Sen. Sanders Takes a Break from Campaign to Tend to Heart Issues
[guest post by JVW]
On the heels of the curious announcement yesterday that Senator Bernard Sanders of Vermont had cancelled appearances and ad buys in key Democrat primary markets comes word today that the 78-year-old democratic socialist is undergoing surgery to have two stints inserted to hopefully clear up some arterial blockage in his heart. There is no word yet on when he will return to public appearances.
Along with the ground he seems to be losing to Elizabeth Warren, who thus far is successfully repackaging his putrid platform with sunny optimism instead of the Vermonter’s dour gloom, this reminder of Sanders’ advanced age would have to be considered a gut-punch to a campaign that is noticeably less enthusiastic than what we witnessed four years ago. Despite the campaign’s reminders of their candidate’s athletic past, and despite quirky video showing the near-octogenarian leading an active lifestyle, an old man undergoing a heart procedure doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in his long-term health. Sanders is three years older than Dwight Eisenhower was when Ike suffered a 1965 heart attack that pretty much brought to a close his public appearances.
Here’s wishing the rascally old Senator with all of his horrible ideas a full recovery and many more years ahead of him. But here’s also hoping that these years be spent in private life, away from the baneful effect his childish ideology has had on the American public.
– JVW
Again, with the caveat that I was wrong about everything in the 2016 election cycle, I now figure that it’s 75% probable that Elizabeth Warren is the Dem nominee.
JVW (54fd0b) — 10/2/2019 @ 11:06 amI hope Sanders recovers… this is not a “routine” surgery and there are real risks for complications from this.
I don’t see how he continues campaigning to be honest. The looooooong campaign season cannot be healthy to a man at his age with such diagnosis.
whembly (fd57f6) — 10/2/2019 @ 11:42 amDidn’t Cheney have stents put in while he was vice president? (It’s “stent” not “stint” by the way)
And before: (during the recount)
https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20001122/cheney-receives-stent-in-narrowed-heart-artery
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/24/health/dick-cheneys-medical-history-traces-milestones-in-heart-care.html
The reason there is no way to remove a sitting vice president is that a vice president doesn’t do anything important by virtue of his office!
But, that’s right, you could havea totally incapaciated vice president, disabled by a stroke, say.
This would leave no immmediate successor to a president, although if he was truly incapacitated…
You’d have a problem.
Because there would be no vice president, and a vice president (in addition to a majority of the Cabinet members) is needed to transmit thatt written declaration that the president in unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office!
It doesn’t happen without the concurrence of the vice president.
As for Sanders, this episode will be over by the time the voting starts in Iowa.
Q. Will he miss the October 15 presidential debate?
Sammy Finkelman (102c75) — 10/2/2019 @ 11:59 amI wish the crochety old geezer well. I assume he’s not going to one of those great Cuban health clinics I’ve been told about.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 10/2/2019 @ 11:59 amPerhaps he could go for a swim in the Yangtze.
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 12:12 pmThe reason there is no way to remove a sitting vice president is that a vice president
Resignation and impeachment still work. Both were on the table with Agnew.
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 12:13 pmSanders is not the only old guy in the race. Biden is 76 and Trump is 73. Both show signs of their age.
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 12:16 pmIt’s a bit odd that given his age, weight, and diet that President Trump hasn’t yet suffered any cardiological difficulties (that we know of), but I guess it goes to show that an element of luck comes into play.
JVW (54fd0b) — 10/2/2019 @ 12:30 pman element of luck comes into play.
I note you didn’t say “good luck.”
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 12:46 pmBernie is literally damaged goods. Behind closed doors, I suspect Lizzie is doing war whoops.
Paul Montagu (f74687) — 10/2/2019 @ 1:17 pm78 year old pols with bad hearts shouldn’t be running for POTUS. Bernie should stop wasting everyone’s time and drop out.
rcocean (1a839e) — 10/2/2019 @ 1:42 pmAs a socialist, isn’t he lucky to be living under a capitalist system where he can get the best healthcare available rather than being put out to pasture due to his age and future economic benefit to government.
NJRob (c302cc) — 10/2/2019 @ 1:46 pmbest healthcare available
Bernie should forswear his free Senate healthcare and demand to get a bill like he was uninsured. Solidarity!
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 2:31 pmThe upcoming Dem debate should be fun, not only is Tulsi the Dragon-slayer attending, but so is Tom Steyer. I wonder who will dare to attack Tom, considering he owns the Democrat Party.
