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NJ-Sen: Lautenberg Has Cancer

by: James L.

Fri Feb 19, 2010 at 12:13 PM EST


Frightening news:

U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg, New Jersey's 86-year-old senior senator, was diagnosed with treatable stomach cancer in the last 24 hours and will begin chemotherapy today.

The Democrat still plans to finish out his current term - his fifth in the Senate - and seek re-election in 2014.

"This doesn't change any of that," Lautenberg's chief aide, Dan Katz, said of the senator's political plans. "After he receives his treatment, back to normal."

Moments ago, Lautenberg's office issued a statement from the senator's oncologist, James F. Holland, saying:

"We expect a full and complete recovery for Senator Lautenberg. The senator will be treated with chemotherapy administered approximately every three weeks. We anticipate that he will receive between six and eight treatments, and in between treatments, the senator is expected to be back at work in the Senate."

Our thoughts go out to the Senator.
James L. :: NJ-Sen: Lautenberg Has Cancer
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NJ-Sen: Lautenberg Has Cancer | 49 comments
Encouraging prognosis
First and foremost best wishes to the senator.
Ugh.
It makes sense, given Lautenberg's status as "oldest dude in the Senate who isn't Robert Byrd". Still, I really hope he pulls through. If any Senator deserves it, it's probably someone like Lautenberg.

I also really don't like the idea that if Lautenberg dies now, Christie the Hutt can replace one of the most liberal people in the Senate with a T-1000 Republican stoogebot. As if losing Kennedy wasn't bad enough. Every Progressive Senator we lose is one more voice against the Beltway chorus that's currently giving a blowjob to Evan Bayh's future political career.

Please don't let this happen now. For Lautenberg's sake, and for the country's.


Yu said this
As if losing Kennedy wasn't bad enough. Every Progressive Senator we lose is one more voice against the Beltway chorus that's currently giving a blowjob to Evan Bayh's future political career.

Please don't let this happen now. For Lautenberg's sake, and for the country's

Yeah serioysly, won't be suprise if Feingold or Boxer announced next week that one of them has some sort of terminal illness. Guess the saying could be true: "Bad things happen to good people."

22, Male, Democrat, PA-18.

[ Parent ]
What is the law in NJ
For a special election? What is the cutt-off date which would make it 2012 if necessary? Maybe in poor taste but just wondering.
[ Parent ]
No I don't think it's pure taste
Pure taste is when the guy is literally dying and you ask this question.

22, Male, Democrat, PA-18.
[ Parent ]
I don't think it's entirely in poor taste to plan ahead.
I don't know the law for sure, but I do remember that in 2005 when Corzine became Governor he was able to appoint Menendez to succeed him, who then ran and was elected during the 2006 cycle. In 2002, when Torricelli withdrew at the last minute and Lautenberg got back in to replace him, the NJ Supreme Court ruled that the parties were allowed to replace a candidate at the last minute as long as no significant number of ballots for that candidate had already been cast.

That's just what I found in a 5 minute Google search. I'm sure someone who actually lives in NJ would know more.  

[ Parent ]
I think
The governor can appoint someone or call a special election. He may be able to do both. I remember reading about it when they were talking about changing the law for Christie.
[ Parent ]
About as clear as mud
"Law authorizes governor to call for a special election, in which case there is no schedule specified. Otherwise, vacancy is filled at first or second succeeding general election, depending on when it occurs."

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2009/rpt...

Anyway, they say its treatable so hopefully it is a moot point.

[ Parent ]
New Jersey Law
Gubernatorial appointment (with no party restriction; this was proposed in November and went nowhere), and then:

19:27-6. Congressional vacancy
In the case of a vacancy in the representation of this State in the United States Senate or House of Representatives, the writ may designate the next general election day for the election, but if a special day is designated, it shall specify the cause and purpose of such election, the name of the officer in whose office the vacancy has occurred, the day on which a special primary election shall be held, which shall be not less than 65 days nor more than 71 days following the date of such proclamation, and the day on which the special election shall be held, which shall be not less than 46 nor more than 52 days following the day of the special primary election. The writ shall also specify the day or days when the district boards shall meet for the purpose of making, revising or correcting the registers of voters to be used at such special election.

If the vacancy happens in the representation of this State in the United States Senate the election shall take place at the general election next succeeding the happening thereof, unless the vacancy shall happen within 64 days next preceding the primary election prior to the general election, in which case it shall be filled by election at the second succeeding election, unless the Governor shall deem it advisable to call a special election therefor, which he is authorized hereby to do.

Bottom line: the appointee would serve until the next even-numbered November.
[ Parent ]
Broken down here by dates-
- A vacancy before April 12, 2010 would result in a special primary election on June 8 and a special election on November 2.

- A vacancy after April 12, 2010 and before September 13, 2010 would result in a November 2, 2010 special election, with major party candidates selected by the Democratic and Republican State Committees.

