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You are here: Home / Politics / Stephanie Tubbs Jones Has Aneurysm

Stephanie Tubbs Jones Has Aneurysm

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This is really quite sad:

Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, D-Ohio, is reported to have suffered an aneurysm and is not expected to recover, according to CBS affiliate WOIO in Cleveland.

WOIO also reported that the congresswoman is on life support at this time.

The station reported today that she was transported overnight to Huron Hospital in Cleveland after police found her in her car last evening.

The congresswoman’s office said in statement that she suffered the aneurysm while driving her car in Cleveland Heights, Ohio last night and that she “has stabilized and she is receiving the best care available.”

I was never much a fan of her politics, per se, but every time I saw her on television she was happy and enthusiastic. Even during the primary, when her unbridled Clinton enthusiasm was, well, crazy, it was still somewhat endearing. I remember watching her talking about how Clinton was going to win, even when we all knew that was not going to happen, and while laughing at her lunacy on the facts, cheering how enthusiastic and happy she was.

I am aware some of you will say there is no place for that in politics, and people in her shoes should be serious all the time and radiate gravitas, but part of me thinks (especially after reading the dour comments here every day and following the depressing news coverage every night) that we need a lot more people like her in this world.

She had a great smile, and some days, that is enough.

Reader Interactions

77Comments

  1. 1.

    Rome Again

    No sooner than this post went up I turned to CNN and minutes later they are reporting that Stephanie Tubbs Jones has died.

  2. 2.

    Incertus

    I’m surprised that, in all the blog posts I’ve seen mention this news, that no one seems to remember that she was one of the Congresspeople who challenged the electoral vote in 2004. That was one of her finest hours, in my opinion, and ought to be celebrated.

  4. 4.

    nightjar

    I remember watching her talking about how Clinton was going to win, even when we all knew that was not going to happen, and while laughing at her lunacy on the facts, cheering how enthusiastic and happy she was.

    Very, very sad news. A person who genuinely enjoyed being alive. Man, it seems like too many good people of late are dying too young.

  5. 5.

    Kevin

    Just an FYI- I have already received two emails from listservs trying to connect her support for Clinton to the Obama death list.

    Ghouls.

  7. 7.

    gypsy howell

    she was one of the Congresspeople who challenged the electoral vote in 2004. That was one of her finest hours, in my opinion, and ought to be celebrated.

    Indeed. Thank you Ms Tubbs Jones. If you had done nothing else in your life, you should be venerated for that. You stood up when so few others would.

  8. 8.

    Conservatively Liberal

    Just an FYI- I have already received two emails from listservs trying to connect her support for Clinton to the Obama death list.

    Morbid morons, that is just sick. But can you really expect anything different from hateful people. I read at Kos that the Cleveland Plain Dealer (right wing rag) had to shut off comments at their web site because they were so vile. What compassionate conservatives. Not.

    RIP Stephanie, and my best wishes to her family and friends.

  14. 14.

    Neal

    CNN is backtracking and saying she isn’t dead yet.
    I saw “car accident” a few hours ago, “critical condition” followed, then came “taking her off life support”, the “dead”, and now “limited brain function”. The articla has been changed so many times, I don’t know where she’s at.

  15. 15.

    Krista

    Such a shame — and you’re right, she DID have a great smile. My sympathies go out to her loved ones, who must be absolutely reeling from a shock like this.

  16. 16.

    Cathy W

    Apparently CNN admits it jumped the gun on reporting her death; the story now is that she’s in critical condition with minimal brain function.

  17. 17.

    Rome Again

    CNN initially announced she had died, and then they went to a live interview at the hospital where she was taken and the doctor said she is alive. CNN was caught completely off-guard by the statement and now they are backtracking. They also interviewed a CNN Radio contact who stated that the Democratic Leadership was also notified that she had died and her colleagues were supposedly just as stunned to find out she was still alive. CNN goofed, apparently.

  18. 18.

    John Cole

    CNN briefly reported she had died, but now has this to say:

    Dr. Gus Kious, chief of staff at Huron Hospital, said Tubbs Jones had limited brain function.

