Big Clinton Role in Kerry Campaign Is Seen as Unlikely

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 6 - Former President Bill Clinton seems unlikely to play a major role in Senator John Kerry's campaign for the White House this fall if his recovery follows the pattern described by his doctors on Monday.

Speaking to reporters at Columbia-Presbyterian Center of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, where Mr. Clinton underwent heart bypass surgery on Monday morning, doctors said other patients of his age and physical condition had taken up to three months before they could fully resume an active schedule. The presidential election is eight weeks from Tuesday.

(snip)

"I would encourage him to resume all activity, including campaigning, that is safe and appropriate in consultation with his entire medical team, Dr. Schwartz said.

But Dr. Craig R. Smith, the cardiologist who led the four-hour operation - and a supporter of President Bush who donated $2,000 to his re-election efforts in April - said similar patients achieved 70 percent recovery in six weeks and reached 100 percent "within two to three months."

more…
http://nytimes.com/2004/09/07/politics/campaign/07dems.html

[Cha]

1. Yech! a dr. who supports bush can't

be that fucking smart.

[Zomby Woof]

9. most doctors are repukes

Much of the AMA is just a RW outfit. They vote repuke because they make good money and fear healthcare reform will take it away.

Notice I said "most". There are plenty of good Dem doctors, but they are more likely doing family practice, or free clinic work, or traveling with Doctors Without Borders, etc.

That being said, Clinton's surgeon must be good to be on the staff at NY Presbyterian, and ethically must put the patient ahead of politics. He votes repuke out of watching the pocketbook, not because of all the normal wedge issues.

[miss_kitty]

12. i have a lefty doc-he likes chomskey , zinn, vidal

of course, he's a young public health doc, doing general practice-like you said, now that i finish reading your comment

[Zomby Woof]

13. yep

:-)

Glad you have a cool doc though!

[jean]

2. Clinton may draw lots of 'at home' type interviews, by phone or

remote video, during his recuperation.

He may not be able to travel all over the place but I bet we get a healthy dose of the Big Dog in spite of that restriction.

[truthisfreedom]

i think he'll get MORE media coverage because he's talking from his bed

in the hospital, like a recuperating Godfather.

[Cha]

6. Yeah! Funny how things work out!

Bill Clinton will make the most of this.

[Cha]

5. I would think so! And as someone on du said

earlier today..Clinton can do more from his hospital bed than bush did in four freakin' years.

[kainah]

8. and having him available for consultation

won't hurt. If he spent the 3 days prior to surgery on the phone, I can't imagine they'll get the phone away from him easily.

[napi21]

3. If you honestly think Bill will sit quitely for 2 months, your're NUTS!

My husband had this same operation 12 years ago, and I'm sure techonology has come a long way since. f you listen to what his Dr's said, you would have heard them say "he will not be back to completely feeling normal". That's true. They didn't say he was going to be incompacitated for 2 months! I don't know if he will do the campaign trail. Probably not. But if you think he's not going to be on the phone with a lot of different people, giving suggestions, etc...YOU'RE CRAZY!!!!!!

[UTUSN]

4. I Don't Know Why Not

My BiL had Multiple by-passes last month, and it's all fine.

[clydefrand]

7. We can never underestimate Bill Clinton!

He has been dominating the news since Friday...that must make Bush so damn mad that he's sucking up so much air time even from the hospital. He will be giving advice from wherever he is, you can bet on that...that is if Kerry wants it and I think he does.

[jean]

10. Bill Clinton will enjoy pushing every bush button available from that bed

[wurzel]

11. Ain't nuttin wrong with Clinton's brains.

[disneyboy]

14. Milking it

It HAS dominated the news somewhat and i bet u Bill is milking it for all its worth. Even on CNN they went as fasr as to say "With Bill Clinton in the hospital how will this affect the Kerry campaign?"

Which made me think, is Clinton going to be Kerrys "Dick" for the campaign?? Are we gonna be voting for Kerry or Clinton?? lol

[wurzel]

20. Either way.

[jayctravis]

15. medicine has advanced rapidly

My father had his gall bladder removed in the late 70's. He was off work for six months, wore a vest to keep pressure off the incision; waist to ribcage through the abdominal muscle. He still sports a giant scar, over a foot in length.

I had my gall bladder out two years ago. Arthroscopy; three tiny scars, less than a half-inch apiece. Stayed an extra day in the hospital cause it was inflamed and they wanted to give me another 24 hours of antibiotics. Was home for a week, doctor wanted me to stay off another week but work wouldn't hear of it since I didn't qualify for FMLA yet and I'd run out of vacation days. I was out a total of two weeks and back on my feet doing careful lifting.

I'm glad Clinton had this procedure done these days and not 5-10 years ago. It's surprising how fast the HMO's can get you outta there.

[bluestateguy]

16. Nobody can keep Bill Clinton away from a campaign

That would be like keeping Stonewall Jackson away from a battlefield. He'll be back in a month, and I predict will stump for Kerry personally in the last week of the campaign, wherever Kerry's team asks him to go.

[Princess Turandot]

17. This is the 21st Century..anyone heard of video conferencing..

they can put him up on a big screen with a feed from his sick-bed. It
would be perfect theater..Bill making an "appearance" to support someone even at a risk to his health..

[dbt]

18. I started to call bullshit on the headline, THEN

it occurred to me that it converys JUST what we want the Pugs to think. Shhhhhhh!

:evilgrin:
dbt

[cmd]

19. Full recovery means he can't do heavy lifting for three months

The best way for Bill to recover is to get out on the campaign trail. He had heart surgery, not brain surgery. My husband had a triple bi-pass five years ago. I was amazed at how rapidly he recovered. He was on his own at home in less than three weeks. He was slowed down because he was still recovering from bronchitis at the time of his surgery.

[DaveSZ]

21. Clinton can have a press conference from his hospital bed

and talk up Kerry at the same time.