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{TN State Sen. Ophelia } Ford taken to hospital day after hearing rant
Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 5/17/7

Posted on 05/17/2007 7:34:45 AM PDT by SmithL

Witnesses say senator fell ill in hotel lounge --

NASHVILLE -- State Sen. Ophelia Ford was taken to a hospital by ambulance one day after delivering an angry, rambling tirade in a committee meeting, say three lawmakers who were familiar with the incident.

One legislator, who said he witnessed the incident, told a reporter for The Commercial Appeal that Ford was taken on a stretcher from the 24th floor lounge of the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Nashville, where she stays when the legislature is in session. The lounge, which serves drinks and appetizers, is reserved for frequent hotel guests.

The lawmaker, who asked to remain anonymous, said Ford had difficulty responding to questions from paramedics.

Two other lawmakers, both Democrats who also asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of the news, told the Associated Press that Ford was taken to the hospital Tuesday, spent the night and was released Wednesday.

Reached at the Sheraton Wednesday night by a reporter for the newspaper, Ford angrily denied going to the hospital.

"No," she said, "and don't call my room again."

Ford, 56, whose district stretches from Millington to South Memphis, said in March that she had a severe case of anemia that has caused her to miss much of the legislative session. Someone who is anemic has a low number of red blood cells; symptoms are fatigue and shortness of breath. There are many types and potential causes of anemia, but Ford hasn't given any further details.

Ford was absent from the Senate session Wednesday.

One day before going to the hospital, Ford shocked lawmakers and observers with an off-topic tirade that lasted nearly two minutes in a committee meeting that was focused on the state Department of Children's Services.

The hearing was about a performance audit that showed the Division of Child Protective Services did not complete some investigations of child deaths within the 60 days as set out in state policy.

But Ford pressed DCS officials about death certificates and other matters that seemed irrelevant to the hearing, even though they repeatedly told her the agency has nothing to do with death certificates.

"What you're talking about ain't hitting on nothing with me as a certified funeral service practitioner. What you're saying ain't hitting on nothing! And you guys need to get better and you need to get more educated," Ford said angrily.

"And so what you're saying to me is absolutely dumb! Excuse my expression, but it is. It doesn't even make sense to me with all the children we're burying. And we've got one of the largest funeral homes in Tennessee, probably in the country."

Other lawmakers have expressed concerns about Ford's health. Sen. Beverly Marrero, another Memphis Democrat, said she's noticed that Ford has lost a lot of weight.

"She's tiny, obviously she's not eating right," said Marrero, D-Memphis. "She's had major health problems with anemia and different things. We just want her to get better."

From Staff and Press Reports

Staff reporter Jody Callahan contributed to this report.

To view the hearing:

During a hearing in Nashville Monday state Sen. Ophelia Ford of Memphis blasted four witnesses, leaving others in the room speechless. It's on the Web at legislature.state.tn.us. Click on Joint Committees, then Video Archives, then Government Operations Subcommittees, Select Date, May 14, 2007, General Welfare.




TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: cultureofcorruption; familytradition; ford; memphis
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1 posted on 05/17/2007 7:34:54 AM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
Maybe she was “exhausted and dehydrated”.
2 posted on 05/17/2007 7:38:00 AM PDT by BenLurkin
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To: Congressman Billybob; GailA; Grammy; Coldwater Creek; fieldmarshaldj; Starwolf; AppyPappy
Follow-up to yesterday's thread: Sen. Ford unleashes off-topic rant


Is it time for an Apology and Rehab?

3 posted on 05/17/2007 7:39:27 AM PDT by SmithL (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: SmithL

Is there no photo of this gentle lady?


4 posted on 05/17/2007 7:43:26 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: SmithL
The was an episode from HOUSE.
5 posted on 05/17/2007 7:44:27 AM PDT by edcoil (Reality doesn't say much - doesn't need too)
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To: leadpenny

6 posted on 05/17/2007 7:47:28 AM PDT by SmithL (si vis pacem, para bellum)
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To: SmithL
I assume you mean from the four folks she reamed out? Ms. Ford has no need to apologize as she is from a downtrodden area and it is the fault of all those “other” (re:whites) people that her area is so poor and the people are so uneducated.(they have to be dumb to keep voting her into office!)
7 posted on 05/17/2007 7:48:02 AM PDT by geezerwheezer (get up boys, we're burnin' daylight!!!)
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To: SmithL

Poor thing. She’s got that thousand yard stare.


