DEMS LIKELY TO GET ONE MORE SENATE SEAT to 52 majority (sad news actually)

[berni_mccoy]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/11/09/thomas.leukemia.ap/index.html

Sen. Craig Thomas fell ill on Sunday and he has been diagnosed with Leukemia. He may not stay in his seat and if he does leave, the Governor, Dave Fruedenthal, a Dem, will have to appoint a Senator.

I've lost two very close friends to Leukemia. I am very sad to see this be a reason for us to gain a seat in the Senate.

And given that Thomas got 70% of the vote, Fruedenthal (who also got 70%) may be pressured to replace him with someone more conservative.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. I sure as hell don't want the seat because of that...

Get well soon, Senator!!!:thumbsup:

[elehhhhna]

84. same here. Great strides in treatment thess days--

hopefully he'll be healthy again, soon. He may also come through this major health crisis with a more compassionate outlook. Many people do.

Get well, Senator. You must have the respect and support of many or you wouldn't be in the Senate.

[wholetruth00]

97. Sorry about the Senator. Question: Would that make Lieberman null?

[Gato Moteado]

118. absolutely!

nt

[harlinchi]

159. My sentiments exactly!

Get well, senator, then get back to the senate and we (as a country) can debate issues.

We should be better people than those GOP'ers (and their supporters) who asked God to visit illnesses upon those with whom they disagreed (Paging Pat Robertson! Will Pat Robertson please pick up the red courtesy phone?).

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. That's sad.

Especially sad, since he voted against stem cell research.

[JNelson6563]

4. Ironic seems more applicable

Wouldn't you agree?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

10. What's the term?

Tragic irony?

[JNelson6563]

Yeah, I think that's it!!

:toast: Well said.

[Virginia Dare]

3. That is sad for Thomas and his family....

sorry it's going down this way, but the Dems getting another seat in Senate is a good thing.

[LynneSin]

42. 52 means we don't have to deal with Lieberman

But I do wish the best for Thomas. I totally disagree with his politics but I do wish him a speedy recovery!

[icymist]

87. A speedy recovery to those who are sick.

A watchful eye to those who think we've given up watching this Government, especially Republicans and those who gave comfort and shelter to them.

p.s. Dem's hate terrorists!

[louis c]

47. The Governor could appoint himself

After all, he got 70% of the vote too, on the same day. It's happened before.

Then the Dem Lt. Gov. would be Gov, and he won his election, also.

So, where's the problem.

If Lieberman takes a cabinet post from W., who do you think Rell will appoint? Certainly not a Dem.

If the gov in Wyoming appointed himself, he certainly would win a special election.

If a Repuke was appointed in Conn., he'd stand no chance.

[icymist]

81. Is Lieberman really being offered a cabinet post?

Sometimes, I never know if what I read here is true. I can tell y"all this.... Watch the repugs. Especially now since we won..... watch 'em close because they play dirty and I just know that they're gathering dirt on us for '08.

[madinmaryland]

89. Lieberman said he will NOT accept a cabinet position. eom

[Xeric]

5. Irony

Remember when Pat Robertson was on air praying that God would strike one of the more liberal Supreme Court members with an illness?

[jannyk]

16. But we don't do that sort of thing do we or we'd

be just like the 'freepers'!

[aquart]

102. Nobody here prayed for this. And it ain't over, either.

There have been amazing breakthroughs in leukemia treatment. Depends on the kind he's got.

Also, the chemo might not even be debilitating. It positively rejuvenates my uncle.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

6. What a horrible way for us to gain a seat

Heartbreaking.

[Nickster]

76. Agreed. n/t

[Lefta Dissenter]

7. I echo Cooley's sentiment

As much as I want another Senate seat, I just hate to think of what Sen. Thomas and his family are going through now. :(

I wish him the best.

[Beetwasher]

8. He Voted Against Stem Cell Research

This is sad, I wish him well, but I will be happy if we pick this seat up.

[wake.up.america]

13. The Family has my prayers.

[WI_DEM]

Sad for him and his family, but on our side remember that Byrd

is nearly 90.

[Lyric]

133. Yes, but thankfully West Virginia has

a state government that's very heavily Democratic, and a Democratic governer as well.

Manchin would NEVER appoint a Republican if something happened to Byrd. Ick.

[NEDem]

154. Thank for the info

I was wondering about this very point earlier today.

[Chichiri]

9. Boy am I glad we didn't tie the Senate.

I'd hate to gain the majority because of THAT. All my best wishes to Senator Thomas and his family.

[Not Me]

11. Ironically, if this information involved a Dem, would we see

the same compassion on Free Republic?????????

