Any bets on when The Big Dog will start barking again?

[PlanetBev]

Will he be able to campaign at all? I miss him and we need him REAL, REAL BAD right now.

[kestrel91316]

1. My prediction (you heard it here first).....................

he will find a way to get out speaking by the first week of October.

[speedoo]

7. I have a prdiction too.

At some big rally in early to mid-October, Kerry will be introduced and then begin his speech with something like:

"Thank you very much. It's great to be here. And I want to talk with you about the big issues in this campaign.

But first, we have a very special guest who has a few things to say as well."

Kerry turns, and out onto the stage walks President Clinton. Crowd goes insane. Clinton walks over to Kerry, hugs him and they hold their hands up in a victory gesture.


(Early afternoon event, so it makes the evening news.)

[cheshire]

2. I heard a couple people say he'll be back soon. Carville was one.

[fortyfeetunder]

3. Don't worry, Big Dog will be back soon

Knowing him, he's probably chomping at the bit to be back in the fray. He's probably barking through his laptop.

[JI7]

4. no, we just need him to get better for now. but i do think he can do

something like 1 appearance or interview a few days before the elections to try to get support for kerry.

and of course hillary will be out supporting kerry also.

[brainshrub]

5. I'll bet he's reading this right now.

Clinton is like Elvis... he's everywhere! (Only in better shape.)

[punpirate]

6. From people I know who've had open-heart surgery...

... the rib-spreading and sutures make you feel "like an elephant stomped on your chest," as one guy put it, for a couple of weeks. Plus, there are often drains that have to come out later, etc.

He's probably not going to feel like dancing again until October....

[Seldona]

8. Did he get his ribcage cracked?

I know a few years back I heard about a new procedure where they could simply take out a few small sections of rib and do the surgery arthroscopically.

It was supposed to significantly shorten recovery time.

Anyway I wish him a VERY speedy recovery, and hope he was able to take advantage of the new technique.

[punpirate]

9. Since it was a quadruple bypass and...

... the surgery took five hours, yup, my guess is that he got spread wide open....

[Princess Turandot]

17. They cracked his chest..

I think he had such significant blockage that they used the more conservative method, which the surgeon has likely performed far more times than the non-invasive one, given that it is fairly new. (While I'm sure there are other cardiovascular surgeons doing the procedure in NYC now, it was actually the group at Lenox Hill Hospital, a smallish place on upper Park Avenue which was the most outfront in using the new method.) Plus, while his surgeon may have contributed to the Bush campaign,having Mr. Clinton die on his OR table in New York City would have done quite a number on his surgical practice, especially if he used a much newer method. Imagine a cardiologist the next week trying to convince a 70 year old New Yorker to let the guy do his operation, if Clinton's turned out badly, no matter what his prior reputation was.

[juajen]

10. No drains. These were removed before dismissal from hospital.

My husband, who had quadruple by-pass at the same age as Clinton resumed normal activites the second week. He drove and resumed graduate studies at the local university. He also had a history of serious heart attacks and strokes, and other medical conditions I will not go into here. He was, of course, going to rehab daily for about six weeks. I was amazed. It really depends on the person. I expect Clinton to be up and about in a couple of weeks.

[partygirl]

11. my uncle had triple bypass

he will be up and in a regular routine in a couple of weeks, but I doubt he will hit the campaign trail this year. If he does it would have to be at the very end. Maybe Hillary could do some campaigning for Kerry? But it is OK cause Kerry has Kennedy and he is the BEST. Everyone loves him. And Kennedy has helped him for years, I think Kerry is like the little brother he never had (he likes being the big brother). He is like a mentor to Kerry. So even though Clinton would be good, I think it will be OK if they have to do without him.

[elsiesummers]

12. I love Kennedy, but Clinton is THE media draw!

If Clinton can hit the trail a couple of times, not only with Kerry but with Edwards - he will refocus the media attention on everything that it said at that event - and might gain Edwards some helpful attention.

I hope Bill C. will be well enough to hit the trail.

[partygirl]

13. but it is only less than

7 weeks to the election and he probably will have to rest for 6 weeks. I see him lazing around the house, watching videos and reading...he probably would enjoy that. His health is too important to compromise being on the campaign trail is HARD work. Maybe he will do a little at the very end the last week or two....

[partygirl]

14. Oh I forgot to say my parents

sent him the greatest get well basket! It is like a hamper filled with all kinds of things that a sick person would enjoy! I love picturing him recovering and taking his time so that he does not get sick again. It is bad timing though...

[saracat]

15. Where did they send it? Just curious.

[saracat]

16. It would have to be by the third week in Oct. To do any good with

the VBM. And I think he will do it. I am told he was supposed to be here in Phoenix and he thinks he can still make it!

[spooky3]

18. Teleconferencing--I bet they'll set him on to address a few

mass rallies electronically by early Oct.

And I'll bet he's on the phone regularly with Kerry now.