    The aneurysm is in “an inaccessible part of her brain,” Kious said.

    “She remains in critical condition at present in our intensive care unit. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family at this very difficult time,” he said.

    Earlier reports had said Tubbs Jones had died.

    The passive voice- not only irritating, but potentially a killer.

    In all seriousness, it really sounds like she is on life support, but for all intents and purposes, dead. Being mistaken for dead is never a good sign in these matters.

  19. 19.

    Rome Again

    The passive voice- not only irritating, but potentially a killer.

    Did I miss a memo that said humans will no longer take any responsibility for screw ups after January 2000? It seems over the last several years nobody ever admits to making mistakes anymore. What’s up with that?

  22. 22.

    Rome Again

    Yes, they apparently have jumped the shark and are blaming her aneurysm on Obama. WOW, just wow!

  23. 23.

    rob!

    her unbridled Clinton enthusiasm was, well, crazy, it was still somewhat endearing.

    not to speak ill and all that… but when she was on TV a few months ago, claiming Obama was a “native” of Kenya, that was endearing?

    you’re a nicer man than I, Mr. Cole.

  24. 24.

    Napoleon

    Being from the Cleveland legal community (she was a judge and the county prosecutor before being elected to Congress) I have always heard nothing but good things about her personally and she seemed to be liked by all, although she had a reputation as maybe not being the sharpest knife in the drawer.

  25. 25.

    jake

    CNN initially announced she had died, and then they went to a live interview at the hospital where she was taken and the doctor said she is alive.

    Jesus fucking Christ, when did checking your sources go the way of the 8-track? Sorry, in these days of instant communications there’s even less excuse for this crap. Way to go Credulous Noise Numbnuts.

    Anyway. I wouldn’t wish a wet stroke on my worst enemy because if they get to the hospital in time their family has to deal with it. That’s how my grandma went and deciding to unplug a relative ranks down there with going to the doctor and hearing “Dr. Scissorhands will see you now.”

  27. 27.

    Georgette Orwell

    Her photo radiates cheerfulness, and somehow that makes this situation even more sad.

    There’s much more room in politics for enthusiasm and a positive attitude, *much* more. I’m sorry this woman no longer will provide it.

  28. 28.

    southernoregon

    As annoyed as I sometimes got at Ms. Tubbs-Jones during the primary, she always seemed like a genuinely nice person. I’m very sad to hear what has happened.

  29. 29.

    Chuck Butcher

    I’ve certainly had my political differences with Rep Tubbs but I’ve always admired her willingness to stand up for what she thought. That alone forgives a lot.

  30. 30.

    Tsulagi

    This is really quite sad

    Yep.

    some of you will say there is no place for that in politics, and people in her shoes should be serious all the time and radiate gravitas

    Not me. Saw Terry McAuliffe on The Daily Show in the last dying day or two of Hillary’s campaign. Even though Stewart was going through the obvious math with him, McAuliffe rejected it enthusiastically predicting not only was Hillary going to sweep the nomination, but the general as well by a landslide. Cracked me up. Stewart too. Sometimes there’s something to be said for not giving up an inch.

  31. 31.

    Bones

    “Yes, they apparently have jumped the shark and are blaming her aneurysm on Obama. WOW, just wow!”

    Who are “They”? Could you please provide a link or something to back that statement and ones like it?

  32. 32.

    Dave Pooser

    My mother suffered a cerebral aneurysm in the late 90s (now fully recovered, thank God) and a doctor at the time told me “She’s passed the first hurdle– 50% die before they reach the hospital!” (I think he intended to be reassuring. He failed.) Later they told me that 5% of aneurysm sufferers are fully recovered 5 years later. That’s some scary stuff, and Mom’s was relatively accessible.

    Rep. Tubbs-Jones and her family are in my thoughts and prayers. And the death-list jackasses can go sodomize themselves with splintery sticks.

  33. 33.

    D-Chance.

    Conservatively Liberal Says:
    Morbid morons, that is just sick. But can you really expect anything different from hateful people. I read at Kos that the Cleveland Plain Dealer (right wing rag) had to shut off comments at their web site because they were so vile. What compassionate conservatives. Not.