[Joe Chi Minh]

17. Was the Dem who died in a mysterious air crash a Senator?

[KansDem]

34. Mel Carnahan

Melvin Eugene "Mel" Carnahan (February 11, 1934 – October 16, 2000) was an American politician who was Governor of Missouri from 1993 to 2000. A Democrat, he died in a plane crash during a campaign for the U.S. Senate, after which he was elected posthumously to the office.

from Wikipedia

Sen. John Ashcroft lost to him...

Also, Paul Welstone:

Paul David Wellstone (July 21, 1944 – October 25, 2002) was an American politician and two-term U.S. Senator from Minnesota. He was a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and was a professor of political science at Carleton College before being elected to the Senate in 1990. Wellstone was a liberal and a leading spokesman for the progressive wing of the national Democratic Party. He served in the Senate from 1991 until his death in a plane crash on 25 October 2002. His wife, Sheila, and daughter, Marcia, also died in the crash. They had two other grown children, David and Mark, who now co-chair the Wellstone Action nonprofit group.

Wikipedia again

[Joe Chi Minh]

124. Paul Wellstone was the man I was thinking of.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

23. No way. On the other hand, I expect some troll to come here and gloat so they can

wail about how evil we are. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_propaganda

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

26. He resigns, Dems get 52-48, he gets treated, and beats the disease.

Everyone is happy. Everyone who counts, I mean.

[in_cog_ni_to]

12. I hope he's OK. My B-I-L had Leukemia

and I wish it on NO ONE. He was one of the lucky ones. He survived it because he had a brother whose bone marrow was a perfect match, but some are not so lucky.

As much as I dislike Craig Thomas, I wish him well.

[displacedtexan]

39. It took 14 months for my B-I-L to die from Leukemia.

That was back in the 70's.

Horrible illness.

This is sad news, indeed.

[WI_DEM]

would the appointee stay the entire six years of his term? or would

there be a special election?

[AllegroRondo]

No, only 2 years.

then a special election would be held for the remaining portion of the term.

Same thing happened when Carnahan died in 2000. The Governor appointed Mrs. Carnahan to the seat, then another election was held in 2002 to fill the remaining 4 years of the term. Talent won at that time, and was just ousted this week.

[LynneSin]

48. There is a special election the next upcoming election cycle

I don't know which cycle Thomas is on, but in 2008 the candidate would run for office again.

When Jean Carnahan took over her husband's senate seat (the won where he died like 2 weeks before the election), in 2002 she had to defend that seat but Jim Talent won. And even though Talent was only elected in 2002, he still had to run for re-election in 2006 because that's the cycle that this particular senate seat is elected.

[William769]

14. After reading some of his floor statements

I would say, I would not wish Leukemia on anyone, but I will say Karma can be some bad medicine.

[bluestateguy]

15. If he has to resign, then Gov. Freudenthal should appoint a Republican

That is not how I want to win a Senate seat.

The people elected a Republican, and a Republican should be who is appointed if Thomas has to leave. Then have a special election.

[Horse with no Name]

25. Those are the perks of electing a Democratic Governor

Surely not fair, but a shoe on the other foot, a Republican Governor WOULD replace a Democratic Senator with a Republican.
That's how it works and why the governorships are important to the party.

[beezdotcom]

101. And folks in the office were just wondering...

...why anyone should care about the governorships (outside of their own). I guess that's ONE reason.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

27. Every real Democrat in Senate improves chances of action that improves the health of millions

[Gato Moteado]

132. exactly!

the health of 300 million people in america overrides the wyoming facist.

[BrotherBuzz]

32. The people also elected a Democratic governor

I'm just saying. :shrug:

[WI_DEM]

35. maybe so, but that's not the way it works and you can bet that

a Republican governor in any state would do the same thing--based on history.

[Zynx]

41. I agree. That would be the right thing to do.

The voters of Wyoming wanted a Republican and that's what they should get.

[ps1074]

55. Remember Wellstone?

After Wellstone died, The idiot Gov Ventura refused to appoint a democrat...

[Zynx]

56. I would like to think we are better than Jesse Ventura.

[Gato Moteado]

130. we are better than jesse....

..and that's why we would appoint a dem, because the health and well being of every human life on the planet rests on having a senate not controlled by the party of bushco.

[malaise]

59. That's who I thought of when I saw this thread n/t

[jocal]

65. Remember Paul Coverdell?

Paul Coverdell was a Republican Senator from Georgia. He died while still in the Senate of a cerebral hemorrhage in mid-2000.

