Charlie Wilson Undergoes Emergency Surgery

Rep. Charlie Wilson underwent emergency surgery this morning to repair a colonic perforation he suffered after having a routine colonoscopy on Monday in Ohio.

According to a release from Wilson's office, Wilson flew to Washington on Tuesday and wasn't feeling well shortly afterwards. He then met with the Attending Physician of the United States Congress who recommended that Wilson be hospitalized and accompanied him to George Washington University Hospital where he the colonic perforation was diagnosed.

This morning a decision was made that Wilson would require surgery. The surgery was viewed as a success and Wilson is currently in stable condition. He will be hospitalized for 5-7 days followed by a few weeks of rest at home.

After the surgery Wilson told his family and staff “I’m optimistic. I want to go back to work as soon I can".

I'd like to wish Wilson a speedy recovery and promise him and his staff that they won't be hearing any complaints from me while he takes time off to recover.

The full press release:

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Charlie Wilson (OH-6) is in stable condition today following emergency colon surgery performed in Washington early this morning.

Wilson underwent a routine screening colonoscopy on Monday in Ohio. On Tuesday afternoon he flew to Washington. After arriving in Washington he wasn’t feeling well and followed up with the Attending Physician of the United States Congress.

The attending physician recommended that he go to the hospital and accompanied Wilson to George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C. Doctors there admitted Wilson after they determined he sustained a colonic perforation following the colonoscopy. This morning Wilson’s doctors determined surgery was necessary.

“The surgery was successful and we did what we needed to safely treat his condition,” said Farshid Araghizadeh, M.D. Associate Professor of Surgery and Colorectal Surgeon at the George Washington University Hospital. “Congressman Wilson remains in the Intensive Care Unit in stable condition. Considering his initial presentation his progress is very encouraging.”

Wilson is expected to be in the hospital for the next five to seven days and then will continue to rest at home. He hopes to return to a light Congressional schedule within a few weeks. All of his offices remain open for business.

In the recovery room Wilson reassured both family and staff that he was fine. “I’m optimistic,” Wilson said. “I want to go back to work as soon I can.”

Well wishers are reminded that cards and flowers will not be accepted at the hospital.

It's Time To Turn Up The Heat On SCHIP

Here are some of the recent developments in the SCHIP veto override fight:

Zack Space Writes A Column

Representative Zack Space published the following column in Tuesday's edition of the Newark Advocate. 

When I initially made up my mind to run for Congress, the motivations behind that decision were very simple – I wanted to help people and make our great country even greater.  Regardless of political affiliation or ideology, I am sure those are the same motivations that compel everyone into public service.  It was hard to leave behind daily life in Ohio, but it was harder to sit idly by while our country went in the wrong direction.  I wanted to be part of the effort to bring about historic issues that will make life better for all Americans.

Recently, both the House and the Senate on a bipartisan basis overwhelmingly passed one of those historic pieces of legislation that would extend health insurance coverage to 10 million children.  Yet President Bush has vetoed this effort to get our children their care.  This administration has not made the health of our children a top priority, and he acted quickly to dash the hopes and safety of our children.

The State Children’s Health Insurance Program or SCHIP provides 145,000 children in Ohio with health insurance because their parents cannot afford it.  I was proud to join with the other 264 Members of the House and with the 67 Senators to renew and extend this vital program.  Created by a bipartisan effort in 1997, this program provides 6.6 million underprivileged children with the health coverage they need to become healthy adults.

When this legislation was originally passed, it was crafted by a bipartisan group who were focused on protecting our children.  Now in 2007, we have reached the deadline to renew this vital program.  The bill we passed would have renewed SCHIP and made funds available to ensure that 10 million children currently eligible will actually have the funds necessary to provide coverage.  Yet the President chose to veto the legislation. 

I never thought I would see the day when a President would veto legislation because it offers health insurance to too many children.

I worry that some Republican Members of Congress have lost sight of the real-world impact of sustaining this veto.  The health insurance coverage of 145,000 Ohio children is in jeopardy.  Your child, your neighbor’s children, or that child down the street who just fell off his bike will not be able to go to a doctor because the program they rely on for insurance will cease to exist if the Members siding with the President do not relent in their opposition.  Using our children as a political football is simply unconscionable to me.  It is not why I came to Washington.

I sincerely hope that the few Republican Members of Congress who have vowed to sustain Bush’s veto remember why they got into politics in the first place. 

Let’s overturn this veto and make sure Ohio’s children get every chance possible to lead healthy, productive lives.

Congressman Zack Space

New Ad Campaign Launches

Several groups (including AFL-CIO, AFSCME, SEIU, MoveOn.org, Americans United for Change, USAction, and True Majority Action) have banded together to launch an ad campaign against a few members of Congress who voted against SCHIP. Among their targets is Steve Chabot of the 1st district as you can see in the ad below. The rest of the ads are available here.

