Ace of Spades HQ

January 23, 2012

Senator Mark Kirk Hospitalized After Stroke
— Ace

Ay yi yi.

Posted by: Ace at 08:05 AM | Comments (80)
Post contains 15 words, total size 1 kb.

1 Damn. Prayers for him and his family.

Posted by: NC Ref at January 23, 2012 08:06 AM (23xg+)

2 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable tyrant.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Team Meteor. Now with Cheesecake at January 23, 2012 08:07 AM (8y9MW)

3 Strokes suck. Prayers and best wishes to him and his family.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) Team Meteor. Now with Cheesecake at January 23, 2012 08:07 AM (8y9MW)

4 @mkraju: Sen. Mark Kirk had a stroke, has been hospitalized and had successful surgery this morning, his office says (via @edhenryTV).

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at January 23, 2012 08:08 AM (9hSKh)

5 Jeez, he's only 52!
Hope everything goes well and it was recognized and treated quickly.

Posted by: Clutch Cargo at January 23, 2012 08:08 AM (Qxdfp)

6 Gee he's young

Posted by: nevergiveup at January 23, 2012 08:09 AM (i6RpT)

7 Thoughts and prayers go to Sen. Kirk and his family.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at January 23, 2012 08:09 AM (9hSKh)

8 He's too young for that. Hope he gets rest and will be back soon. prayers

Posted by: Flapjackmaka at January 23, 2012 08:10 AM (QOQWk)

9 I hope someone caught him early.

Posted by: whatever at January 23, 2012 08:10 AM (O7ksG)

Best wishes...

And here I am complianing about a sinus headache.

Posted by: dananjcon at January 23, 2012 08:10 AM (8ieXv)

11 Oh shit. I've met Kirk a few times...really decent guy. And a seat we absolutely cannot afford to lose, because we ain't getting it back.

Prayers.

Posted by: Jeff B. at January 23, 2012 08:10 AM (23Ios)

12 6 Gee he's young

IIRC, about a fourth of strokes occur in people under the age of 65.

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at January 23, 2012 08:10 AM (9hSKh)

13 Too soon to blame the atmosphere of stupid created by the Democrats?

Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 23, 2012 08:11 AM (/jOyr)

14 WTF??

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at January 23, 2012 08:12 AM (f9c2L)

15 Best wishes for a quick recovery

BTW, Rush is EN FUEGO on the wireless now

( those of you trashing him are feckless and jejune )

Posted by: SantaRosaStan at January 23, 2012 08:13 AM (UqKQV)

16 Crap.

Posted by: Cast Iron at January 23, 2012 08:14 AM (EL+OC)

17 Gee he's young IIRC, about a fourth of strokes occur in people under the age of 65. Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at January 23, 2012 12:10 PM (9hSKh) Statistics aside, I'm 57 so he is young no matter what!

Posted by: nevergiveup at January 23, 2012 08:15 AM (i6RpT)

18 Best wishes to him and his family. Hopefully it's a small one. We need him in the Senate!

Posted by: joncelli, too stressed by half at January 23, 2012 08:16 AM (RD7QR)

19 I could make a joke, but by Crom, it would be in bad taste.

Posted by: Det. John Kimble at January 23, 2012 08:16 AM (C3ZHR)

20 The news I read said he checked himself in to the hospital. That is a very good sign.

Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at January 23, 2012 08:17 AM (f9c2L)

21 Being a politician in today's environment sure takes its toll.

Posted by: © Sponge at January 23, 2012 08:17 AM (UK9cE)

22 from the mayo clinic: signs of a stroke... Trouble with walking. You may stumble or experience sudden dizziness, loss of balance or loss of coordination. Trouble with speaking and understanding. You may experience confusion. You may slur your words or be unable to find the right words to explain what is happening to you (aphasia). Try to repeat a simple sentence. If you can't, you may be having a stroke. Paralysis or numbness on one side of your body or face. You may develop sudden numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of your body. Try to raise both your arms over your head at the same time. If one arm begins to fall, you may be having a stroke. Similarly, one side of your mouth may droop when you try to smile. Trouble with seeing in one or both eyes. You may suddenly have blurred or blackened vision, or you may see double. Headache. A sudden, severe "bolt out of the blue" headache, which may be accompanied by vomiting, dizziness or altered consciousness, may indicate you're having a stroke.

