CNN Breaking: Robert Matsui (D-CA) Dead at 63

[Neecy]

No cause of death noted yet - CNN says that he's a leading opponent of privitization of social security.

Link: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/02/obituary1301EST0437.DTL

In a statement announcing Matsui's death, his office disclosed that the congressman was diagnosed several months ago with Milo Dysplastic Disorder, a rare stem cell disorder that reduces the body's ability to produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Victims of the disease are left more susceptible to other illnesses, with less ability to fight them off.

The statement said Matsui entered the hospital on Dec. 24 with pneumonia.

Matsui was recently re-elected with ease to his 14th term in Congress. His death will trigger a special election for a new representative in his Sacramento-area district.

[Cooley Hurd]

1. Just saw that...

Damn! That's bad news...:(

[JMac]

109. link

By JIM WASSERMAN, Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rep. Robert T. Matsui (news, bio, voting record) of California, who spent time in an internment camp for Japanese-Americans as an infant during World War II and went on to serve 26 years in Congress, has died of complications from a rare disease, his family said Sunday.


The 63-year-old died Saturday night at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., outside Washington.


Matsui was the third-ranking Democrat on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where he was his party's point man on Social Security (news - web sites) legislation. He also recently chaired the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where he led the party's unsuccessful effort to regain control of the House.


In a statement announcing Matsui's death, his office said the congressman had been diagnosed several months ago with myelodysplastic disorder, an often-fatal form of bone marrow cancer. The congressman's family said he entered the hospital on Dec. 24 with pneumonia.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=5&u=/ap/20050102/ap_on_re_us/obit_matsui

[qanda]

2. I saw the same thing and was looking for a link

[Liberty Belle]

42. So Shwarzenegger can appoint a replacement? Damn.

[Fiona]

49. No

a congressional seat isn't filled by the governor.

[genius]

52. Wong. Davis could always appoint but chose not to. Arnold will likely

appoint the replacement. Wilson always appointed the replacements and Arnold is less Democratic than Wilson.

[tx_dem41]

59. According to Article 2 of the U.S. Constitution, a new election...

..must be called. The "executive authority" (i.e. governor) does not have the right to appointment a replacement. The governor does have that right for the Senate (according to article 3).

[Liberty Belle]

119. Good, I hope you're right.

I remembered Jesse Ventura appointing a replacement for Senator Wellstone, and thought Congressional vacancies were filled the same way. A special election is definitely the better option, but how soon will that occur?

[Fiona]

121. Nope

Ventura didn't replace Wellstone. The voters did, shortly after his death.

[tx_dem41]

132. Actually, Ventura did replace Wellstone with an "independent"

for about the last three weeks of a term. I forget the guys name but there were lots of "cute" little stories about what a "no-name" he was.

[Fiona]

66. I think you're mistaken.

[henslee]

97. Wong is definitely not running for the spot.... family reasons.

[Fiona]

131. lol...

very funny

[Rose Siding]

3. snip w/ quote from today's piece on SS

...And details of his Social Security plan are equally sketchy, which is frustrating many Democrats.
"Right now, we're fighting a phantom piece of legislation," said Rep. Bob Matsui, D-Calif., top Democrat on the House Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee. "There is just nothing there except, kind of, rhetoric."
...
Matsui described Social Security as "a manageable problem" and said Bush is "trying to create a crisis" so that he can pursue his pet plan to privatize the system.

http://www.news-herald.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=13665118&BRD=1698&PAG=461&dept_id=21849&rfi=6

Bless him and his family

[AFSCME girl]

4. That's too bad..

wonder if the BFEE was involved :tinfoilhat:

[CreekDog]

6. one of the good guys, for sure

from a very Democratic district centered on the city of Sacramento, California.

[Politicub]

5. Oh my god n/t

I'm speechless

[zann725]

14. OMG, too.

Scarey.

Goodbye, Social Security.

[DS1]

28. OMG three!

I have no idea why

[Dinger]

32. Is This What Dobson Meant By A "Target"?

Another one for the bu$h body count. When they run out of Democrats to kill, they'll look to their own.

[DS1]

33. *yawn* If the Sun suddenly blew up we'd spend 8 minutes blaming it on Rove

:eyes:

[Dinger]

35. Oh My, I Stand Corrected....

O.K., I'm sure bu$h Co. are totally innocent. Why would they do anything after all?

[tx_dem41]

37. Where did anyone say anything about "totally innocent"?

I must have missed that.

[DS1]

Speculation, the art of pulling something out of your ass, and when

confronted, challenging people to prove it wrong.

It doesn't work that way.

[Dinger]

41. You Seem Quick To Defend This Administration, That's All

Call me crazy or whatever you want. By your response, right or wrong, I felt the need to defend myself.

Oh, it doesn't work what way? What way are you talking about. Just asking.

