Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapses during Federalist Society speech; slurred words, carried out on stretcher
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Whoa. Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed while giving a speech at the Federalist Society meeting in Washington tonight, according to AP and Politico. Apparently, he was still receiving medical treatment on stage at the event as of 15 minutes ago — 10:30pm Eastern.
Say a prayer and stand by for more details.
***
More AP:
Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed during a speech Thursday night and was being taken to a hospital. Associate Attorney General Kevin O’Connor said Mukasey began shaking while addressing the Federalist Society at a Washington hotel. “He just started shaking and he collapsed,” O’Connor said. “They’re very concerned.” O’Connor said he did not know whether Mukasey, 67, had regained consciousness.”
Phillip Klein at AmSpec (via Stacy McCain) reports that Mukasey slurred his words before collapsing and was carried out on a stretcher — suggesting a possible stroke.
Say an extra prayer.
More from Kathryn Lopez, who was in attendance at Mukasey’s speech: “Attorney General Michael Mukasey collapsed a few feet away from me while delivering a speech to the Federalist Society tonight.” A heckler called Mukasey a “tyrant” during his remarks and rattled the AG, Lopez writes.
For shame.
***
The text of his prepared remarks for delivery can be found here. He was reportedly 20 minutes into the speech when he fell ill. An excerpt:
I want to turn to another subject, which I have taken from Day One to be my most solemn responsibility as Attorney General. That is ensuring that we put into place the institutions we need to keep our country safe from the continuing threat posed by Al Qaeda and other international terrorists.
On September 11th, 2001, nineteen terrorists inflicted the most catastrophic attack on our homeland since Pearl Harbor. What made that attack so devastating was not simply the toll inflicted upon our country, but the idea that nineteen lightly armed terrorists could murder nearly 3,000 Americans. The reality of such asymmetric warfare required us to dramatically reconsider how we should confront the threat of international terrorism.
When the terrorists attacked the World Trade Center in 1993, when Al Qaeda attacked the U.S.S. Cole in Yemen and our embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the United States deployed the FBI to the scene to collect evidence, pursue leads and; ultimately, indict and prosecute at least some of those responsible.
Following the September 11th attacks, however, it no longer seemed prudent to treat international terrorism solely as a criminal matter where suspects are pursued and prosecuted only after they have perpetrated a crime. Indeed, at the time of the September 11th attacks, Osama bin Laden was already under criminal indictment for his role in the embassy bombings. Instead, the United States recognized the attack of September 11th to be what it was: an act of war — a war that had been declared years earlier by enemies of the United States, and indeed of civilized people everywhere. In response, this Nation, under our President, committed to a comprehensive offensive strategy against the terrorists abroad using every resource at our disposal — military, intelligence, financial and law enforcement.
The U.S. military deployed to Afghanistan where Al Qaeda had found a safe haven within the confines of the brutal and inhumane regime of the Taliban. When our forces, or those of allies, captured members of the enemy, we detained them so that they could not simply return to the battlefield and, where we thought it appropriate, transferred them for detention to the U.S. naval station at Guantanamo Bay.At home, the Administration sought to reorganize and modernize our government to reflect the new priorities of the War on Terror. We brought domestic security agencies, which historically had been scattered throughout the Executive Branch, under the umbrella of a Department of Homeland Security, and we established a Director of National Intelligence to ensure that our intelligence agencies would work together in tracking terrorist threats and preventing new attacks.
Within the Department of Justice, the FBI made preventing terrorism its top priority and restructured its resources accordingly. Since September 11th, the FBI has transformed itself into a world-class intelligence agency, designed to detect and prevent attacks before they occur, rather than simply investigating them afterwards. The FBI has doubled the number of intelligence analysts and translators in its ranks, and opened 16 new offices overseas, including in Kabul and Baghdad. We created the FBI’s new National Security Branch to bring together divisions responsible for counterterrorism and intelligence and counterespionage, and we made similar institutional reforms in establishing the National Security Division at the Department of Justice.
