of Elizabeth , all of the other the candidates have been dropping in the polls

Bernie's numbers have dropped less than most ... Kamala was at 14% ; she is now at 5% Beto was at 8% ..He's now at 3% ...Pete was at 7% ..He's now at 5 % ...Biden was at 35% ..He's now around 27% ….. The other candidates have never risen above 3% …… It's past time for the 1 percenters to drop out - all ten of them …..

[Garrett78]

4. Because Sanders has such a substantial following, his followers and media falsely assume...

...that he's actually a contender. He isn't, and that was true before the 78-year-old had a heart attack. In reality, Sanders has a low ceiling, and all his presence in the race does is muddy the water and shrink the electorate. He should drop out and free his supporters to do as they please. A dozen others should also drop out.

A race consisting of just 6-8 candidates and no Sanders would likely be dramatically different.

[kurtcagle]

7. Field should clear quickly by December

The deadline for filing in other races is coming up quickly, and I suspect that people like Beto might be more inclined to take his chances again in Texas given that he's not polled much about 3% nationally in months.

[Garrett78]

8. The longer it takes to get winnowed, the more distorted the polls remain.

The larger the field, the less inclined people are to bother distinguishing between the candidates.

And then there's Sanders, who has no chance at the nomination but he ties up a substantial portion of the electorate with his cult-like following.

[TexasTowelie]

30. Beto has made it clear that he is staying in the race for president. nt

[yellowdogintexas]

31. I'd be shocked if Beto did that; the TX Senate primary is already very crowded

Also, Beto endorsed MJ Hager(the first to announce) early on and has repeatedly said he will not jump into that race.

Having lost one Senate race, if he got into this one and won the nomination, he would probably be finished. Being winnowed out of a field of nearly 20 doesn't look nearly as bad and gives him more leeway for the future.

I am looking forward to him continuing to dog #45 where ever he can (like the anti Trump rally he is holding when #45 comes to Dallas), all the way to the end

[murielm99]

5. My husband is going through recuperation

after a couple of heart-related surgeries. I sympathize with you.

He will be going to cardiac rehab soon, if all goes well.

He is 75. I would not want him running for President. I don't even want him walking he dog or taking out the garbage for a while. He gets tired.

I wish you the best. Take care of yourself.

[kurtcagle]

6. Re: My husband is going through recuperation

Thanks!

[DrFunkenstein]

9. I'm Still Feeling The Bern

It's like Obama - I disagreed with him on several issues, but I just love him to pieces. Same with Bernie. I just love everything he's about - it's that mix of genuineness and passion and commitment.

I'm behind Warren this time around, but I'm in no rush for Bernie to drop out. If he does, he'll almost certainly endorse the candidate that he has a non-aggression pact with.

At the same time, I'd be just as thrilled to have Bernie as our nominee now as in 2016.

[Catch2.2]

15. I have similar thoughts

Bernie is my #1 but I would love Warren to be our nominee. Tbh, I would love a Warren/Sanders ticket. Will never happen but I wish it would!

[Hekate]

10. Thanks, kurtcagle. My husband really loves Bernie, but even he is saying, "Retire."

You know the saying "Serious as a heart attack"? It's no joke.

[yaesu]

11. Like Bernie has said many times, its not about Bernie, its about the country & who will be best

for the country. I don't think he would sacrifice his health to run, I think he is in better health than tRump and don't see any problem with him continuing the fight. Lets see how the next debate turns out.

[aikoaiko]

14. Ah....the old Bernie's too prideful to withdraw and thereby help my preferred candidate routine.

An oldie but not so goodie.

[ehrnst]

25. How "old" is that, exactly?

[flibbitygiblets]

28. I'd change my preferred candidate in a snap if I was sure that person could win

Beating Dump and taking the Senate are what most of us want, no matter who it is. Many of us are seriously concerned that Bernie simply can't win, largely based on the optics of the fact that he's very old already, and then he had a HEART ATTACK on the campaign trail.

No matter how healthy Bernie may be, and no matter who is on the (R) ticket in 2020, the opposition is going to make it sound like Bernie is literally on death's door. We can't afford this. We need to win for the sake of this country. We have a promising crop of candidates who are competent, worthy, AND healthy (far as we know).