Georgia Republicans were outraged when Roy Barnes, then Georgia's Democratic governor, appointed a fellow Democrat to fill the seat.

The appointee was Zell Miller.

Moral of the Story (if there is one):
Be Careful What You Wish For

*Edited to add question mark in subject

[Critters2]

126. Zell Miller used to be a Democrat? How 'bout that! nt

[fujiyama]

143. I'd like to see a Dem appointed

but after reading a little about the Dem party actually reemerging in WY, maybe it'd be better to just appoint a moderate republican (if one exists in WY).

Plus, it makes me uneasy for the party to benefit from his illness.

[Zodiak]

43. I agree

70% of the people of that state wanted a hard-core Republican. They should at least get another one in return. We should not subvert the clear will of the people just to gain more power, especially under tragic circumstances.

Even though I would love for Leiberman to suddenly become irrelevent, this is not the way to do it.

I want the Dems to gain the trust and respect of the american people. This would go a long way to prove that.

[msongs]

62. give me that cubin woman nt

[LynneSin]

45. Ain't gonna happen

Trust me, if it was the other way around the republican governor would be appointing a republican.

But the thing is the seat is only until the next major election not a permament job. They could even, perhaps, hold a special election if necessary

[Eurobabe]

54. Do you really think a CON would do the same?

Prayers for this man and his family, but I doubt whether the GOP would EVER do such a thing for us. JMHO.

WTF, did you all drink the BushBOT conciliation kool-aid today?

[paulk]

63. He could appoint Barbara Cubin...

an unpopular Republican, who just barely won the House seat (actually, it's still being contested). Then he could appoint Cubin's opponent, Gary Trauner, to the House seat held by Cubin. That way we'd have a fairly popular incumbent Democrat running for the House in 2008, and an unpopular Republican - if she decides to run - giving us a shot at the Senate seat in 2008.

[NoPasaran]

139. Governors get to appoint senators but house seats

but house seats have to be filled by special elections.

[paulk]

142. darn.

he could appoint Trauner as Senator, then.

[Stephanie]

99. ABSOLUTELY NOT

Don't think for a second that they would do that for us. The people elected a Democratic governor, well aware that this is one of the privileges he'd enjoy, appointing a replacement under these sort of circumstances. There is not a thing wrong with it. We need to stop being pussies.

[gollygee]

107. no WAY

this isn't circle time. This is politics. The stakes are way too high.

I feel terrible for him and his family but we can't throw away this country's recovery.

[Marr]

163. I agree with you.

This is just business.

[theHandpuppet]

120. Are there any other viable parties in Wyoming?

How about a Green, Libertarian, Socialist, or "Generic Independent"? Frankly, I'd like to see a little more variety in Congress. Is that a sacrilege to say so?

[Cobalt Violet]

158. They would never have done that for us.

I shouldn't happen. Democrats have to stop being nice to these people. It doesn't get us were we need to go.

[bowens43]

18. Sad news .

[More Than A Feeling]

19. That's terrible, and it shouldn't have to be this way.

Get well soon, Senator.

If he does leave, would Gary Trauner accept the appointment?

[hlthe2b]

20. Some forms of leukemia are highly treatable & good prognosis

It remains to be seen that he'd even have to give up his seat.

I wish him well, though I do not support his views.

[Joe Chi Minh]

22. Good for him and his family. We can hope his is treatable.

[deadparrot]

21. Best wishes to him and his family. nt

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

24. Get well Senator

nm

[wicket]

28. Oh no!

Prayers for the Senator and his family.

[longship]

29. If it comes to this, the governor should appoint a Republican.

However, he should appoint a *moderate* one.

[ddbaj]

38. Dick Cheney? n/t

[LynneSin]

50. Not going to happen

You think if Thomas was a democrat and the governor was a republican that a democrat would be appointed? Even for the short term that someone had to fill Paul Wellstone's seat it was an independant (Jesse Ventura was the governor at the time).

When Sen John Heinz was killed in a plane crash it was a democrat appointed.

I pray that Sen Thomas has a speedy recovery but if the seat needs to be refilled the governor should appoint who he wants to fill the position. If the people of Wyoming prefer a republican they can decide that when the special election is held

[Pab Sungenis]

95. When Harrison Williams was expelled from the Senate

Republican Governor Tom Kean appointed a Republican, Nicholas Brady, to fill out his term. The Democrats retook the seat at the next election with Frank Lautenberg.

It's always done. A Republican governor would appoint a Republican to fill a Democratic vacancy. It would only be fair for a Democratic governor to appoint a Democrat.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

91. why? Would any GOoPer appoint a dem to a dem held seat?

no effin way. When the rumors were rife that Lieberman was going to replace Rummie, all the buzz was which GOP hack they would seat in his place.