[tx_dem41]

53. Matsui had Milo Dysplastic Disorder diagnosed several months

ago. It isn't something you contract externally. You implied that Dobson had something to do with it. I would say that DS1 wasn't defending the Administation but defending rationality as well as the respects of Matsui's family to not be dragged into some typical political conspiracy theory.

[Dinger]

57. O.K., Thanks tx_dem41

I didn't know anything about him having this disorder. How terrible.
I suppose the repigs will be saying God had a hand in this. They are so disgusting.

[Tacos al Carbon]

69. Yeah, lots of disgusting people

For example, people who use the death of a good man to score political points while the body is still warm by suggesting completely baseless conspiracy theories ... that's pretty disgusting ...

[Dinger]

103. So I Am Disgusting Because I Didn't Know This Man Had A Medical Condition

and there have been several timely (for repigs) Democrats who have died?
Thanks Tacos, you're a real sweetie. Back at ya buddy.

[tx_dem41]

104. Dinger, I don't agree with that characterization of you

I'm sorry if anything I posted led to that conclusion.

[Dinger]

105. No, Not You, But Tacos Al Carbon

Sorry if you got that impression.

[jdj]

100. yeah they will, and they like to give God a helping hand at

every chance.

I don't see anything wrong with people making cracks that the repukes had something to do with it or with anything at all.

People need to lighten up.

The thing about the sun blowing up, well, where are the anal retentive science nazis when you need them? Within one second of the sun blowing up we'd all be french fried oblivion.

[tx_dem41]

101. But possibly a thread announcing the death of a Democratic

Congressman is not the right place to make cracks.

[w4rma]

65. No, but pneumonia is. And Milo Dysplastic Disorder makes it easier for

folks to die of a common disease like pneumonia. He died of pneumonia, not Milo Dysplastic Disorder (which was what made the pneumonia fatal).

[tx_dem41]

68. First, I didn't say he died of the disorder.

If you want to believe that Rove had him injected with pneumonia, feel free to.

[Name removed]

86. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[tx_dem41]

88. Please point out where I have been rude...

and hurt someone's feelings?

[Tsiyu]

74. Funny how Cheney can have a pacemaker and Bush has what

ever he has, and they stay alive.

What causes such a disease? Why such a quick death following onset?

This administration takes out whomever they want.

PURE EVIL IS RULING......

[nodictators]

76. Absolutely, and you can be sure that they won't take a dime...

... of your Social Security benefits when you retire.

Of course, if it goes bankrupt under Bush's secret plan, that's our tough luck.

We probably won't lose more than $200,000 each.

Congressman Matsui was one of the best! My condolences to his family.

[tx_dem41]

36. Incisive point...

and it would be a heated discussion too. (Sorry about that).

[yojon]

64. Uhhh.. cant remember..

who was the last outspoken repug to ascend to the right hand of his maker? Thurmond?

[daleo]

106. Not true

We wouldn't even know anything had happened, as the signal of the event (the explosion, photons, radiation, gravity waves) would take 8 minutes to arrive at the earth.

That doesn't necessarily mean it wouldn't be Rove's fault, though.

[Cuban_Liberal]

7. "Website temporarily unavailable"

http://www.house.gov/matsui/

Official Biography

Hon. Robert T. Matsui
Member of Congress
Fifth District, California

Robert T. Matsui first campaigned in 1978 for the congressional seat serving Sacramento, California, persuading voters that he would bring to office “a new form of statesmanship.” Having entered the race as an underdog candidate, then-vice mayor Matsui was helped to victory by a team of hundreds of committed volunteers. Now a twenty-five year veteran of the House of Representatives, Matsui continues to fulfill his promise. He frequently receives accolades for bringing extraordinary levels of dedication, competence, innovation, and integrity to his public service.

As a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Representative Matsui has been intricately and substantially involved with the Committee’s portfolio of complex public policy issues including tax, international trade, social security, health care, and welfare reform. He currently serves as ranking minority member of the Social Security Subcommittee, and has previously held posts as ranking minority member of the Oversight Subcommittee, acting chair of the Trade Subcommittee, and acting chair of the Human Resources Subcommittee. Matsui has played crucial roles in developing and passing legislation that has become the foundation for some of the Ways and Means Committee’s most successful programs over the past two decades.

Representative Matsui is currently engaged as a Democratic leader in the effort to save Social Security. He is one of the nation’s most ardent advocates for a social insurance program without which more than half of Americans over age 65 would fall below the poverty line. Matsui has condemned proposals to carve private accounts from the existing system, publicly exposing the fact that all such proposals would cut benefits, raise the retirement age, or reduce retirees’ standard of living while further exacerbating Social Security’s financing challenges. In the 108th Congress, Matsui is the only current Social Security Subcommittee member who also served on the Subcommittee in 1983, the last time the program faced major changes. He is determined to revise Social Security incrementally to ensure its long-term solvency without compromising its fundamental purpose: to reduce or eliminate poverty among America’s elderly, persons with disabilities, and surviving dependents who have lost a wage-earning family member. Matsui believes that all of these groups are entitled to the certainty and stability of a guaranteed income that allows them to live with dignity.

