ConfirmThem

I'm obviously not a doctor, but it sounds like the Chief Justice might have a mild form of (undiagnosed and therefore as of yet untreated) epilepsy.

What would the last few hours have been like if Hillary was President right now?

I know the most important thing is the impact on his family, but it is also vital to the country.

It's my understanding that epilepsy isn't really a diagnosis, per se, and simply means recurrent seizures. The CJ's two incidents would seem to qualify. It is unsettling unless and until they identify a cause (there are many possibilities).

This does remind us that not everyone gets to leave the Supreme Court when they want to. And 6 members of the Supreme Court are over 65 so health issues are an even bigger concern for them.

Other sources I've seen place the previous incident at 1993, not 2003. Apparently due to stress from his confirmation battle.

if he was not allowed to drive after the first incident, that indicates a not insignificant degree of concern on the part of his doctors. I assume an MRI is coming.

Couldn't paint a starker picture for '08, now, could it?

I'm cautiously optimistic that the Chief will be fine, and likely just needs a prescription or diet change(this was suggested by a kossack of all things. To be fair, they're all over anyone there who's tried to get nasty, for the most part).

I do hope his kids were not around, and all they know is that "Daddy slipped and got a boo-boo". I don't think the report on how he is is of the old USSR "he has a cold" variety, so let's stay cool.

But, on SCOTUS, we now have a 417 year old man, a 62lb old lady, and a Chief with a history of seizures. Gonna be front & center the rest of the way til 11/08.

Rudy was very smart to get ahead of the curve with the Olson team. I hear Mitt has a team; anyone know who's on it?

and with your family. Get well quick

A spokesman for the local Maine hospital Roberts is in for overnight observation released a brief statement and, in response to a question, said he'd try to have a doctor address reporters. It was a three word diagnosis, that included the word "benign," whatever that means in this context. If someone could try to link that statement, we'd all be grateful.

Back to vacation, yet prayerfully following developments.

read the third item down:

http://wonkette.com/politics/rumors-on-the-internets/let-the-sunshine-in...

Justice Roberts Suffers Seizure

Jul 30 07:48 PM US/Eastern
By MARK SHERMAN
Associated Press Writer

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WASHINGTON (AP) - Chief Justice John Roberts suffered a seizure at his summer home in Maine on Monday, causing a fall that resulted in minor scrapes, Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg said.
He will remain in a hospital in Maine overnight.

"It's my understanding he's fully recovered, said Christopher Burke, a spokesman for Penobscot Bay Medical Center, where Roberts was taken.

Roberts, 52, was taken by ambulance to the medical center, where he underwent a "thorough neurological evaluation, which revealed no cause for concern," Arberg said in a statement.

Roberts had a similar episode in 1993, she said.

Doctors called Monday's incident "a benign idiopathic seizure," Arberg said. The White House described the January 1993 episode as an "isolated, idiosyncratic seizure."

A benign seizure means that doctors performed an MRI and other tests to conclude there was no tumor, stroke or other explanation.

In addition, doctors would have quickly ruled out simple explanations such as dehydration or low blood sugar.

By definition, someone who has had more than one seizure without any other cause is determined to have epilepsy, said Dr. Marc Schlosberg, a neurologist at Washington Hospital Center, who is not involved in the Roberts' case.

Whether Roberts will need anti-seizure medications to prevent another is something he and his doctor will have to decide.

But after two seizures, the likelihood of another at some point is greater than 60 percent.

"When it's going to occur, obviously nobody knows," Schlosberg said.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20039923/

Last week Sen. Reid (peace be upon him) indicated that the Dems will have another senator back in September--(actually, he was talking numbers, but the impolication was clear)--obviously referring to Sen. Johnson of SD. I checked keloland.com and there have been no reports in the past two weeks. We'll see if that actually happens. We'll also see if he runs for re-election--must file by March of 08. I saw the Dem. HR rep from SD on CSPAN. She's certainly telegenic and might be a formidable candidate for whomever the GOP might run.

Bush is still President. If Roberts decides that some other course is better for him and his family, Bush would still be able to replace him.

Nothing like another confirmation battle to rally the base from a political point of view.

Again, I hope it doesn't come to that, but I wouldn't want to see someone stay on and have us hoping for 8 yrs that President Clinton won't replace him.

It's why I said Scalia should step down and allow a younger replacement, although I guess this shows that age really doesn't have anything to do with it.

Rudy was very smart to get ahead of the curve with the Olson team. I hear Mitt has a team; anyone know who's on it?

He nabbed Wendy Long last week. Here's an interview. He doesn't have quite the "team" that Giuliani does. But, then again, Giuliani's team is mostly figurehead (though impressive).

I almost freaked out when I saw this on Drudge, and then came here to clam my anxiety.

As if we needed a daily reminder of the importance of judges going into '08, what with Schumer already foaming at the mouth...

Unless there is something seriously wrong (a tumor, etc) with the Chief, then there is ABSOLUTELY no reason for him to even entertain stepping down and no reason for us to worry during the next dem administration (whenever that is).

Time for the Chief to get with a doctor and work out a sleep, diet, exercise and perhaps medication plan to guard against future seizures. But there is no reason to think he won't be the 30-year giant on the Court we thought he was yesterday...

This is presumably minor and not a cause for alarm. But it does make me wonder: do these ancient liberal justices put immortality potion in their soup? Aa per Anne Coulter, one could think of something better, for the good of the nation and the Cobstitution, to put in JPS's and RBG's mushroom soup.

Days elapsed since last CCA confirmation: 82

Let's not stoop to the Lefties' levels when it comes to wishing ill of Justices.

We are way above that...

This is why Schumer said what he did last week- he knew this was coming!!!!!!