Former mayor Ralph Klein fighting lung disease

[puckluck]

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum.../16556596.html

Ralph is sick. Real sick.
The former premier, a man most Albertans feel comfortable calling only by his first name, speaks through Rod Love, who has been there with Ralph since day one, 30 years ago.
“Tell Rick, I’ve got emphysema. I’m doing alright,” insists Ralph to Rod to your scribbler.
Two people close to Ralph say he suffers from the serious respiratory disease known as COPD. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It is a disease with no cure.
Ralph is 68 now and smokes. He’s been smoking since his days as a young teen from a broken home on the mean streets of Tuxedo Park and we’re talking real smoking.

Hope he pulls through. The best mayor Calgary has ever had.

[NBC]

Chain smoker and legendary p*ss tank. This comes as little surprise no?

[puckluck]

Originally Posted by NBC

Chain smoker and legendary p*ss tank. This comes as little surprise no?

Probably not, but I still wish him all the luck in the world. He was great for Calgary.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by puckluck

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum.../16556596.html



Hope he pulls through. The best mayor Calgary has ever had.

The first time I saw Ralph Klein was in about 1976 or 1977, in a press room in a basement in City Hall if I remember right, dressed up as an improbably colourful cowboy, including the boots and hat, feet up on a table, chair tilted back, cigarette in one hand and a beer in the other, belly hanging over his buckle, waxing loudly and gesticulating madly about some subject I can't remember.

That's a sight you wouldn't forget.

An indelible moment before politics made him dress better.

His initial election campaign for Calgary mayor was the talk of the country because he beat out a pretty slick, hugely financed guy with basically zero down and his personality his only asset.

I remember watching the ABC Olympic Opening Ceremonies coverage in 1988 and the announcers agog that he'd been re-elected with a 90% plurality.

Good luck to Ralph.

Cowperson

[kirant]

I miss Klein. Hung on a couple years longer than people wanted, but what he's done was pretty good.

In the back of the mind, I always imagined someday it'd come to this for him...

Hope for the best. Uncurable, yes, but maybe medications can minimize the effects for him.

[Locke]

Meh, knowing Ralph he'll beat the disease, follow up by berating the disease for being a pansy-ass and then tell it to get a job now that its no longer employed at trying to kill him.

[burn_this_city]

Considering his age and lifestyle choices hes lucky to still be upright.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm not surprised that this is happened to him, he lived a pretty rough and tumble lifestyle. I'm hoping for the best.

Ralph was the right guy at the right time in terms of his time and mayer and as premiere.

I agree that he struggled over the last couple of years in power but that shouldn't change the fact that he was a great political figure, and a part of me always hoped that he would stride into Stelmach's office at some point and give the guy the super mega ninja falcon punch in the nards.

Good luck Ralph.

[Slava]

I didn't agree with a lot of things that Ralph did (on the provincial level), but I would still wish him well. I've known others who have passed from COPD and it's nasty. I thought tha the only "cure" was a lung transplant, but I'm not sure about that.

[Traditional_Ale]

Makes you wonder how many of his tirades came from nic'ing out.

[browna]

And a fitting link given the team the Flames play tomorrow, and their followers.

http://archives.cbc.ca/on_this_day/01/07/

[calgaryred]

I sure miss that white Flames jersey , and wish the best for Ralphie I lived in Calgary when he was mayor, very likeable guy

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Slava

I didn't agree with a lot of things that Ralph did (on the provincial level), but I would still wish him well. I've known others who have passed from COPD and it's nasty. I thought tha the only "cure" was a lung transplant, but I'm not sure about that.

Yeah, a lung transplant is the only cure as once the lungs are damaged, they won't repair themselves. First thing Ralph has to do is quit smoking to slow the diseases progress and there are a number of medications to help keep the lungs and bronchial tubes clear and open. A portable oxygen tank also helps to keep a person mobile but as you say the prognosis is not good.

[You Need a Thneed]

Get well soon King Ralph.

He came into my classroom when I was in grade 2.

His no nonsense approach made him a great leader, whether you agreed with his policies or not.

[Jbo]

Wish him all the best. Loved his style, and was always impressed that he stuck to his guns and got what he needed to done.

He embodies what Alberta and Calgary were when I was growing up.

[Clarkey]

Love this guy.

[Reggie Dunlop]

He's probably getting treatment stateside.

Just sayin'

[Reggie Dunlop]

If Ralph Klein wants to have a legacy as a true hero maybe he should ask what is being done on behalf of those similarly afflicted without the political connections he enjoys.

Because it's not happening for average Albertans.

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by Reggie Dunlop

He's probably getting treatment stateside.

Just sayin'

I don't think there is any advantage in going stateside for treatment other than getting a transplant.

[KelVarnsen]

Just heard on the radio, he has passed away.