Ms. Davis' passing is sad and a tragic reminder that work is still needed in finding a cure for cancer and other diseases that continue to unnecessarily cost human lives. Unfortunately, earlier this year President Bush proposed cutting funding for cancer research by $40 million and cutting government funds for other major health programs and services by hundreds of millions of dollars hurting countless Americans.

Not cool.  Reminds me of Bush's backing of the Second Amendment before he gave his speech mourning the tragic events of VA Tech.

My condolences to all who are suffering at Congresswoman Davis' passing. 

Ms. Davis' passing is sad and a tragic reminder that work is still needed in finding a cure for cancer and other diseases that continue to unnecessarily cost human lives. Unfortunately, earlier this year President Bush proposed cutting funding for cancer research by $40 million and cutting government funds for other major health programs and services by hundreds of millions of dollars hurting countless Americans.

In this time of sadness, let us all recall the words of the ancient hymn and prayer of comfort and support, "May the angels lead you to paradise, and may the martyrs greet you on your arrival ?"

There's a difference between Democrats conveying a strong image and Democrats just acting like insensitive jerks. 

Yes the politions muddied the waters to throw us off the true reason for VT.

HEALTH CARE.

My deepest condolences to the entire Davis family.

I wonder if it was a recurring cancer?  Because from my background working in the Oncology Dept. at INOVA, I was pretty sure breast cancer was the least dangerous of most of the cancers.  And as a warning to everybody, go to a dermatologist every so often!  My friend is 23 and he found out he had a melanoma last week, so don't be afraid to test that splotch on your arm or skin.

In terms of cancers, my impression is that brain and lung cancers are the cancers with the worst overall prognoses, with the non-juvenile blood cancers being the most curable.

As for Shaun O'Donnell's comments, I agree they seem insensitive on first reading -- but if you read the full quote and ruminate on it, I think it's a valid statement, even though it may make some people uncomfortable. I understand the desire not to politicize someone's death, but politics is inseparable from life. It would be insensitive to send her family a note like that or make that speech at her funeral, but one of the major problems we have in this country is that our policy makers are insulated and divorced from the effects of their choices on the country writ large. I think it's valid to point out that if more taxpayer money were spent on breast cancer research instead of other "priorities," fewer women would die early.

Isaiah 57:1-2

Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis made history when she became the first female Republican elected to the House of Representatives from the Commonwealth in 2000. She inspired Virginians as she battled breast cancer, while continuing to serve the Commonwealth. Anne and I are saddened by her passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends today.

Ut Prosim
Matusleo

I am sorry to hear the news that Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis passed today, and my sympathies go out to her family, friends and constituents. I served with Congresswoman Davis in the House of Delegates, and knew her to be an articulate, hardworking and courageous advocate for America First District. Her most courageous fight, ultimately, was the one she fought for the last two years against breast cancer. I hope her life and her death will inspire us to continue the fight against breast cancer and, one day, find a cure.

I am a Democrat Abroad, a Virginia voter who lives in Yokohama, Japan. I just posted the following on our DemsAbroad Yahoo! Group.

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I don't know how many of us have even noticed the news that Congresswoman Jo Ann Davis (Republican, 1rst district, Virginia) died last week of breast cancer at the age of 57. Jo Ann Davis was my representative in Congress, and I had been hoping that we Democrats could come up with a candidate to unseat her in 2008. So hearing the news, I turned instantly to my favorite political blog, Raising Kaine, to see what people were saying about her death. What I found was genuine respect, sincere condolences to her family, prayers from the religious, tributes from those who gave Davis full credit for being the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Virginia. I was genuinely touched to see how people who were among her staunchest political opponents responded with a grace and civility so often lacking in political life today. Call me old-fashioned. It made me proud to be a Democrat from Virginia.

John McCreery
Yokohama, Japan