Domenici has "frontotemporal lobar degeneration"

[bananas]

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071004/NATIONWORLD/710040507/-1/LOCAL17

Sen. Domenici expected to announce retirement

Washington -- Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico, an influential Republican voice on budget issues for a generation, intends to retire at the end of his term next year for health reasons, party officials said Wednesday.

The 75-year-old, six-term lawmaker plans a formal announcement today in his home state.

Domenici began informing associates late Wednesday that he has frontotemporal lobar degeneration, a progressive disease that in some forms can cause dysfunction in the parts of the brain important for organization, decision-making and control of mood and behavior.

Domenici would be the fifth Republican senator to decline to seek a new term, giving Democrats an opportunity to expand their narrow majority in the 2008 elections.

[Didereaux]

1. How is that news? It's a precondition for...

being a member of the republican Party! Call me insensitve, but symptoms are symptoms, pretty or not.

[crim son]

2. That sounds like a symptom, not a disease.

I'm sorry for him.

[CountAllVotes]

5. Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration is a disease albeit "rare"

I feel sorry for anyone that suffers from dementia. It is no joke.

http://www.dcmsonline.org/jax-medicine/2000journals/February2000/ftld.htm

[Bitwit1234]

7. bush's should have been diagnosed long ago

before the republicans and the supreme court stole the 2000 election for him.

[crim son]

12. Geez.

"...the snout or grasp reflex." Harsh.

[L. Coyote]

3. A well-prepared defense for his forthcoming trial??

Can he prove he had a defect when he committed his crimes? Trying to alter election results is more than just obstructing justice.

[havocmom]

4. Was wondering how many other GOP pols we will see talking up their ill health

and need to spend time with family

And wondering for the exact reason you wonder about ;)

[Hepburn]

6. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD)

Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a pathologic process involving degeneration of gray matter in the frontal lobe and anterior portion of the temporal lobe of the cerebrum, with sparing of the parietal and occipital lobes.

In the over 65 age group, FTLD is probably the fourth most common cause of dementia after Alzheimer's disease, Dementia with Lewy bodies and vascular dementia. In the below 65 age group, it is the second most common cause after Alzheimer's disease. The process of FTLD is thought to be the main cause of three clinical syndromes: frontotemporal dementia, semantic dementia, and progressive nonfluent aphasia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontotemporal_lobar_degeneration


FTD varies in the way it affects individuals. There are however a common core of symptoms. Some or all of these may be present at different stages of the disease. The more common symptoms include:

personality change:

*loss of inhibitions, aggression, irritability, impatience, inappropriate behaviour
*apathy, loss of motivation
*changes in sexual behaviour

development of routines and obsessions, hoarding, 'childlike' behaviour

decreased amount of speech

overeating, obsessional cravings for certain types of food, especially sweet food.

http://www.cafamily.org.uk/Direct/f39.html

Well, I must say as much as I dislike Domenici, I certain wish him the best with any course of treatment that can aid him with what appears to be a horrible prognosis.

JMHO

[Warpy]

8. Translation: he's senile.

That's something we in NM have known for years, but the rednecky part of the state plus the huge number of military retirees here kept sending him back because he latched onto "They're gonna close our bases! I'll SAVE THEM!" as his campaign gimmick and the fools bought it every damn time.

Even if we get another loser in office, at least it will be a less powerful loser.

[bpeale]

9. LMAO!

i was just thinking that very thing! <still laughing>

[AspenRose]

11. You forgot the diehard GOP in Los Alamos County

"The lab's in trouble and I'm going to save it. Vote for me." Pretty much the only red county in predominately blue northern NM.

[TwilightGardener]

10. You gotta wonder how long he's had symptoms of this. And why the fuck

deosn't he resign? How long ago was he diagnosed? The guy basically has worm-holes in his thinking parts, and he's still a Senator?

[abq e streeter]

13. The fawning "we love our St Pete"

stuff is already flooding the local "news" . Even ahead of the murders, car crashes and meth labs! Gotta make sure that love carries over when Heather Wilson runs for the seat she's been groomed for since the repubs brought her here.