Yvette Clarke out of commission for 6 weeks

I'm interested in what my neighbors think about this news:

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--clarke-illness0730jul30,0,1297088.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork

What are Ms. Clarke's responsibility to her constituents in this situation? Should she tell us why she is out? Is it our business? Does she have a right to privacy? Most of the leave will be while congress is in recess, does that matter?

The statement, titled "Rep. Clarke absent, but not without a voice," lists how she would have voted on 60 different measures had she been able to vote in Congress last week.

this irks me. i'm sure she's really sick and has to leave, but i'm paying her to VOTE, not just opine. if she's unable to vote, then telling me how she would have voted is just campaigning.

One would think if she's out for six weeks, it may be something fairly serious. One would also think that if it's that serious, she'll have to tell constituents at some time when she has more answers.

You can be as mad about it as you want but people can't control when they get sick no matter what industry they're in.

fibroid surgery(according to the radio this morning). Give her a break.

Guvna wrote: fibroid surgery(according to the radio this morning). Give her a break.

I thought I heard this on NY1 last week ...

in any case, abdominal surgery isn't fun. but. 6 weeks? sorry, I had to go back to work in 2.

alafairnadia wrote: [quote=Guvna]fibroid surgery(according to the radio this morning). Give her a break.

I thought I heard this on NY1 last week ...

in any case, abdominal surgery isn't fun. but. 6 weeks? sorry, I had to go back to work in 2.
She may have had complications of surgery such as blood loss, infections, blood clots, etc. We don't know any of the details of her case, nor should we. If her docs think she needs to stay out, I don't think we should second-guess them.

Carnivore wrote: [quote=alafairnadia][quote=Guvna]fibroid surgery(according to the radio this morning). Give her a break.

I thought I heard this on NY1 last week ...

in any case, abdominal surgery isn't fun. but. 6 weeks? sorry, I had to go back to work in 2.
She may have had complications of surgery such as blood loss, infections, blood clots, etc. We don't know any of the details of her case, nor should we. If her docs think she needs to stay out, I don't think we should second-guess them.

I think the first newsies I heard about it, tho, were pre-surgical.

but yeah. my doc said I should stay out for 3 weeks but OMG my teh awesome job would not respect his wishes. blargh.

just to clarify my post above, i'm not irked that she's taking leave -- obviously, she must need it. i'm irked that it seemed to me that a list of her opinions was being presented as equivalent to a list of her votes.

So in Congress they must be present to vote? Figures. That's what they did two hundred years ago.

sweet tea wrote: just to clarify my post above, i'm not irked that she's taking leave -- obviously, she must need it. i'm irked that it seemed to me that a list of her opinions was being presented as equivalent to a list of her votes.

I dont know why it would seem that way to you. Her press release clearly states that the list of opinions were presented as how she wouldve voted.

link: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny11_clarke/072707.shtml

Her most recent statement clarifies her medical situation somewhat.

link: http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny11_clarke/073107a.shtml

Not that I am a supporter of hers (she doesnt cover my nabe), but the story seemed a bit harsh the way it was handled here.

Well, I also find it a bit silly that an opinion is being presented as equally valuable as a vote. I have opinions, too, and that's not doing you guys any good in Congress!

The initial article strikes me as unfairly peevish if the surgery is for fibroids. The article makes it sound like she's doing something slightly dodgy that she doesn't want people to know about. Fibroids is totally normal though. Slow news day again?

Emily wrote: Well, I also find it a bit silly that an opinion is being presented as equally valuable as a vote. I have opinions, too, and that's not doing you guys any good in Congress!

The initial article strikes me as unfairly peevish if the surgery is for fibroids. The article makes it sound like she's doing something slightly dodgy that she doesn't want people to know about. Fibroids is totally normal though. Slow news day again?

I hear you. I guess she felt it necessary to let her constituents know what her positions are despite not being able to vote. Some politicians would rather not say a word and just hide behind their medical excuse, leaving their constituents to guess. Then, later on, they could claim only the positions that emerge as the popular ones ("Oh, I wouldve voted for that"). At least she has come out with her positions in advance, whether we agree or disagree with the particular positions.

Fibroid surgery can be serious stuff. It depends on the size and location of the tumor. Its especially painful and requires a long recovery if its located in the lining of the uterus or if there are multiple growths. Six weeks is a reasonable recovery time for abdominal surgery.

Fibroid surgery can have a recovery of up to TWELVE weeks, actually, depending on your age, the size of the tumors and the size of the incision.