The Administration worked with Congress in reorganizing our government and with passing new laws to promote the collection and dissemination of critically important intelligence. Shortly after September 11th, Congress passed the Patriot Act to ensure that analysts and investigators could access the information they needed to protect our Nation, work together to “connect the dots,” and pursue a strategy of prevention. And this year, Congress did the same for our intelligence professionals, passing bi-partisan legislation that modernizes the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to allow the intelligence community to quickly and effectively monitor terrorists’ communications while ensuring respect for our civil liberties.
Taken together, the Administration’s policies in the War on Terror represent nothing less than a fundamental reorganization of our government and will ensure that the next President has the tools he needs to continue to defend the country.
The Administration’s strategy in defending the Nation from terrorist threats has not only been comprehensive, but has also been successful based on what matters the most: Since September 11th, Al Qaeda has not managed to launch a single act of terrorism in the United States. This is a remarkable achievement that no one could have predicted in the days following the September 11th attacks. The credit for that goes to many people, including many brave men and women in our armed forces, and many brave men and women in law enforcement and intelligence services, who put their lives at risk routinely in parts of the world most Americans, to their great comfort, will never encounter. Much of that credit also goes to the President; in this area, as in many others, leadership and resolve matter.
As the end of this Administration draws near, you would expect to hear broad praise for this success at keeping our Nation safe. Instead, I am afraid what we hear is a chorus with a rather more dissonant refrain. Instead of appreciation, or even a fair appraisal, of the Administration’s accomplishments, we have heard relentless criticism of the very policies that have helped keep us safe. We have seen this in the media, we have seen this in the Congress, and we have heard it from the legal academy as well.
In some measure, those criticisms rest on a very dangerous form of amnesia that views the success of our counterterrorism efforts as something that undermines the justification for continuing them. In an odd way, we have become victims of our own success. In the eyes of these critics, if Al Qaeda has not struck our homeland for seven years, then perhaps it never posed much of a threat after all and we didn’t need these counterterrorism policies.
***
Update 9:45am Eastern 11/21: Andy McCarthy writes that Mukasey is doing better this morning and shares his insights.
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I hope he’ll be okay.
I pray he’ll be alright.
Excellent speech.
How awful.
Slurred words would seem to indicate a stroke. If so, it’s good he received attention quickly.
Indeed. Medical treatments for strokes are much better today than they were when my grandfather had a stroke nearly 21 years ago.
Prayers for him.
Has my prayers. Agree it was a good speech. Too bad so many elected Republicans and many appointed ones sat on their hands for 8 years, never complimenting President Bush for protecting us and treating our military with the respect they should have gotten during Vietnam, and allowing their Democrat foes and stupid Republican foes, including their propaganda media, to castigate and demean him at every turn with nary a word of defense. Oh, sure, there were a few words, but really, really a few…even less than that!
I will never forget the betrayal from before nor ever forget the betrayal this time around. I am glad I will only have about 10% or less of my life left.
Yeah, EQ1, while we don’t know that is the case here, slurred speech is a classic first sign of stroke. Many people dismiss the other signs, such as numbness.
But time is key, in addition to today’s better treatment as you noted. If you’re going to collapse from anything, it’s good providence to have it happen in front of a roomful of people.
I pray he’s OK.
I saw the video…it looked like a stroke, not a heart attack. Terrible.
Excellent speech. Wondering why Michael Mukasey, Esq was appointed A.G. very late in GWB’s term. He would have been a better choice over umm someone… earlier on.
And now we will be back to treating terrorism as a criminal matter. Eric Holder…aargh!
God bless, Michael Mukasey! Please get well. We need you to be healthy.
I add to the prayers that he will be well.
It does sound like a stroke.
Prayers goin up.
Ditto. Working in this field for some time now, it is a blessing that he was in a room full of people and not asleep in bed alone. Strokes are very reversible if the clot (assuming it is one as it is very common cause of stroke) is handled quickly at a waiting hospital.
I pray for healing and comfort for AG Mukasey.
