republican rep kay granger is lost in the weeds? for whatever it's worth (nada) works for me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kay_Granger

I see your granger, and raise you one Dianne Feinstein.

I see your Feinstein and raise you one Strom Thurmond.

I see your Strom Thurmond and raise you Robert Byrd, Thad Cochran, Charles Grassley, Mitch McConnell, John Conyers, Daniel Inouye, Ted Stevens, Carl Levin, Frank Lautenberg, James Eastland, Jesse Helms.

I see your call, and raise you one Joe Biden.

I see your Biden and raise you one Ronald Reagan.

Raise back… Boris Yeltsin.
Raise back: Leonid Brezhnev.

Oh yeah? You're going Russian on me? Done! Joseph Stalin!!
Stalin suffered a fatal stroke on March 1, 1953, but his death was not announced until March 5. Reports suggest that his inner circle delayed medical assistance and covered up his death to secure power and manage the transition.

Pfft!!
Vladimir Lenin's final years were marked by significant health challenges and political struggles. After the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 and the establishment of the Soviet Union, Lenin worked tirelessly despite growing health problems. He experienced his first stroke in May 1922, followed by a second one in December of the same year. These events limited his ability to speak and forced him to withdraw from active political life for extended periods.

Lenin suffered a third, more debilitating stroke in March 1923, leaving him partially paralyzed and unable to participate in the Twelfth Congress of the Bolshevik Party. Despite brief signs of recovery later that year, a fourth stroke in January 1924 proved fatal. He passed away on January 21, 1924, at the age of 53.


Deaths of ….
King George VI (United Kingdom, 1952)
Francisco Franco (Spain, 1975)
Le Duan (Vietnam, 1986)
Kim Jong-il (North Korea, 2011)

…. All delayed announcements!!!

Yes, there are several instances in Ancient Rome and Greece where leaders held onto power long after they were mentally incompetent or, in some cases, even after their death. Below are some examples, with a focus on both Roman and Greek examples:

### 1. **Emperor Tiberius (Rome)**
- **Timeline**: Tiberius ruled from 14 CE to 37 CE. By the later years of his reign, he was believed to be mentally unstable and paranoid, especially after the death of his son, Drusus.
- **Mental Decline**: Tiberius retreated to the island of Capri around 26 CE, where he left much of the governing to others, particularly Sejanus, his praetorian prefect. His absence and inability to effectively govern led to increased manipulation and corruption.
- **Posthumous Control**: Even after his death in 37 CE, his reign left a lingering atmosphere of fear and political manipulation, with his legacy being dominated by the intrigues of his family and successors.

**Sources**:
- *Suetonius' "The Twelve Caesars"*
- *Tacitus' "Annals"*

### 2. **Emperor Commodus (Rome)**
- **Timeline**: Commodus ruled from 177 CE to 192 CE. Known for his erratic behavior and eventual insanity, Commodus' reign saw an increasing detachment from the real world.
- **Mental Decline**: Commodus became obsessed with gladiatorial combat, often fighting in the arena himself, which was considered disgraceful for an emperor. His paranoia and erratic decisions alienated both the military and the Senate.
- **Posthumous Control**: After Commodus' assassination in 192 CE, his death was initially covered up as his officials sought to maintain some semblance of order in the empire.

**Sources**:
- *Dio Cassius' "Roman History"*
- *Herodian's "History of the Roman Empire"*

### 3. **The Case of the "Living Dead" Emperors (Rome)**
- **Timeline**: The most notable example is Emperor **Carus** (283285 CE) and his successor **Carinus**, whose reigns involved significant political instability.
- **Posthumous Manipulation**: In some cases, emperors' deaths were covered up by the military or political elite to maintain power. For example, when Carus was believed to have died during a campaign in Persia, his death was either manipulated or prolonged in public perception to maintain control.
- **Political Consequences**: These actions often led to dynastic struggles and an atmosphere of intrigue, as successors and military leaders exploited these gaps of power.

**Sources**:
- *Eutropius' "Breviarium Historiae Romanae"*
- *Ammianus Marcellinus' "Res Gestae"*

### 4. **Alexander the Great's Successors (Greece)**
- **Timeline**: After Alexander's death in 323 BCE, his empire, which stretched across the known world, was left without a clear successor. His death, at a relatively young age, sparked disputes among his generals and family members.
- **Posthumous Rule**: Although Alexander was dead, his generals (the Diadochi) often ruled in his name or under his authority, leading to a chaotic period of power struggles. His mentally incompetent half-brother, Philip III Arrhidaeus, was declared king but was essentially a puppet ruler under the control of other generals.
- **Control by Proxies**: Even after Alexander's death, the empire's power was manipulated by others who claimed authority in his name, ultimately splitting the empire into several Hellenistic kingdoms.

**Sources**:
- *Plutarch's "Life of Alexander"*
- *Diodorus Siculus' "Library of History"*

### 5. **Ptolemaic Dynasty (Egypt, Hellenistic Period)**
- **Timeline**: The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Egypt following Alexander the Great's death, and many of the rulers were controlled by powerful ministers or family members.
- **Notable Example Ptolemy XIII**: The most famous example is **Ptolemy XIII**, who was manipulated by his advisors and wife, Cleopatra, as he struggled with mental incompetency and was eventually overthrown.
- **Posthumous Influence**: Cleopatra herself, after the death of Julius Caesar, managed to control Egypt with significant autonomy despite challenges from her brother and co-ruler.

**Sources**:
- *Plutarch's "Life of Antony"*
- *Appian's "History of Rome"*

These historical cases show the political complexity and intrigue that existed in both Greek and Roman contexts. The manipulation of power by ruling elites or family members often continued even after the physical or mental decline of the leader, and in some cases, even after their death, demonstrating the sometimes fragile and power-driven nature of ancient regimes.