Wyoming senator, 74, dies of leukemia - WASHINGTON - Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas,

[nedbal]

Source: Associated Press

Craig Thomas had announced illness days after winning 2006 election

BREAKING NEWS
Updated: 5 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican who stayed clear of the Washington limelight and political catfights, died Monday. He was 74.

The senator's family issued a statement saying he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19038581/

[yojon]

1. Sorry to hear about the loss

and, at the risk of seeming crass, I note that the article says:

"Gov. Dave Freudenthal, a Democrat, will appoint a successor from one of three finalists chosen by the state Republican party."

I wonder why the Democratic governor is bound to choose a Republican successor. ?State law?

[salin]

4. yes - state law

I read this earlier this evening.

[grytpype]

13. Yep.

Wyoming Code s. 22-18-111

(i) If a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or in any state office other than the office of justice of the supreme court and the office of district court judge, the governor shall immediately notify in writing the chairman of the state central committee of the political party which the last incumbent represented at the time of his election under W.S. 22-6-120(a)(vii), or at the time of his appointment if not elected to office. The chairman shall call a meeting of the state central committee to be held not later than fifteen (15) days after he receives notice of the vacancy. At the meeting the state central committee shall select and transmit to the governor the names of three (3) persons qualified to fill the vacancy. Within five (5) days after receiving these three (3) names, the governor shall fill the vacancy by temporary appointment of one (1) of the three (3) to hold the office. ...

[grytpype]

17. BUT, it's just a temporary appointment until there's an election as the legislature may direct.

From the Seventeenth Amendment:

When vacancies happen in the representation of any State in the Senate, the executive authority of such State shall issue writs of election to fill such vacancies: Provided, That the legislature of any State may empower the executive thereof to make temporary appointment until the people fill the vacancies by election as the legislature may direct.

[Ediacara]

21. Since he was just reelected, this may take place as soon as 07

but probably 08.

[yurbud]

53. actually, I wish we had that law here in CA since we often have GOP governors and Dem senators

[pokercat999]

56. What happens if he's an independent?................

Sorry I forgot this was america.

[SoCalDem]

8. Can't HE appoint the replacement? You can bet anything that if a dem

senator had died, and a republican governor was in place, Karl Rove would have pre-faxed him the choice of a rpeublican replacement..

perhaps this is a pre-emptory scenario, so the governor can be played as a partisan..:shrug:

[Eugene]

2. RIP Senator

[salin]

3. RIP

I only first heard of his illness a few hours ago. Regardless of differences in views, and in power differencials (he had many as a senator, I have few as a citizen) - at this moment I recognize that there are many people whose lives were likely intertwined with his - and my heart goes out for those people at this moment.

[elocs]

7. Amen. And a nice touch of class from a DU poster.

Death is an end that all of us imperfect humans share and we leave people to grieve.

[Captain Hilts]

5. RIP. My condolences to his family.

Since when does the AP use the term 'catfights' in a news release?

[DemKR]

6. matthew shepard's funeral

Did he not attend it? No tears.

[deadparrot]

9. RIP.

...

[Irishonly]

10. RIP Senator

[Wickerman]

11. RIP

[derby378]

12. Ventis Secundis, Senator

My heartfelt sympathies to his family for their loss.

[Straight Shooter]

14. RIP, Senator. Your work on Earth is done. n/t

[mitchum]

15. Condolences to his family, but why did he announce his illness only days...

after winning the election?
Oh, that's right...

[Catch22Dem]

16. So sad. No politics necessary here. RIP Senator. RIP.

[Gemini Cat]

18. Rest in Peace Senator

[FredScuttle]

19. RIP Senator

and condolences to your friends, family and supporters.

[Rydz777]

20. RIP

He was a conservative from a conservative state, but he always seemed to be a decent sort, kind of old-school western. Condolences to his family.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

22. Rest In Peace! Senator Craig Thomas !

[Mz Pip]

23. My thoughts are

with his family. Politics can wait another day.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[BlueInPhilly]

25. RIP, Senator

Be thou at peace.

And AMEN to "politics can wait another day"

[TransitJohn]

24. Craig was on the wrong side of a lot of issues

...well most of them to my mind...but he was always class, and nice...true western gentleman. Condolences to his aggrieved loved ones.

[CBHagman]

26. God rest his soul.

I am truly sorry to hear this. My sympathy to family, friends, and staffers.

[Jack Rabbit]

27. .

[Spiffarino]

28. My mother died of the same disease...I feel for his family.

AML is tough to treat in folks his age. The disease is debilitating and the treatment is harsh. The family suffers emotionally while the patient suffers in every conceivable way. The chemo can be truly awful and it takes a brave person to go through it.

My deepest, most heartfelt condolences to Senator Thomas' family. If for nothing else, may they find joy that he is at peace.

[calimary]

30. Indeed. It is a shame when anyone has to suffer on the way out like that.

Condolences.

[LeighAnn]

29. In Honor of Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas

In honor of Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, may all United States Senators gather together and pass a bill that increases funding for cancer research and treatment. Then he may not have lived in vain.