Posted by: phoenixgirl....a voter without a candidate at January 23, 2012 08:17 AM (Ho2rs)

23 Here's a nice picture of him giving a speech.

He is young.

Posted by: ambrosia at January 23, 2012 08:18 AM (oZfic)

24 Yeah, let's hope he recovers: we need the seat.

It looks like he took action quickly, giving himself the best chance of survival. Not everyone does that following a stroke. Good for him --- he's doing his duty to his constituents well, to keep himself around to represent their interests.

I hope he has the best doctors, recovers, and is around for years to cast many crucial votes.

And enjoy life, etc.

Posted by: Random at January 23, 2012 08:18 AM (YiE0S)

25 O/T: Rand Paul accosted by TSA..DRUDGE

Posted by: Cast Iron at January 23, 2012 08:19 AM (EL+OC)

26
I had nothing to do with this.

On the other hand...

26
btw, I don't need I See Dead People to tell me Joe Paterno will be dead before 2012.

Guys like Paterno always die right after they retire.
Posted by: Soothsayer at November 19, 2011

Posted by: The Man Who Kinda Killed JoePa at January 23, 2012 08:21 AM (sqkOB)

27 Damn, get well soon Senator. He's practically the sole light of political reason in that entire blighted by blue state.

Posted by: GnuBreed at January 23, 2012 08:21 AM (BhuDE)

28 How do you have a stroke at such a young age? (whatever age I am is a young age). Looked up his picture, looks healthy enough.

Posted by: t-bird at January 23, 2012 08:22 AM (FcR7P)

29
Tim Johnson just called emailed me and said, "It's best for Kirk to retire."

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:22 AM (sqkOB)

30 Best wishes to him. Damn.

Posted by: eman at January 23, 2012 08:23 AM (3VSsp)

31 Guys like Paterno always die right after they retire.
Posted by: Soothsayer at November 19, 2011

Posted by: The Man Who Kinda Killed JoePa at January 23, 2012 12:21 PM (sqkOB)

I heard an interview with Brent Musburger over the weekend and he said when he once asked JoPa about retiring, Joe replied something along the lines of Bear Bryant died shortly after retiring. I don't want to do that.

Posted by: © Sponge at January 23, 2012 08:23 AM (UK9cE)

32
hahaha @ Rush

he's telling everyone, "Don't panic, folks! Don't panic!!!"

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:23 AM (sqkOB)

33 Seriously, prayers for him.

Non-seriously, Belichick did it. Cheater.

Quarter-seriously, Illinois? Chicago? Dirty Politics? Poison?

Half Seriously, Its the TSA. Mother F'ers. Detaining a Senator? Really?

Posted by: AFC West at January 23, 2012 08:24 AM (JYheX)

34
Joe replied something along the lines of Bear Bryant died shortly after retiring. I don't want to do that.

oh well...

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:24 AM (sqkOB)

35 Best wishes to Sen. Kirk and family. Prayers for them and the Republic, we need all the good men and women we can get.

Even if we do tend to flog them a touch hard.

Posted by: DarkLord©, Rogue Commenter at January 23, 2012 08:25 AM (GBXon)

36 My best friend in the Air Force had a massive stroke at age 25 back in 82. Have kept in touch through the years but he never fully recovered.

Posted by: Bill R. at January 23, 2012 08:26 AM (ekWve)

37 On his site, it says there was carotid artery dissection and he had an ischemic stroke. The surgery was successful. Doctors are confident in his recovery. Sounds like he is getting good care and expected to recover. Prayers will be ongoing.

