Howard Baker Undergoes Heart Surgery

[Khephra]

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Howard Baker, the former Senate majority leader now serving as U.S. ambassador to Japan, underwent open heart surgery Monday.

Baker, 78, was recovering at Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee after double bypass and valve replacement surgery, his doctor said.

The operation followed a routine checkup Friday where "irregularities" in Baker's heart were detected, the hospital said in a statement.

The Tennessee Republican was expected to go home by the end of the week and return to his post in Japan by October.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-brf-baker-surgery,0,6490908.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

[krkaufman]

1. Further "irregularities" were discovered during the operation...

... when surgeons were unable to find the organ in question.

Developing...

[Cheswick2.0]

2. I was excited for a moment... I thought it was James Baker

forgive me for evil thoughts.

[Rose Siding]

3. Only the good die young