David Kuo ("Tempting Faith") has malignant brain tumor...

[hlthe2b]

did anyone know this before tonight's 60 minutes broadcast?

Shades of Lee Atwater? (although I hesitate to compare Kuo, who seems like an idealist and generally decent guy to Atwater, but the similarity of 'end of life' confessions is there...

By all rights this revelation should add to Kuo's credibility, but I think we all know how the Bush* RWers will play it. :eyes:

Well, I admire you, Mr. Kuo. Best wishes to you...

[babylonsister]

1. Did he say malignant? I missed that. nt

[hlthe2b]

26. That is what I heard... that it was a reason for him leaving the WH

a couple of years ago... He has since written on some forums I found through Google that he'd had surgery but docs expected a recurrence (probably soon and in a much more aggressive form). So, that goes along with what I believe I heard Stahl say (i.e., malignant)

On edit: the transcript is now up and does say malignant, but no further info on type or prognosis (though one can assume)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/14/60minutes/main2089778_page3.shtml

[Armstead]

2. I wonder what his prognosis is?

Malignant brain tumor sounds scary and final. Do people ever survive that?

I do wish him best wishes. I thoroughly disagree with him and what he did, but he seems like a decent guy, and someone who has at least seen the error of his Republican ways.

[Horse with no Name]

8. Some do--depends on the the type of tumor

and the treatment he needs.
However, the chances of him losing brain function is very high because brain cells do not regenerate after they are damaged.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

21. It does depend on the tumor, BUT

there are recent studies that show that brain cells do regenerate, slowly, but they appear to. The thing is, the brain has several switching areas dedicated to specific tasks. If those go, serious problems result. Then again, there are other areas that are at the other extreme. Flexible, easily trained for new tasks and more.

I was researching visual impacts and how the brain "sees". Two examples of retraining, adaptation and new learning took me by surprise. In one test, volunteers wore a special pad on their backs. They were blindfolded and had a camera that sent a signal to the pad. The pad mechanically pressed on the subject's back in response to the image. After about 3 weeks, they could actually make out light and dark from input on their backs. Acuity was for shit, though. but they THOUGHT that they were seeing.

IN another test, volunteers wore special glasses that flipped the image upside down. (well, since the image is upside down inside our eyeball, the glasses reversed it) After 5-7 days, the subjects' brain flipped the image and they could do every task just as before.

So, while brain cancer is very deadly and sad in this case, it is not necessarily incurable or personality, functioning or memory changing.
Sorry for the thread flow. I can also imagine just how the GOP will respond "He's a sick man, so he can't be held accountable for his lies"

[Horse with no Name]

25. The brain is amazing

it will seek alternate pathways in healthy brain tissue which is why with a stroke victim or other brain injury patient, you don't ever give up right away.
There has been neuron regeneration shown in monkeys and they feel that it is very likely that the same occurs in humans. If they can prove the regeneration, then it possibly holds the key to cure Alzheimers or Parkinsons. Last I heard, it was still in research stages with the working hypotheses that brain cells do regenerate. However, I don't keep up with that branch of medicine since I don't do neuro anymore, but wasn't aware that they had reached the foregone conclusion.
Would be interesting to see the research.

[moc]

28. A good friend of mine had the third largest brain tumor ever removed

at Johns Hopkins Hospital (up until that time, at least). I believe it was the size of a grapefruit. It was nonmalignant, and she recoverd completely. She wrote a book about her experience. (http://www.amazon.com/Crazy-Visitation-Chronicle-Illness-Recovery/dp/0820322997/sr=8-1/qid=1160962044/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-8609790-1318231?ie=UTF8)

You're right that the brain is amazing.

[nealmhughes]

46. I had a stroke in February and could neither write, type nor do anything

hardly at all with my right hand and arm (the biceps would flex just fine, but the tendons that go from the biceps to the wrist did not flex properly). My left carotid was 100% occluded and I would awaken with my two smallest fingers (ring and pinkie) stiff and curled and had to use my left hand to unfurl them.

