Potent Cast of Characters Departing Congress [View All]

By Thomas Ferraro

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - They feature an elderly former Olympian who still rides a motorcycle, a female voice from the 1994 "Republican Revolution" and a stately looking southerner who once called a political foe a "skunk."


Say good-bye to these and other one-time power brokers and deal makers, along with some of the more colorful characters ever to walk the marble halls, who decided not to run for reelection on Tuesday and retire from the U.S. Congress.


Farewell tears are limited.


Sen. Zell Miller's fellow Democrats are happy to see him go. The crusty conservative has routinely blasted them while backing Republican President Bush, including a fiery speech at the Republican National Convention and continuing on the campaign trail.


Departing lawmakers left a mark, often with sparks.

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