# Ruth Bader Ginsburg has pancreatic cancer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 5, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616 "2009-02-05T20:32:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/1 "2009-02-05T20:32:56Z")
Obama might get to appoint a new Supreme Court justice sooner than anyone thought. Luckily the cancer was found early, so she could do very well, but she still might want to retire to enjoy the rest of her time traveling or whatever. Then again, I didn’t know she had previously had colon cancer, and she chose to continue working. Tough lady, she. [Ruth Bader Ginsburg Hospitalized With Pancreatic Cancer](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/05/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-p_n_164331.html) > [@](#): > > Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has undergone surgery for pancreatic cancer, apparently at an early stage. > > The court said the 75-year-old Ginsburg had the surgery Thursday at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. She will remain in the hospital for seven to 10 days, said her surgeon. Dr. Murray Brennan. This was according to a release issued by the court. > > Ginsburg, a justice since 1993, had colon cancer earlier in her tenure. > > The cancer was discovered during a routine, annual exam late last month at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md. > > The court said a CAT scan revealed a tumor measuring about 1 centimeter across the center of the pancreas. ---
**Author:** ![Agent\_Foxtrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc29f/32.png) [@Agent\_Foxtrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Agent_Foxtrot)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/2 "2009-02-05T20:38:12Z")
Thoughts for a speedy recovery. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/3 "2009-02-05T20:57:05Z")
She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. A smart and classy lady. And I hate to say it… but why couldn’t it have been one of the court’s conservatives? I expect the President to have two or maybe even three appointments during his first term. I’d rather Ginsburg not be one of those being replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/4 "2009-02-05T21:28:40Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. A smart and classy lady. Well put. I concur. > [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > And I hate to say it… but why couldn’t it have been one of the court’s conservatives? I expect the President to have two or maybe even three appointments during his first term. I’d rather Ginsburg not be one of those being replaced. Her health issues are independent of any other Justice’s. If she opts to step down, that does not diminish the probability of any Justice on the other end of the Court doing so as well. Obama doesn’t get a set number to fill; he’ll fill however many open up. Besides which, I don’t think this sad news presents the proper occasion for wishing death to one’s enemies. To me, it seems as uncivil as a conservative coming in here to say, “Darn it, why couldn’t this have happened last year?” ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/5 "2009-02-05T21:32:43Z")
Most of Obama’s Supreme Court appointments will be the liberals. Hopefully, he will get over this need to bend over backwards in the name of “bipartisanship” by the time it happens. His Commerce Secretary choice is a real piece of work, having voted to abolish the Department of Commerce. Hopefully he’ll have something nasty in his past that will require a second choice that actually believes in a Department of Commerce. I didn’t figure Ginsburg as the first. Stephens seemed much more likely. I figured he’d been hanging on by his fingernails until the end of Bush II’s reign. Maybe Scalia or Thomas will develop some medical problem. Sorry, but Thomas should never have been appointed to the Supreme Court. No matter his political views, he is manifestly unqualified for this particular job. Best of luck to Justice Ginsburg. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/6 "2009-02-05T21:37:28Z")
Prayers for Justice Bader Ginsburg and her family. There is only something like a 3% survival rate for pancreatic cancer so I’m glad they found it early. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/7 "2009-02-06T00:18:32Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#): > > …Besides which, I don’t think this sad news presents the proper occasion for wishing death to one’s enemies. To me, it seems as uncivil as a conservative coming in here to say, “Darn it, why couldn’t this have happened last year?” I didn’t wish any conservative justice dead. I would be just as happy if Justice Scalia simply decided to spend more time with his enormous family. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/8 "2009-02-06T00:40:01Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > She’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. A smart and classy lady. Here, here. While I disagree with her vehemently, she’s scary smart and tremendously competent. > [@](#): > > And I hate to say it… Then don’t. Seriously. This is an ugly thought, and it has no place here. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/9 "2009-02-06T00:57:36Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > I didn’t wish any conservative justice dead. I would be just as happy if Justice Scalia simply decided to spend more time with his enormous family. I read as wishing cancer on a conservative. But leaving that aside, as it should be, I join those wishing Justice Ginsburg a speedy recovery, and if she chooses to remain on the Court, I hope she remains there for a long time. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/10 "2009-02-06T01:08:21Z")
I hope that she retires and Obama gets to appoint someone with a longer work expectancy. She deserves a good retirement and I hope she enjoys it in health. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/11 "2009-02-06T01:56:28Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > … she’s scary smart and tremendously competent. Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/12 "2009-02-06T02:02:24Z")
I hope no one retires from the Supreme Court during Obama’s term in office. Valete, Vox Imperatoris ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/13 "2009-02-06T02:30:10Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Sorry, but Thomas should never have been appointed to the Supreme Court. No matter his political views, he is manifestly unqualified for this particular job. I couldn’t disagree more. I dislike his judicial philosophy, and his politics, but Thomas is an incredibly smart and knowledgeable jurist. He’s also a fine legal writer - his concurrence in Morse v. Frederick came close to convincing _me_ that the Supreme Court erred when it decided that students don’t lose their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gates. 😃 (Well, not really, but it’s still a neat opinion - a masterful survey of the law.) He takes some flack from people who think that his lack of participation in oral argument suggests a dimmer intellect - but he’s explained that he simply doesn’t think that oral argument adds much worthwhile on top of the voluminous written arguments that accompany litigation at that level. I don’t agree, but it’s not a crazy point of view. People without genuinely formidable intellects just don’t end up on the Supreme Court. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/14 "2009-02-06T02:42:18Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > Maybe Scalia or Thomas will develop some medical problem. > [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > I would be just as happy if Justice Scalia simply decided to spend more time with his enormous family. Surprisingly, Ginsburg and Scalia appear to be close friends. This from the Fox News website story on Ginsburg’s illness: _“Ginsburg is a native of Brooklyn, N.Y., a lover of opera and perhaps personally closest on the court to her ideological opposite, Justice Antonin Scalia. The justices have vacationed together – a photo in her office shows the two atop an elephant – and routinely mark New Year’s Eve with an elaborate meal prepared by their spouses.”_ [Link](http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/05/supreme-court-justice-ginsburg-surgery-pancreatic-cancer/) ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/15 "2009-02-06T05:40:22Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I read as wishing cancer on a conservative… Ah, I see. No, that wasn’t what I meant - forgive the inartful phrasing. By “it” I meant a situation that might force a justice off the Supreme Court. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/16 "2009-02-06T05:50:08Z")
> [@Vox\_Imperatoris](#): > > I hope no one retires from the Supreme Court during Obama’s term in office. You’ll probably get your wish: retirements, to the best of my knowledge, are uncommon. Justices pretty much serve until they die. ---
**Author:** ![Vox\_Imperatoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Vox\_Imperatoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vox_Imperatoris)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ruth-bader-ginsburg-has-pancreatic-cancer/484616/17 "2009-02-06T06:42:12Z")
> [@Captain\_Carrot](#): > > You’ll probably get your wish: retirements, to the best of my knowledge, are uncommon. Justices pretty much serve until they die. I meant that as including deaths, too. Valete, Vox Imperatoris