8 posted on 05/17/2007 7:52:51 AM PDT by leadpenny
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To: BenLurkin

Otherwise known as “The Kennedy Ailment.”


9 posted on 05/17/2007 8:18:02 AM PDT by Malacoda (A day without a pi$$ed-off muslim is like a day without sunshine.)
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To: SmithL

“Sen. Beverly Marrero, another Memphis Democrat, said she’s noticed that Ford has lost a lot of weight.”


Sounds like weight is not all she has lost. I wonder if they had carried her out in a straight jacket might have been more proper.


10 posted on 05/17/2007 8:19:09 AM PDT by TDA2
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To: SmithL

As with the other Fords in Memphis, the Tennessee Highway Patrol probably has to make an effort to keep the drug dogs away from her or else they would be uncontrollable.


11 posted on 05/17/2007 8:20:30 AM PDT by vetvetdoug
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To: SmithL

Ophelia was taken to the hospital by ambulance after her incoherent tirade.


12 posted on 05/17/2007 8:31:38 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek
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To: SmithL

Sounds like cancer to me!


13 posted on 05/17/2007 8:33:45 AM PDT by Coldwater Creek
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To: SmithL
But Ford pressed DCS officials about death certificates and other matters that seemed irrelevant to the hearing, even though they repeatedly told her the agency has nothing to do with death certificates.

"What you're talking about ain't hitting on nothing with me as a certified funeral service practitioner. What you're saying ain't hitting on nothing! And you guys need to get better and you need to get more educated," Ford said angrily.

"And so what you're saying to me is absolutely dumb! Excuse my expression, but it is. It doesn't even make sense to me with all the children we're burying. And we've got one of the largest funeral homes in Tennessee, probably in the country."

Looks like the looney farm has a new prospect. I hope she can recover, I don't wish that on anyone, Liberal or Conservative.

14 posted on 05/17/2007 8:34:08 AM PDT by eyedigress
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To: BenLurkin

Nothing but decaf from now on, I promise.


15 posted on 05/17/2007 8:37:19 AM PDT by NaughtiusMaximus (The 21st century is a real booger.)
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To: SmithL
Sadly, those who are not from west Tennessee, have little
idea how corrupt and crooked this family is, and it goes back over 60 years.
Harold Jr. was to be the shinning star for the Dims, but he
is just as arrogant as the rest of this bed of thieves.

Their power comes only from a predominate black voter base
and support from corrupt business leaders and real estate developers who buy them off.

16 posted on 05/17/2007 8:50:43 AM PDT by AlexW (Reporting from Bratislava, Slovakia)
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To: BenLurkin

Maybe she was drunk out of her mind. Maybe she was out of her mind.


17 posted on 05/17/2007 9:58:24 AM PDT by Safetgiver (Stinko De mayo, Stinko to the Commies.)
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To: leadpenny
That photo is doctored. She looks human in it. This is closer to what she looks like...


18 posted on 05/17/2007 12:30:40 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Would you vote for President a guy who married his cousin? Me, neither. Accept no RINOs. Fred in '08)
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To: SmithL; GailA; Coldwater Creek
"She's tiny, obviously she's not eating right," said Marrero, D-Memphis."

Gee, Bev, maybe because all she's eating comes in a bottle.

19 posted on 05/17/2007 12:32:16 PM PDT by fieldmarshaldj (Would you vote for President a guy who married his cousin? Me, neither. Accept no RINOs. Fred in '08)
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To: BenLurkin

Ophelia was simply following in her namesake’s footsteps...

“that a youth’s wits may be as mortal as an old man’s life...”


20 posted on 05/17/2007 12:36:23 PM PDT by L,TOWM (Liberals, The Other White Meat [protest for... violence and peace])
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