Governor Pataki had appendectomy surgery this morning, making this the second most famous Republican surgery of the week (most famous is of course Cheney friend Harry "Not a Quail But I Take Buckshot Like One" Whittington; Pataki dumped Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher into the number three spot - Fletcher had gallbladder surgery). According to an aide, Pataki had abdominal pain and checked himself into a Peekskill Hospital. Hmm, wonder if he thought State Comptroller Alan Hevesi's report about Pataki's budget being terrible was giving him a reaction - especially the part about Mayor Bloomberg being a better fiscal leader.

More information about appendectomies. And doctors still don't really know what the appendix is for.

Image of appendectomy surgery from University of Illinois's College of Medicine