Posted on 10/05/2007 6:59:02 AM PDT by CedarDave
Pete Domenici went back to his hometown school gym Thursday to make what was probably the hardest speech of his 41-year political career.
Surrounded by nearly 50 relatives and staffers, many in tears, Domenici gamely described the incurable neurological disease that he has been suffering from for two years and announced it will end his Senate career.
With a big, blue "People for Pete" button on the lapel of his dark suit, he also vowed to complete his sixth term and listed some of his accomplishments in a Senate career that has lasted more than a generation.
~~snip~~
After standing for minutes of thundering applause in the gym at St. Mary's School in Downtown Albuquerque, where hundreds of business and political leaders and family friends had gathered, Domenici smiled and plunged into the grim task at hand.
"It's not a very pleasant job, but we'll get with it," he said.
He went on to describe frontotemporal lobar degeneration, a brain disease that he said he has suffered from for two years, but that has progressed recently.
"For the last two years, I have felt very little impact from this disease," Domenici said, reading from note cards.
He saw his doctor, neurologist Argye Hillis at Johns Hopkins University Hospital in Baltimore, in April.
"At that time, the disease had not progressed... At another checkup in September, he said, there was evidence the disease had progressed.
He said he consulted with his wife and other doctors and decided he could not seek another term. He said some people urged him to run for a seventh term, win and then step down if his health deteriorated. "Some figured that was an OK approach," he said. "I didn't."
He said that the disease has been manageable but that he cannot predict its course.
(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...
As an aside, the Catholic school where he was educated, St. Mary's, has as its principal his sister, Marianella, who stood on the stage together with his very large extended family.
Please PING the NM list.
Prayers for the Senator, his family, and all who love him.
He has served with honor and dignity. He is retiring with honor and dignity. A lesser man (most dims) would have chosen a different course for reelection.
A brain impairment shouldn’t be any impediment to continued service in the US Senate. Ted Kennedy has Pickled Prefrontal Cortex Syndrome, in which alcohol replaces cerebrospinal fluid and causes the higher reasoning centers to misfire. But he’s got a job as long as he wants one.
Pete Domenici Puts His State First, AgainIt's classic Pete Domenici.
In keeping with a career of integrity and public service, New Mexico's longest-serving U.S. senator is taking the high road as he ends his time in office. He could have hung on to a job he clearly loves and intended to continue, but out of concern for his constituents he stunned the state this week by announcing he won't seek a seventh term.
Domenici is putting New Mexico first, as he always has, by stepping aside out of concern that a recently diagnosed neurological disorder could affect his future decision-making ability.
The ultimate public servant, Domenici has been a powerful figure in the Senate for almost six terms but does not come home super-rich, according to his annual financial disclosure forms. ...
I hope and pray that NM can come up with a viable candidate that will keep that seat R. God bless him for his terrific service all these years.
How come the Dem’s don’t resign when they have much more severe brain damage than Pete?
Pete has always been a class act. Like you, we differed on the immigration issue, but he’s been a stalwart and good Senator for both NM and the US.
‘How come the Dem’s don’t resign when they have much more severe brain damage than Pete?’
Because the Democrats view it as a necessary requirement.
How likely is it that New Mexico will replace him with a Democrat Senator?
Pete will be severely missed.
NM Ping
NM Ping
I agree it will be uphill. But with the looming lab cuts, nobody in the field other than Heather can be seen as a strong supporter of the labs and bases. That will probably get some folks to think a bit more with their pocketbooks, instead of “feel good” voting.
Then, if Patsy runs, we get a whole year of letting her put her foot in her mouth.
If you want on or off the NM Ping list, please FReepmail me.
Dave, I will be away from the computer most of the day...If you have any further developments to post, please pick up the list off my home page.
I am feeling good right now about CD1 knowing that Daren White will be running for that seat.
Darren’s done a good job, and really has improved the image of the BCSO.
Never fear greyfoxx there will be futher developments today and we will take care of the ping list.
He wanted to run for that office 10 years ago but dropped out when Pete indorsed Heather after Steve’s death.
Thanks rogle, prayers and best wishes up for Pete.
Richardson has certainly jettisoned those folks. I believe he's crossed the line in trying to get national support and would face a lot of cynicism if he tried to get in the Senate race next spring if his presidential/VP hopes come to naught.
Heather would have statewide appeal, IMO, because she is a woman, independent of the WH (as much as we dislike that), very strong on national security and the labs, and moderate to liberal on social issues. She would be no Snow or Collins-type senator like those two from Maine. I'm convinced she'd do o.k. and keep the seat Republican.
Now, if Bingaman would only resign, too.
Dingy Harry’s fault
I have many memories of Pete Domenici.
I grew up in a small town in New Mexico. When I was 13, Pete Domenici came to town. I had read a lot on politics, and as luck would have it, my father got the task of driving Domenici to a community event. I rode in the back seat and asked him questions the whole way. Many people would have dismissed a boy who thought he knew everything, but he took my questions seriously and answered every one.
Flash forward to 1997. My grandmother, who was 89 at the time, was visiting. We happen to see Domenici in a hotel. My grandmother had always been a big fan of hers. An aide overheard us talking and said “would you like to meet the Senator?” Pete Domenici graciously spent several minutes talking with my grandmother, even though she said she was from Pennsylvania and not a constituent.
Pete Domenici is a class act. I may not agree with him on everything, but he is a great man.
Please let that happen. I haddent had so much fun since Jim Mora's "Playoffs" speech.
From dcmsonline.org:
“Frontal temporal lobar degeneration is a form of degenerative dementia that presents clinically with profound alterations in behavior and social conduct or language impairments. In contrast to Alzheimer’s disease these patients have relatively preserved memory and visuospatial skills. The areas of pathologic involvement are the frontal and anterior temporal lobes. Several types of histopathology are found at autopsy. The Pick type pathology is likely caused by an abnormality of the tau protein on chromosome 17. Some familial cases have been shown to have mutations in the tau gene. At present, there is no known treatment of the disorder except for the use of psychotropic medicines for the behavioral problems.”
“How come the Dem’s don’t resign when they have much more severe brain damage than Pete?”
Ask Julia Carson about that...
BZZZZTTT... Paging Senator Johnson... Senator Johnson, please pick up the white courtesy phone!
On yesterday’s afternoon local talk show, many callers had stories just like your’s. Pete is a gentleman first and foremost.
A slideshow of his announcement has been posted on the Journal’s website. The third photo is the one on the front page of today’s newspaper. Very moving.
http://www.abqjournal.com/pix/soundslides/domenicislideshow/index.html
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