Will Hillary Be Forced to Pull Out of First Debate?

According to Dr. Steven Simpson, the medical director of Pulmonary and Critical Care at the University of Kansas Hospital, Hillary Clinton’s pneumonia diagnosis could mean she will not be ready to debate Donald Trump on September 26. Speaking to the Washington Post, Dr. Simpson said Clinton could be in for a lengthy recovery period.

“What’s the prognosis for pneumonia?” asked the Post’s Chris Cillizza. “How long is the typical recovery time for a patient of Mrs. Clinton’s age and medical history?”

“Men and women 65 years of age and up — e.g. both presidential candidates — are particularly susceptible to pneumonia, which is a very common cause of death among the elderly,” said Dr. Simpson. “However, the prognosis for pneumonia that does not require hospitalization is quite good. Although a person of this age should be able to function to do their job within a few days – if they take adequate time to rest and recuperate – longer if they try to work through it, it generally takes four to six weeks to feel back to normal, in terms of stamina.”

Of course, that’s if Clinton’s diagnosis is anything more than a campaign smokescreen meant to downplay the seriousness of Hillary’s fainting episode on Sunday. There are still significant questions about when, exactly, Hillary was given that diagnosis, who examined her, and why the campaign decided to keep it a secret from the press. Either she was lying about her health throughout the weekend or she’s lying about it now, hoping that no one will attach the fainting spell to the larger questions about her health.

According to Roger Stone, a sometimes-Trump advisor who has been closely following the election, the DNC could look to an unlikely replacement if Hillary proves unable to make it to the finish line. While experts have theorized about the DNC bringing in Joe Biden or Bernie Sanders to act as a pinch-hitter, Stone thinks they will turn to another prominent Democrat female.

“I’m fairly certain she would be replaced by Michelle Obama,” Stone said in a Newsmax TV interview. “Now, that would assuage the feminist wing of the Democratic Party that is salivating over the idea of our first woman president.”

For God’s sake…just when you thought things couldn’t get worse.