For his long-standing commitment to free and open international trade, Representative Matsui has also gained a reputation as an effective, strategic leader in this crucial policy area. While Matsui was acting chairman of the Trade Subcommittee in 1993, President Clinton turned to him to lead one of the most heated congressional battles of the decade: the fight to pass the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Working in concert with Republicans and Democrats, Matsui was a driver in passing this keystone of modern American trade policy. Matsui also spearheaded the 1994 efforts to secure Congressional approval of the Uruguay Round Agreements, which led to the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO). In 2000, the Clinton Administration enlisted him to fight another uphill battle, this time for approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) with China. Again, by working with both Republicans and Democrats, Matsui played a key role in passing the legislation. His expert voice has been crucial in efforts to secure Fast-Track trade negotiating authority over the last decade, although he has supported and opposed various proposals based on their detailed merits and weaknesses. Throughout these trade debates, Matsui has constantly advocated environmental protections and the provision of fair compensation and trade adjustment to American workers whose jobs are negatively impacted by the lowering of barriers to trade.

Representative Matsui has also been an ardent advocate on issues involving the well being of American children. The first two bills he ever introduced in Congress sought to strengthen enforcement of child support payments. His commitment to helping families achieve independence led him in 1991 to draft legislation that became the backbone for child welfare reform, proposing to expand the social services available to at-risk children and families in the child welfare, mental health, and juvenile justice systems. In 1994, Matsui designed a bill to reform welfare by easing the transition of recipients to work through additional job training and education. At its core was a goal to encourage parents to achieve financial self-sufficiency without sacrificing the safety net for those it was most intended to help: our nation’s disadvantaged children. In 1997, he worked with a bipartisan team of congressional leaders to introduce a bill to provide health care coverage to uninsured children, the CHILD ACT. This bill became the basis of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) a groundbreaking effort that has made significant progress in providing low-income children with health insurance. Matsui continues to support investment in America’s future by ensuring the health, education, and opportunity of new generations.

Representative Matsui has used his position on the Ways & Means Committee, which is charged with writing the nation’s tax policy, to advance his goal of a balanced and fair revenue code that employs innovative incentives to achieve meaningful and measurable policy objectives. He helped create the Research and Development Tax Credit in 1981 to fuel innovation in the American economy and has been a leader in ensuring its extension while calling for Congress to make the credit permanent. A strong proponent of federal fiscal responsibility, Matsui cosponsored and actively worked to enact the Tax Reform Act of 1986 that closed numerous loopholes and helped bring balance back to the tax system. These reforms removed about 6 million working poor persons from the federal tax rolls and stiffened the minimum tax for corporations and individuals who paid less than their share. In the same spirit of tax equity, Matsui was instrumental in the 1993 expansion of the Earned-Income Tax Credit for working poor families with children. He has sought IRS reform to ensure fairness by protecting tax compliance while respecting taxpayer rights. Throughout his work, Matsui has earned a reputation for innovation and attention to detail on highly specialized tax provisions.

Despite his prominence in national policy-making, Sacramento-area issues have retained their pre-eminence in Representative Matsui’s priorities. No goal has been more important to Matsui than bringing adequate flood protection to his hometown. The profound public safety and economic implications of the flood risk to the region make this an urgent and essential policy need. Hit by massive floods in 1986 and 1997, Sacramento’s existing 85-year flood protection is less than half the 200-year level most experts agree the area needs. Matsui is committed to seeing through federal authorization and funding of public works projects to bring Sacramento’s flood protection to a sufficient level. As the city has grown tremendously during Matsui’s time in office, he has also devoted a great deal of attention to ensuring federal participation in Sacramento’s infrastructure projects, including his securing of funds for expansion of the city’s light rail public transit. Among the most notable wins in recent years was Matsui’s successful effort for a new $142 million federal courthouse-and the 1,200 new jobs it created-to anchor downtown redevelopment. In 2001, Matsui sought and received a $3.5 million appropriation for an I-5 decking project that will help reconnect the revitalized downtown core with the waterfront.

Representative Matsui’s legislative achievements have been recognized by a broad range of local and national organizations. In 2001, the Capitol Unity Council honored Matsui with the Joe Serna, Jr. Unity Award. The Child Welfare League of America has twice named him Congressional Advocate of the Year, in 1992 and 1994. Also in 1992, Matsui was recognized by the American Public Transit Association for his success in promoting mass transit. The Small Business Council presented him with its Congressional Award in 1988 and the Small Business Export Association gave him its Ronald H. Brown Export Enhancement award in 1998. The Anti-Defamation League has honored him with its Lifetime Achievement Award. In April 2003, the American Lung Association of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails presented Representative Matsui with the 2003 Clean Air Award for his efforts to reduce smog in the Sacramento region.

