How come Obama is not going to Hawaii until Thursday?

[democrattotheend]

It sounds like the situation is serious...isn't he afraid Thursday might be too late? Please don't attack me, I am just wondering...my thoughts and prayers are with her...my mom went to synagogue tonight and I asked her to say a prayer. I pray that she will live to see her grandson elected and inaugurated. It would be such a tragedy if she didn't live to see that day.

[tekisui]

1. They didn't release her illness. She could be having a type of surgery

that he scheduled the visit around.

[democrattotheend]

4. Ok, that makes sense

I just don't want anyone to accuse him of putting politics first by keeping his rallies in Virginia and Indiana before he leaves.

[glowing]

5. perhaps.. also Michelle isn't going.. so, I would say it may be somthing like this.

Its private and our prayers and well wishing is all that is needed at this time.

[vaberella]

6. Exactly. n/t

[MindMatter]

11. Doubtful. This sounds like hospice.

You don't release a very ill woman from the hospital for 2 days, only to have her back in for a planned operation.

There is no end to the tests this man is facing. I'm sure he is doing the right thing.

[NotThisTime]

14. This was my first thought, what has hospice said for a timeline, the problem...

is that they are usually quite good, however, with my FIL in December, they said two weeks, he was gone within 48 hours... I hope that whatever prompted the Thursday decision is accurate, for Barack's sake....

And agreed, you don't send home a seriously ill woman, who then takes a turn for the worse 2 days later. If this was a situation not attended to by hospice, she'd be back at the hospital, but that does not seem to be the case.

God knows I hope I'm wrong.

[FrenchieCat]

2. we are not privy to information on this......

Obviously she is in bad shape, but not on her death bed where it can happen anytime. He may realize that she is bad enough that this may be the only time he will be able to see her for some time.....as he won't be able to do it the week after, nor when he wins will he be able to get away just like that.

I'm just guessing.

[Curtland1015]

3. They didn't really release any facts about her situation.

I'm sure if she was at "death's door", he'd be on his way out there right now.

[cynatnite]

7. It's serious, but not life threatening enough for him to drop everything...

That's how I viewed it.

This is not unusual beheavior for a close family member.

[iamjoy]

8. I Wonder That Too

But, I also have to wonder that given how this woman has sacrificed for him, if she has the attitude that he should continue on with the campaign because the future of the country is at stake.

It may be easier to send surrogates to events later in the week. The details of those events may not have been finalized so it is easier to change or cancel. He may feel he has surrogates that will play well in those locations, but not in the ones he has over the next few days.

And his grandmother may understand - and feel this could be her last chance to make a difference. I sincerely hope that she will live to see her grandson inaugurated and know all the sacrifices she made were worth it.

[ebdarcy]

9. I am not attacking you, but his decisions regarding his family situation

are his alone and should be respected. We do not know the full situation, and furthermore, we are not entitled to know. While we all send our good wishes, the truth of the matter is, that we won't have to experience any of his pain or worry. He is the one who has to worry about losing the woman who raised him. He is the one who has to deal with his daughters' fear and pain. None of us have a right to question how he deals with this situation. It is his family.

[democrattotheend]

10. I agree. I just want to know how to respond if someone accuses him of playing politics.

I've seen some really obnoxious comments on some other boards and wanted to know what to respond about why he's not going right away.

[jberryhill]

12. There are a number of terminal scenarios

...which one can pretty much set your watch by.

None of our business.

If your friend wants to play politics with the terminal, then he can exhume Terry Schiavo.

[cynatnite]

15. I'd remind them that in past elections when family members become seriously ill...

no one, not even the opposition party, demeaned themselves by tearing into a family tragedy in such a way.

If it was McCain's mother who became seriously ill their reactions would be quite different. I'd remind them of that as well.

[jberryhill]

13. None of our business

It's a private family matter.

No Bill Frist diagnoses, okay?