Posted by: Watcher at January 23, 2012 08:27 AM (Ceoit)

38 Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 12:24 PM (sqkOB)

Or maybe God is punishing him for caring more about Penn State football than the safety of young boys?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJconservative) at January 23, 2012 08:27 AM (nEUpB)

39 I hate to think about this, but how long until we start hearing calls for him to step down "for the good of the people of Illinois" from the same people who applauded Gabrielle Giffords staying on as Congresswoman.

Posted by: Alex at January 23, 2012 08:27 AM (GgXZc)

40 On his site, it says there was carotid artery dissection and he had an ischemic stroke. The surgery was successful. Doctors are confident in his recovery.

Sounds like he is getting good care and expected to recover. Prayers will be ongoing.

Posted by: Watcher at January 23, 2012 12:27 PM (Ceoit)

Well, Score ONE for Obamacare!!!!!

Posted by: Barry O'Soshilism at January 23, 2012 08:30 AM (UK9cE)

41
Rush is all fired up for the wrong reasons.

He's not even mentioning the silly demand to see Romney's tax returns (What is he hiding, anyway?) or the news cycle about gasp! Romney paying only a 15% tax rate.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:30 AM (sqkOB)

42 I stroked out 5 years ago, October. I drove myself to the hospital and was back to work in 4 days. I still don't feel 100% and take lots of medications...but I can deal.

My prayers are with him and I hope he has a high tolerance for pain - as muscles come back they hurt, each and every individual one...one at a freakin' time. I didn't realize I has muscles in my ears until after my stroke.

Posted by: minuteman (formerly trainer) until Juggy is gone at January 23, 2012 08:31 AM (Rojyk)

43 My dad had a stroke at 47. A real eye opener for me. And just last week, he had a double bypass with five grafts. I gotta see the cardiologist again soon and get a stress test.

And Giffords is stepping down. But Kirk should recover a lost faster than Giffords did.

Posted by: Penfold at January 23, 2012 08:31 AM (1PeEC)

44 Wow look at his bio: Born in Champaign, Illinois, Mark graduated from Winnetka's New Trier High School and attended Blackburn College and the Universidad Nacional AutÃ³noma de MÃ©xico before earning a B.A (cum laude) in history from Cornell University. Senator Kirk also earned a Master's Degree from the London School of Economics and a law degree from Georgetown University. In 1989, Mark was commissioned as an officer in the navy reserve and currently holds the rank of Commander.

Posted by: tasker at January 23, 2012 08:31 AM (r2PLg)

45 Anyone else get the feeling that a carrier is about to be sacrificed in the Persian Gulf for someone's re-election bid?

Posted by: allahallahoxenfree at January 23, 2012 08:33 AM (dkw+N)

46 Prayers to the senator and his family. I lost my mom to a massive stroke that came completely out of the blue. Early treatment is absolutely crucial.

Posted by: Lady in Black.....{sigh} at January 23, 2012 08:34 AM (F+Xfj)

47 No death panels for Congress. That's why they're against term limits.

Posted by: t-bird at January 23, 2012 08:34 AM (FcR7P)

48 Nah......He is the 2nd term of Carter, but our military is better than that. If the call is made by commander "tough call," our boys will win.

Posted by: © Sponge at January 23, 2012 08:34 AM (UK9cE)

49 Is an ischemic stroke-less serious?

Posted by: tasker at January 23, 2012 08:35 AM (r2PLg)

50 In 1989, Mark was commissioned as an officer in the navy reserve and currently holds the rank of Commander. Posted by: tasker at January 23, 2012 12:31 PM (r2PLg) He outranks me

Posted by: nevergiveup at January 23, 2012 08:35 AM (i6RpT)

51
I hate to think about this, but how long until we start hearing calls for him to step down "for the good of the people of Illinois" from the same people who applauded Gabrielle Giffords staying on as Congresswoman.