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 2:34 pmI kind of doubt that Medicaid for All is going to cover heart stents for all 78-year-olds, but I’m sure that United States Senators will not be denied.
How does Sen. Sanders’ current health plan work? Is he on a Medicare plan with his Senate employment picking up the cost for a supplemental plan, or do you think he has a private plan? I know we aren’t supposed to politicize illness, but Sanders already used his ailment to demand “Medicare for All” in a Tweet so I think that prohibition has been lifted.
JVW (54fd0b) — 10/2/2019 @ 2:58 pmA raft to Cuba would have been appropriate but the commie gets the congressional GOLD MEDAL health care plan thanks to the idiot voters.
mg (8cbc69) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:01 pmSanders already used his ailment to demand “Medicare for All”
Hunh? Doesn’t “Medicare for the Elderly” already cover it?
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:14 pmA raft to Cuba would have been appropriate
I’m told that there is wonderful medical care in Cuba.
Kevin M (19357e) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:15 pmI think the picking of VP Cheney was unfortunate and showed Bush’s weakness for constantly choosing friends and cronies instead of the Best person. Of course, when 2008 came along, Cheney was in no position to run for President. His pick of Gonzales for AG, and the whole Harriet Miers fiasco also come to mind.
rcocean (1a839e) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:19 pmthat’s why fidel chose a Spanish doctor, and lasted another 10 years,
narciso (d1f714) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:24 pmCheney was an inspired choice. Gonzalez was fine. Miers not so much.
Dave (1bb933) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:33 pmHunh? Doesn’t “Medicare for the Elderly” already cover it?
Yeah, but his point was that everyone under 65 is entitled to that level of “free” government coverage too.
JVW (54fd0b) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:39 pmRegarding the 25th amendment, etc.: a VP who was incapacitated to a degree where he/she could not resign would almost certainly not be able to take the Oath of Office for the Presidency, so I would imagine it would then just pass on to the Speaker of the House.
JVW (54fd0b) — 10/2/2019 @ 3:52 pmHmmmm. Bernie outta just publish the total costs– from start to finish- for the entire episode- and show us just how good government healthcare coverage is– senator that he be.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 10/2/2019 @ 4:47 pmGonzales was fine. That’s why he resigned. Yes, a brilliant choice indeed.
rcocean (1a839e) — 10/2/2019 @ 6:17 pmWould you say there was more turnover of key officials in the Bush Administration, or the Trump administration?
Dave (1bb933) — 10/2/2019 @ 6:34 pmKevin M @6. Even though it would not exactly fit the criteria for impeachment, impeachment is a way the country could remove a vice president who was incapable of doing anything, even taking the oath of office (which would not make the office vacant)
There’d have to be near unanimity for that to happen, but you could get it,
It would still take some time.
Sammy Finkelman (bcd7c8) — 10/2/2019 @ 6:48 pmThey don’t do it to Senators (see e.g. the late John McCain) or Representatives and they won’t do it to a Vice-President. Incapacity is not treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. Judges, yes. They can be removed for incapacity to carry out their duties.
nk (dbc370) — 10/2/2019 @ 7:23 pmPresident warren in 2020 our first native american president!
lany (48d6bc) — 10/2/2019 @ 11:37 pmI think Bernie was going to lose out to Lizzie Warren no matter what. His Vermonter New Yawker lefty shtick was fun to watch but the two are peas in a pod on policy. Biden seems to have the moderate lane filled so that leaves the lefty lane which Warren should take over. I thought blacks would go for Harris or Booker, but it seems they’re OK with two old white people.
rcocean (1a839e) — 10/3/2019 @ 12:40 amHeart-Bern: Sanders released from hospital- walks out but doctors confirm he had mild heart attack.
The run is done, Bernie.
DCSCA (797bc0) — 10/4/2019 @ 3:42 pmOff to Siberia for rehab, comrade burnie?
mg (8cbc69) — 10/4/2019 @ 3:45 pmNow would be the time for surfer girl to tomahawk chop lieawatha.
mg (8cbc69) — 10/4/2019 @ 3:47 pmPfft.
Comrade Brezhnev led the proletariat for another seven years after his first heart attack, winning the Order of Victory(*) (a WWII decoration which includes the Order of Glory and Order of Lenin) two years later.
(*) The fact that reactionary bourgeois forces posthumously revoked this award in no way diminishes Comrade Brezhnev’s glorious service as a mid-level political officer during the Great Patriotic War.
Dave (1bb933) — 10/4/2019 @ 4:38 pm