Dementia

It's a terrible personal tragedy that Pete Domenici (R-NM) has a progressive, judgement-destroying dementia. It's also a powerful metaphor for the Republican Party.

The further irony is that the GOP will not demand the resignation of someone who is medically and incurably unfit to serve, while it will demand the resignation of someone who pled guilty to soliciting gay sex.

Of course, crass partisan political calculations about the appointment of a successor are more important than anything to them.