Reply #23: It doesn't say when in 2002, but that was a tough year for him

[karynnj]

I think his mom died and at the end of the year he was diagnosed with cancer.

In 2004 the before picture was a few weeks after surgery when he was both attending to Senate duties and starting to campaign. They then had the picture a year later with his huge smile and extremely happy face when he won in Iowa. I always thought that they were just daring him - or more likely Teresa - to jump in and attack them for using the photo when he was ill - re-emphasizing he had cancer.

Still I was kind of shocked a few weeks ago, after OBL was caught seeing the primary debate video in Larry O'Donnell's piece. You can see what Teresa meant about his having lost weight - and that he would look better if he regained it. There was a story that in the early days before the primary, Teresa actually paid to fly his doctor to Iowa because she was so concerned about his weight - and the doctor changed his recovery diet.

I admit that that is me - I have found that the best approach there is to almost play like I don't get the insults to me. So, I may seem rather thick, but it is easier not being me there and kind of responding as this persona.