By the end of May I could straighten out my fingers and could support a bit of weight in my left arm. My handwriting is still horrid but I can type again, but lots of typos and it feels like I am lifting a barbell in my left arm, but at least I can brush my teeth, pick up objects and type again...if not well.

Oh, by the way, SS turned me down and told me to go be a photo finisher at WalMart or a greeter...I have a BA cum laude and 2 masters, one research and one professional....

I hate the Republicans for their indifference and their callous cupidity. What really irks me is that I am basicly unemployable (HIV positive and still recovering from a brain lesion two years ago) and I have been paying into SS since I was 17 years old, and am 45 now and worked even when I was in school!

But, the sob story aside, the brain is an amazing thing: too amazing to believe. I was a raging lunatic in November 2004 who weighed about 140# of nicotine/caffein fueled fury and vigilance avoiding the secret agents who were after me...now I am 170, legs of steel and mind like a slightly rusted iron trap... How did I recover? Easy, medical care and sheer willpower!

[never_get_over_it]

48. Good for you to keep up the fight

and the turning down by Social Security pisses me off so big I can't tell you - this is the third story I have heard of them doing this in recent months and each time I am stunned....

[susanna]

49. As a survivor of acute Eastern equine encephalitis, circa 1982

...I can back up your assertions.

Before the illness, I was very mathematical, spatial and engineering-oriented; my high school transcripts had gone to all the best technological universities, and been accepted. Afterwards, I became extremely verbal and social; a complete 180 for me. I still look back at that with absolute awe. I survived, but in a much different form. My brain found new ways of expressing itself, totally outside my conscious thought or desire. In the end, I never went to engineering school. That part of my brain was no longer what it had been, unfortunately, and I realized it.

It's kind of funny this topic came up; my husband and I were discussing it earlier. For the record, he's an engineer. I guess I couldn't give it up completely. ;-)

[FourScore]

12. The prognosis is rarely

good with a brain tumor. I have had two close friends die of them in my life. It depends of course on the type of cancer, but it doesn't sound very promising. Still, there are always miracles. It always makes me really sad to hear that a person has brain cancer. I wish Mr. Kuo and his loved ones strength and togetherness during this difficult time.

[LA lady]

14. Totally depends on type of tumor

My mother had a baseball size meningioma, was partially paralyzed and lost her speech. Within an hour of surgery she was basically normal
Her brother had a glioblastoma, excellent treatment and was dead in 4 months.

[Warpy]

61. It depends entirely on the type, the location

and whether or not it's encapsulated and easy to remove without damaging adjacent structures. Also, not all tumors are malignant.

The most common are meningiomas, which are benign tumors growing on the lining around the brain. They are generally removed without any trauma at all to the brain and the prognosis is excellent, although they may recur in a few people.

If he left in 2003 and it had been any of the aggressive tumors like the astrocytomas, he'd be totally incapacitated or dead. Radiation and surgical debulking are palliative measures that generally buy time, but that's it.

If I had to hazard a guess, I'd guess it was a meningioma.

[FourScore]

63. Kuo has a malignant tumor. n/t

[KittyWampus]

3. He seemed so... sincere (if that's the right word). I liked his use of t

the word "fast".

[K8-EEE]

4. Whistle blowers are heroes to me!

Good luck to you Mr. Kuo...I'm really sorry to hear this.

[hsher]

5. My prayers to brave Kuo and his family

[Horse with no Name]

6. A faithful man getting right with his God

I guess he wrote the book in case he loses his memory from surgery or other treatment. Something tells me this man wrote the book in a journal as it happened.
Very interesting.
I hope he has a complete recovery.

[NMDemDist2]

7. well, it sure brought him to Jesus

apologies to whoever that offends, I just find it horrible it takes a life threatening illness to get these people to confess the truth

but I saw the interview and wish him the best. I remember David Brock is now one of our most effective advocates and hope Mr Kuo becomes the same.

[Botany]

9. Sounds to me like maybe he is trying to put things right.

Lee Atwater died in pain ..... Michael Dukakis saw him on his
request and accepted his apology and forgave him for "Willie
Horton Stuff."