It’s not gonna do us any good to be “safe from attack” if our economy is bankrupt. That was the intent of the attack on the Twin Towers after all…and here we are 7 years later collapsing the economy in a way that trumps what the terrorists did. Bush gets no thanks from me on this issue. I could go on and on on the many things Bush did to bring this economy to it’s knees. You can’t blame Al Quaeda for it any more than the Demoncats…they both helped but Bush did many things to let it happen. He only vetoed 4 bills in 8 years. You have got to be kidding me.
Essentially 7 years of economic recovery from 9/11 has been wiped out. This has a near parallel to the Panic of 1907 and could become 1933 again. With BO in charge I believe it WILL become 1933 again.
Bush did nothing to even ensure his Administration would be replaced with a capable electable new team. He made the difference when the voters went for the BO grifter. This was a pocketbook election and our pockets will be be picked fo sure now. We will be digging out for a long time starting in 2012…the country WILL find its bearings when we find a proper competent leader, and we will.
Meanwhile we HAVE to purge the RINO’s. They must not be allowed to hurt us any longer. We are NOT Demoncats…we don’t tolerate everything under the sun. Principles mean boundaries. Clearly articulated positions give the voter certainty. Promises carried out give the voter trust. Certainty and trust give the politician victory over platitudes and empty promises.
For the next two years Congress will be Animal House. Let’s get our adults in line to end the party in 2010.
I 2nd that torabora
Looks like Mukasey will be OK. The latest:
From the AP a few minutes ago.
I wish him a strong recovery.
So good to hear he’s doing well. Saying prayers
Having witnessed and worked on hundreds of stroke patients, in my professional opinion it looked EXACTLY like he either stroked out right there or had what is called a TIA (Transitory Ischemic Attack) which is like a mini-stroke, but will go away after a several minutes-hours.
Not a doctor, just a street medic.
Exactly.
From the first onset of symptoms, you need to get to the ED and have medication given to thin the clot…if it is an occlusive stroke and NOT from a burst vessel…within an hour. The recovery and time out of hospital survival rates are drastically increased in that “Golden Hour”
This is why it is IMPERATIVE to be able o recognize the symptoms as soon as possible, get rid of any doubts and get in and have it checked.
If you notice numbness/tingling, blurred vision, slurred speech, weakness on one side or the other, blown pupil on one side or the other, etc., you need to call 911 and at least get checked out by the medics, they are trained to run a first-look diagnostic and let you know if you need to go or not. If you are having a stroke, then they are there and can get you to the ED quick. If not, then no harm no foul.
It is the difference between a full recovery with little to no deficits and a body suffering from hemiparisis, loss of the ability to talk, care for your self or worse…death.
Which side do you want to be on?
More info on “Brain Attacks” here.
An impressive speech–right on target. And very good posts on the reality discussed in the speech, and on the very practical “street” medical advice on stroke recognition, “golden hour” comments, prognosis ,and the need to pray for Mr. Mulkasy’s recovery. Good job smart people.
John Bibb
Prayers going up hope he’ll be ok.
Good advice, Retfireman. A suspected cva needs to be assessed immediately to prevent further damage. We can hope that it was a tia so that he can receive proper medical care to prevent any more, or a major cva. If he has htn, a big suspect, maybe a statin or ace-inhibitor might help, or an adjustment in his dosages. It could also be DVT or atherosclerosis. With this story, I hope people review what a “stroke” (cardio-vascular accident)is, so they can recognize symptoms and get people to medical help. The old “I’m okay” won’t work. I have a patient now, who had a major cva 4 years ago…ignored his hypertension. He has been semi-comatose since then; bedbound with a ventilator/trach.. His son thought it was his diabetes, and drove him from New Jersey to Wash. D.C.. to see a doctor. It was too late by then. Age doesn’t matter either. I’ve had 2 patients…one 14 years old, one 10 years old, with CVAs. Know the symptoms, and help someone survive.
May God help him and his family. I’m praying for him.
