Cheney's Secret Surgery

Is this on anyone's radar? The veep has gone in for surgery that, though mentioned by the White House, is being treated with the utmost secrecy.

From the Carpetbagger Report

Is it possible the Bush gang feels the need for secrecy because this was a little less routine than the Bush gang has let on?

[Dr. Thomas R. Bernik, chief of endovascular surgery at St. Vincent's Manhattan Hospital], said the decision to do both repairs on the same day was "surprising and a little bit irresponsible, I must say." That is partly because the extra procedure could increase the risk of complications now or in the future, he said.

"You really never want to tackle both sides at once," Dr. Bernik said, "because even though things may go smoothly on one side, you can still run into a problem while you are doing the other side, or shortly thereafter, and then you really could have a big problem on your hands."

It's just odd. Considering Cheney's medical history, the public has a right to know if the VP has a serious health problem. By shielding doctors — who are willing to speak to reporters — from questions, the White House is only fueling suspicions. Why?

No question something's up. The guy's had more heart attacks than most people have divorces, is probably working on congestive heart failure, and common sense says any operation would be avoided due to the effects of anaesthesia alone.

Doing two surgeries at once, to a man in such ill health, must mean something big is really up and they're unsure of the out come.

Worse for them if they go in looking like everything is find and dandy, and do routine press corp chit chats about it, but at the outcome, the big press conference in the hospital lobby is to report that the veep has lost both legs, and is in critical condition. They must know that something serious is in the offing. In secrecy they lose nothing, except to tip their hand that something very major is under way and they are worried. Bush may have his brain, but perhaps his evil mentor is preparing to exit stage right. What will the black prince do in his stead? Raise a glass to the dearly departed? And another? And another?

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