* Doc Davidson has passed away…

Former state Sen. John Davidson, R-Springfield, who served in the Statehouse for 20 years, has died. He was 87. […]

Davidson was chairman of the Sangamon County Board before going to the Senate, where he served from 1973 to 1993. He was a chiropractic physician and a Navy Air Corps veteran of World War II.

Man, he was a true character. Old school. Had his legislative office in the same building as his chiropractic office. He did more for chiropractors in this state than just about anybody. He also got a whole lot of people jobs through his Republican patronage network. Like I said. Old school.

* Meanwhile, I told subscribers about this Monday morning…

Sen. John Sullivan plans to have surgery this week to manage a rare but treatable form of cancer.

“It’s a personal and private issue, and yet because I’m a public official I just thought it was important that I let my constituents know what’s going on,” Sullivan said.

Four years ago Sullivan had a small growth removed from his lower abdomen as an outpatient procedure. Recently, his doctor observed a recurrence.

“I am scheduled to undergo a surgical procedure this week and will be away from my full-time duties for two or three weeks,” Sullivan said.

But I thought these two responses were particularly classy…

State Senate candidate Randy Frese issued the following statement regarding Sen. John Sullivan’s announcement that he’s having cancer surgery.

“My family and I are praying for John and his family as they deal with this difficult time,” Frese said. “I wish him a complete and speedy recovery.”

Frese echoed Sullivan’s commitment to continuing his campaign. “I look forward to news that his treatment was completely successful and his return to work.”

The following statement is from the Quincy Tea Party:

On behalf of its members, the Board of Directors of Quincy Tea Party would like to express our concern and wishes for a quick recovery for Senator John Sullivan as he battles his illness, announced today. We wish him and his family the best, and will be praying for a positive outcome to this challenge. We look forward to seeing Senator Sullivan back out and on the campaign trail, and discussing the issues important to our congressional district.

* Best wishes to the Cardinal…

Cardinal Francis E. George of Chicago will work with his doctors to determine a course of treatment after test results showed cancerous cells in his kidney and in a nodule removed from his liver.

The archdiocese made the announcement Aug. 17. The cardinal received the results after undergoing a procedure Aug. 15 at Loyola University Medical Center.

After resting at home over the weekend, Cardinal George went on retreat for a week.

“We have no further information at this time,” the archdiocese said.

* And let’s hope this situation improves…

After visiting Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. at the Mayo Clinic, Rep. Dennis Kucinich told me Tuesday that he made the trip because “it’s about being there for a friend who is obviously in a fragile condition and who needs love and support.”

Jackson is “emotionally fragile,” Kucinich said.

Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, said he talked for hours with Jackson over last Friday and Saturday morning about diet and nutrition — Kucinich himself is a vegan — and Jackson’s path back to health.

Last week, Jackson (who has been absent from Congress since June 10) was diagnosed with a bipolar disorder and depression. Mayo said in a statement that the condition was connected to bariatric surgery Jackson had in 2004, “specifically a duodenal switch. This type of surgery is increasingly common in the U.S. and can change how the body absorbs food, liquids, vitamins, nutrients and medications.”