Representative Matsui has a reputation as one of the best vote-counters in the House, and is a Democratic whip-at-large. He is also a regent of the Smithsonian Institution, a position he has held since 1999.

A third-generation Japanese American, Matsui was six months old when he and his family were taken from Sacramento and interned by the U.S. government at the Tule Lake camp in 1942, after Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1988, Representative Matsui helped shepherd the Japanese-American Redress Act through Congress, in which the government formally apologized for the World War II internment program and offered token compensation to victims. He was also instrumental in the designation of Manzanar, a wartime relocation center 200 miles northeast of Los Angeles, as a national historic site and in obtaining land on the National Mall in Washington, DC, for the memorial to Japanese American patriotism in World War II.

Representative Matsui is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and Hastings College of Law. He was inspired to the legal field by reading the autobiography of famed trial lawyer Clarence Darrow and to public service by President John F. Kennedy’s speech challenging Americans to ask what they could do for their country. He founded his own Sacramento law practice in 1967 and was elected to the Sacramento City Council in 1971. He won reelection in 1975 and became vice mayor of the city in 1977. He is married to the former Doris Okada, who is Senior Advisor and Director of Government Relations at the firm of Collier Shannon Scott, PLLC. Until December of 1998, Mrs. Matsui worked as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Public Liaison for President Clinton. Representative and Mrs. Matsui have one grown son, Brian, who received his undergraduate and law degrees from Stanford University.

http://www.house.gov/matsui/bio.html

[Fla Dem]

8. Suspicious, Suspicious, Suspicious....don't ya think ????? n/t

[CreekDog]

msnbc says it was a blood disorder

[w4rma]

67. Pneumonia. The blood disorder made the pneumonia fatal. (nt)

[Cuban_Liberal]

No reason for suspicion, at this point.

63 year-old people die all the time.

[Minstrel Boy]

20. "63 year-old people die all the time."

So do Democratic legislators.

And until proven otherwise, every one of their deaths should be under suspicion.

[Cuban_Liberal]

23. No sale.

There's no evidence whatsoever that his death is due to anything but natural causes.

[Minstrel Boy]

34. I'm not saying there is.

I'm just saying suspicion isn't an inappropriate first response these days to the news of the death of a Democrat.

[Crunchy Frog]

91. Rightly or wrongly, whenever I see a story like this now,

my first impulse is to wonder if it was an inside job. It's clear to me that this regime will off people who get in its way. I think suspicion and paranoia are just a natural reaction.

This does not mean that I think the Bushies did this one, but I can certainly understand people whose first reaction is suspicion that they did.

[DoYouEverWonder]

45. Unless your a neocon

It seems the bad guys never die.

[tx_dem41]

10. Ummm...no, not really. n/t

[skylarmae]

15. oh yeah, I think.....

I'm with you. and just who is next... I'm sure they have a list.

[asjr]

21. Darn right! I still wonder about Carnahan, Wellstone, the writers who

"committed suicide", and others we don't hear of.

[Fla Dem]

72. Let's not forget the Kennedy's and MLK. What prominent Rethug has

died suddenly under strange circumstances in the last 40 years?

[tx_dem41]

73. Nelson Rockefeller. n/t

[Prodemsouth]

111. Our Republican Senator in this state died suddenly in office, Our Dem

Governor, Roy Barnes in 1999 appointed Zell Miller to replace him. He and we had no clue he go out of mind a become a Bush shill. Zell was probably the most liberal of the 130 year reign of Democratic Governors which ended in 2002.

[Algorem]

112. Yes.

[stepnw1f]

9. If Foul Play Was Involved...

we as a country surely see dark times ahead.

[gmoney]

11. Sounds like you answered your own question

Cause of Death: he's a leading opponent of privitization of social security.

Don't cross the Bush Cabal.

[AFSCME girl]

17. Exactly....n/t

[progressivebydesign]

12. That's terribly sad. My condolences to all that knew him. N/T

[PaganPreacher]

13. Prayers and best wishes for his family.

The Pagan Preacher

[RandomKoolzip]

16. Boy it's a good thing all the repugs have taken that "anti-death" drug....

I guess just being a Dem (and being on The Secret Team's bad side) really puts a kibosh on your chances of living till Strom Thurmond's age.

If this had been a repug, and it happened under Clinton's watch, you'd best believe they'd be talking about how suspicious it was on all the sunday morning talk shows.

[Crunchy Frog]

92. You're damn right about that.

How many people did the RW end up accusing the Clintons of killing anyway? I know they had some kind of huge list.

By the way, great to see you back!:toast:

[Artemis Bunyon]

122. Two words for ya: Sonny Bono!

He was like fifty five. Hit a tree.

[RandomKoolzip]

130. Add Barbara Olsen to the list and you've got a surplus on

"mysterious Republican deaths."


