Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

jerry/corpus christi texas — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:30:57 GMT

hope he gets better

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Marbw — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:45:51 GMT

So sorry to hear that. My prayers are with him.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 18:52:52 GMT

It is sad to hear that anyone gets Cancer. I hope it is a quick recovery.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Doug Scherer, Austin, Texas — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:06:35 GMT

A prayer for healing for Tom Lantos (D-CA).

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Joan O'Connor — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:09:05 GMT

I know far too many people who have died from this type of cancer; some were relatives. Mr. Lantos is to be honored deeply for all he has done for his adopted country.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

A. Brocco, Albuquerque,NM — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:15:28 GMT

He was fun to watch on CSpan,not too many of his peers got something past him. He surely will be missed and difficult to replace. Our prayers are with you Mr. Lantos.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Kisha — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:15:41 GMT

God bless Mr. Lantos and his family. You have been a wonderful public servant. Our prayers are with you sir.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Bruce, NV — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:25:48 GMT

Domenico, Cali is a big place. What area did Rep Lantos represent?

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Patrick Andersen, San Francisco — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:30:12 GMT

My wife and I live in Tom Lantos's district in San Francisco. We are very proud of all he has done, and we wish him a speedy recovery and a long and healthy retirement.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Kathryn in Bham — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:33:07 GMT

My prayers are with Lanto and those who will be his support throughout his journey to recovery.

I think it is important to note that like many of our current leaders and policy-makers, Lantos originally backed the 'war' (which is not really a 'war' in legal terms because we have no defined enemy - that is why we have a lack of veterans benefits and vets coming home to less than adequate support!)and has since changed that position. I think many people, both average citizens and those who serve us, are in that same boat. With the intelligence we had the action we took was justified (if not necessary). Having said that, I must say that we most all agree that we need a new direction at this point - that some poor decisions have been made and that we are looking to someone who can assess our position and move us in a new direction.
That means anyone who is calling for a complete troop withdrawal and an 'end' to the war is not being realistic. We are currently in a time of battle. We cannot elect a president based on the fact that we don't want to be at war - we essentially are. We cannot elect a democrat based on the fact that we are tired of the 'conservative christian' 'war mongoring' republican leadership. Bipartisan leadership is a must... we have to have a president who can unite our citizens and policy-makers for change to take place. Despite the fact that so many people dub it so, this is NOT President Bush's war - it is a conflict that our neighbors, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, moms and dads are fighting. It is a reality right now whether we originally voted for it or not, whether we like war or not, whether there are currently 'weapons of mass destruction' or not.

We must respect our ELECTED leaders and their work. We must vote for a leader who will forge a new path through the issues we face as americans.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Barbara C., Pompano Beach, FL — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:36:40 GMT

I really like Mr. Lantos. I will keep him in my prayers. What a shame...

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Douglas W. Long — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:44:55 GMT

An honorable and decent man, I wish nothing but the best for him.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Margaret Wells — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 19:55:01 GMT

How very sad. He will be very much missed in the halls of Congress. Congressman Lantos is a sterling example of why the only term limits we need are those at the ballot box.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Sierra, SF — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:01:10 GMT

Bruce, NV:'...Domenico, Cali is a big place. What area did Rep Lantos represent?...'

Tom Lantos represents the county south of San Francisco, San Mateo county, north of Silicon Valley

He was facing his first primary challenge this time around from ex-state Senator Jackie Speier

He held a hearing prior to the first Iraq war in which the Kuwaiti's ambassador's daughter masqueraded as a 'nurse'.
This 'nurse' testified that Iraqi troops had killed babies in her hopsital
A complete fabrication
But, more ammunition to push us into the previous unnecessary war

He was the only pro-war Democrat in the Bay Area

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Elsie Aviles — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:15:14 GMT

I feel very sorry for him though I don't know who he is but can relate as I am a cancer survivor myself and know, first hand, what he must be going through. Too bad our President did not approve the $ amount needed for adequate Cancer Research Funding. Hits home, I guess. My prayers are with him.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Nick, Sacramento, CA — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:34:25 GMT

Kathryn in Bham, the "intelligence we had" was not the intelligence the Bush Administration had. Iraq is Bush's war of choice. It was the only way his administration could retain power. When the Administration talked about mushroom clouds, yellow cake and aluminum tubes, it already new these were false.

When you allow US Oil Companies to "share" in the oil provits; what is the war really for - increasing US security; or protecting oil company profits???

I realize the blogger here are Republicans; however, even you have an alternative in Ron Paul. For me it's Obama.

As far as Lantos is concerned, I lived in the District next to his. Although he has been a strong supporter of Israel, at least he finally came to recognize the Iraq was/is not increasing security (unlike the Senator from CT).

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

jade7243 — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:00:29 GMT

Raise a glass and drink to his GOOD health, to thank him for his leadership, and praise him for his service to his country.

To Congressman Lantos!

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Amy B Portland, ME — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 21:44:15 GMT

"We cannot elect a democrat based on the fact that we are tired of the 'conservative christian' 'war mongoring' republican leadership. "

Yes we can, it's called democracy. We have the ability to replace failed leadership with fresh blood and a new direction.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Kathryn in Bham — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:18:55 GMT

Amy -
'fresh blood and a new direction' is not disputed! What I said is that we cannot (responsibly) elect a presidential candidate simply on the basis of a disdain for the current one. A fresh, new direction can come from a republican, and even many of the democrats have a record that shows they, too, backed the war. That is what I was saying...you HAVE to look further than just party affiliation in order to bring about change. And as we have seen, it takes a unifying leader to make change come about... you cannot expect change to happen if we elect a candidate who will polarize this nation!

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Bruce, NV — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 23:03:31 GMT

Here is part of Rep Lantos' farewell. All politicians would do well to rembmerthese words:

It is only in the United States that a penniless survivor of the Holocaust and a fighter in the anti-Nazi underground could have received an education, raised a family and had the privilege of serving the last three decades of his life as a member of Congress," he said. "I will never be able to express fully my profoundly felt gratitude to this great country."
__
Nick from Sac, you make it sound as if being a supporter of Israel is a bad thing. Please explain.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Amy B Portland, Me — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 01:54:23 GMT

".you HAVE to look further than just party affiliation in order to bring about change."

None of the Republicans stand for change, if only because they can't admit Bush's run has been a disaster. I know you think Bush hasn't been that bad, but I beg to differ. Whistle blowers demoted for reporting Iraq contract fraud, competent Republican Attorneys fired and replaced by less qualified loyal Bushites, a lack of leadership in rebuilding a major American city, lowered morale in major government agencies including the Justice Department, the falling American dollar, a huge increase in the national debt and so on and on and on. I haven't heard a single Republican, including Huckabee, propose a policy that will lead to change. Democrats have detailed plans for making government more transparent. They have plans to provide universal health care and tax cuts for the middle class. They promise not to repeal the Estate Tax or to make Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest permanent. If Republicans are for "change" it can only mean change for the worse.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

WJ McGrath, Pocono Summit, PA — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:30:33 GMT

Good ridance.

Lantos to retire after cancer revelation

Pacheck, Huntington Beach, Ca. — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 20:24:35 GMT

Congressman Lantos,
A true patriot. After being subjected to the nazi terror he did not let that break him down spititually. He used hie energies to get into government to make a difference for his fellow man. You are a roll-model for what a rightious man should be. Thank you for sharing your life with us. We are te richer for it.