he was found dead in his bathroom... reported by CNN

Isn't it odd that most Republicans only get their 15 minutes of fame either during the trial or posthumously.

Guys, the man died. His family grieves like anyone else. Don't ape the right wing blogs.

Yeah, I agree. Lay off the bathroom comments. Does anyone know anything about him other than he was a Republican? What I want to know is, what is the process for replacing him? What are the laws in Ohio concerning this?

Well, it is truly sad, and my sympathies to his family. It really doesn't do much good for us to use this time to show our ass and act as badly as the Repugs. Besides that, if you really want to say anything political at a time like this, I think it's inappropriate to make veiled accusations of wrongdoing. I don't necessarily even think it's appropriate yet to discuss the possible availability of his seat, but at least that wouldn't be as bad as gloating over the body. Very ghoulish, I must say!

As far as I know, this guy is not one of the, at least obviously, corrupt politicians nor an obvious hypocrite, so leave the nasty remarks to the wingnuts and stay out of the gutter.

I usually enjoy the humorous and pointed remarks posted here. But not today.

Geeez folks....I hate hypocrisy on BOTH sides of the aisle. But this guy died...and there doesn't seem to be a hint of scandal around him.

Ease up and act your age.

we don't have to glorify the guy, but at the very least we can be decent.

Wow, some people are actually cheering and jeering because a Republican has died. Thankfully it's an extremely small minority of people who are small-minded, obsessive and deeply troubled enough to consider all Republicans and people who vote for them to be criminals.

Some of the biggest a**holes in history left behind grieving families. Not saying he's one of them -- just that dying doesn't automatically make you a better person.

NITA @ 32:

Yes death is bad, but just as a practical matter, how does the vacancy get filled?

There's a run-off election in a few months... maybe this Nov. or spring of 2008. Remember what happened to Sonny Bono's seat when he smacked into a tree while playing that stupid "football on skis" sport?

Gillmor was the ranking Republican on the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee. He also serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and chaired its Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee until the Republicans lost control of Congress in 2007.
The American Conservative Union gave Gillmor's 2005 voting record 82 points out of a possible 100 points; the liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him 0 points.

Sadness!
This insensitivity is just fodder for the Right. I wouldn't be shocked if Hannity or Rush were to jump on these dumbass comments and use THEM devisively. Don't play their game. If you imbicles want to be politically prudent with someones death, SHUT THE HELL UP! That'd be a step in the "correct" direction. Don't step right, or you'll step in it!

staySINvegas @ 44:

Sadness!
This insensitivity is just fodder for the Right. I wouldn't be shocked if Hannity or Rush were to jump on these dumbass comments and use THEM devisively. Don't play their game. If you imbicles want to be politically prudent with someones death, SHUT THE HELL UP! That'd be a step in the "correct" direction. Don't step right, or you'll step in it!

THANK YOU!!!

idiots.

NITA @ 42:

Gillmor was the ranking Republican on the Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit Subcommittee of the Financial Services Committee. He also serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, and chaired its Environment and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee until the Republicans lost control of Congress in 2007.
The American Conservative Union gave Gillmor's 2005 voting record 82 points out of a possible 100 points; the liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave him 0 points.

"The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with the bones." Shakespeare had the Repubs pegged to a T.

Correction. "their bones"

Teeny little laptop keyboard, heh.

gene vincent: i went to the link and yes the guy was a dickhead, but i still say it's in poor form to dance in the street at his passing.

mark@50: kiss my entire ass

Mike Jones @ 55:

refers to deleted post

Well, give the Dems a good long reign in power and they will start f**king up like (R) did. At least it won't be hypocritical episodes of morality flaws, it will be them corrupted by the power. I am NO conservative in any way, but when one party is in power for so long, they get complacent, as the (R) did.

Grave-dancing has its place. This isn't one of them. Gilmor was something of a social conservative and his vote could be counted on for issues in that area, but he was in the Teddy Roosevelt mold in areas like the environment where he led efforts to enact legislation that mandated cleanup of brownfield sites. He also sponsored (unsuccessful) legislation that would have prohibited federal unfunded mandates on the states, one of those good-government, populist, bipartisan issues that we don't embrace often enough.

On the whole, he was not one of the bad guys. Sure, it would be nice to flip his seat, but not this way.

My condolences to his family and supporters.

C&Lers, we have a long standing policy of not allowing inappropriate comments when noting the passing or illness of a public person. We're not interested in being linked and our bandwidth hogged by right wingers eager to prove the ugliness and intolerance of the left.

There are some things that transcend partisan lines. John Amato has asked that you keep your comments respectful and the site team has asked that you be aware that anything crossing the line will be deleted without comment.

If that is too difficult to do, I respectfully ask that you move on to another thread.