The list of liberal leaders who died before their time or under mysterious circumstances, however, is pretty darned long.

[rox63]

18. Unless he had a serious disease

I'd be suspicious. Full autopsy, toxins and all. Who knows, someone could have pulled what they did to that guy in Ukraine. They probably only need to get rid a few votes to get the Social Security Destruction Bill passed.

[Catchawave]

19. Oh-Oh....

Does poison cause blood disorders?

:tinfoilhat:

[rox63]

24. Maybe

I'd say that having a bloodstream loaded with some deadly toxin might be counted as a "blood disorder".

:tinfoilhat: :scared:

[k8conant]

27. Probably could cause aplastic anemia...

which can be fatal.

[Cooley Hurd]

30. Was he "Yushchenko'd?"

:shrug:

[yojon]

90. Its not mysterious

And exposure to benzene causes it.

[AntiCoup2K4]

58. Isn't that what killed Arafat?

A mysterious "blood disorder"??

[intheozone]

22. Oh F*uk, he was my representative,

I work with attys who are personal friends with him. :cry: :cry: How awful, my thoughts go out to his family and friends.
But, how does his seat get filled? Will Arnie get to appoint someone? Will he have to appoint a Dem?
I do not want to see a repuke get Matsui's seat. :puke:

[Orangepeel]

29. special election, I believe

governors appoint senators. for house seats, they leave it empty if the vacancy occurs within some time period (one year, maybe?) before the next scheduled election, and they have a special election if the vacancy happens outside of that time period.

[Occulus]

70. On electronic machines?

Or not?

If so... hmmm....

[The Zanti Regent]

25. amazing how many Democrats die and Republicans don't

but I'm sure the M$M will gloss over that.

[Rose Siding]

39. He was Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman

http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/05/congress.louisiana/index.html

And a vocal critic of the admin...

Democrats say supporters of personal accounts are exaggerating Social Security's funding problem.

Bush "wants to use an ideological solution to a manageable problem," said Rep. Robert Matsui of California, the top Democrat on the House Social Security subcommittee.
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/12/16/bush.socialsecurity.ap/index.html

[otohara]

55. So True - Why Is That?

mean old repgus just keep on living until their 80's & 90's

[Jane Eyre]

26. How safe is that district?

If it is a very safe district for Democrats, then we should be able to keep the current balance of power with a progressive Democrat in a special election.

There will be a vacancy until the special election is held, which is bad for our side. On the other hand, Social Security privatization is sure to be a big issue in the special election which could be a first test of the issue with the electorate.

I think that I read somewhere that there are usually about a half dozen special elections in Congress per year. Congressional seat vacancies can only be filled by special elections, not appointments as is done in the Senate.

I am sorry to hear of Congressman Matsui's untimely death. My thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time.

[JohnLocke]

31. He was a good man and a good Representative.

May he rest in eternal peace.

[goclark]

38. All the good people

He was such a good man.
May he rest in peace/

He was fighting for SS and we need to continue his battle for that cause.

[Borgnine]

40. Just goes to show you how bad things have gotten...

...I immediately thought of a BFEE-orchestrated murder before I clicked on this topic. Now, odds are he just died of natural causes, but damn if we don't have a right to be paranoid.

My condolences to the family.

[molly]

43. Very sad - he had a rare blood disease

[genius]

44. He was one of the few iwith the courage to contest the Intell Ref Act

[genius]

46. Arnoild has the power to replace him with a Republican, thanks to Torres

Torres was so over-confident that the Democrats could defeat Arnold, that they didn't even try.

[Rose Siding]

51. His death triggers a special election

according to the link in the orig post

[liberal N proud]

47. I am sure there is nothing here, but it is stricking that someone so

vocal against the shrubs no 1 plan since Iraq turns up dead!
I read it was a blood ailment, if true that could be something that could be caused by a poison.

Was he sick previously?

[Rose Siding]

48. Did he disclose this illness before the election?

snip>
In a statement announcing Matsui's death, his office disclosed that the congressman was diagnosed several months ago with Milo Dysplastic Disorder, a rare stem cell disorder that reduces the body's ability to produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Victims of the disease are left more susceptible to other illnesses, with less ability to fight them off.

[genius]

50. Arnold has choice to appoint. The thug probably will. Davis like electns

[Neecy]

56. I don't think he'd dare....

Even if he could (and I don't think he can). This is a Democratic district and, further, he spends more time in Los Angeles than in Sacramento. This would totally piss off the district if their part-time governor appoints a Repug as their congressman.

He was my mothers representative - I'm sure she's upset by this. I know she likes him.

[tx_dem41]

60. Can you cite a source that says a governor has a choice

to appoint a replacement? My reading of Article 2 of the Constitution does not give him that right. (The governor does have that right for a Senate seat...until the next election cycle).