[bleedinglib]

30. Quality of life?

He may be able to survive 7 to 10 years with proper treatment?
Hopefully, some day a cure will be found through stem cell therapy?
I will pray for him and his family.O8)
Blib

[Guaranteed]

31. Dang. That's really too bad for ole Joe Lieberman, too.

He might have had some clout if this didn't happen.

[kestrel91316]

33. Sad way to gain a seat, if it happens. That said, it depends

entirely on what kind of leukemia he has. The acute forms make you sicker, quicker, but are more responsive to treatment. The chronic forms, seen more in the elderly, are slower to make you sick but notoriously hard to treat.

[KamaAina]

137. It's AML (Acute Myelogenous Leukemia)

http://www.cheyennenetwork.com/today/news/state10.asp

Washington (Office of Sen. Thomas) -- U.S. Senator Craig Thomas today announced that he has been diagnosed this week with a form of leukemia. Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. AML is the most common type of leukemia. More than 16,500 new cases occur in the United States each year.

Thomas had experienced energy losses over the last few weeks and was diagnosed with pneumonia Sunday. Further tests Sunday indicated low white cell levels, explaining the pneumonia but not the source of the blood cell anomaly. In preparation of Monday votes and party leadership elections on Nov. 15, Thomas flew to Washington DC to pursue further blood testing this week....

It is expected that Thomas will be able to perform all duties of his office following treatment.

Dr. Brian Monahan, Director of Hematology and Medical Oncology at the National Naval Medical Center, said "The majority of people with Craig's great physical condition and general health attain remission."

It would appear that all this talk of appointments, Lieberman, etc., is not only premature but is perfect fodder for the Neal Boortzes and Michelle Malkins of the world to again falsely paint DUers as cold, heartless creatures who would wish someone dead to pick up a Senate seat.

It would also appear, though, that Sen. Thomas was running for the office while ill; he just didn't know how ill.

[kestrel91316]

151. I had a client succesfully fight this a few years ago, but it was

a very rough year for her. He has a chance, but he may very well step aside to improve his chances. He will need all his strength for the fight.

[Jack Rabbit]

36. Prayers for Senator Thomas

.

[Gato Moteado]

134. prayers for the dead or suffering men women and children because of his support....

...for the iraq war. prayers for the dead and maimed US soldiers that he helped send to an illegal and unjust war for halliburton profits. prayers for the terminally ill that might have otherwise been treated by stemcell research that he voted against.

[BlueEyedSon]

37. Dont forget ed bradley

:cry:

[upi402]

157. me too

:cry:
thought about him many times today

i think i recall him reporting from VN

[NoodleyAppendage]

40. Let's hope he's morally consistent and refuses any tx. from stem cells

I will be watching to see if he kicks up a fuss over ANY treatment or advancement in leukemia research that has benefitted from stem cell techniques.

J

[berni_mccoy]

46. I don't agree with that. People change and it's life changing moments

like being diagnosed with Leukemia that can open a person's eyes.

My outlook on life changed dramatically when my son was diagnosed with type-1 diabetes.

I hope that if there has been any progress in curing/treating leukemia that is the result of stem cell techniques that he takes advantage of them. Leukemia is a terrible disease, and as I said, I watched two very close friends die from it.

[Gato Moteado]

79. drug addiction and treatment didn't change limbaugh.....

republicans have no soul.

if the senator voted against stem cell research, a promising technology for finding cures, based on the phoney bullshit fabricated by bushco (we're not going to destroy life to save life) then he gets what he deserves. roll him out of the senate and into a hospital and replace him with a dem that's going to do the right thing. those embryos they could have used for stemcell research were embryos being discarded daily by fertility clinics. it was a bullshit issue fabricated to get the fundies all fired up to vote. that is EVIL.

i know we want to be kind and gentle and not be like freepers, but these repukes are facists that support illegal wars where hundreds of thousands of civilians are killed. why is some scumbag repuke senator's life more valuale than those men, women and children killed in the war he supports? why is his life more valuable than the lives that could have been saved by now if we had funded stem cell research back in 2001? no. sorry....he gets no free pass. his life just ain't worth that much. move him out and let's get seat number 52 in the senate. the future of democracy is much more important than some old facist.

[Birthmark]

44. Best wishes to Sen. Thomas and his family.

[originalpckelly]

49. That poor poor man...

I hope he can fight it. Sad we just lost Ed Bradley, and now a US Senator.