Mr. Kuo just put a knife in the middle of the Christian Right's
linkage to the repugs.

[Horse with no Name]

13. This is actually a watershed moment in light of this info

Every faithful Christian will know that he is telling the truth and warning them as they know he is getting his affairs in order in case he dies.
Nobody that believes in God would put this book out there under these conditions unless absolutely 100% true, because there may not be enough time to retract it. People that TRULY believe will know that.
The charlatans will be exposed as the ones who attempt to make a mockery of his book and the faithful will know that as well.

[Botany]

18. I think the real Christians dumped bush along time ago.

This might get to some of the ones who have being a republican =
to being a Christian though.


But maybe it will get more to see that bush truly is a monster
something we have known from the get go.

[hlthe2b]

19. One would certainly think so, Horse with no Name...

I hope you are right... This guy oozed sincerity, in my opinion.

[ChiciB1]

15. You Should Have Watched Andrew Sullivan On C-Span....

I've always liked him, but wasn't sure how he would finally make his decisions. I had thought in the beginning that he was much more Moderate and maybe sided with the Dems, but then learned he was actually a Conservative.

But listening to him tonight was SUPER! He remains a Conservative, I think, but he sure laid it on pretty think about the separation of Church & State!!!

It's IS too bad that some many people got "sucked" into the Neo-Con Garbage, and Sullivan even came out and said that. But so much damage has been done it's going to take more years than I will be able to stand to get some "balance" back here in America. IF WE EVER DO!

[MissWaverly]

27. well, David Kuo showed how they direct political issues

all the books and pamphlets about political hot issues at the convention they showed and
nothing about helping the poor, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, much of what
Jesus taught, it's all meshed into the political realm like David Kuo says Jesus
becomes a precinct captain.

[Olney Blue]

30. Yes, the facts speak for themselves-obvious even without Kuo.

Kuo had the insider access that confirms what we all suspected.

I believe we will see books trickling out of the inside of this nightmare for years......

[MissWaverly]

36. Agree, but the most convincing argument is that Kuo is a believer

he has a track record of being a fundie so he will resonate with them, and his idea of
a fast for them is a good idea, it's something they can relate to.

[Olney Blue]

43. Yes, he really thought he was doing good and trusted the GOP.

Somewhat like an idealist young page who goes to Congress, and trusts the GOP to take care of him.
These people are slimy.

[MissWaverly]

64. He thought Bush was commited to helping the poor

[spoony]

51. I just watched that.

It was the interview about his book, right? I really enjoyed what he was saying, especially how he wasn't going to let anyone bully him out of HIS church because he's gay. The way he put it was very moving.

[Rosemary2205]

65. All genuine conservatives support separation of church and state

The neocons have their own reasons for changing that basic tenet of conservatism.

[elehhhhna]

40. Wonder what Woodwards prognosis is. Must be very bad also.

[Jane Austin]

10. Radiation treatment is extremely precise these days, and I've seen it

succeed in stopping brain tumors in dogs.

Surely if they can do it effectively at a vet clinic in suburban Dallas, they can successfully treat one in humans at a big deal teaching hospital somewhere.

God bless him.

[ChiciB1]

22. I've Known TWO People Just In This Past 8 Months Who Died

from brain tumors. One was 39 and lived next door and the other 43 who was a relative of a very good friend of mine.

Both had surgeries and they helped a little, but in the end it only bought a little time. I know another person who has a son-in-law who has been diagnosed and is doing Chemo and whatever else they decide for right now. I has made me wonder a lot!!

[Horse with no Name]

23. It all depends on the type

Surgery is actually the gold standard treatment if it can be done.
It is imperative to retrieve all of the cancer cells surgically and then follow-up with chemo and/or radiation.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

37. "Stopping" a brain tumor is relative. Many, like astrocytoma (what Atwater

had), have so many fine strands or "fingers" woven into the surrounding brain tissue that you can't cut out enough surrounding brain to eliminate the tumor entirely without either killing or severely disabling or brain damaging the patient. Hence "incurable", but the combination of repeated surgery and other radiation and chemo can sometimes arrest things enough that the patient may get several years or more, often of decent quality life, with some of these very slow growing tumors.