- A vacancy after September 2010 would result in special primary in June 2011 and a special election in November 2011.


http://www.politickernj.com/wa...
[ Parent ]
I had a teacher in high school who tried working through chemo
She was younger than he is too, but best of luck and a fast recovery to Senatory Lautenberg.  
Chemo
really saps the strength out of people. You are literally killing your body in an attempt to kill the cancer. I remember reading about when Peter Jennings was going through chemo. He tried to go to the studio one day and collapsed at the front door of his apartment.

19, Male, Independent, CA-12
[ Parent ]
Depends somewhat on the type of chemo
I'm not familiar with the state of chemo for stomach cancer, but some chemo now is much more narrowly targeted to the cancerous cells, rather than whatever is dividing most rapidly.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
About the worst cancer you can get.
Had a family member with it. Previously very healthy and vibrant.  Won't even tell you what happened and how fast.  Let's just say for every case where someone lives longer than the prognosis there is a case that goes the opposite way.

One of the deadliest cancers you can get and one of the most awful fastest ways to go.  Hope he is one of the extremely rare cases where the cancer is found early enough not to be fatal.

My prayers are with him.

NY-13, Democrat. Blog @ http://infinitefunction.wordpr...

Well
Teddy had a much worse prognosis and lived longer than some were expecting. Though Frank is quite a bit older. Fingers crossed.
[ Parent ]
Probably the only worse cancer
is pancreatic cancer. My fiancee's grandfather died of it in a matter of months after being diagnosed.

At least pancreatic cancer, as unpleasant as it is, kills quickly. Stomach cancer just sucks.  

[ Parent ]
My great aunt has stomach cancer
She had two-thirds of the whole thing removed and lived more than twenty years after. Russian roulette sadly.
[ Parent ]
Had

[ Parent ]
My grandmother died from stomach cancer
Though she lived with it for five years after her diagnoses, which was much longer than the year the doctors gave her.

It's actually fairly treatable, if detected early, though it is one of the harder cancers to detect.  Hopefully Lautenburg's cancer is indeed treatable and he has a full and speedy recovery.

28, Unenrolled, MA-08

[ Parent ]
Maybe his fall
Was a blessing in disguise.
[ Parent ]
My thoughts go out to Lautenberg
I hope he's not serious about running for re-election in 2014. It's not even the appointment thing (hopefully Christie will be gone by then), it's just that being 96 and having stomach cancer and serving in the Senate=not a good combination for your health.

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
Yep
I just hope there isn't some karma in the works after the 2002 shenanigans.
[ Parent ]
Stomach cancer is not good.
Not as bad as let's say liver or pancreatic but the average survival is 18 months.  
With early detection it is treatable
However it is not detected early enough in 90% of the cases.

28, Unenrolled, MA-08
[ Parent ]
So
is the fact that they are calling Lautenberg's treatable a good sign?

21, dude, RI-01 (registered) IL-01 (college)
please help Japan. click "donate funds" in upper right and then "Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami." http://www.redcross.org/
[ Parent ]
Yes, assuming they're being honest


28, Unenrolled, MA-08
[ Parent ]
Putting all politics to aside
Cancer of all kinds is pretty serious stuff.  I hope the best for Lautenberg and hopes he can win his fight with his illness.  I hope he decides to do whatever is best for him and his family.  Selfishly, I hope he fights the cancer while representing NJ, but if he chooses to retire now, I'd fully understand, even if the consequence is losing a reliable Democratic vote.  

My best wishes for Frank Lautenberg.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

Resingnation
If Corzine was still governor, I think he would be resigning. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to meet with Christie and ask him to appoint a Democratic placeholder if his health declines and he chooses to resign.  
[ Parent ]
At this point, I'm only worried about Lautenberg
First off, I'm not making this comment to offend anyone, and my record shows that I'm not a troll, but I want Lautenberg to do what is best for his health.  If he did need to retire so he could fight his cancer, I'd accept the fact that a Republican Governor could appoint a Republican senator.  I wouldn't like losing another seat, but when it comes to matter of life and death, Lautenberg's life means a lot more to me than the politics of the United States.

My dad retired 8 years ago because he needed to fight cancer.  Dad still has the cancer, and the cancer will be with him for the rest of his life.  I know that Dad couldn't fight his cancer the way he has if he was still working.