If a Republican congressman died unexpectedly 15-20 years ago I doubt there would have been as many unsympathetic comments as some of the ones I have read in this thread. But we have since lived through the Republican political reign of political terror when they controlled all three branches of government Hundreds of thousands of innocent people have died because of a lie based Republican war. Divisive mean spirited politics has become a Republican election strategy in the age of Karl Rove resulting in a deeply polarized nation. Republican religious bigots have blamed the 911 attacks on gay americans while the Republican politicians accuse those who disagree with them of being anti-American and of aiding the terrorists. Rather than spending our money to take care of the citizens of this country the Republicans have tried to dismantle social programs for people in need at home, at the same time they send trillions into a war meant to enrich the coffers of war profiteers.

I feel bad for the guy and for his family. I also feel bad for all those at home and abroad who have been negatively affected by Republican legislation, politics and policy.

mark @ 66:

refers to deleted comment

What does what you just stated have to do with re-claiming the country? I dislike Republican values, but hating a person because of party affiliation is ridiculous! It is teh VERY thing we decry about Republicans.

As for your assertion about me losing a friend in a war, I fought in the First Gulf War and I lost two friends when I was in Somalia and my childhood friend recently died in Iraq, a war I am very much against, so can the rhetoric. What are you illustrating by that point?

Condolences to his family.

Now, let's elect someone to his office that represents the people.

his legislative record is, almost to a vote, the exact opposite of my views... but, that said, i can't find joy in an unexpected death from a corporate pawn. he was a puppet and a pawn, a man using his voice to discriminate, villify and cause harm for the benefit of the corporatocracy. and, most likely, his seat will be filled be another just like him.

but, still, i just can't find joy in his death. now, if he was impeached, or thrown out on his ears, or forced to pick up a rifle and carry it in haditha, etc. THAT i would celebrate.

but i think a lot of people's reactions (the celebratory ones) are indicative of just what he and his ilk have brought upon themselves with their strategy of hate, division and lies

*slowly backs out of grave dance forum*

My sympathies to his family.

According to govote.com...

Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 20% by the ACLU, indicating an anti-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)

Rated 93% by the US COC, indicating a pro-business voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 25% by the NEA, indicating anti-public education votes. (Dec 2003)

Voted NO on starting implementation of Kyoto Protocol. (Jun 2000)

Rated 15% by the LCV, indicating anti-environment votes. (Dec 2003)

Rated 84% by the Christian Coalition: a pro-family voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 39% by CATO, indicating a mixed record on trade issues. (Dec 2002)

Rated A by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 12% by APHA, indicating a anti-public health voting record. (Dec 2003)

Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003)

Condolenses (?) to his family, but he doesn't seem like the kind of person I would like.

Politics aside, I want to send my condolences to Rep. Gillmor's family for their loss. May he rest in peace.

hug the moon,

I'm not sad. I'm just not gloating. See the difference?

RIP

72.
I'm not talking about cherry picking, just starting over! maybe it would be just as bad, but it might not, as I think people are not used to being called on their incivility. I have some friends who have progressive bumper stickers all over their cars, and I always caution them to drive nice, as they are representing the rest of us who believe in their publicly endorsed viewpoints. The freepers are proud of their distasteful slamming of progressive activists and politicians, are you? Sorry, I am a 58 year old woman, who raised progressive respectful children, so I am in the minority around here...

all that being said, go ahead, sound like badly raised children, if you want.

hannah @ 70:

72.
I have some friends who have progressive bumper stickers all over their cars, and I always caution them to drive nice, as they are representing the rest of us who believe in their publicly endorsed viewpoints.

You don't own the progressive viewpoint. You can't be a progressive unless you're a good driver? I understand you want to endorse your own viewpoint and ideas, but so does everyone else. I am liberal, progressive, democrat, whatever the term is now-a-days, and I am still not be saddened by this event, even if other liberal/progressive/democrats are.

He's a Republican. From Ohio. I'm working REAL hard to remain compassionate for his family and friends... maybe if the 2004 election hadn't been stolen it would be easier... maybe if Republicans weren't murdering US soldiers in the name of partisan politics it would be easier...

I ain't gonna celebrate his death, that's just wrong. But I can't bring myself to mourn much.

I lived in the OH-5 for 4 years. Conditions there are no better than in the rest of the state (or the rust belt for that matter) thanks to the Republicans running Ohio into the ground, much like they have the nation. I never heard of any juicy scandals - the like of which dog a lot of the Republican party - connected with Rep. Gillmor, and certainly I never wished for him to die. Retire, maybe, but not this.

Still, don't expect me to weep bitter tears. His politics were abhorrent to everything I believe in.

His Democratic challenger in the last 2 elections was Robin Weirauch.