We had a family friend who just died recently from one who had it over a decade and finally sucuumbed. The last year was rough, but her quality of life was excellent most of the rest of the time, pretty close to normal.

[karlrschneider]

11. First I had heard about it...I wasn't watching 100% and I THOUGHT

it sounded as if he HAD one but it was controlled? Maybe not. But you know what?...I can imagine
some RWers using that as 'evidence' that what he wrote is 'imagined', or...whatever.
:grr:

[brook]

16. He was diagnosed

with a non-malignant brain tumor 2 or 3 years ago - at which time he had surgery. It's possible he had - or will have a reoccurance.

[hlthe2b]

24. I heard Stahl say malignant on 60 minutes...

are you sure? It was jarring because it just sort of tumbled out and there was very little follow-up, so I might have heard wrong, but I don't believe so.... But, yes, he was diagnosed and left the WH shortly thereafter they said...:shrug:

I hope that it is non-malignant.

[brook]

32. Show hasn't aired here yet.

In that case, I guess it's his second time around.

[ikojo]

56. He pre-empted that argument by saying that

people WOULD say he's a liberal or the facts in the book are the result of his brain tumor.

[williesgirl]

17. He wrote book after diagnosis. Like he'd lie thinking he was meeting his

maker. NOT!

[stella]

20. PLEASE PLEASE PEOPLE

Reward this man and go buy his book.

[CatWoman]

35. I plan to Stella

gonna order it from Amazon :)

[hlthe2b]

29. transcript is up now... sadly, they do say malignant...

although they don't id the type of tumor nor discuss prognosis.

From the transcript, Kuo's own words:

"You know if naïve is believing in a promise, I'll plead to that sort of naiveté," Kuo replies.

This has been gnawing at both him and his wife since 2003, when he learned he had a malignant brain tumor, and left politics for good. Now he has written his book, "Tempting Faith," published by a CBS sister company.

"I have this burden on my heart that the name of God is just being destroyed in the name of politics," Kuo says. "I felt like I had to write this."

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/14/60minutes/main2089778_page3.shtml

[madfloridian]

34. Here's a 3 minute video clip from CBS.

http://www.cbsnews.com/sections/i_video/main500251.shtml?id=2089880n

He looks like such a sincere guy.

[Justice]

52. "name of God is just being destroyed in the name of politics"

"I have this burden on my heart that the name of God is just being destroyed in the name of politics," Kuo says. "I felt like I had to write this."

No truer words were ever spoken. Even God is not sacred to these guys - so why are we surprised they would protect child stalkers and urge them to run again - and blame the pages for asking for it - or invade a country based on lies, and kill more than a half million of its people, and suffer thousand of deaths to its own military?

[bdamomma]

57. yes, I totally agree with his comment

God is being destroyed in the name of politics.

If we know now how this regime has used us, why shouldn't we believe that these evangelical groups are being used by bushie just for political brownie points.

[chat_noir]

31. just found this pic

Look at Cheney's expression...lol!






Mr. Kuo, you are in our sincere prayers.

[hlthe2b]

33. the little cloud above Cheney's head, very clearly is saying:

"what a putz!"

[ck4829]

39. I thought I would never see the hybrid of a prayer and the roman salute

But, that's exactly what it looks like,

[NewJeffCT]

41. Bush looks almost constipated there

Or, is it just me?

[youthere]

55. Bush is supposed to be PRAYING in that pic?!!

I thought he was trying to get down the hand movements to the "fishie" song. You know...
"poop poop diddum daddum waddum chew..and they swam and they swam all over the damn."

[BootinUp]

58. His expression makes me think "Pharisee"

Bush's expression.

[bdamomma]

59. oh I would just love to slap the crap out of both of them!!

