87 year old Bob Dole back in Walter Reed med center. Not looking good Prayers for him

[demtenjeep]

TOPEKA, Kan. - A spokeswoman for the Dole Institute of Politics in Lawrence says former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole has been readmitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Dole Institute spokeswoman Heather Anderson tells The Associated Press that Dole was admitted to the hospital Thursday. She said she had no additional details, and several messages left with Walter Reed staff weren't immediately returned Friday.

The 87-year-old Russell native spent 10 months at Walter Reed last year after suffering pneumonia three times following knee surgery in February. He left the facility in mid-November.

Dole was first elected to the U.S. House in 1960 and to the Senate in 1968. He was President Gerald Ford's running mate in 1976 and was the Republican nominee for president in 1996, losing to Bill Clinton.



Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2011/01/07/1663624/report-bob-dole-back-at-walter.html#ixzz1AaWWPoNr

[salin]

1. Prayers for Senator Dole.

[onehandle]

2. Hope he pulls through. Last of the sane Republicans. nt

[demosincebirth]

16. Ditto.

[madokie]

49. Sane?

please explain

[karynnj]

52. He was at best a mixed bag

As a legislator, I agree with you he was a Republican, but not like the current far right ones. As an opponent to Clinton, he was so poor that unfortunately the thing I remember best is that he fell off stage into a crowd once - normal at rock concerts of the time - but not intentional in his case. I then remember that he and Clinton had a very short lived news discussion show, to rehabilitate both - where we were suddenly to believe that the former hatchetman was a warm, witty man. Then there were the Viagra and Pepsi commercials, which actually made me a bit sad. There is something very wrong with a serious man, who worked hard for decades trying to write laws, in a Pepsi commercial oogling a teenage Britney Spears. (They - not he - wrote the script.)

The last time I really remember him doing anything was when he was used by Rove etc and said of John Kerry, who he actually knew from their time in the Senate, "that he never bled" - arguing he didn't earn his purple hearts.

But, what you have in the end is a man of all these parts. He likely did believe in the legislation he wrote and other legislation he shepherded through the Senate. He likely was among friends the funny person with the dry wit he showed in that tv show. Even the thing that bothered me most, was him trying to prevent a win by someone - no matter what (and I don't know) he thought of him personally - was politically committed to policies the opposite of what Dole believed in. Seeing the motivation does not make it right or honorable, but it makes it easier to combine in an image of political man who worked for what he believed in.

[Ilsa]

3. I hope he is comfortable and that Libby is with him. Best thoughts go out to them. nt

[jimlup]

4. Good old Bob

He played his role well. A meaningless opponent to Clinton in '96

[KILL THE WISE ONE]

5. now days he would be called a RINO

ah for the good old days

[LeftishBrit]

57. I believe that his chosen successor for the senate in 1996...

was considered too moderate and deselected by the party in favour of the ultra-RW Sam Brownback.

[bbinacan]

6. Prayers. n/t

[madrchsod]

7. he was a democrat ...

he was told that he`d never get elected as a democrat so changed to a republican to win his first election.

yes ..he`s one of the last sane republicans

[WinkyDink]

12. I can't find any evidence of Dole's ever having been a Democrat. His WIFE, however, was.

[ZombieHorde]

8. When you pray for someone, what is the goal?

What are you doing exactly?

[WinkyDink]

9. Are you new to the planet?

[ZombieHorde]

11. Relatively speaking, I am extremely new to the planet. nt

[jberryhill]

18. It is a social ritual expressing goodwill

Is that a problem?

Humans often find themselves worried about situations they cannot change and in which another human is in peril. Consequently, humans have developed a ritual in which concern for another is expressed, with the hope that things work out well, as a means of addressing this tension.

[ZombieHorde]

27. So, people are asking god to reduce the tension surrounding Bob Dole?

Perhaps they should make a well reasoned argument to their god for him to heal Bob Dole's medical complications.

[jberryhill]

29. There are no "well reasoned arguments" for social rituals

Why does anyone owe you one?

I like to listen to guitar music. Do I need a well reasoned argument for that?

[ZombieHorde]

35. The "well reasoned arguments" were for god, not me. I can't answer those prayers. nt

[Nye Bevan]

30. Oh for fuck's sake.

Do you really have to do this every time a DUer asks for prayers?

[ZombieHorde]

34. This is the first time I got an answer, so it may be my last time asking.

I don't really know.

[Lucky 13]

51. I appreciate your question and feel similarly, but...

... it's a common social ritual in our culture that many people use to make themselves and others feel better. Just let them have it, even if it seems dumb to you.

Start a new topic and let's discuss.

[Raine]

10. Sending positive thoughts nt

[Barack_America]

24. Myself as well. nt

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. My parents were lifelong Democrats

and they loved Bob Dole.

He's a decent man. Sorry to hear he's sick.

[SheilaT]

14. Bob Dole was your basic conservative

Republican. I don't recall hearing him speak out against the right-wingers that took over the party.

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. He was also pretty nasty to Hillary Clinton

I'll never forget how angry my mother was. When Hillary wrote her book It Takes a Village Bob Dole wrote a column criticizing her, spouting the old personal responsibility republican line. My mother was livid because she remembered how Bob Dole's village (Russell, KS) had sprung to his aid when he came home injured from WWII. So she wrote Bob a letter and called him on it. To his credit, he replied almost immediately and told my mother she was right and he should have given his neighbors credit in his column.

