Ted Kennedy's plan to drink himself to death is right on schedule

From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON – Senator Edward M. Kennedy was rushed to a hospital this morning in Cape Cod, where he was treated for a serious – but unknown – illness.

Serious but unknown? AIDS? Neurosyphilis? Cirrhosis of the liver? Hepatitis B or C?

Update: The Boston Globe reported that Mr. Kennedy had suffered stroke-like symptoms and was transported by helicopter to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The Cape Cod Times published a photograph on its Web site of Mr. Kennedy on a stretcher as it was being loaded onto a medical transport helicopter.

That makes sense. According to researchers heavy drinking can result in greater risk of stroke.