[krkaufman]

38. "malignant"? I just watched the segment again... malignant not mentioned

He *did* say "maybe that brain tumor really messed up his head?" right at the end, but it wasn't mentioned otherwise.


edit: p.s. A quick google turned up this comment from Kuo's http://www.beliefnet.com/story/184/story_18491_1.html">web page on beliefnet.com...

I had a brain tumor a few years ago. The doctors expect that it will return at some point--one that could be kind of soon. If it returns, it will likely be more aggressive than when it first appeared.

[hlthe2b]

42. It was easy to miss, but Leslie Stahl did say so... & in transcript...

as well--up on their website now...

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/10/14/60minutes/main2089778_page3.shtml

--snip--
"You know if naïve is believing in a promise, I'll plead to that sort of naiveté," Kuo replies.

This has been gnawing at both him and his wife since 2003, when he learned he had a malignant brain tumor, and left politics for good. Now he has written his book, "Tempting Faith," published by a CBS sister company.

"I have this burden on my heart that the name of God is just being destroyed in the name of politics," Kuo says. "I felt like I had to write this."
--more--

[krkaufman]

45. Yep, you're very correct. I obviously didn't pay attention. n/t

[Marr]

44. I'm a bit off topic here, but I'm wondering- has anyone connected Bush

to Kuo's argument? I've heard much of Rove using the Christian right, but nothing of Bush. He's simply not brought up, as though his own PR machine is just completely disconnected from him. GW Bush always seems to get the "I believe his religiosity is sincere" crap.

I was never sure whether W's religious devotion was sincere or not, but after Kuo's revelations, I'd say it's pretty obviously all bullshit.

[pauliedangerously]

47. This is a great opportunity

...for all of the believers out there to demonstrate the power of prayer. Save him. Make me believe.

[calimary]

50. Shades of lee atwater indeed. MOST illuminating that, when the

Grim Reaper is breathing down their necks, only then do they change their tune and try to make amends. Not like they could have done the genuinely right thing - just ANYWAY.

Sigh...

There are many DUers here much more forgiving than I feel inclined to be at the moment. Hopefully I'll get there. That's how it's supposed to work, anyway. Granted, having watched the segment, I think this guy was probably fairly well-meaning. But he could have bailed and blown the whistle a lot sooner. Like maybe sometime before we logged 27-HUNDRED American deaths in Iraq - and HOW MANY deaths among the Iraqis? Good that he finally came around, but how could he fall for it in the first place? And why was he in there to begin with, pushing religion on matters of state? Or did he think that the separation of church and state just didn't apply? After all, he did admit it was his idea to mix religion and political campaigning...

I'm not ready to cut this guy much slack yet. I admire you guys here who are, but I just can't go there just yet. We'll see if his book or his public mea culpas do any real good. Maybe then...

[Mend]

54. I know a super-rich, disgusting repuke business man who is

looking to buy a church. I kid you not. He really believes that will straighten it out for the afterlife.

[LeftishBrit]

53. Sadly, malignant brain tumours usually don't have a good prognosis

With good treatment, people nowadays sometimes live a few years, but long-term survival is unlikely. There are, however, some people who beat the odds, and I hope he will be one.

With non-malignant brain tumours, the prognosis is often excellent, depending on where they are, how fast they are growing, and how easily they can be removed.

Unfortunately, I've known too many people who have had brain tumours - I wish there could be some better form of treatment to cure everyone.

[BootinUp]

60. Mr. Kuo's heart is in the right place

He made the mistake so many well meaning folks have made in recent years in trusting the BushCo gang at their word. Sincere wish for him and his family that he comes through this ordeal.

[Chimichurri]

62. Bushco can't play this one. The Folley Folly has devastated an already

weakened movement and Kuo's book only solidifies what the Christian right have been suspecting all along. Kuo essentially is credible to the fundamentalists where Bush increasingly is not. The whitehouse can try to swiftboat him all they want - although you notice they haven't yet - because they know it will backfire if they do. They've outplayed themselves.

Rove isn't as smart as everyone says he is. The only way the republicans retain control come November is if they steal it.