[Vektor]

31. RIP, Senator Thomas.

:patriot:

[ashling]

32. Wyoming Sen. Thomas Dead at 74

Source: AP


By MARY CLARE JALONICK (Associated Press Writer)
From Associated Press
June 05, 2007 12:01 AM EDT
WASHINGTON - Wyoming Sen. Craig Thomas, a three-term conservative Republican who stayed clear of the Washington limelight and political catfights, died Monday. He was 74.

The senator's family issued a statement saying he died Monday evening at National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. He had been receiving chemotherapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

The family had issued a statement earlier in the day saying Thomas's cancer had been resistant to his second round of chemotherapy and the senator was listed in serious condition. Thomas was also suffering from an infection, his family said.




Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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[tomhayes]

33. 74 is a full life

RIP

[Radio_Lady]

38. 74 is a full life??? Tell my husband that. He's healthy and turning 73 this month.

We disagree, but then, we're probably older than you are, Tom Hayes. I just turned 68. My mother died at 71; my father at 76, and I don't think they had full lives, either.

Anyway, nice to meet-chu on the DU! 103 posts in three years, huh? You must be a busy guy in San Diego, CA!!!!

Good night and good luck.

Radio Lady in Oregon

[tomhayes]

41. 74 is fuller than many people get

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hus/hus06.pdf#027

It's three years shy of U.S. white male life expectancy in 2004, but longer than the 69.5 for blacks in 2004.

But it is less than the average white Wyoming life expectancy.

And *today* is my 37th birthday. Hello middle-age. :)

[silverojo]

52. Agreed, 74 isn't a full life

People live longer nowadays, and it's quite common for people to live into their 80's and 90's--some even make it to the century mark! :)

[FlaGranny]

57. Yikes, my mom

died at 94 and SHE didn't think that was a full life. She left this earth kicking and screaming (figuratively speaking) because she had a lot left to see and do. I believe I will be the same. I'll be 74 in 6 years and I don't feel like I'm anywhere near having lived a full life.

Only one person in my entire extended family died younger than 74 (from cancer). All the rest were closer to 90. Only a youngster would say that 74 years is a full life. ;) Hell, I don't think 100 is a full life.

[Radio_Lady]

58. Hi FlaGranny! You said it perfectly. Once I believed that about 15 years older than my current age

was old.

So, at 15, I thought 30 was ancient.
At 40, 55 was pretty old.
At 60, the target was 75.

Now, at 68 -- I don't even want to think about it anymore. I am trying to age gracefully and do as much as I can from one day to the next to get along with the various challenges and infirmities I am facing.

In peace,

Radio Lady in Oregon

[Trajan]

34. How awful ....

No matter his politics; I hope his family can find solace in this hard world ....

[flamingyouth]

35. Condolences to his family and friends.

[AlecBGreen]

36. death is hardest on the living

RIP senator. I pray you are in a better place.

[mvd]

47. That's true

Especially when it is quick. Sounds like Thomas went downhill fast over the last month.

[UrbScotty]

37. Condolences to his family.

:hug:

[leftynyc]

39. RIP Senator

Prayers for his family.

[shaniqua6392]

40. Rest in peace Sen. Thomas.

Thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

[Vidar]

42. RIP Mr. Thomas,

[LeftishBrit]

43. RIP

Best thought to his family.

[superconnected]

44. RIP.

[Beaverhausen]

45. Rest in Peace, Senator

My condolences to his family.

[mvd]

46. R.I.P.

I had strong disagreements with him, but he wasn't like Falwell, who used his hatred to draw people into his ministry. With Falwell, I was glad he was gone because how he used his life, but I hope God forgave him. With Thomas, I have no happy words after death.

[bigwillq]

48. RIP, Mr. Senator.

That's sad for his family.

[AwareOne]

49. Man, what a bunch of pansies, no wonder we get our ass

handed to us regularly. This guy was our arch enemy and voted hard line right wing all the time. Wyoming is redder than red and still gives Bush a positive approval rating. I lived there many years and loved the land but the politics were unbearable. He was my congressman as was Cheney. The state is run lock, stock and barrel by the good ole boy system and he was a major player. No RIP from me unless it stands for Rot In Perpetuity.

[Towelie]

51. I also bask in the joy of death for those who I disagree with

May we drink the blood of every man, woman, and child who has a different opinion.

:sarcasm:

[Tyler Durden]

55. We are at WAR.

I don't wish to drink his blood. I didn't wish him ill, but these crocodile tears for a staunch supporter of the PIG BUSH are a little nauseating.

This is a WAR. Wars have casualties, and they are not for the faint hearted.

"War is the remedy that our enemies have chosen, and I say let us give them all they want."
William Tecumseh Sherman

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

60. We're all Americans, not freepers

We don't know whether Craig Thomas was a good person or not, but it's not our place to judge a dead man in this manner.

Gloating at the deaths of political enemies is something I expect of FREEPERS.

[brentspeak]

50. RIP, Sen. Thomas

[montana_hazeleyes]

54. RIP Senator

Actually I like petunias better, but I will be a pansy tonite and give my condolences to his family and am sorry for him suffering this terrible disease.

[StudentsMustUniteNow]

59. God bless

RIP Senator