Posted by: Alex at January 23, 2012 12:27 PM (GgXZc)

DING DING DING DING! WE HAVE A WINNER!

I'm thinking by the end of the day.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 23, 2012 08:35 AM (XCHGh)

52
Mitt Romney has new campaign music. J Geils Band.

Musta got lost, musta got lost, musta got lost
Somewhere down the line
Musta got lost, I got lost girl
Give away the day you were mine

I just don't understand it
I just don't understand it
I just don't understand it

And I musta got lost, musta got lost, musta got lost
Somewhere down the line, hey

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:35 AM (sqkOB)

53
wow Rush is way off today

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:36 AM (sqkOB)

54 Ya-a Commander at that age... Maybe in the Reserves he's a JAG...

Posted by: tasker at January 23, 2012 08:37 AM (r2PLg)

55
Ay yi yi...

Cuban Slide

Posted by: The Pretenders at January 23, 2012 08:38 AM (DfsRf)

Posted by: phoenixgirl....a voter without a candidate at January 23, 2012 12:17 PM (Ho2rs)

Geez, phoenixgirl. You just described an average moron Saturday night.

Posted by: Soona at January 23, 2012 08:39 AM (cqLNL)

57 OT: Senator Rand Paul detained by TSA after refusing pat-down at regional airport.

Posted by: Vergeltung at January 23, 2012 08:40 AM (jttPx)

58
publicity stunt by Rand Paul to help dad?

yeah, probably

It's not like Rand is some novice traveler.

Posted by: soothsayer at January 23, 2012 08:40 AM (sqkOB)

59 Ya-a Commander at that age... Maybe in the Reserves he's a JAG... Posted by: tasker at January 23, 2012 12:37 PM (r2PLg) For "ordinary" people most lawyers in the Reserves are NOT in the JAG Corps but intelligence or something like that. However for a Senator they might waive that

Posted by: nevergiveup at January 23, 2012 08:43 AM (i6RpT)

From the article in the Chicago Tribune, it looks like he will be okay. Thank goodness. He'll be in my thoughts and prayers.

Posted by: David of PA at January 23, 2012 08:46 AM (tPdIW)

61 My brother in law had a stroke this summer. He couldn't use his arm and went to the hosp. They medicated him and released him in 48 hours. He had re-taken up smoking, had been hitting the bottle pretty hard and went for a walk in 102 degree heat. This was a month or so after he admitted to the affair with the malaysian and ended the marriage to my sister. He seems fine now--so cosmic justice wasn't served.

Posted by: dagny at January 23, 2012 08:50 AM (w+PM8)

62 Tim Johnson just called emailed me and said, "It's best for Kirk to retire."

Captain Kirk has been retired for many years. Thank you for your interest in our Television show.

Posted by: NBC Idiots at January 23, 2012 08:51 AM (71LDo)

53
wow Rush is way off today

Rush is often 'way off'. ....We are not supposed to notice this.

Posted by: wheatie at January 23, 2012 08:52 AM (ALwK/)

64 My son lost his friend and lax coach a year and 1/2 ago to a suddne massive stroke. He was 30 and dead before he hit the ground. I haven't been able to get my boy into a church since.

Posted by: dagny at January 23, 2012 08:52 AM (w+PM8)

65 Sounds like one of those 'I don't feel just right, better have a doc check me out' episodes that can save peoples lives. As opposed by 'I'm OK, it'll pass, I'll just go to bed'......and wake up dead.

But yeah, I expect plenty of compassion from the caring Illinois leftys that waste my oxygen supply. And by 'compassion', I mean calls for the drooling Repuglican fascist to resign immediately!

Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at January 23, 2012 08:56 AM (2PTT7)

66 To go off topic a bit. Sent the drudge picture of Rand Paul to my friends. I got a lot of "who is that uber sexy guy?"......

