Ashcroft Leaves Hospital After Gallbladder Surgery

[Freddie Stubbs]

Monday, March 15, 2004; Page A06


Attorney General John D. Ashcroft was released from the hospital yesterday, less than a week after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder.

Ashcroft, 61, left George Washington University Hospital shortly after noon, Justice Department officials said. Deputy Attorney General James B. Comey, who has acted in Ashcroft's place since the attorney general entered the hospital on March 4, will continue to run the agency while Ashcroft recuperates at his home in the District. It is unclear when he will return to work.

"We have to wait and hear from the doctors as to how he's doing," Justice Department spokesman Mark Corallo said. "The doctor said it's different for every patient. They don't want to get into the business of predicting."

Ashcroft initially believed he had the stomach flu. When his condition worsened, a White House physician recommended that he go to the hospital. Doctors diagnosed a severe case of gallstone pancreatitis, an inflammation of a digestive organ that can be life-threatening.

more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58562-2004Mar14.html

[Timefortruth]

1. "We have to wait and hear from the doctors as to how he's doing,"

There is something strange about this whole story. I know my paranoia is getting the best of me these days, but I smell a rat.

There are objective criteria that can be used to determine his status, and the doctors opinion on those is unnecessary. Is he up and walking? Can he eat? Can he order misogynist enforcement of laws and the destruction of the Bill of Rights?

Since the gang in office now keeps secrets for no reason except that it gives them a control freak thrill to do so, there may be nothing here. On the other hand, this news blackout is one of the weirdest developments yet.

[Moderator]

2. Locking

Dupe - continue here

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=421517