Sorry guys, this is just an emotional deal for me.  Not to sound "holier than thou", but I want everyone to put Lautenberg's health ahead of politics.  He's been a great Senator, and I don't want him to be a slave of our own interests.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
If he did resign, what do you think Dem chances would be?
The appointment would only be through this November. Who might Christie appoint? And would the Democratic candidate - likely Frank Pallone or Rush Holt - be likely to retake the seat?
[ Parent ]
Tom Kean I think
I think he'd appoint Tom Kean Jr. Frank Pallone would be the most likely Dem candidate as he is sitting on $4 million. Personally, I'd want Christie to appoint John Crowley. He considered running against Lautenberg in 2008 and is a self-funder, so he'd be able to compete with Pallone. Plus, he supposedly has high name recognition in New Jersey from some movie he was in.
We have no idea how Lautenberg is though. If it is in the early stages, all this talk of him resigning is probably premature. Everybody reacts differently to chemo. Hopefully, he will be one of the few that handles it very well. I don't think thats too likely though with his age.  
[ Parent ]
Fair question
I don't want to answer this question because I'm too fond of Lautenberg, but since you posed the question, I'll answer it.  So hypothetically, if Lautenberg did step down...

My heart would want the Democrats to beg Bill Bradley to retake his old seat.  I've always been a Bill Bradley fan.  I think the chances of him entertaining this seat would be slim to none.

Rush Holt would be my next choice, probably followed by Frank Pallone.

Looking at the current members of the NJ House, I'd rule out Andrews (too conservative), Adler (freshman, purple district), Pascrell (too old), Payne (too old), and Sires (only in his second full-term, former party switcher).  Steve Rothman would make an interesting choice, but I'm not convinced that he's a solid progressive.


40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
Pascrell
I may be a little biased when I say this since Pascrell is my Congressman but he is defiantly not too old to run for higher office. He may be old in year wise but he has as much youth as a 40 year old has. He is a great progressive, union guy, former teacher, and a fantastic congressman. He even was willing to run for Governor if Corzine had decided to not seek re-election. Pascrell is energetic and passionate and if you've ever heard him give speeches you'd know what I was talking about. The man also knows how to win election. He beat Rep.Martini in 1996 and has been re-elected since then by wide margins, even winning towns that went for McCain by 40 points (including my home tow of Wayne which went 55% for McCain and locally votes GOP by 60-70%). Pascrell would be a fantastic Senator.  



17, Gay Male, Democrat, NJ-8  

[ Parent ]
I understand your feelings
My US rep is David Price, and he will be 70 years old this August.  I love Rep Price, and he's done a great job.  At the same time, I'd rather have him and Pascrell in the house because they have the grey hair to get things done for our districts.  Plus, as freshmen senators, they won't have much power and authority for several years.

Sorry dude, but I'd prefer a young buck for senate races.  That's just my own preference.

40, male, Democrat, NC-04

[ Parent ]
Wha?!
No Corey Booker love?
[ Parent ]
He can't run
He is running for re-election this year.
[ Parent ]
Booker
has more skeletons in the closet than the mob, and besides its no secret he wants to be governor. And him running for re-election could always change to a Senate run. The same would have to happen to Pallone, Holt, and Rothman  

17, Gay Male, Democrat, NJ-8  
[ Parent ]
Really bad new.

And just now. Much times I think F Lautenberg should resign before Christie take office by his age. Bad luck for democrats. I hope F Lautenberg can recover his health.

I'm living very close just stomach cancer in a member of my family and is very bad. Fortunatelly, he lives in Europe under European public health care. Well, every cancer is different, good luck for the senator.

It's relatively good news
The cancer is treatable. That's great.

As for whether he should resign or not, I think we should respect him enough to leave the decision up to him.

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  

[ Parent ]
I see very few good in this

Fortunatelly is treatable, but the treatment is very hard sometimes. Every case is different, I wish the best luck for Lautenberg.

Of course I respect the decision of continue working, and sure he will fight hard against his cancer. Sure he know not that two months before.


[ Parent ]
Sounds good
http://www.nj.com/news/index.s...
The way this article sounds, it is a very common cancer and one of the easier ones to treat.  
Good
And I would say the same if it was Olympia Snowe.
[ Parent ]
And I would say the same if it was Olympia Snowe
What about Jim DeMint, would you say the same if it was a die hard conservative getting this. Honest question.

22, Male, Democrat, PA-18.
[ Parent ]
If
Jim DeMint got cancer I would wish he can beat it. I would not wish cancer upon anyone. Plus I would not lower myself to the same level as those teabaggers who cheered when Teddy passed away.

19, Male, Independent, CA-12
[ Parent ]
I would.


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28, New Democrat, Female, TX-03 (hometown CA-26)
[ Parent ]
Why?
I would think ya'll love DeMint. He is doing more to prevent a GOP senate majority than any Democrat.  
[ Parent ]
I was saying
that had DeMint gotten cancer I'd wish him well and a speedy recovery, like what we are doing with Lautenberg, though I don't agree with DeMint's politics.

My blog
Twitter
Scribd
28, New Democrat, Female, TX-03 (hometown CA-26)
[ Parent ]
That's funny and true
n/t

"I'm not a member of any organized political party, I'm a Democrat!"
--  Will Rogers  
[ Parent ]
Yes
But he is from South Carolina. I was talking about the probability of picking up her seat in Maine.
[ Parent ]
NJ-Sen: Lautenberg Has Cancer | 49 comments

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