But Bob Dole has never been even close to the level of nasty of today's republicans. I think by the time the right-wingers took over the GOP, he was just tired. All in all, he was a pretty decent guy for a republican. So was Kassebaum.

[devilgrrl]

20. I agree.

And I'm glad your mom let him know how she felt! :-)

[Beacool]

42. Good for your mom!!

Yes, he should have known better. But over all, he was an old school Republican. He became a politician in an age when legislators could fight like cats and dogs on the floor of the House or Senate and still remain friends. For example, Ted Kennedy and Orrin Hatch. There is too much vitriol nowadays and both sides are responsible for the acrimony.

:(

[Odin2005]

15. I hope he comes out OK.

One of the last sane, reasonable Republicans.

[Gemini Cat]

31. I would agree with that.

[devilgrrl]

19. Healing thoughts to Senator Dole.

:patriot:

[Joe the Revelator]

21. Good thoughts to Sen. Dole

[Taverner]

22. I don't pray but best of luck to him

If he goes, please let it be painlessly

[Amaril]

23. Best wishes going out.......

.....to Senator Dole for a full and speedy recovery.

[Ikonoklast]

25. Sen. Dole is one of a dying breed.

I wonder if we'll ever see the likes of him again, as his party is purging anyone that is even remotely moderate.

Disagreed with his politics, but never disliked the man.

Best wishes to him and his family.

[JI7]

38. today's republican party would never have accepted someone like Jack Kemp for VP

Dole wasn't even moderate , he is conservative. but it's only against today's party with thugs having taken control that he could be seen that way.

[petronius]

26. I hope he recovers, but at that age wih those complications it seems more realistic

to hope that he's comfortable and has a peaceful end.

Either way, and despite his politics, Dole put in a life of service and deserves respect and gratitude...

[xultar]

28. Well wishes to Sen Dole and family.

[Name removed]

32. Deleted message

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

[lonestarnot]

33. At least he has a sense of humor, rare in a pugliCON.

[Kaleva]

36. I don't pray but I wish him well. If it's his time to go, may he go in peace.

[JI7]

37. i wish him well

[nolabear]

39. Good vibes to him. The last year has been a tough one for him.

And I'll add how pleased I am to see DU wishing a Republican well. The simple humanity is much needed right now.

[NoPasaran]

40. A decent person

Peace to him and his family

[Skittles]

41. not sure why, but I never despised Dole the way I do most repukes

I guess he always seems to have a modicum of decency/dignity about him, even with the boner commercials. Yes, he's a repuke and that's bad - but I guess other repukes seem so over the top it took emphasis away from Bob Dole.

[jberryhill]

44. They do nowadays

Dole could be downright cantankerous, but that's a far cry from the kind of thing that goes on today.

[blondeatlast]

43. Prayers for a peaceful resolution. My dad, a dyed-in-the-wool Kansas Dem, admired Dole

very much--that's testament enough for me.

[demtenjeep]

46. my father admired him as well despite the fact that Dole was a "dumb republican"

Dad did not suffer fools and in his mind all republicans were fools.

[CreekDog]

45. Dole had a pretty hilarious and caustic wit

Back when Nixon was President, Dole referred to Haldeman, Erlichman and Nixon as "See No Evil, Hear No Evil and...Evil."

:rofl:

[Kurovski]

47. He has made me laugh many times.

He made an excellent guest on the Daily Show. I like him to this day.

[Tom Rinaldo]

48. Unfortunately they don't seem to make them like him anymore

I guess there are a few other responsible conservative Republican hold outs, like Richard Lugar, but not many. Certainly none that have any real power in today's national Republican Party. McCain once was Dole's heir apparent. He caved like a house of cards. Very sad. I wish Bob Dole well.

[Jennicut]

50. If you want to know more about Bob Dole read What it Takes.

It is by Richard Ben Cramer. Dole seems sane in comparison to the nutballs out there today though he had a side of him that could be very, very nasty.

[reflection]

53. I think all of us

have a very nasty side. I know I do sometimes. Though I seem to be getting better at redirecting that energy. I may read that book you mentioned. Thanks for the recommend.

[Jennicut]

59. Its a great book and has some very good insights into everyone in the 1988

campaign, including Biden (who comes off very good in the book). A lot about Poppy Bush as well.

[demokatgurrl]

60. One of my favorite books of all time!

I'm so excited to see that someone else read it. Most people's eyes glaze over when I mention it.

[Lucian]

54. Don't care.

[Jamastiene]

55. He fought in WWII.

He took machine gun fire fighting against the Nazis. Laid there 9 hours waiting for help. He was paralyzed in his right arm from then on. I gotta respect someone who fought against the Nazis. I might not agree with him politically in other ways, but he did fight against the Nazis. I, for one, am glad he did that.

I hope his suffering is eased.

[Iggo]

56. delete

[LeftishBrit]

58. Best wishes for his health.

[bluestate10]

61. I hope Dole is feeling better.

The man is a true american and patriot. Dole had his moments and I disagreed with him on plenty, but he is indeed one of the best politicians I have witnessed in my lifetime, so far.

Give him a prayer and a push to at least match the lifetime of the great John Wooten.

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

62. Best wishes to a very decent and upstanding person... n/t

[Moses2SandyKoufax]

63. dupe..... sorry.

[ScreamingMeemie]

64. He gave the last classy and genuine concession speech.

He and Lincoln Chafee are really the only Republicans I respect in the world of politics...and Lincoln's an Independent now. RI is lucky.

Thoughts go with Senator Dole.