Ted Kennedy Diagnosed With Brain Tumor

I've always had my political disagreements with the senior Senator from Massachusetts, but say a prayer for Ted Kennedy and his family today.

U.S. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy has a malignant brain tumor, doctors treating him at Massachusetts General Hospital said Tuesday.

Kennedy, 76, was hospitalized Saturday morning after suffering a seizure at his family's compound at Hyannisport, Massachusetts.

"Preliminary results from a biopsy of the brain identified the cause of the seizure as a malignant glioma in the left parietal lobe," according to a statement from the doctors treating the senator.

Family members reported Saturday that Kennedy was well enough later in the morning to call to say he would not be able to join them for lunch.

More here.

Malignant gliomas are a type of brain cancer diagnosed in about 9,000 Americans a year — and the most common type among adults. It's a starting diagnosis: How well patients fare depends on what specific tumor type is determined by further testing.

Average survival can range from less than a year for very advanced and aggressive types — such as glioblastomas — or to about five years for different types that are slower growing.

Kennedy, the second-longest serving member of the Senate and a dominant figure in national Democratic Party politics, was elected in 1962, filling out the term won by his brother, John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy eldest brother, Joseph, was killed in a World War II airplane crash. President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 and his brother Robert was assassinated in 1968.

Kennedy is active for his age, maintaining an aggressive schedule on Capitol Hill and across Massachusetts. He has made several campaign appearances for the Illinois senator in February, and most recently another in April.

Kennedy, the senior senator from Massachusetts and the Senate's second-longest serving member, was re-elected in 2006 and is not up for election again until 2012.

Were he to resign or die in office, state law requires a special election for the seat no sooner than 145 days and no later than 160 days after the vacancy occurs.

While well-wishes pour in from all over, a Kosling naturally can't help but use the somber moment to wish ill upon the president.

You stay classy, Koskidz!

I shouldn't even imply this, I know I'll regret it, I don't wish ill on anyone, but I am so darn sad and angry. Why Senator Kennedy? I can only hope some Karma will visit BushCo and the people who most deserve punishment for the terrible deeds and deaths they've caused to have their day in court.

by lovescats on Tue May 20, 2008 at 10:45:17 AM PDT

Update: Predictably, some leftwing douchebag claims any show of sympathy for a political opponent is either off-limits or phony. Just because these scumbags don't have a merciful bone in their bodies doesn't mean they need to project it upon others.

Nice to see them scouring the archives. Happy reading, assholes.