A Serious Question About Lawmakers And Diminished Capacity

Should someone who has Alzheimer's or some other form of dementia continue to serve? My Senator is suffering from either one or the other. He announced his retirement over a year ago, and has evidently deteriorated significantly since then. Should someone in this circumstance stay in the Senate? In this case, I think he should just because I don't want my son of a bitch republican governor naming a repub replacement, but what if such deterioration happens in the 2nd year of a 6 year term? Is it OK for someone to serve under those circumstances just because they're a liberal dem, for instance, and the governor is a repuke?

I'm referring in this case, to Sen. Jeffords, who I admire and who I've voted for repeatedly, both as a repub and an Independent.

regardless of party (or lack thereof), gender, race, religion and all the rest. The applicable state laws that provide a process for filling vacancies should be followed. In Indiana, if the office is filled by appointment rather than statuatory succession, then the nominee is from the same party as as the vacating incumbent - Bayh would be replaced by a (D), Lugar by a (R).

I haven't looked it up, but doesn't his term end this year? I thought there was a senate election in Vermont this November, to replace him. Hopefully, he can carry on through the end of the year, even if it means taking sick time when the senate is in session.

I understand his wife is also ill. Do you have any info on that? Maybe he's just greatly "distracted" dealing with her illness and senate business and maybe some other illness he may have that he's having side effects from medication. Personally, in 2003, while my husband was undergoing chemo and radiation, I had to start a medication for a rapid pulse. As it turned out, before we learned the meds were causing problems, I developed anxiety attacks and had a terrible time with memory and logic. Then after three months, I refused to take the meds and had to be weaned off the drug, so it was a six month ordeal and the memory problems persisted for another few months. BTW, if you are ever prescribed Toprol XL, pay VERY close attention to any mental or nervous system changes. I didn't for awhile, since I was distracted with my husband's health issues.

Keep us posted on Sen. Jeffords. I'll pop into the Vermont forum to look for updates, if any.

Bernie Sanders is running for Jefford's seat and is backed by the dems. Ther repub nominee will certainly be the repugnant Rich Tarrent, the wealthiest man in the state- althought he's really more of a Floridian than a Vermonter.

Sadly, Jeffords' problems cannot be blamed on his wife's health. She's in remission. Questions about Jeffords' mental capacity started cropping up a couple of years ago. There's very little doubt that he is suffering from some sort of dementia.

As I stated, my reasons for supporting Jeffords staying on, is twofold: He is stepping down in January, and I can't bear the thought of Gov Douglas appointing Tarrent, and giving him a huge boost. Beyond that, I think there are some real questions about lawmakers serving when they are incapacitated.