he died of cancer at an absurdly young age.
if the cause of his cancer was ultimately some kind of exposure in iraq - something that is noted by researchers but poorly understood - then that would make him about as stupid a person as has ever existed, given he had no reason to put himself at that kind of risk, as the son of a sitting senator and eventual vice-president.
i don't know if i'd call him a sucker..
i think i'd give him a darwin award, though.