[Garbo 2004]

54. AP article excerpt

Today: January 02, 2005 at 10:11:17 PST

Democratic Rep. Bob Matsui Dies at Age 63

...Matsui, 63, died Saturday night at the National Naval Medical Center in this Washington suburb...

...In a statement announcing Matsui's death, his office disclosed that the congressman was diagnosed several months ago with Milo Dysplastic Disorder, a rare stem cell disorder that reduces the body's ability to produce red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Victims of the disease are left more susceptible to other illnesses, with less ability to fight them off.

The statement said Matsui entered the hospital on Dec. 24 with pneumonia.

Matsui was recently re-elected with ease to his 14th term in Congress. His death will trigger a special election for a new representative in his Sacramento-area district.

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2005/jan/02/010207907.html

[Rose Siding]

61. He was hospitalized on the 24th? I find NO coverage anywhere

[tx_dem41]

63. Under recent legislation...

he (and the hospital) has that right not to disclose that information...thank goodness.

[yojon]

62. Myelodysplasia

Its a cousin of leukemia in which the bone marrow stops making normal red and white blood cells. The few cells the marrow can crank out don't work very well.

The median age of onset is 65.

It can be caused by exposure to benzene.

I wonder if articulate, outspoken liberals will have higher life insurance premiums than repugs.

[ananda]

71. Myelodysplasia

My mother got a bad form of breast cancer at 79, had surgery and chemo but died anyway after about ten or eleven months from diagnosis because she had a form of myelodysplasia. It's probable that the chemo exacerbated it. In the last few months, she got progressively weaker till she couldn't get up at all, though she was alert and talking almost up to the end. She was ready, though, having made contact with all her children, all of whom she was at peace with.

She apparently had had the blood condition for years but it caught up with her with a vengeance once the cancer was diagnosed and treated.

I don't think it caused her much pain or suffering, except the knowledge that she would die of it sooner rather than later, but she was a practicing Catholic and seemed OK with it.

RIP Bob Matsui.

Sue

[goobergunch]

75. Oh fuck.

:'(

[Elwood P Dowd]

77. The only complaint I had with him

was his popping up on the news every day beating the drums for NAFTA back in the Fall of 1993. He sounded just like Newt, Dreier, Archer, and the rest of the repukes.

[Pepperbelly]

78. Give the guy a break ...

He's dead, for Christ's sake, and your complaint is more than 10 years old. He was a decent guy who did good things.

[shance]

79. Individuals can be poisoned with it being disguised as a blood disorder.

Of course I dont know if its murder or not, however, I am growing tired of the individuals who refuse to look at the realities and potential motivations for people in important positions to be harmed or murdered. Its a very real occurence. How arrogant of us to think it wouldn't be a significant reality, even moreso because we deny its possibility?

The harm inflicted on good leaders is very much a reality that many Americans have denied for a long time. I dont need to remind you (but I will), as a result of the denial and cowardice, many of our leaders have been killed in vain.

Lets look at Social Security for a minute.

Social Security has been a program in the scope of extremist Republicans and probably PNACers for decades who have wanted to see it destroyed. I can remember over ten years ago talking with Republicans who were obsessed with doing away with the program. Their reasons were as ridiculous, callous, lacking large scope critical thinking, and simplistic then, just as they are now.

Many have been foaming at the mouth to see a wonderful program like Social Security be destroyed and again, not saying this was murder, (yet), however, it obviously doesnt take a rocket scientist to realize what better way to steamroll ahead with their plan than to make sure the leading opposition is silenced. Think how that also affects those working under him as well. They may "say" its a blood disorder, but everyone will continue to wonder if it was murder, and that could result in placing fear in our Dems in Congress working on the issue. That would be the plan of those who would engage in such an act of course, is to intimidate others into doing what they want. That is why denying the truth and not investigating this FEARLESSLY and THOROUGHLY is so vital.

That is why we have to talk about it and I believe communicate to our leaders that we want some answers. We need to let our Democratic leaders know that we care and that we will protect them. Wouldnt you want the same back up?


JFK, MLK, Bobby Kennedy, Malcom X all of which have NEVER seen full justice.

Why? because we havent demanded it.

Every American should be demanding justice because it affects every single one of us when we choose to live a lie. We have been living a lot of lies, its time we start demanding the truth. Our leaders deserve as much. They can not do their job if they have to fear rabid dogs are at their doors all the time.

When our good leaders have the GUTS to put themselves on the line, and there are those who have the audacity to deny the realities and the truth of such evil people who wouldn't blink an eye at this kind of thing (if they knew they could get away with it), not to mention the overall suspiciousness, "coincidence" and timeliness of such deaths, "you" not only enable and give a green light to those who enact such horrific acts, you put our other good leaders at risk, you inhibit other good leaders from coming forward, and you make any death that has occured, a death in vain.