He does look hot as hell in that picture (apologies to mrs rand paul but I call em as I see em)

Posted by: ambrosia at January 23, 2012 08:59 AM (oZfic)

67 Sounds like one of those 'I don't feel just right, better have a doc check me out' episodes that can save peoples lives. As opposed by 'I'm OK, it'll pass, I'll just go to bed'......and wake up dead.

Yup, a useful lesson for all of us in episodes like this. I hope Kirk recovers quickly, but I'm sure the Chicago Machine will have a press release out calling for him to be replaced by 5.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 23, 2012 08:59 AM (tqwMN)

68 It's unconscionable that Mark Kirk would insist on retaining his Senate seat after this gravely debilitating illness. May I present my son Zacharias Emanuel for the position. Not only is he as smart as a whip for the seventh grade, he's got all of his fingers!

Hey, never let a crisis go to waste, right??

Posted by: Rahm "Racoon Eyes" Emanuel at January 23, 2012 09:09 AM (2PTT7)

69 x

Posted by: The at January 23, 2012 09:16 AM (X6O1T)

70 #24. It sounds like he knew the signs and went straight to the local hospital. They sent him to Northwestern Memorial which ranks as the best hospital in Chicago in most surveys. It is a great teaching hospital. Absolutely first rate.

Posted by: NC Mountain Girl at January 23, 2012 09:28 AM (d1WtL)

71 Even if he's dead he can still vote in the Senate. He's from fucking Illinois.

Posted by: I am the walrus, goo-goo-ga-joo at January 23, 2012 09:29 AM (ybkwK)

72 HuffPo is split between:

"We're paying for his health care, but he voted against ours!"

and "He ought to resign like they wanted Gabby to resign!"

So...crazily stamping out strawmen, as usual.

Posted by: Bender Bending Rodriguez at January 23, 2012 09:31 AM (1H47k)

73 An ischemic stroke is caused by a blood clot stopping the flow of blood to a portion of the brain. If it is caught quickly, administering tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can dissolve the clot and restore the flow if administered within 3 - 4 hours. Kirk apparently developed a tear in his carotid artery, which caused pressure on the brain. As the blood clotted to stop the flow through the tear, a clot must have broken loose to cause the ischemic stroke in a part of his brain. If they got to it quickly enough -- and his recognizing the symptoms and taking action early certainly helped -- he may undergo a full recovery, though he'll be taking anti-clotting meds like Warfarin (Coumadin is a brand name) for awhile. If he does suffer some aftereffects, it will depend on the location of the stroke, and which part of the brain was hurt.

Posted by: Reno_Dave at January 23, 2012 09:55 AM (OL4L4)

#39:

He was an intel officer in the Naval Reserve. He was a Hill staffer when he was commissioned - before he was elected to Congress.

Posted by: Simon Oliver Lockwood at January 23, 2012 09:55 AM (PaV2r)

75 Just heard on the radio that it was a right hemisphere stroke, effecting his left arm & leg, and the left side of his face. It sounds similar to the stroke my now 81-year-old dad had in 2001. He still can't really use his left arm, and has to walk with a cane, partially due to the stroke, but his speech and mental faculties weren't effected. Unfortunately, my dad's stroke was so mild at first that they didn't initially diagnose it as a stroke, and by the time they did, it was too late for tPA.

Posted by: Reno_Dave at January 23, 2012 10:05 AM (OL4L4)

76 Prayers for Senator Kirk and his family.

Posted by: Miss80s at January 23, 2012 10:36 AM (d6QMz)

77 Damn, all the best to Senator Kirk--he's a friend of a friend, and i've always heard good things about him.

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at January 23, 2012 12:03 PM (eEAfp)

78 I assume the Tim Johnson thing is some bizarre attempt at humor?

Posted by: T.J. at January 23, 2012 09:20 PM (j3kxS)

79 Never mind. Assumed the Illinois Tim Johnson, being the same state and all.

Posted by: T.J. at January 23, 2012 11:12 PM (j3kxS)

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Posted by: Sharpen A Plane Blade at January 31, 2012 04:05 AM (mIhy6)

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