Gerald Ford receives heart pacemaker

[MaineDem]

ROCHESTER, Minnesota (CNN) -- Former President Gerald Ford has received a cardiac pacemaker and is in stable condition at the Mayo Clinic, where the procedure was done, a statement from his office said Monday.

Over the past few days, Ford, 93, has been evaluated and undergone a series of tests at the clinic that resulted in the implantation of the device, which is intended "to enhance his heart's performance," his office said.

"The procedure this afternoon went smoothly and without incident," the statement said. "President Ford is resting comfortably with his wife and children and is expected to continue his recuperation at the Mayo Clinic for the next several days."

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/08/21/ford/index.html?...

[AlamoDemoc]

1. Gerald...don't die...talk of your experience of Israel

[AlamoDemoc]

4. let us know how they press you

[AlamoDemoc]

6. Gerald..don't dye...your in a unique situation i history....tell it all

[AlamoDemoc]

11. darn it don't die with secrets! you were never liked by the Georges

...and they never thought of you as president. They put on far box as former president like you......tell your story Mr. President. Let the world know you were Mr. President.

[Greeby]

2. Methinks he's not long for this world

Wonder if he's left instruction for after he's gone for the truth to be told about Kennedy?

(For those who don't know - Ford is the last surviving member of the Warren Commission, not counting Arlen "Magic Bullet" Specter)

[dflprincess]

17. Spector was only a lawyer on the staff of the Warren Commission,

Ford was a member of the commission.

Let's hope he starts to have nightmares about what Jesus might say to him if he doesn't confess and repent before he leaves this world.

[petepillow]

3. whoop dee doo!

another 3 years tacked onto his oldest living president title coming right up. thanks medical technology!

[Retired AF Dem]

13. I keep looking for the

compassionate liberals on DU. Is there such a thing as a compassionate liberal? Wouldn't know it reading posts like this.

[brentspeak]

21. A lot of the left-wing, non-Democrats and RW trolls posing

as wacko liberals chased them off.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

22. Sure, the post you responded to is the ONLY post in this thread.

Also, it has a high post count so it's a regular, known, mainstream liberal and not a poser.

Uh-huh.

It's apparent to anybody with half a brain that Ford is the most well-regarded Republican President here in DU since Eisenhower. Heck, probably since Teddy Roosevelt.

And yet you choose to pick and choose.

How convenient.

[Misunderestimator]

24. No, there are only compassionate conservatives, of course...

It's like responding to someone posting about how they oppose gay marriage and saying "Where are all the liberals for civil rights?" Only this is even more far-fetched.

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Erika]

5. Most Americans cannot afford this treatment

and would simply die. His healthcare is paid by us.

[wain]

9. Same as for all senators and congressmen and women

Nothing but the best for them. Why not the rest of the country?

We keep paying for it and re-electing most of them. They think we like it.

[juajen]

19. Medicare paid for my husband's procedure, same as

President Ford. This surgery costs $100,000 and all of it was paid except for around $2,000 by medicare. The hospital is eating this cost because we cannot afford to pay even that.

Good Luck to you, President Ford.

[0007]

7. They ought give junior Ford's brain.....

[Danmel]

8. My God you guys are mean

my 88 year old father just had three stents put in. Medicare paid for it. He is totally mentally fine, can walk, cook for himself etc. Should I have let him die? I am speechless. I hope Gerald Ford has a complete recovery.

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. Thanks.

My mother had her second pacemaker implanted at age 92. It was ambulatory surgery and she went home the same day. Medicare and AARP paid for it. She had another 18 months before a massive heart attack killed her last December. I'd do it all over again.

Ford may be a Republican, but he deserves the same level of healthcare that my Democratic mother had. The bottom line is (and should be) that his family loves him.

[Benhurst]

14. Actually, we are being a bit unfair about Ford's treatment.

Cheney on the other hand has "paddles in the chest", a device much more expensive than a regular pacemaker which regulates the heartbeat. Cheney's device gives him a jump start if the heart stops beating. If he had been on a regular health care program, he'd have been long gone by now.

[Retired AF Dem]

15. Not always true

my father has the Paddles you speak of and he is on regular health care. I hope they do work, after burying his wife of 54 years today (my mother) I'm sure he really needs them.

[Benhurst]

16. I'm glad he was able to get them. As I understand it, they were

made no longer available to us peons shortly after Cheney got his. Of course I think ALL Americans should be covered. Good luck to you and your father.

[liberal N proud]

12. Keeping him alive until late October

Not to be morbid but I wouldn't put it past them to be keeping pumping until mid - late October.
That would give them another fine republican state funeral just in time to pump the patriotism from the right wing and the fundies.

Although, just because they are setting him up on a pace maker does not mean death is eminent. My father has had one for 15 years, even wore one out.

[Slyder]

18. Medicaid and "Paddles"

My brother has the "paddles", paid for by his Medicaid.

[noonwitch]

20. I'm glad he's recovering, I always liked Ford

It's required of all who are from Grand Rapids.

Once upon a time, the GOP was not run by the religious right. There were guys like Ford and Dole (the 76 model) who were moderates, pro-choice, supported civil rights and women's rights, and were thoughtful enough about each issue that presented itself to think it through and have their own position, not that prepared by a think tank.

If the GOP was the same party that produced Ford and former Michigan Governor Milliken, they'd get my vote once in a while for something other than county prosecutor or family court judge.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. You are aware that you don't exist, right?

According to some, everybody in this thread is mean and harps on a dying man for no reason save him being Republican.

[noonwitch]

25. When I was a teenager, I used to wonder if I really existed

Or if I was part of some dream of my mother's. And that was before I ever tried drugs or alcohol. Teenagers go through that, I guess.

A few posters made some nasty comments about Ford. They don't speak for me.

Ford is well-loved in his hometown. His presidential museum is pretty cool, too. It opened in the fall of 1981, my senior year of high school. All the dignatiaries in the free world came-Begin, Sadat, Trudeau, Mitterand, Schmidt, Thatcher, etc. Plus, then-President Reagan, VP Bush, Speaker O'Neill, Jimmy Carter, Nixon, Kissenger, etc.

We all were joking that if the USSR wanted to take out all the world leaders, they should have just nuked Grand Rapids that day!

[ronnykmarshall]

27. I like Ford too.

And I loves me some Be-tay!