U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg taken to area hospital after fall

[kskiska]

Source: NJ Star Ledger

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg was taken by ambulance tonight from his Cliffside Park home after suffering a fall, his spokesman said.

The 86-year-old Democrat was conscious when he was taken to the hospital "as a precautionary measure," said the spokesman, Caley Grey.

Grey said he did not know if Lautenberg had fallen inside the Bergen County condominium or whether he had suffered any injuries.

Lautenberg was elected to his fifth term in the Senate in 2008, defeating former U.S. Rep. Richard Zimmer with roughly 55 percent of the vote. He was thrust back into the political spotlight in recent months as his name became synonymous with two major political storylines in the state — the security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport and the Sean Goldman custody case.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/02/us_senator_frank_lautenberg_ta.html

[bemildred]

1. Just don't let them near his gall bladder. nt

[glinda]

6. No kidding. Did someone push him?

[DeadEyeDyck]

8. for those that don't remember

he got back in politics just to save that seat. The old boy is in his mid-80's, filthy rich (he started ADP) and got back into politics when some other bloke came up dirty at the last moment.

He had retired but got back in just to help out.

Hope he recovers well.

[KoKo]

2. Very Sad...if we lose him and Sen. Byrd....Repug Senate Control, in '11.

Dark times..

[No Elephants]

3. He should have let a younger man run. Even an unknown Dem would have had a good chance in 2008.

[420inTN]

4. What are the replacement laws in NJ?

Governor appointment or special election?

[karynnj]

5. Appointment

[progressoid]

7. Aw jeez

Hang in there Frank.

[elleng]

9. ``The senator is in great spirits and joking with the doctors,''

said Gray, who didn't know if the senator had fallen inside or outside the apartment or whether he had suffered any injuries.

Lautenberg returned Friday from a trip to Haiti with a congressional delegation. He was scheduled to discuss the trip and the U.S. aid effort for the island nation, which is recovering from a devastating earthquake, at a news conference on Tuesday.

[marshall]

10. Those trips to Haiti can be rough

Isn't that what brought on President Clinton's recent heart trouble?

[elleng]

11. Maybe, surely rough trips. BEST to all of them.

[Odin2005]

12. Oh no!

:(

[Cha]

13. Best Wishes for a speedy recovery Senator Lautenberg!

:patriot:::fistbump::kick::party: