October 13, 2007
Posted: 02:02 PM ET

Doctors removed a blockage from Sen. Ted Kennedy's left carotid artery Friday.

BOSTON (CNN) — Sen. Ted Kennedy was released from the hospital Saturday, following a procedure Friday to remove a blockage in his left carotid artery, a spokeswoman for the Massachusetts Democrat said.

"Senator Kennedy was released from Massachusetts General Hospital today following Friday's successful surgery to remove blockage in his carotid artery. After a few days of rest at home in Hyannis Port, the senator will return to the Senate," said Melissa Wagoner.

Kennedy's office said the blockage was discovered "as part of a routine evaluation of Senator Kennedy's back and spine."

"MRI studies picked up an unrelated, asymptomatic blockage in the senator's left carotid artery," the office said Friday in a written statement. It described the procedures as "preventive surgery."

Doctors for Kennedy, 75, said they performed a carotid endarterectomy, which involves making a cut in the neck and pulling plaque out of the artery.

Click here to see CNN's new political portal: CNNPolitics.com

Filed under: Senate • Ted Kennedy


Joyce, Naples   October 13th, 2007 4:41 pm ET

Dear Senator, I wish you speedy recovery but for God sake, please go away from politics. Your role in the senate is to destroy our country. You have done so much bad for this country. You have sheltered all the illegals to get votes. It is time for you to retire now. Goodbye.

Tom, AlBUQUERQUE, NM   October 13th, 2007 5:48 pm ET

Thank God for the success of Senator Kennedy surgery. Though Senator Kennedy is demonized and vilified by the republicans this man has been true to his convictions and devotion to civil rights and constitutional integrity. He is indeed a rarity in todays ever shifting profiles in convictions and courage. And lastly he is not some closeted homosexual or sexual pervert like some of his virulent opponents.

Will Farnum, Treasure Isle, FL   October 13th, 2007 6:54 pm ET

Tom Said, "….And lastly he is not some closeted homosexual or sexual pervert like some of his virulent opponents."

No that would found be within the rest of the Kennedy family tree.

PS - Tom, I do know some Democrats who don't like Senator Kennedy for what he is and for the things he's done.

Chris, Middletown, CT   October 13th, 2007 9:06 pm ET

Yes….Kennedy has done so much for people who choose not to work….and never voted against a tax increase when it would pay for another entitlement program….what a saint…(yes..I know…the girl he drove off the bridge….and never answered for it…)

John, San Francisco CA   October 13th, 2007 9:27 pm ET

Constitutional integrity? What a joke.

Kim, Peabody MA   October 13th, 2007 10:51 pm ET

Kennedy is a blatant violator of the US Constitution and a Traitor to our Troops! He should be charged with treason!! An example of this is his continuous attempts to sneak the “Hate Crimes” bill within capital appropriation bills and such to move HIS agenda forward! The Kennedy sponsored “Hate Grimes” bill is a VIOLATION of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution – Period

Every American needs to read this article by Pete Grasso!

http://www.grassoforpresident.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=11210&mname=Article&rpid=3861

WAKE UP AMERICA!! Kennedy should not be heralded as some savior but should be IMPEACHED and Ostracized as a traitor to this nation!

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   October 13th, 2007 11:58 pm ET

One huge difference between the Kennedy family and the Bush family is that the Kennedys have consistently pushed for increasing taxes on themselves and the rich to help the poor and the Bushs have consistently fought to decrease taxes on themselves and the rich and make the poor pay more. Hypocrite Bush obviously doesn't believe the Bible because it says "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God”.

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   October 14th, 2007 1:43 am ET

To Kim:

You and Mr. Grasso need to read the Preamble and the Constitution. This document is the basis for American life. How many times is God mentioned? ZERO. All the Christians that created it believed it was BEST TO SEPARATE CHURCH AND STATE. They wanted to create the best government possible and that's what these very bright mostly Christian people decided.

Calling someone who disagrees with you a "blatant violator of the Constitution" (when you don't even understand it) and a "traitor" shows that there are a lot of Christians who don't believe in the Golden Rule. You call Sen. Kennedy a "traitor" because he supports the safe return of our brave soldiers as soon as possible and you, instead, support them staying in Iraq and dying. Think before you make libelous comments.

Gerg Manoco, Forest Hills, NY   October 14th, 2007 11:46 am ET

Unfortunately not in a body bag.

susan olmo Brea, CA   October 14th, 2007 3:40 pm ET

When will Teddy go away for good. He is a leach on society and has not done one good thing to improve our country. He is a JOKE and should be in prison along with Sandy Burger. What Hipocracy!!!

Not Rich in Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL   October 14th, 2007 9:29 pm ET

Richard (WPB, FL), You said in part, "One huge difference between the Kennedy family and the Bush family is that the Kennedys have consistently pushed for increasing taxes on themselves….."

OK - tell me where Rose Kennedy's estate was probated. I know it wasn't in Taxachsetts where the rate would have been among the highest in the nation. Kennedy's pushing tax increases on themselves? More like taxing anyone rich enough to wear shoes for their own skewed social view of the world. And yes The Bush administration has cut taxes - but it is Congress that keeps on increasing spending year after year after year that makes everyone rich and poor pay more. Go to the the Congressional Budget Office web site and you'll see what I mean.

josh   October 14th, 2007 10:00 pm ET

If we lived with socialized medicine, he would not have even been admitted yet. Just ask all the Canadians who come to the USA and pay Cash for medical services that they can't wait for in their socialized medical program.

josh   October 14th, 2007 10:03 pm ET

Did he get a fatsoplasty with that coronary artery bypass graft? Congrats on being released… Now have a cocktail and drive back to work.