[Gato Moteado]

85. that poor poor man?

gimme a break. what about the 300,000 poor civilians that died in iraq in a war he supported? what about the countless lives that might have been saved had we federally funded stem cell research and not blocked the use of embryos being tossed in the trash by fertility clinics? he voted against all stem cell research.

sure, i don't wish cancer on anyone. but let's put this into perspective....if we can get senate seat number 52 and start undoing the absolute evil that facists like this senator helped legislate, then it's a win for us.

i feel sorry for the old facist. i don't want anyone to suffer. but, really now, is his life more important than the hundreds of thousands who have died and suffered as a result of his politics? i don't think so.

my heart bleeds for the real victims, not the facists.

[zreosumgame]

51. Sad and tragic news for him and his family, one bright spot

here on DU the folks first thoughts were not Freeper-like, but concerned for the person himself. You can bet if this were reveresed the Freepers and neo-cons would be dancing and high-fiving themselves and chanting 'SUCKS to be YOU, DIE NOW!!!!' over and over.

One more major reason to be proud to be a progressive...

[warrens]

52. Not a good way to get a seat

But did he run for reelection knowing he had the disease?

[slestak]

66. I don't think so

It sounds like he wasn't diagnosed until just a couple of days before the election.

[Ferret Annica]

53. I wish him well and an saddened by this bad news.

[T Town Jake]

57. Best wishes for the Senator and his family.

(n/t)

[Tom Joad]

58. It is sad that this man that is supporting genocide in Iraq is now himself ill.

[Gato Moteado]

131. roll him out of the senate quick....and let's end the war

this guy is only one person, and he's a fascist, as is anyone that supports bushco. the faster we move him out the faster we move a dem in that will nullify holy joe's love of the iraq war.

i never wished this on craig thomas, but he apparently wished death and suffering to millions of people in iraq and also to sick people that could benefit from the stem cell research he opposes. this is a no-brainer folks. i'm a little sick of the false sincerity in here. it almost sounds like people are trying to deify this old facist dirtbag ("he's a great wyomingite and a great american, blah blah"). that is sickening for me to see, with all the corruption these douchebags have involved themselves in to create an illegal and horrible war.

you can be pleased that we might pick up a greatly needed senate seat without wishing bad on this guy. i just want to see him step aside. if his state of the art healthcare that my tax money pays for helps him, that's great. sorry if i'm more worried about the poor and working class and struggling middle class that don't have the same benefits he does. sorry if i'm more concerned about the dead civilians in iraq and our deceased and maimed soldiers that he's partially rsponsible for. sorry if i'm more concerned with promising stem cell research that he votes to stymie. sorry if i think these things take precedence over a facist.

i feel the same now about thomas and his ilk as i did before i knew about his predicament. his getting sick does NOT change the fact that he is a facist and doesn't give a rat's ass about YOUR health and wellbeing. he'd just as soon send your kids to war in iraq or deprive you of life saving stem cell research in order to pander for votes.

let's get a dem in that seat ASAP and start undoing what monsters like thomas created.

[Greybnk48]

60. Best wishes to the Senator and his family. n/t

[noonwitch]

61. He may not have to step down, depending on his treatment protocol

I agree, it's not the way anyone wants to get another senate seat.

Hopefully, he got diagnosed early enough to benefit from aggressive treatment. I don't know what the stats are for adults with Leukemia, but science has made great progress with kids who are affected by it.

Prayers for Sen. Thomas and his family.

[Stinky The Clown]

64. How awful to hear this on the same day we hear about Ed Bradley dying of leukemia

Sad news, no matter ......

[Pab Sungenis]

67. Best wishes to Senator Thomas.

Wishes for a speedy recovery.

[IronLionZion]

68. Do you know who else has cancer?

My Senator, Arlen Specter, has an advanced form of Hodgkin's disease and is still in the Senate alive and kicking as one of the few moderate Republicans left and a strong supporter of embryonic stem cell research.

My immediate thoughts on Craig Thomas are to hope that he gets well soon and manages to beat his leukemia. My second thoughts are to hope that he changes his views on stem cell research and maybe some more issues.

I wouldn't worry about replacing him just yet.

[Chichiri]

69. It's official. Allen concedes.

[SouthernBelle82]

70. That is sad

I hope he gets some help with staying as comfortable as possible and his family are okay too. Good luck to them.

[boolean]

71. A seat is a seat

Think of it as God's will. It sucks for the guy, but hell...At least Holy Joe won't hold all the power!

[gatorboy]

88. Well let's just hope the same doesn't happen to you.

We've got enough seats. And it's time to show that we're not the type to pray for death just for political purposes (Unlike many of the right)

Here's praying he gets better.