    Oh, fuck it. Don’t try acting all pissy now when THIS VERY WEBSITE has been the home to some of the most vile and virulent hateswarms over the past couple of years whenever someone with an R- or a moderate D- has had catastrophic events happen in their lives.

  34. 34.

    Church Lady

    She has always seemed like a really nice woman. My sympathies to her family, friends and staff.

  35. 35.

    The Moar You Know

    Oh, fuck it. Don’t try acting all pissy now when THIS VERY WEBSITE has been the home to some of the most vile and virulent hateswarms over the past couple of years whenever someone with an R- or a moderate D- has had catastrophic events happen in their lives.

    Let us know when something bad happens to you and we’ll throw one for the ages.

  36. 36.

    Kevin

    Oh, fuck it. Don’t try acting all pissy now when THIS VERY WEBSITE has been the home to some of the most vile and virulent hateswarms over the past couple of years whenever someone with an R- or a moderate D- has had catastrophic events happen in their lives.

    ORLY?

  37. 37.

    brat

    Ah DAMN! THis is just too sad. My sympathies to her family, friends, colleagues and stff members.

  39. 39.

    Rome Again

    Hey John, CNN removed that page you linked to with the passive phrase. Hmmmmm, I think heads are rolling in Atlanta today.

  40. 40.

    jibeaux

    It’s tragic. She was a good Democrat and she certainly stood up for what, and who, she believed in, and I certainly don’t think if she were in a position to evaluate wacko conspiracy theories she would’ve bought into it one iota. To the extent any of that stuff is out there, it can be safely stored on the kooky shelf next to the London-train-bombing-was-an-electrical-power-surge and the fake moon landing.

    (D-Chance is right, btw. Dying of autoerotic asphyxiation wearing 2 wetsuits and a dildo may be extraordinarily bizarre as well as somewhat foreseeable, but it is still catastrophic, I think. Have a Troll House cookie on me, D.)

  41. 41.

    JR

    Who are “They”? Could you please provide a link or something to back that statement and ones like it?

    There are at least three comments in this thread linking or pointing to the lunacy.

  42. 42.

    Rome Again

    Oh, fuck it. Don’t try acting all pissy now when THIS VERY WEBSITE has been the home to some of the most vile and virulent hateswarms over the past couple of years whenever someone with an R- or a moderate D- has had catastrophic events happen in their lives.

    I’m amazed you come to a blog called “Balloon Juice” and expect conversation to be along the lines of an elementary school PTA meeting.

  43. 43.

    jibeaux

    To the extent any of that stuff is out there, it can be safely stored on the kooky shelf

    (I’m realizing now that sounds a little condescending, like you guys wouldn’t necessarily know how kooky that is. I know you know I know you know I know. My point is more that even among diehard Clinton supporters, I have to assume blaming Obama for a brain aneurysm is oooooout there.)

  45. 45.

    gil mann

    Last line from the No Quarter post:

    Despite throwing her support to Obama, we wish Representative Tubbs Jones a quick and speedy recovery.

    Wow, you mean she doesn’t deserve to be a vegetable because of that? Y’all some charitable-ass motherfuckers.

  46. 46.

    jibeaux

    Despite throwing her support to Obama, we wish Representative Tubbs Jones a quick and speedy recovery.

    Wow, wow, and wow. That is even grammatically offensive, to boot.

  47. 47.

    Rome Again

    (I’m realizing now that sounds a little condescending, like you guys wouldn’t necessarily know how kooky that is. I know you know I know you know I know. My point is more that even among diehard Clinton supporters, I have to assume blaming Obama for a brain aneurysm is oooooout there.)

    I’m sorry, I should have called it what it was, a hitjob by Obama, obviously it could never be a brain aneurysm because there’s no way in Hell Obama could arrange such a thing.

    I didn’t mean to confuse you, I was adding a bit of reality into the conversation. Stephanie Tubbs Jones is reported to have suffered a brain aneurysm, NOT a gunshot or two (or twelve). The way these PUMA supporters are talking, you would probably be right to think they believe Obama hired an assassin who put a few pieces of lead into her.

