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So there are all these feel-good stories today letting us know that George Pataki is feeling hale and hearty and all of that. His brother-in-law says he looks "tremendous." His wife says he's coming along well. His spokesman says he's up and about and reading his email on a laptop. But no one is telling us the detail all his Empire State constituents must be dying to know: Can the governor shit yet?

We're tempted to say no, because they're still not releasing him from the hospital. Which would also make sense: No one in Albany ever passes anything quickly.

Pataki Is Up and Around After Week of Hospitalization [NYT]
Pataki Awake, on the Mend [Newsday]
New York Gov. Pataki Recovering After Surgery [Reuters]