[Xenotime]

72. Sad. Can't change things..so, better us than them.

The dems should send him a gift or something.

[lukasahero]

73. In memory of Alarcojon

I will pray for him and his family. I don't want it this way.

[Wheezy]

74. Sad news. Best wishes to Senator Thomas. n/t

[Kerrytravelers]

75. I'd rather win it through the voters instead of getting it through such

sad circumstances.

[Gato Moteado]

116. so would i but too many lives in the world depend upon our....

...control of the senate.

instead of worrying about a facist with cancer, let's not focus on the real worries: the war in iraq, the environment, affordable healthcare for the sick and promising stem cell research moving forward. craig thomas is insignificant compared to all the lives at stake.

[BlooInBloo]

77. With no malice towards Thomas, the people voted for their governor...

... and the governor is authorized to appoint whomever she/he sees fit.

Seems to me that the people HAVE spoken on this issue, by voting for the governor.

[Subdivisions]

78. My personal and sincere best wishes to Sen. Thomas.

In his honor, we should expect the person appointed to replace him makes the absolute best of the position and serve with honor and wisdom.

[Gato Moteado]

82. that's exactly why a dem needs to go there.....

....not another bushbot facist.

[youthere]

80. That's sad news. I wish the senator and his family the best.

[indie_voter]

83. Very sad. My dad died of Leukemia, I agree

I'd hate to see this be a reason.

[derby378]

86. Leukemia is treatable nowadays - and sometimes curable

I think Thomas still has a good fighting chance. Best of luck to him and his family.

[SoCalDem]

90. I think that's what Spector had, and he recovered..

Mr Thomas might be ok.. Even though we don;t like his politics, he's somebody's Grandpa, somebody's Dad..

I don't wish illness on anyone ..

[tpsbmam]

92. Sorry, I have to say this......

I agree with the empathy people have expressed -- hate for anyone to have to go through this. I particularly hate it when people have to go through it with no insurance. Many just plain die. Others go into massive debt and end up losing everything they've worked for their whole lives, whether it's leukemia in themselves or a family member.

Thomas is damn lucky to have good health insurance and he'll get good treatment and hopefully recover. Maybe that will cause him to think about his heartless votes when it comes to the health and wellbeing of the people he's supposed to represent.

Voted to limit medical liability lawsuits to $250,000.
Voted against negotiating for bulk purchases of Medicare prescription drugs and voted for the Republican Medicare plan.
Voted NOT to include prescription drugs in Medicare plans.
Voted to limit the annual Medicare prescription drug benefit.
Voted against the ability of patients to sue HMOs for punitive damages for shoddy treatment.
Voted against the Kennedy amendment allowing for the full deduction of self-paid health insurance on your federal taxes.
Has a 0% rating from the American Public Health Association.
Voted against the AIDS drugs assistance program.
Voted against the patient's bill of rights.



The one good thing I can see he did was vote to allow the reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada.

He's on the Health Care subcommittee. You want to tell me what he's done to improve health care for average American citizens?

[incapsulated]

93. Good Post

And I will take that seat, if we get it, without an ounce of guilt. We didn't make him sick.

[Gato Moteado]

98. great post!

you said it much better than i did.

thanks.

[qanda]

103. Wow! Who knew?

I was one who had sympathy for him and I am struggling right now to pay over $10,000 in medical bills from this year alone. I have another ailment that just popped up that I will need surgery for and only God knows how much this will cost. I tried to get some help through one of our state programs and was denied because my husband has his own business. They look at line one from the profit/loss statement and say that 50% of that is our profit-- I wish!!!!! Nevermind that our accountant said we are living at the poverty level. These people in office have no clue what it's like to sit around and think that you're worth more to your family dead than you are alive. I will still have compassion for him and his family, I only hope that this bout with illness will help him have compassion on someone else.

[tpsbmam]

152. No, they don't.....

So sorry to hear what you're going through. You know you're not alone, but that doesn't make it one damn bit easier.

I frankly don't think either side has paid enough attention to this issue. There have certainly been some Democratic attempts (Hillary, among others) but it hasn't been heavily emphasized enough until very recently. Time for that to change and time for ALL Americans to damn well have access to mental and physical health care.

[qanda]

153. Thank you for your compassion

It really has made me feel better tonight. It helps to know that there are people, like yourself, willing to fight for all of us who don't have health coverage. I hope we get somewhere soon on this issue.

[OzarkDem]

141. You are absolutely correct

People don't realize how doubly tragic an illness like this is for someone who is uninsured. Its not like someone waves a magic wand and makes the bills disappear. Cancer care is incredibly expensive.