  48. 48.

    Rome Again

    No, actually I was talking about these sorts of comments:

    SHE WAS MURDERERED!!!!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!! OBAMA = HITLER. SAY GOODBYE TO DEMOCRACY

    Rumor is that Obama ordered the hit because she waited till June to support him. (a link provided on that comment which I refuse to link to

    OK, maybe I AM a conspiracy theorist. Maybe I AM over reacting to things, maybe I AM looking for connections that aren’t there, but this is getting really, really beyond the realm of coincidence here.
    I’m not outright accusing obama of murdering his detractors or opposition, BUT, it seems many people have died in the past few weeks under bizarre circumstances.
    Take a look back. Stephanie Tubbs Jones, Clinton Supporter, aneurysm. Bernie Mac, Vulgar Jokes at Obama speech, thrown under bush, complications of pneumonia. George Carlin, political humorist, heart failure. Tim Russert, heart attack. Donald Young, supposed gay lover of Obama, assasinated Christmas Day. Numerous death threats over the internet by Obama supporters to anyone who opposes him.
    I can’t just pretend that there’s not more than a spark in the back of my mind. There have been many high-profile deaths and probably many more low-profile deaths recently than can be considered as “random”.
    No, I’m not saying Obama or his campaign is killing people, but I am saying that this is something that should be investigated with full autopsies looking for anything that could have triggered the cases of death listed. (other than the assasination, that’s pretty cut and dry, he was shot). I don’t normally get this paranoid and I don’t jump to conclusions like this quickly. Bernie Mac’s was the first to strike me as very odd after having just caused controversy for “the one”. Jones is/was a devoted Clinton supporter. Maybe Russert was onto something that nobody wanted to have leaked? I don’t know, but if I don’t put the idea out there, then I’m as guilty as anyone who may have knowledge of a actual agenda and doesn’t speak up.
    Is this random or is there more to it?

    And yes, I do think he and is campaign are low enough to do something like this. Not saying they did, but I do believe them to be capable of it. Those who have silenced themselves in fear, may have very legitimate reaons for doing so.

    and Tony Snow… Ted Kennedy too.. My first thought was Kennedy was silenced, because he might change his mind. There have been others too… Gawalenty… ANOTHER SUPERDELEGATE, no one knows why he was killed!?

    You’re not the only one who is a suspicious of these coincidences. I also know other people who have noticed a pattern. I’m noticing it too. Very odd. These deaths and afflictions are so sudden and huge surprises for the most part. I’m going to keep watching this ball role before thinking that an Obama affiliation could cost you your life…. literally.

    Don’t you call that jumping the shark?

  49. 49.

    jibeaux

    Okay, the majority of the NQ site is pretty normal stuff, so I do think that even among crazies, that would be a fairly crazy conspiracy theory. But here’s the stuff I like. Do you think any of these people ever say these things out loud? Discuss.

    After a list of people who have died recently (we all remember what a vocal Clinton supporter George Carlin was, right?):

    My first thought was Kennedy was silenced, because he might change his mind.

    And conspiracy theories aside, Barack Obama and each and every one of his supporters must bear the burden of responsibility for her death. The unconscionable pressure that has been placed upon this woman by these inhumane thugs would be enough to kill any of us. I am amazed more have not fallen. Congresswoman Tubbs-Jones stood up to it until the bitter end, and she has my undying appreciation and respect for doing so in the name of truth, right, and all that is good. She died in true service to her country, in the line of duty in my opinion.

    Ain’t no crazy like a NQ crazy.

  50. 50.

    jibeaux

    Rome, if you’re talking to me I think we’re ships passing in the night or something. There’s definitely some crazy there, but overall it seems to me to be non-crazy. There are always going to be crazy people, and it’s fun to nutpick them —

    Kennedy was silence because he might change his mind

    is going to amuse me for WEEKS, but I think this is a minority subset of crazy within the crazy, if that makes any sense.

  51. 51.

    Scott H

    Please, give me enthusiasm and optimism instead of the self-important grimness that is our usual political fare. A person like Rep. Tubbs Jones can bring joy and a sense of getting things done to what is necessarily an adversarial process. We need more people like her, not one less.

