Bush 41 Goes Bionic

Chalk up another new hip for George H.W. Bush, the 41st president and dad of the current prez.

We hear that following the Washington funeral for former President Gerald Ford on Tuesday, Bush flew to Rochester, Minn.'s Mayo Clinic, where he underwent surgery the next morning, wrapping up by 7 a.m. His right hip was replaced.

Mayo spokesman Adam Brase tells Whispers that the former Navy flyboy came through with flying colors and is already in physical therapy. He should be released later this week.

Hip surgery isn't new to the 82-year-old Republican. Back in 2000, he had his left hip replaced at Mayo. He has shown no ill effects from that replacement but it might be a while before Bush straps on his parachute and starts jumping out of airplanes again, we hear. But that's cool: This time of year he likes to surf fish anyway.

By Paul Bedard