Its also sad that we have to wait for elected officials to get the disease before they're motivated to do something about it.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

164. Neo-cons don't care that the one thing worse than having cancer is to have cancer & no insurance

[grizmaster]

94. and we still might gain seats because of repub indictments

there's an awful lot of rocks on Capitol Hill that haven't been turned over in a dog's age


... and they're all red rocks

[Gato Moteado]

112. we'll take all we can get!

whether they croak off or they're caught because of their corruption, let's keep piling up the seats.

these people are fascists and the majority of posters in this thread are forgetting that.

[TransitJohn]

96. I agreed with Craig on almost nothing but

he is a damn good Wyomingite and American.

[Gato Moteado]

117. yes a damn good american that.....

votes to increase his own pay and healthcare benefits while consistently voting to degrade the healthcare benefits of the people he represents, and voting against embryonic stem cell research based on fabricated bullshit to pander to fundies for their votes, and supports an illegal war in iraq where hundreds of thousands of civilians (men women and children) have died as well as 3000 of our best young people.

yeah he's a great american.

which america are you talking about?

[TransitJohn]

125. WTF

Real classy.

[Gato Moteado]

128. was anything i said untrue?

nt

[Name removed]

147. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Change has come]

136. Hi TransitJohn

I'm from Lander(currently living in Nevada) What do you think the reaction of the average Wyomingite would be if Fruedenthal were to appoint a Dem to fill this seat? My personal belief is there would never be another Dem elected to statewide office. Congrats on almost dumping Cubin! :toast:

[TransitJohn]

146. It wouldn't fly I don't think

but what could....give Cubin the seat until next general election, then appoint Trauner to Cubin's seat, since he only lost it by 800 votes.

[FourScore]

100. Right on the heels of losing Ed Bradley

to leukemia. How sad. I wish the Senator and his family all this best in this fight.

I'm also sorry for you, berni mccoy, for the loss of your two friends.

[Ediacara]

104. I don't like when a gov replaces a senator of a party different from what was elected

If Thomas does happen to die or retire, I'd hope that Freudenthal would appoint a more liberal Republican rather than a conservative Dem because that was more in line with the will of the people in that election...

[Change has come]

138. Good point

The Democratic party is slowly starting to re-emerge in Wyo. It hasn't always been such a "red" state. Freudenthal appointing a Dem would cut this movement off at the knees.

[itsmesgd]

105. Please send our well wishes from DU

Health above politics

[WritingIsMyReligion]

106. That is very sad. I don't want to gain a seat that way.

I'm sorry, Senator.

[Gato Moteado]

111. if it means stopping the war, ending the ridiculous ban on embryonic....

...stem cell research and saving the environment, i'll gladly take it. the lives, health and wellbeing of 300 million americans and 6 billion inhabitants of the planet far outweigh anything to do with a fascist leaning repub senator.

sorry....it's just the way i feel. i don't want to have to count on joe lieberman playing nice. i feel no guilt watching a dem replace a war mongering, anti-science, fake christian repuke politician.

[bobbie]

108. I'll take it. 52 and no Leiberman. Maybe a bigger majority will save lives

That would have been taken in PNAC wars.

[William769]

109. With no Lieberman, it will be 51.

[bobbie]

121. Ah, must get that thru my head. Thanks. Guess I can't say the words...

"With Leiberman" :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[Gato Moteado]

113. exactly

this could be a godsend.

[Zhade]

110. This would make lieberman irrelevant...

...yet I hope this guy's okay.

[Gato Moteado]

115. sure....i hope the guy's ok....i just want him outta the senate

step aside and let a non-fascist in there to help undo the damage that this dirtbag has done.

[understandinglife]

114. I hope his leukemia is quickly in remission and am pleased at the empathy ...

... expressed by many DUers. This is clearly not a political issue as any compassionate Progressive Democrat realizes.

All the best, Senator Thomas.


Peace.

[theHandpuppet]

119. My sympathies to his family

Gosh, you know I've been reading an awful lot of obituaries lately of relatively young men dying from leukemia. I didn't know so many men were being cut down by this disease, one I know so little about.

[endarkenment]

122. I'm sorry for Thomas but a two seat majority takes Joe out of

his power position. I'll live with that. Lieberman can go pound sand.

[NorthernSpy]

123. well, I hope Craig Thomas gets well soon...

All these leukemia cases all at once! Or maybe it just seems that way.


As far as the Senate seat is concerned, perhaps they could: (A) give the whole term to whoever got the second-highest number of votes, or (B) hold a special election right away, or (C) put this Senate seat on the ballot for next November's election, and have the current runner-up serve in the position until then.

