I just saw this at AOL's main page:
WASHINGTON (Oct. 4) - Sen. Pete Domenici is retiring after a generation as a dominant Republican voice on budget matters in Congress , deferring to health concerns after six terms in office.
A draft statement prepared for Domenici's formal announcement Thursday disclosed that the 75-year-old New Mexico Republican has a progressive disease that can cause dysfunction in the parts of the brain important for organization, decision-making and control of mood and behavior.
Apparently he has Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, which essentially does just that; as the link says, it's considered the fourth-leading cause of dementia among those 65 and older.
In his prepared remarks, Domenici said that as recently as April, "the disease had not progressed." A late September checkup showed a slight progression, causing him to scrap plans to seek a new term, he said in the remarks.
"No cure for my disease exists, yet," he said. "But, if we work hard enough, we may be able to find a way to cure people with diseases of the brain in the future. That would be truly a wonderful thing."
Mayhaps this might inspire some more support of stem cell research among Republicans; whatever the case I personally would wish the best outcome for Sen. Domenici. Dementia's not a pretty thing.
In the meantime, this means we have (cue dramatic music) ANOTHER OPEN SENATE SEAT...
His retirement is expected to spur a scramble among the state's top politicians who have long hoped to succeed him. Among them are Republican Reps. Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce and Democratic Rep. Tom Udall. Other possible Democratic contenders include Albuquerque Mayor Martin J. Chavez and state Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.
Don Wiviott and Jim Hannan have already entered the race.
EDIT: 1:56p EDT: And in the red corner, Heather Wilson is officially running (thanks Bumblebums)