Congresswoman Patsy Mink dies after one month in Straub ICU

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[bonesmccoy]

Congresswoman Patsy Takemoto Mink, the first woman of color to serve in Congress, died today at Straub Clinic & Hospital after battling viral pneumonia. She was 74.

U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink helped dedicate the Duke Kahanamoku stamp last month, joining entertainer Danny Kaleikini and U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

[Charles Henrickson]

The election Mink stole.

[ZOOKER]

By the way ---

How come you haven't given the classic "Bones McCoy" response yet?

"She's dead, Jim."

[bonesmccoy]

"'cause I'm just a country know-nothing doctor!"

[Erasmus]

The election Mink stole.

I guess that's like the Sherman Adams vicuña coat.

[Erasmus]

RIP, Patsy Minsk.

[bonesmccoy]

Yeah, for a while, I began to feel sorry for the Reagan State Department. The Soviet Premiers were dying so rapidly that I bet it was hard for Reagan to keep track of who was doing what where. Sort of the same thing, isn't it? Changing of guard occurs and the new generation wants more dramatic change than the old. Totalitarian systems always collapse eventually. All people want to be free.

[staytrue]

just to add to your memory, when Mink was growing up, there was real discrimination against minorities and women in the private sector and with actual laws against minorities. Things have changed since then, but you might want to excuse her liberalism due to her background.

[Kozak]

Strom at 99 is more alive then this guy EVER was or will be...

[southernnorthcarolina]

Republicans, of course, have had recent experience running against people who are vivifically challenged. The Unincarnate Carnihan affair should tell them something about the efficacy of previous strategy. Hey, Mr. McDermott: no more Mr. Nice Guy!

Time to take the (latex) gloves off, and go for the kill... ummm, so to speak.

Challenge Ms. Mink to a debate, hire an auditorium, and put an urn at her podium.

Try out some new campaign slogans: Mcdermott: because 98.6° is better than room temperature ... or ... McDermott: if you want your voice in Washington to actually be heard ... or ...McDermott: my cells are still dividing ... or ...No representation without respiration!

I have no doubt that the RNC can do better as far as slogans and campaign strategies are concerned. But they should get with the program.

[bonesmccoy]

"No representation without respiration"???

LOL

Actually, the Hawaii state GOP needs all the help it can get, but it won't win if they try your approach. The state is lib dem. So, the GOP has to look touchy-feely in order to win media time. If the Hawaii GOP goes negative, they'll definitely lose what they built so far (the first chance to have a Republican Gov in 40 years).

[Vidalia]

Just thought you might want to know that Mink had the Chicken Pox when she was a kid.

What did every kid who got the Chicken Pox learn?

...that once you've had it your body builds proteins that will immunize you for the rest of your life.

Something ain't right with the medical professionals at Straub, or there is much, much more to the story than is being released to the public ...

[bonesmccoy]

Vidalia,

It is possible to get chicken pox again. There are two plausible explanations (and probably more). One is that Rep. Mink lost her immunity to the virus. Second is that the virus changed sufficiently in the 70 years since she had it. Third is that the plantation doctor where she lived (in Paia, Maui) didn't correctly diagnose it as chicken pox (though I doubt this one).

[Vidalia]

Agreed with the possibilities, but "the gut" says something is odd about this whole medical scenario.

McAuliffe, Inouye and the other toadies who showed up is typical sleaze, but the super secrecy about Mink's actual condition, regardless of the deadline to commit, would not have changed the big picture concerning the election.

The body will be cremated and that source of physical observation will end, but the cultures will not, if they are kept at all.

The source of the pox is still suspect, for aging frail politicians usually avoid illness prone areas "like the plague".

I'll ask the big question.

What else of late in the news shows symptoms of both pneumonia and chicken pox at one sitting ...?

[mewzilla]

By "chicken pox" could the author have been referring to the shingles? Or can the herpes zoster virus manifest in something other than the chicken pox and shingles? And did Rep. Mink contract the pneumonia in or out of the hospital?

[Jack Black]

NOW is the time for us to organize and help get ready for another victory by the DEAD. We let Carhnihan go and now it's a trend. Let's stop it now. What are the legal mechanisms to be used to prevent the DEAD from winning elections. I see two:

1. Challenge the election results in court based on the fact that the candidate was not eligible to run. Who wins in a ineligible candidate vs. second vote getter. This would possibly have to do with state election laws, and getting either the Sec. of State (unlikely, a corrupt Dem no doubt) or a judge of some sort to rule against the practice of running DEAD proxy candidates.

2. Immediately seat the "R" for the full term as the first act of business of the next Congress. I believe the Constitution says that the House is the final arbitrator of who it seats.

We probably have to replace the wrestling coach to do this. He seems to have "left it in the gym" as far as political fights go.

[bonesmccoy]

There will be a new election 60-90 days after the November general election. It's useless to go to court. The voters will need to select a new candidate in the next election. It's ok. They can't seat a Dem in the seat, so the House has a temporary 1 vote GOP margin.

[bonesmccoy]

Make that..."1 vote GREATER GOP margin"

[LadyDoc]

FYI: Chicken pox can indeed cause a nasty pneumonia. But it's rare...and usually only seen in sick people: i.e. people with cancer, people on dialysis, people with chemotherapy,etc. I've seen two cases, both mild, one in a retarded woman who had severe cerebral palsy, and one in a lady who never had chickenpox. Both did okay. However, it can be very serious. This is why we try not to put kids with chickenpox into hospitals.

Nowadays, we can treat it with anti viral medication such as Zovirax: the same medicine that is used for herpes. (chicken pox is a herpes type virus: Herpes Zoster. Herpes simplexI causes cold sores and Herpes simplex II causes genital herpes).

I suspect she had cancer, but was not aware she was that sick. Or maybe she was getting chemo and that ruined her immune system, but if she hadn't gotten chicken pox could have served a couple more years in congress.

[Non-Sequitur]

Challenge the election results in court based on the fact that the candidate was not eligible to run.

The Constitution says who may serve, but state election laws govern who may run. Mink qualified for the place on the ballot and now Hawaii election laws prevent her from being removed. Nothing you can do about it. Be it Bart Simpson or dead candidate the one getting the most votes will be certified as the winner.

Immediately seat the "R" for the full term as the first act of business of the next Congress. I believe the Constitution says that the House is the final arbitrator of who it seats.

You would be wrong. The Constitution is silent on the subject. It's a moot issue anyway because should Mink get the most votes then she will be declared the winner and the seat declared vacant so there is nobody for Congress to refuse to seat. The winner of the special election will be the one sworn in.

[Jack Black]

Immediately seat the "R" for the full term as the first act of business of the next Congress. I believe the Constitution says that the House is the final arbitrator of who it seats.

You would be wrong. The Constitution is silent on the subject. It's a moot issue anyway because should Mink get the most votes then she will be declared the winner and the seat declared vacant so there is nobody for Congress to refuse to seat. The winner of the special election will be the one sworn in.

Sorry, but I believe it is you, not me, who is wrong. The Constitution is not silent on this matter. Here is what the Constitution says:

Section 5. Each House shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, and a majority of each shall constitute a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each House may provide.

Therefore the House is the final judge of elections to members of the House, sitting above all Hawaiin officials and courts. At least that's my read.