I was furious to hear that he was heckled during his speech. Is no one safe? It seems every time I see a member of this administration speak in public, there is a crazy that acts up and needs to be dragged out. It will be interesting to note if the same thing happens to Obama and his appointees. I doubt it.
Get well soon, Mr. Attorney General.
Well said.
Hope Mukasey recovers fully. Watching the video was heart-breaking.
Apologies to Michelle - “And liberals wish him permanant damage or death in 3…2….”
Prayers and well wishes for him and his family.
From your lips to the RNC’s ears.
Don’t know yet what it was, but Anti-thrombolitics given within the first 20-30 minutes of symptom onset often reverse “strokes” very quickly and permanently with no side effects. It was a great day when medical field personnel were given the training to administer these, and thus saving an untold number of victims.
He wont ever be okay to be blunt a stroke/TIA is like a shotgun to the brain each and every one takes ability away.
Thank you sir for your service to America make the most of every moment you have.
Jang,
we do not agree that said no deisre to debate medicine. Suffice to say he and his Family and friends need to tell eachother how much they are loved and
cherish every moment.
Which is not to say they dont already.
LOL … I see we have a lot of “HOUSE” fans around here:)
On a medical note, my wife who has pregnant with twins has high blood preasure spiking up to 189/102 and higher. She is being medicated but is scared of dying. I honestly don’t know what to do. I think we may be losing the babies. I have to say this somewhere.
Prayers for his recovery.
prayers for Mukasey and Mrs. sonofdy.
Sonofdy, I know you are afraid but remember that whatever the outcome God is with your family. Put you’re trust in him.
Son,
I am Praying for you, the wife and those wee babies together with God they will be fine.
Barbara
Bruce,
what does house fans mean?
I speak from someone who saw her Father go thru strokes/tias, my reference aint some damn teevee show so I trust you are not speaking to me………
I’d be happy to pay for a plane ticket if you want to confront me face to face
Sonofdy
You and your wife must be feeling scared, we all feel for you. I’m sure she has been told that she needs to rest, make sure she does. Will keep you in my prayers, along with AG Mukasey.
Those are all worse case scenarios and I understand your fear, but please know that gestational diabetes isn’t uncommon and many women give birth to healthy babies. I’ll keep your wife in my prayers. For the time being try to assure her that everything will be okay. Have the doctors put her on a restricted diet?
She is on restricted everything. I don’t dare share my fears with her, I am hoping the doctor visit today will re-assure her, she is already talking abortion to save her life and I am not far off that myself.
The final fainting of our top law enforcement officer - who has manned the barricade to keep war (in all its facets, not courts) as our proper response to terrorism - seems timely as the Bush administration sets. One more casualty worn out (possibly) from having to fight the “mau mau-ing” from the media and Congress. It is interesting that Michelle has more or less resurrected the “mau mau” description in this day and age. I first encoutered the term when I read the book Something of Value (made into a movie which was on Turner Classic Movies a couple of days ago), which was about the Mau Mau rebellion in (of all places) Kenya. I particularly find it delicious when Michelle refers to the tactics that Gay radicals are now using as mau mau-ing, given the Mau Mau initiation rite that is discussed in Something of Value (but not depicted in the movie). The rite was essentially the act which is from the name sake of the other half of Gommorah’s description.
What goes around……
..And the movie Something of Value starred Rock Hudson. The ironies just keep coming (no pun intended).
First things, first… see what the physicians have to say. I understand your concerns; however, the focus should be on getting your wife’s blood pressure down. Hope for the best. I’ll be praying for you guys.
Oh wow….I hope everything out alright for everyone involved, sonofdy.
No…over ten years experience in Emergency Medicine. I don’t watch medical shows, personally. They never do things realistically. “Rescue Me”, however, comes damn close.
I have to agree with you, once again, Retfireman. I never watch “medical shows” myself. Not realistic. In fact, tv has very few true medical shows, I’ve noticed; however, XM radio has a nice medical professional channel that I listen to, on a daily basis.