Rep. Matsui, (guardian of social security) dies Saturday! Another death?!

[nascarblue]

Everyone is dropping like flies!! These republicans are really going crazy on the killing. Isn't it a bit coincidental with Congress and House convening this week, that the #1 most outspoken protector of social security is dead? Rep. Matsui of Cal died suddenly on Saturday after checking in the hospital with pnuemonia on Christmas Eve. What the hell is going on?

Remember on Nov. 3rd and 4th the Republicans teed off on Pelosi and Matsui? They were gloating on the networks and C-Span and warning Matsui and Pelosi. They had to have their own press conference.
Daschle, Leahy, and Feingold, the other 3 Dems who had enough balls to stand up to the Bushistas all got sent Anthrax. Now this? Why do we not ever hear about that Anthrax attacks anymore? We know they came from the Defense Dept. Now Matsui's dead? What the hell is going on? This is insane. Gary Webb, Matsui, that Dem who made the paper trail voting machines... anyone know of an article that lists all the honest journalists and politicians who have died the last couple of years? Any links?



Rep. Robert Matsui, D-California, has been in Congress for nearly a quarter-century, mainly avoiding controversy and headlines beyond his hometown of Sacramento.

His old friend, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, had asked Matsui to lead the party's uphill fight to win control of the House in 2004.

As chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Matsui juggled raising money under newly restrictive rules and recruiting candidates with the potential to unseat Republican incumbents, while pressing his signature issues of free trade and retirement security.

He also has been a strong supporter of Social Security and been a thorn in the side of the Bush administration in their attempts to privatize Social Security. He addressed senior citizens about Social Security constantly and met with potential House candidates all through 2004.

Pelosi wanted a loyalist and a realist. In Matsui, she found both. They have known each other for 32 years, long before they won election to Congress.

He recently co-wrote a bill that would use tax credits to help spread high-speed Internet service to rural areas. He has said the measure's best chance for success lies in including it in the tax package the Republican-controlled House is expected to consider in the spring. Matsui acknowledges he is likely to vote against the bill, but he hopes his tax credit is part of it.
http://www.house.gov/matsui/

[thebigdonkey]

1. wow i had not heard that he passed away

[Fiona]

2. he had a disease. He died.

Happens millions of times a week. Calling this a republican murder is lunacy.

[Nite Owl]

3. Maybe it was just that he was sick

but then maybe not. Nothing can be discounted with this gang in office now.

[Flammable Materials]

6. Coincidental, though.

Enough to at least raise an eyebrow.

[nascarblue]

8. Not being suspicious is lunacy.

First off, I didnt blame anyone. I just said it was suspicious. And if you don't think it is you're the lunatic. There's just been way too many murders attached to the Bush family going all the way back to Kennedy.

[Fiona]

9. You said...

"These republicans are really going crazy on the killing."

That sounds like blame, to me.

[Garbo 2004]

11. Not only that, I recall some DU posters previously bashing Matsui

because he wasn't liberal enough for them and didn't support Dean for DNC chair. Now he's a martyr to the cause? When before he was basically called a DINO by some here? And others didn't even know who tf he was. Please. If anything I'm surprised someone hasn't yet posted how fortuitous it is that his seat is empty so a "real" liberal can get in.

Apparently there shall be no more "death by natural causes" if it doesn't support someone's agenda or theories. What was "suspicious" about his death? The fact that it occurred? That's justification for talking about murder based on nothing other than the fact of his death?

Matsui was a guy with some dignity. But let's not mind that when using his death as grist for the conspiracy rumor mill.

RIP, Bob. My congressman for many years. A sad time for his constituents and his family.

[s-cubed]

4. Wayne Madsen's most recent post on Kos had a whole list of them.

But, you made me think of something: we know the anthrax was high quality, from one of our own government labs. No one has ever been charged: was our own government behind it as well? Was it only dems who got the letters?

[Last Lemming]

5. You could make a great case

based on circumstantial evidence that Karl Rove framed that person of interest--first to die--anyone remember--any quess why?

[Liberty Belle]

14. Yes, the tabloid publisher had run an unflattering story

about the Bush twins.

[Last Lemming]

18. Bingo

But the genius was in framing Hatfield

[nascarblue]

7. Anthrax been revealed by the 9-11 citizens independant commission.

By some ex CIA, FBI, and State Dept analysts. But the Bushistas are dragging their feet. It was proven to be from the Defense Dept. They traced it back to one lab. They still have not investigated it publically. It's pretty sad that this administration does so much wrong that you can't keep up with them. Case in point this tsunami will take focus off Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and the Ukraine.

But if you go to http://911busters.com/911-Commission.html . They have some amazing revelations on the anthrax situation. It's pretty obvious it's the Bush administration, namely Cheney and Rumsfeld who orchestrated that. But remember the one guy who died was the photo editor for the Enquirer who was responsible for the photos of the Bush twins drunk. How fucked up is that? A photo? Killed for that? If my dad did that I would rat him out.

[Cleita]

10. Oleander?

A very poisonous common ornamental shrub in California. Symptons of the poisoning could be mistaken for something else.

http://www.intox.org/pagesource/intox%20area/pims/pim366.htm

[senseandsensibility]

12. My condolences to his family

and his constituents. I met him and Nancy Pelosi at a fundraiser this summer with Bill Clinton. I boycott the corporate media, so I had no idea he died. Is this receiving any coverage on the cable news? He was a wonderful public servant, and well known here in California. It will be difficult to fill his shoes, but we must find someone just as strong to protect Social Security!

[Rageneau]

13. I bet GOP vultures are already plotting to steal his seat.

If his seat is going to be filled via any type of election, you can bet the Rovian hoardes are even now inventing lies and calumnies to use against Matsui's successor.

This is a BIG loss to those of us who know that Social Security is in fine shape. Without Matsui, the pugs and the press will have one less honest voice to overcome as they create disaster scenarios that can only be avoided if we give the rich even more control over our lives.

[Liberty Belle]

15. Doesn't the governor get to appoint a successor

when a representative dies? I remember that Jesse Venture appointed someone to fill Paul Wellstone's seat.

So that means Schwarzenegger the Governator of CA will pick a Rep. I'm not prone to conspiracy theories, but the timing of this is suspicious, I must say.

[Fiona]

16. No

Governors fill Senate vacancies. House vacancies are filled with an election.

Also, Wellstone's seat wasn't filled by Ventura - he died just before the election, and Norm Coleman won.

[journalist3072]

17. Networks Being Disrespectful?

You know, I've been thinking that the major networks are acting disrespectfully toward Rep. Matsui's death. I am signed up for Breaking News Alerts from CNN, MSNBC, ABC, and CBS. And I did not receive not one Breaking News Alert on Rep. Matsui's death.

I just happened to be on CNN's website earlier and read about it.

CNN and MSNBC have a tendancy to send out Breaking News Alerts for stuff that I don't really consider Breaking News, like when a sports figure breaks some world record. Yet they don't send out a Breaking News Alert when an incumbent Member of Congress dies?