And what's more, the sooner those who can't win get out of the way and heartily throw their support to other candidates, the sooner those supporters--particularly the "Bernie or Bust" supporters will get the message this this is not the time to stamp our feet if we don't get everything we wanted.

[Soph0571]

16. My partner who is a good two decades younger than Bernie had a couple of heart attacks

It changed our lifestyle rather dramatically and had a big impact on not just how we did stuff, but on my partners willingness to put himself in harms way and risk not blinking and breathing. A strategy with which I concur and which I believe should be Bernies... Great post

[dem4decades]

36. You know if Bernie's decision didn't possibly effect the fate of millions I'd agree.

The Democratic effort to defeat Donald Trump cannot fail, nor have the slightest sign of weakness. Bernie's health is a sign of weakness.

[Boomer]

18. I'm fond enough of Sanders to want him to withdraw for his own sake

First and foremost, I want Sanders to live a good long life, and that means listening to what his body is telling him. He's done so much for the country, and he can do even more for years to come if he steps out of the pressure-cooker of running for president, or worse yet, winning and running the country. I'd rather see him take a step back to focus on his Senate work and organizing a progressive movement, than keel over on the campaign trail.

[JohnnyRingo]

21. I suffered nearly the same thing as Sanders.

I too got a stent that opened an artery after my heart attack. I spent the next six months in physical therapy trying to get back to where I was before. I couldn't imagine the rigors of living a campaign in those months, but I was only 64 at the time.

Either Bernie is Superman or he'll be unable to keep up with life on the campaign trail. If he stops he'll fall off in the polls. We'll see because he can't fake that he's fine.

[MasonDreams]

22. Keith Richards and Dick Cheney are still alive.

Don't count your chickens, eggs also rot. Bernie will never die. FDR is on the dime, and MLKjr is a holiday.

Third Way will be remembered as a big mistake. An Enabler of the American Empire's overextension by Bush the Shrub.

Third Way lost to the monster who is disassembling all the institutions of govt.

P.S red baiting doesn't work anymore and
TV can't frame the debate

[ehrnst]

23. Neither of them is POTUS, or running for POTUS and I'm very glad of that. (nt)

[flibbitygiblets]

29. Actually I'd take Keith Richards over pretty much any Republican

Just saying.

[comradebillyboy]

35. I'd even take Keith Richards over a couple of the Democratic candidates...

[nilram]

26. I trust Sanders and his doctors and I'm not going to judge others based on my experience.

[NurseJackie]

33. It doesn't.

[Mossfern]

32. I had a major heart attack 25 years ago

lost 10-15% of my heart muscle distributed in left ventricle, apex and septum.
I'm 71 years old, work out at the gym, have a personal trainer, do heavy duty gardening and hopefully pretty sharp cognitively (I've been tested).

I'm just saying that having a heart attack doesn't necessarily mean that one's life needs to change dramatically. That being said, there is certainly a period of recuperation that needs to be more than a couple of weeks. The rigors of campaigning don't fit into that.

[Nanjeanne]

34. Well definitely don't run for President then --- and take care of yourself. Wishing you well.

[democrank]

37. I hope Bernie continues to get stronger

and I hope the Sanders family gets lots of support during this very difficult time. Bernie’s health issues and the sudden death of a family member made for a tough week. This family is loved by many here in Vermont and elsewhere.

[corbettkroehler]

38. Those Mannerisms Were Resolved In The Hospital Cath Lab

I, too, saw the mannerisms. Fortunately, I have seen his fitness since his procedure. In a vacuum, your position is accurate but, in fairness, you need to see how he looks post-procedure before making your final judgment. Here's a sample:

Link to tweet

If this doesn't sway you, I have no doubt that you'll see all the proof you need during the THREE-HOUR Ohio debate October 15.

[Autumn]

39. My husband had 2 stents put in after his heart attack. Healthy as a horse and going strong

at 70. If Bernie feels he can't do it he will drop out. Otherwise, there is no need for him to drop out.