Just some possibilities.

[Gato Moteado]

127. give the seat to a dem.....

let's get out of iraq ASAP, revoke the bullshit stemcell restrictions, get rid of the patriot act, roll back the tax cuts for the rich and move them to the middle class and working class, get affordable healthcare, ensure transparent elections and do everything else that craig thomas was standing in the way of.

hey i feel bad for anyone that gets cancer. but when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. one less facist in the way is a good thing, not a bad thing.

[Bucky]

129. Most states only allow Senate appointments to last until a special election.

I don't know about Idaho. But I agree with the posters above. This is no way to gain a Senate seat. Ideally, the governor would appoint a placeholder and we could pick the seat up in the special election.

[Gato Moteado]

135. the stakes are too high.....

holy joe likes the war. too many lives are being lost and families are being broken because of that. if this guy steps down, and i sure hope he does, then lets get a dem in there that will help us pull out of iraq ASAP. that's the top priority right now.

beyond that, there's stemcell research, patriot act, healthcare, the environment. the stakes are too high to not appoint a dem to the seat especially since our razor thin lead in the senate depends on holy joe.

don't wish bad on thomas. just wish that he leaves and makes room for a senator more qualified to represent us human beings.

[TransitJohn]

148. Except that

the replacement, if indeed there is to be one, will represent Wyoming.

[Gato Moteado]

150. yes, i never said he wouldn't

the replacement would replace an existing repuke. currently we have a wafer thin lead and one of our senators is joe lieberman in CT who will be caucusing with us but who will probably continue to vote for the war. getting an extra seat, by picking up the one in wyoming, we cancel out holy joe's stupidity.

[USA_1]

140. I Wish Senator Thomas Well ...

Now, let us hope he opens his eyes and his mind to the fact that there are millions of Americans (like myself) who do not have medical insurance and cannot afford to pay in case of catastrophic illness. As a wealthy and privileged Republican he does not need to worry about paying for his care. But his party's policies have made it impossible for the poor to get proper care. Again, I wish him well. But let's hope that when he returns to Congress, he will work to give others the same protection that he now enjoys and which is paid for by low income taxpayers like myself.

[tom_paine]

144. Not the way you want to gain a seat. I hope Mr. Thomas beats this

n/t

[Vidar]

145. I wish him well.

[DarleenMB]

149. I live in Wyoming

I'm sorry to hear Thomas has leukemia but I tell you right now, I'm crossing my fingers that Governor Dave appoints a Dem. I sure wouldn't lose any sleep if Gary Trauner got the nod. I'm still po'd that BABS got reelected.

She's an idiot.

When she was a member of the State legislature, she was known to have baked penis shaped cookies and left them on the other legislators desks. she was also known for taking Polaroid snaps at crotch level and posting the resultant pics on a public bulletin board ... supposed to be a "guess the legislator" kind of thing.

She's a disgrace to the state.

[williesgirl]

155. If he resigns, the Dem gov should appoint a Dem Senator. That's how it works

and why it's so important to keep and win more governorships.

[jgraz]

156. Wow, you guys are a lot nicer than I am

As far as these degenerate thugs are concerned, there aren't enough nasty diseases to go around. Seriously, how much would this bastard have to suffer to make up for his support of this murderous regime?

I'll save my compassion for people who actually deserve it, like our dead and wounded soldiers, the Katrina neglect victims and the 600,000+ innocent Iraqis that have been murdered in our names.

[LibertyLover]

160. I lost my mother to a form of leukemia

and don't wish it on another family. She never got to see her granddaughter. While getting another Senate seat would be nice, I agree with the OP that I would not want to get it under these circumstances. I hope that Sen. Thomas regains his health quickly. Best wishes to him for a quick and permanent remission and to his family who must surely be beside themselves with worry.

[H2O Man]

161. I feel compassion

for any person who suffers from this type of terrible illness. And I feel for their family and friends.

[Akoto]

162. I hope that his health improves as much as is possible for him.

My grandfather died from leukemia. It was horrible, and he was NOT ready to go. He fought it every single day until he just couldn't go on.

I would not wish that upon anyone, even the deepest and most loyal Republican.

[Hubert Flottz]

165. Sen. Craig Thomas stood up in congress and lied like a dog...

he voted for everything, that Bush put under his nose and THOUSANDS have suffered, because of petrofascist enabling people like him. Maybe Jerry Falwell can help him, but I wouldn't count on it!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

166. K&R... What's in my head is just too evil for EVEN ME to say, so I'll just hush n/t