For those of you who call yourselves Dems but are not willing to defend and/or question potential events that harm other Democrats and progressives, get out of our Party and go join your buddies on the other side of the aisle if you don't give a damn about anything other than yourself and choose to live in a fantasy world. That or of course many of you are freepers and are hear to try and block healthy discussion.

Need I say anything more other than to think if this was a sacred *Republican* who died rather suddenly and happened to be the head of a fight against a forefront issue. Why do we allow ourselves to be treated in such an abusive way and allow such a double standard to continue to infect our parties and our Democracy?

[tx_dem41]

80. As someone else said on the thread earlier..

some of us would rather respect the family and not try to espouse political conspiracy theories and score points within two hours after the announcement of someone's death.

[shance]

89. Exploring potential wrongdoing is *disrespectful*?

Really? What type of dictionary are you using?

If it happened to me, I could think of no greater act of love, protection and courage towards my legacy and my name, especially if I had been working on something as important for the American future as he was.

Sorry, I won't be silent due to your need to feel comfortable and your need for me to conform and speak "appropriately" however that may fit your narrow definition.

Again, none of us have any idea why this ocurred, however due to his position and due to the climate brought on by the Administration, it warrants some scrutiny, which I cannot think of a more respectful, caring way to express to the Congressman.

[saracat]

94. The loss of a another Democratic voice in Congress goes way beyond the

"simple" precepts of respect for the family of the deceased. Some people insist on thinking we live in ordinary times. Any demise of a Democrat has to be first viewed cynically. Those people who don't realize this probably also beleive Bush "won" because more people voted for them .These are nice people but they need to get a grip on 'Today's" world. This is not your parent's US!

[rexcat]

84. More than likely the Congressman had exposure to benzene...

or some similar chemical many years ago. We see myelodysplasia and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in patients with past exposure to this group of chemicals but the exposure has usually been documented more than 20 years prior to the diagnosis of the myelodysplasia or AML. Recent exposure to this chemical or its relatives dose not cause an immediate myelodysplasia or AML.

Myelodysplasia is a precursor to AML. Once myelodysplasia progresses to AML the patient will usually die within two years of the onset of the leukemia unless there is a good sibling bone marrow match. Of course the bone marrow transplant procedure will kill approximately 25-33% of the patients.

[TrueAmerican]

81. Prediction:

Gary Condit will seek the seat.

You heard it here first. ;)

[Tweed]

85. Hopefully that's a Democrat

:shrug:

[Crunchy Frog]

93. He's the one who was mixed up

in that whole Chandra Levy business. Not the best choice IMO, but yes, a Democrat.

[Tweed]

96. I knew the name sounded familiar

thanks for the info!

[saracat]

95. Unless you know something I don't, Gary Condit has moved to Scottsdale

Arizona. I know that is true for a fact. Does he also still maintain residence in CA?

[TrueAmerican]

110. I don't know

But I think he has family back in California.

He's not my choice, but sometimes egos get the best of people.

[CreekDog]

134. Gary Condit is too conservative to win in CA-5 (puhleeeze!)

He would get beaten in a regular primary by other more liberal democrats. There are too many Democrats in the Sacramento area for Condit to be viable. Also, Condit is from Merced, part of San Joaquin Valley --not the same place.

[Eurobabe]

82. obit up now on house.gov site

[seriousstan]

83. ROVE, ROVE, ROVE,,,,,,,he's everywhere, he's everywhere!!!

Rove is currently making it rain on my house and he spoiled my milk 3 days ahead of the expiration date.

[DS1]

98. Rove would never make your milk go bad early, he's still at war

with Vermont farmers :eyes:

[pacalo]

87. So sorry of his passing. :(

[olddad56]

99. If all politcians had the character of Bob Matsui....

we would still live in a democracy.

[Just Me]

102. I'm so sorry. His loss will be surely felt by so many.

Having moved from a U.S. Japanese internment camp into one of the great voices in this democratic Republic,...he was a very special human being whose presence will be missed.

[JohnKleeb]

107. Thats really sad

Poor guy.

[njdemocrat106]

108. Rest in Peace, Congressman

Sad news :(

[Algorem]

113. How come when I Google Milo Dysplastic Disorder nothing comes up?

Nothing called Milo Dysplastic Disorder anyway,just a couple of pages of doctor-science gibberish links that noone should have to put up with.

[Zynx]

116. Try just Dysplastic Disorder.

[Algorem]

128. OK,thanks,looks a little complicated,all kinds of strange words.

Head hurts,time to sleep now.R.I.P.,Rep. Matsui.(Wonder how many ways the CIA etc. dreamt up to kill people deceptively?)

[CBHagman]

114. How terribly sad.

This will cast a pall over the swearing-in of his colleagues this Tuesday. Oh, how I wish he'd be there.

I hope he's having a chin-wag with Mary McGrory, Herblock, and Hubert Humphrey...

[roguevalley]

115. RIP. What a pall this whole process has become. When do we

get a break?