I live in his district, and while I was opposed to most of his positions, my sympathies are certainly extended to his wife and family. However, Paul was not without his short-comings. He came under heavy criticisim for living in a northern suburb of Columbus, far out of his district in NW Ohio, in a $1 million Mc-mansion that was deeded to a subsidiary of a lobbyist and campaign contributor (according to reports in the Toledo Blade back in May.) I believe a special election will be called to fill his seat. It should be interesting, because the Democratic candidate, Robin Weirauch, that ran against him the last two times was already planning to challenge him again after garnering 43% of the vote last year.

I wonder how the boy voted in all his privileged votes he cast throughout his lifetime. Hopefully he voted to support the people of this country.

Other than that. It saddens me that this possible bozo died, for his family and all. And we should spend as much time considering the deaths of those in Darfur, AFrica, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. This world is a mess and lucky for this Congressman, he had a chance to do something about it while he was alive.

hannah @ 79:

Stonicus @ 73:

hannah @ 70:

72.
I have some friends who have progressive bumper stickers all over their cars, and I always caution them to drive nice, as they are representing the rest of us who believe in their publicly endorsed viewpoints.

You don't own the progressive viewpoint. You can't be a progressive unless you're a good driver? I understand you want to endorse your own viewpoint and ideas, but so does everyone else. I am liberal, progressive, democrat, whatever the term is now-a-days, and I am still not be saddened by this event, even if other liberal/progressive/democrats are.

I haven't said anything about being saddened by his death, in fact, outside of being able to feel compassion for those who may have loved him in all his republican intolerance, i feel nothing about his passing. I know I don't own the progressive movement, never did I say I ordered my friends to drive nice, just that it feeds the freepers to see someone whose bumper says peace and love and their speed says get the hell outa my way. We say the rightwing believes in the right to life until birth, and then speed through a crosswalk? talk about hypocrisy! I'm just sayin' 'walk your talk.'

btw, it appears that some comments have been deleted, don't blame me, I said clean slate, not cherry pick.

in fact, it seems my initial post was deleted, which i find very strange. mod please explain? you have my email

[deleted-- Please see Nicole's post re: commenting policy]

Peter Hollman @ 88:

Talk about bleeding heart liberals…

He lived a full and eventful life… especially between 2001 and 2006…

the opposite of dysfunctional is still dysfunctional..

"Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back -- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you." - Frederich Buechner

BGDar @ 78:

I live in his district, and while I was opposed to most of his positions, my sympathies are certainly extended to his wife and family. However, Paul was not without his short-comings. He came under heavy criticisim for living in a northern suburb of Columbus, far out of his district in NW Ohio, in a $1 million Mc-mansion that was deeded to a subsidiary of a lobbyist and campaign contributor (according to reports in the Toledo Blade back in May.) I believe a special election will be called to fill his seat. It should be interesting, because the Democratic candidate, Robin Weirauch, that ran against him the last two times was already planning to challenge him again after garnering 43% of the vote last year.

I also am in the 5th district, have not supported him. RIP

This certainly will be an early indicator of Republican turn out in these
most interesting of times.....District is carved out of the heartland and
many are ready for change.

Also, check out this festival in BG, Ohio this weekend. It's Hot!!
And free..... progressive friendly

www.blackswamparts.org

[deleted--please see Nicole's post re: commenting policy.]

Blue Buddha @ 30:

NITA @ 32:

Yes death is bad, but just as a practical matter, how does the vacancy get filled?

There's a run-off election in a few months... maybe this Nov. or spring of 2008. Remember what happened to Sonny Bono's seat when he smacked into a tree while playing that stupid "football on skis" sport?

You're thinking of Michael Kennedy. Sonny Bono died after skiing into a tree, but was not playing douchebag football.

Note to early comments invoking Rush and Hannity .... don't even mention their names and give them any credibility. What anyone says or does, or doesn't say or do, will not alter the bile that they emit. My belief is to spread the word to not listen nor watch them EVER. In addition, don't buy their advertisers products and let those advertisers know your intentions.

Dr. Acula @ 64:

Let's look on the bright side -- Ted Strickland's a Dem, so HOPEFULLY he'll appoint a Dem to replace Gillmor!

Not how it works...special elections for House seats. Since the real elections are more than a year away, they will hold one.

C&Lers, we have a long standing policy of not allowing inappropriate comments when noting the passing or illness of a public person. We’re not interested in being linked and our bandwidth hogged by right wingers eager to prove the ugliness and intolerance of the left.

There are some things that transcend partisan lines. John Amato has asked that you keep your comments respectful and the site team has asked that you be aware that anything crossing the line will be deleted without comment.

If that is too difficult to do, I respectfully ask that you move on to another thread.

No snark intended, just an honest question: If the prospect of bandwidth-hogging by right wingy-dingies is that much of a concern, why post about the deaths/ill-health of Republican figures at all? It's your site and all that, but when you know that your audience are hard-pressed to be civil to these people (deserved or not), aren't you inviting some nastiness in the first place?