We got word yesterday that New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenberg had been taken to the hospital.

The information now is he has undergone surgery for a bleeding ulcer.

Initial reports say he is expected to recover and be back to work soon. However when an 86 year old man has surgery you always have to take his age into account.

Obviously politics plays a distant second place to the health of a fellow human being and I am sure we all hope for a speedy recovery.

But you also cannot ignore the fact that if he is forced to step down for health reasons that a Republican would likely be appointed to take his place, further reducing the current majority.