Lou, NY NY   October 14th, 2007 11:46 pm ET

Mary Jo Kopechne, however, is still dead.

Ryan Indianapolis   October 15th, 2007 10:31 am ET

WHO CARES………

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   October 15th, 2007 1:06 pm ET

"And yes The Bush administration has cut taxes - but it is Congress that keeps on increasing spending year after year after year that makes everyone rich and poor pay more"

If anyone looks at budget statistics, they will see that conservatives have been the biggest debt-generators of all. Nearly every one of our top 20 deficits have come from: George Bush, who will probably end up with the 7 LARGEST DEFICITS in history, George H. W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan who had all the previous records for deficits. Every one of the "conservative" Reagan's years in office he generated deficits that were larger than the highest debts in history before he took office. Who generated the largest surplus in history? The "tax and spend Democrat" Bill Clinton.

Generating huge expenses without paying for them is the height of irresponsible economics. You certainly don't continue to run up charges on your credit card and think you are doing good economically. If Bush had cared about spending, he would have vetoed EVEN ONE bill from his Republican-lead Congress. Even Alan Greenspan, who Republicans credit for success in the Clinton years, has said that Bush's economic policies are WRONG.

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   October 15th, 2007 1:07 pm ET

"And yes The Bush administration has cut taxes - but it is Congress that keeps on increasing spending year after year after year that makes everyone rich and poor pay more"

If anyone looks at budget statistics, they will see that conservatives have been the biggest debt-generators of all. Nearly every one of our top 20 deficits have come from: George Bush, who will probably end up with the 7 LARGEST DEFICITS in history, George H. W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan who had all the previous records for deficits. Every one of the "conservative" Reagan's years in office he generated deficits that were larger than the highest debts in history before he took office. Who generated the largest surplus in history? The "tax and spend Democrat" Bill Clinton.

Generating huge expenses without paying for them is the height of irresponsible economics. You certainly don't continue to run up charges on your credit card and think you are doing good economically. If Bush had cared about spending, he would have vetoed EVEN ONE bill from his Republican-lead Congress. Even Alan Greenspan, who Republicans credit for success in the Clinton years, has said that Bush's economic policies are WRONG

Richard, West Palm Beach, FL   October 15th, 2007 1:11 pm ET

To: Lou, NY NY

Michael Douglas, who Laura Bush killed through her negligent driving, is still dead.

VanReuter NY NY   October 15th, 2007 1:36 pm ET

Poor Teddy, enduring (tax-payer funded FREE) surgery to unclog his fat-filled carotid artery.

You ate the finest, fatest meals paid by the taxpayers coffers. Now that you're old and deterorating health - WE must pay to fix you?

You, sir, epitomize the failure of our political system: Encumbent politicians getting fat (literally) off the backs of the people - feeling entitled to praise and condolences.

Go away, Theodore, just go away.

Van

NoBulHere, Boise ID   October 16th, 2007 5:56 pm ET

Posted by Richard
Posted by Richard
"Generating huge expenses without paying for them is the height of irresponsible economics. You certainly don't continue to run up charges on your credit card and think you are doing good economically. If Bush had cared about spending, he would have vetoed EVEN ONE bill from his Republican-lead Congress. Even Alan Greenspan, who Republicans credit for success in the Clinton years, has said that Bush's economic policies are WRONG

Posted By Richard, Posted by Richard.

Yup, the economy is really in the toilet since the tax breaks took effect. STcok market up several thousand points since Bill Clinton left and we have record tax revenues whilst the nasty tax cuts are in play (Check the Gov't OMB or IRS web site if you don't beleive me). Bill Clinton didn't fight a war or have to fund it (Kosovo - OH Please - compared to Iraq it was a schoolyard scrap). Since the war is about 10% of the overall budget - where do you think the deficits are coming from? Oh that's right - the budget people - the big ear-mark spenders in Congress (both parties are at fault here) and from the increases in all of the wonderful entitlement programs. So before you razz the prez, do some homework here - he's taking the rap for the sins of Congress by and large. PS - the defict is now shrinking at a greater rate than had been thought possible - all due to the tax revenues that have been stimulated by the expanding economy due to the Bush tax cuts.

JOYCE   January 28th, 2008 11:00 pm ET

TEDDY GOT MEDICAL HELP FOR HIMSELF. WHY DIDN'T HE GET HELP FOR MARY JO?

Comments have been closed for this article

subscribe RSS Icon
About The Ticker

The latest political news from CNN's Best Political Team, with campaign coverage, 24-7. Sign up for our twice daily Ticker emails. Got a news tip or feedback? For complete political coverage, bookmark CNNPolitics.com.

CNN=Politics Screensaver

CNN=Politics ScreensaverTap into the power of The Situation Room. Download this powerful new tool that keeps you posted on the latest political news from the campaign trail.
Download (4.1 MB, PC only)

Follow us on Twitter

CNN on TwitterGet Ticker updates the moment they appear online via the Web, SMS, or instant messages.
Follow politicalticker

Categories
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
Home  |  World  |  U.S.  |  Politics  |  Entertainment  |  Health  |  Tech  |  Travel  |  Living  |  Business  |  Sports  |  Time.com
Podcasts  |  Blogs  |  CNN Mobile  |  Preferences |  Email Alerts  |  CNN Radio  |  CNN Shop  |  Site Map
© 2008 Cable News Network LP, LLLP. A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Powered by WordPress.com