New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici is set to announce a serious disease as one of the reasons for his retirement. Could his illness have affected his behavior while in Congress?

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Adding to the stampede of GOP resignations prior to the 2008 slaughterho- um, I mean elections, New Mexico Senator Pete Domenici is set to announce serious health concerns as the reason for his departure. From the AP;

 

A fact sheet prepared for Domenici's announcement described his disease as Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, or FTLD.

In his prepared remarks, Domenici said that as recently as April, "the disease had not progressed." A late September checkup showed a slight progression, causing him to scrap plans to seek a new term, he said in the remarks.

"No cure for my disease exists, yet," he said. "But, if we work hard enough, we may be able to find a way to cure people with diseases of the brain in the future. That would be truly a wonderful thing."

 

Despite his shameful stance on global warming and his advocacy of right wing ideals, I am sorry he acquired this illness. My thoughts go out to his family.

However, taking a look at some of the symptoms of FTLD, it seems there may have been a reason for his well-known vehemence and pugnacious behavior (emphasis mine);

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the most common clinical subtype of FTLD. It is characterized by personality change and impaired social conduct initially and throughout the disease course. Patients may also have emotional blunting and loss of insight. Other common features are disinhibition, neglect of personal hygiene, mental rigidity, perseverative behaviors, voracious appetite and hyperorality. An example of disinhibition in one of our patients was an elderly woman with FTD who when at a restaurant would walk over to other tables and eat the food off another customer's plate. Another patient would constantly fill water bottles, up to 20 at a time, demonstrating perseverative behavior.

The loss of insight is clearly shown by his stubborn insistence that global warming is a hoax. Disinhibition caused by his illness may explain why he neglected propriety and custom to try and influence investigations of Democrats by putting pressure on David Iglesias.

I do not revel in his personal misfortune, but I will admit I am glad he will lose his seat. Maybe now New Mexico can vote in someone who can really make a difference.

Authors Website: http://mike-kuykendall.blogspot.com/

Authors Bio:
Mike Kuykendall is a progressive, patriotic veteran of the U.S. Air Force, fighting hard to save our democracy.