  52. 52.

    Rome Again

    Yes, I was talking to you, jibeaux… it looked like you didn’t see the crazy shit on that thread.

    I’m trying to figure out how Obama gave Bernie Mac pneumonia.

  53. 53.

    jibeaux

    I’m trying to figure out how Obama gave Bernie Mac pneumonia.

    Duh, he pretended like he was going to give him a ride but actually took him and made him run through a sprinkler at gunpoint and…

    But, see, my point is that even someone else on that thread pointed out that it was crazy. The supercrazy is a smaller subset of the mostly-crazy.

  55. 55.

    liberal

    Americans for Democratic Action gave her a 95% for her 2007 voting record.

    My kind of Congresscritter…

  57. 57.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    I really liked Stephanie Tubb-Jones for all the reasons you listed, John. She epitomized “disagreeing without being disagreeable.”

    I understand she is all but dead which is practically a national tragedy.

  58. 58.

    Martin

    I have to assume blaming Obama for a brain aneurysm is oooooout there.

    Nah. Negroes have super powers like that. That’s why they can’t be allowed to hold positions of power. They’re like X-Men.

    Obama has extra super powers on account of his Muslimness, which is why he could get the upper hand on Bernie and Stephanie.

    PUMAs know all of this. They’re like the illuminati of politics.

  60. 60.

    JL

    My thoughts are with her family. She fought for what she believed in and we can all benefit from that.

  63. 63.

    Xenos

    Bernie Mac, Vulgar Jokes at Obama speech, thrown under bush,

    That’s a punishment?

    You mess with the new pleuralistic Obama party, it is under the pneumonia bush with you!

  68. 68.

    w vincentz

    RIP. Good efforts from a life committed to service of the public. Quite rare.
    You’ll be missed Stephanie.

  69. 69.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Just FYI on the whole Obama Death List thing, if this means Obama is on the attack, I totally support his killing whomever he thinks needs killing. I’m really sick of the different kind of politics bullshit. There is nothing different about running a losing Kerry campaign. In fact, Kerry wasn’t the first to do it.

    I’m not a Biden fan but I’m totally stoked about the possibility of a Biden VP candidacy because it means at least one person will be out there taking it to Republicans.

  71. 71.

    JL

    Just Some Fuckhead Says:

    I’m not a Biden fan but I’m totally stoked about the possibility of a Biden VP candidacy because it means at least one person will be out there taking it to Republicans.

    I agree but I would love to see a Lieberman, Biden VP debate.

  72. 72.

    myiq2xu

    There are always going to be crazy people, and it’s fun to nutpick them—

    I don’t think it’s fair to call it nutpicking when the same person doing the “picking” posted the comments in question under another alias.

    I think that’s called ratfucking

  73. 73.

    Rome Again

    I don’t think it’s fair to call it nutpicking when the same person doing the “picking” posted the comments in question under another alias.

    I think that’s called ratfucking

    What are you saying NoIQ?

    Who is doing the picking, me? I don’t post on NQ, never have, never will. I’d be willing to take a lie detector test to determine that result if you’d like to arrange and pay for it. ;) – I’m serious.

    Who are you alluding to?

  74. 74.

    Doug H. (Fausto no more)

    What are you saying NoIQ?

    He’s realizing that he’s on the crazy train, but – this being the Internet – he can’t back down

  75. 75.

    Conservatively Liberal

    myiq2xu GoatBoy farts once again!

    I think his goats escaped from their pen and GoatBoy is aimlessly wandering around trying to scare up some fresh goat meat.

  76. 76.

    Rome Again

    As someone born and raised in Delaware, I don’t want Biden as the V.P. – I think he’s too cozy with corporation banking for my personal comfort level.

    I’m hoping Obama will pick someone else.

    I would however love to see Lieberman end up on the Republican side. ;)

  77. 77.

    bartkid

    >She had a great smile, and some days, that is enough.

    You are on fire today, John.
    A lot of people will probably see the sentence above as a throwaway line, but how many people do we, each one of us, know who could have this as their epitaph? Sadly, too, too few.

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