[BattyDem]

117. I don't know ...

if the man died naturally or if he was "suicided" ... but the fact that we live in a country where I could have those kinds of doubts really pisses me off! :grr:

[David__77]

118. As a Sacramento area resident...

...I'm suprised and sorry to hear of his passing. I lived in his district for about half my life. Rep. Matsui has had a pretty good record, although he is not among the most progressive of California representatives. I will note, if it is not too crass, that his replacement probably will be somewhat to his left.

I am predicting that former state Assemblymember Darrell Steinberg, or state Senator Deborah Ortiz will fill this seat. I have a slight preference for Steinberg, who was due to replace Ortiz when she's termed out next year.

Matsui been in office almost my whole life. It's strange to think he won't be there.

[NIGHT TRIPPER]

123. Question for you David: my brother moved to Carmichael a few years ago and

he's total republican, attends a local Christian Church where they support the war and love Bush. (Their "pastor" tells them Christians must do whatever they can to spread their religion.) All his friends are into it too.
I had thought that most people in that area were like my brother( pro- Ahnold, pro-Bush)

Question:
in the Sacramento area are Dems the overwhelming majority or is it split?

[Conservativesux]

126. Sacramento is split down the middle, but the surrounding counties...

... are leaning from Dem towards Rep., similar to Orange County unfortunately.

Lots of filthy rich farmers in these surrounding counties living on the government agri-business welfare $$$ that vote Republican these days :(

[Conservativesux]

124. And worse, Republican John Doolittle will still be there...

..pushing for the Auburn Dam construction again for his rich real estate buddies in Placer County, and no Robert Matsui to stop him :(

[Riverman]

125. Matsui replacement

As a Sacramento area resident I have long respected Bob Matsui. Anyone who could survive being in an American concentration camp as a child - his family was sent in WWII, and then serve his country is an honorable man of high integrity. Locally he has been the one elected official standing in the way of the monstrous Auburn Dam that would have dammed a beautiful, scenic run of the American River above Sacramento. John Dolittle, the rep congressman of suburban Sacramento, a close colleague of Tom Delay, has been doing everything he can to get the dam built. Doolittle is another right wing nut, but with a strong political machine locally (though his gal for Placer County supervisor lost to a moderate republican). With Dan Lungren, now elected to another suburban Sacramento district, and Sacramento County, formerly a strong democratic area, turning more republican (right wing fundamentalist actually - American Talibanist, I am worried that the repubs will put up a strong fight for the seat.

I agree that Darrell Steinberg, former State Senator, Assembleyman and Sac City Councilmember would stand the best chance to win in Matsui's District.

Matsui's passing is a huge loss to Sacramento, Califorinia and the nation and my sincere sympathy and thanks to his family.

[Renew Deal]

120. Very sad

I think Sacramento is a republican area. I don't know that district though.

[Riverman]

129. Placer new Orange County

Actually most of the elected officials that have represented the City of Sacramento and Davis (UC-Davis) have been democrats. The surrounding areas are mostly republican. Placer County located along I-80 between Sacramento and the Sierra foothills (mostly - part does connect over to Lake Tahoe), is the new Orange County, CA - now the most republican county in the state. Far more high growth cities then big- welfare farmers. More so dominated by numerous, fundamentalist churches - it like a chunk of Texas right here in liberal/progressive Northern California. Though lately moderate republicans have won some local elections and democrat registration is picking up ever so slightly. Local debate is all about environmental protection and rapid growth, massive traffic congestion and high levels of air pollution, especially ozone (Sacramento sits in a very wide valley with winds blowing all the smog from the Bay Area to the west, mixing it in the hot sun of the Valley, then being pushed up against the Sierra foothills in the evenings in the summer. Winter its foggy bottom!

I sure hope Darrell Steinberg, a progressive liberal democrat runs for Matsui's seat. He is a bright (I believe Harvard) guy who has a good heart and courageous politics. He managed to get laws passed to try to keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill people and fights to try to incentivise cities to build their share of affordable housing. He is now out of office and presumably available. I believe he was actually planning to run for U.S. Senate when Feinberg retires (soon I hope).

[General Paranoia]

127. Google search: myelodysplastic radiation

The following is interesting:
http://www.meb.uni-bonn.de/cancer.gov/CDR0000062723.html

Might be interesting if somebody could use a Geiger counter on the body or his office - especially his desk or any other place he often was at. Others might have better ideas. Just a suspicion.


:tinfoilhat:

[0007]

133. RIP

[The Stranger]

135. Barbara Boxer said he represented the "best in politics."

Why can't Democrats say something like he was "a Proud American" or a "Great American"? Why even use the word "politics"? That is almost straight off the Right Wing talking points for Democrats.

Why let the Right Wing steal such terms and bestow them upon garbage like Ronald Wilson Reagan or George S. Patton, Jr.?