Kucinich Quits His Moral Stand

And finally Dennis Kucinich has came out and promised to support overriding the SCHIP veto, despite the fact that it doesn't include the children of legal immigrants. While I tend to agree with him about the need to include them (after all, aren't we all immigrants except for the Native Americans?) I still think you should take what you can get first and then work from there.

Ann Coulter Losses All Grip In Reality, World Shocked & Stunned

Okay not really, we all already knew she was crazy.

I just took a look at my feed reader and saw something interesting- at the top of the list in last Google Trends item was "john edwards affair". Now of course I had to check that out.

It turns out that conservative hatemonger Ann Coulter went on the MSNBC show Tucker and claimed that presidential candidate John Edwards had an affair while his wife was undergoing cancer treatment. When pressed on the subject she claimed she's put proof of the affair on her website later in the day. And what was this proof she claimed to have? A link to a National Enquirer story.

So there you have it folks, a woman who's been caught lying several times (including on her voter registration card) is citing supermarket tabloids as irrefutable proof. Could some of you Republicans please shut this woman up? It's the Democrats job to make Republicans look bad.

Conference Call With Robin Weirauch

Tonight I took part in a conference call with Robin Weirauch, a Democrat running in the special election to replace the late Paul Gillmor in the 5th congressional district.

Now I want to be up front about this, I've probably only been in the 5th Congressional District only once or twice in my life (it's pretty sad how little I've seen of my own state in the last few years) and even then I was just passing through. Furthermore I live about as far away from the 5th district as possible within Ohio. Basically I have no first hand knowledge about the problems affecting that specific area.

I do, however, know the issues that our state faces. Working from that I feel confident in saying that Robin Weirauch seemed like very sincere and friendly person with a good grasp on those issues. While the 5th district is seen by many as too solidly conservative to change hands but with the Republicans going at each others throats and a good candidate like Robin on our side I think it's way too soon to give up.

You can contribute to the Weirauch campaign here and view her campaign site here. They've also launched a campaign blog with a unique twist.

Glass City Jungle also has a great write-up on the call.

BREAKING: School Shooting In Cleveland

MSNBC is reporting that a school shooting has taken place at a high school in Cleveland.

CLEVELAND - Police said that at least three people were shot inside the SuccessTech School on Wednesday afternoon.

According to police, a male was shot on the school's third floor and another person was possibly shot on the fifth floor.

Cleveland fire, police and emergency medical services were at the scene, Cleveland television station WEWS reported.

Police said that they were searching for a 14-year-old suspect.

I know there's a lot of bloggers and readers up there, is everyone okay?

Source: ONN, Ohio News Now - Shooting Reported Inside Cleveland School

The Return of the Macaca Moments?

Conservative columnist Robert Novak seems to think that ex-Virginia Senator George Allen might be hoping to make a political comeback.

George Allen, whose Republican presidential dreams were shattered by his upset defeat for re-election to the Senate in 2006, is considering a comeback by running for governor of Virginia in 2009.

You might remember Allen from his famous YouTube moments (like when he used the obscure, prejudicial remark "macaca" or when two of his supporters beat up a blogger) that cost him his reelection to the Senate last year and crushed his hopes of running for President. Ya, those are going be tough to recover from.

Allen has previously served as Governor of Virginia from 1994-1998.

Source: GOP House leader in federal probe keeps key post on Appropriations Committee :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Robert Novak

Hiring Mercenaries Is Always A Bad Idea

As the Blackwater investigation continues there have been more and more horror stories coming to light. Below is an account published in the L.A. Times from a former U.S. official.

One particularly infuriating time, I was in the town of Irbil in northern Iraq, being driven to a meeting with a Kurdish political leader. We were on a narrow stretch of highway with no shoulders and foot-high barriers on both sides. The lead Suburban in our convoy loomed up behind an old, puttering sedan driven by an older man with a young woman and three children.

As we approached at typical breakneck speed, the Blackwater driver honked furiously and motioned to the side, as if they should pull over. The kids in the back seat looked back in horror, mouths agape at the sight of the heavily armored Suburbans driven by large, armed men in dark sunglasses. The poor Iraqi driver frantically searched for a means of escape, but there was none. So the lead Blackwater vehicle smashed heedlessly into the car, pushing it into the barrier. We zoomed by too quickly to notice if anyone was hurt.

Until that point I had never mentioned anything to my drivers about their tactics, but this time I could not contain myself.

"Where do you all expect them to go?" I shrieked. "It was an old guy and a family, for goodness' sake. Was it necessary for them to destroy their poor old car?"

My driver responded impassively: "Ma'am, we've been trained to view anyone as a potential threat. You don't know who they might use as decoys or what the risks are. Terrorists could be disguised as anyone."

"Well, if they weren't terrorists before, they certainly are now!" I retorted. Sulking in my seat, I was stunned by the driver's indifference.

And we can't figure out why we aren't winning in Iraq?