23 Republican Retirements So Far and More to Come

http://alternet.org/blogs/peek/69043/#more

23 Republican Retirements So Far and More to Come

Posted by Howie Klein, Down With Tyranny! at 1:00 PM on November 27, 2007.

Howie Klein: The premature retirements of Hastert and Lott are just a small part of a larger trend.

This post, written by Howie Klien, originally appeared on Down With Tyranny!

Yesterday Trent Lott's unexpected resignation from the Senate and Denny Hastert's long overdue one from the House, brought the number of Republicans leaving electoral politics to 17 in the House and 6 in the Senate. The Chairman of the NRCC, right-wing extremist Tom Cole (R-OK) tried to put on a brave face. "I don't hear a drumbeat that 'We're not effective and I don't like it here anymore.'" Maybe he needs to listen more carefully.

But with so many lawmakers -- including a large number from competitive states and districts -- heading for the exits, it's hard not to point to the GOP's newfound minority status in Washington, the turnover in party leadership and the perilous political environment heading into 2008 to explain the exodus.

Chris Cillizza in this morning's Washington Post thinks it's no exaggeration to say Republicans find themselves in serious danger of falling deeper into the minority in both houses. He points out how retirements seem to be throwing Republican held seats in New Mexico, Virginia and Colorado to Democrats Tom Udall, Mark Warner and Mark Udall, respectively.

"It's in the House, however," according to Cillizza., "where surprise retirements in swing districts have badly crippled Republican attempts to bounce back from 2006. And it's in the House where there are likely to be even more retirements. Currently on Republican retirement watch are John Doolittle (CA), Bill Young (FL), Tom Davis (VA), and Roscoe Bartlett (MD). And although increasingly unstable Chris Shays (CT) says he's not retiring (as of this week), he's become so bizarre that you never know what to expect from him.

And there is still a chance for some surprises out of New York, Florida and... well an indictment is likely to trigger a retirement (or two) in Alaska.

actually admit that. We'll know more when all of a sudden they're gainfully employed again.

for representing the interests of corporate America
over those of we, the people.

BHN:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

If a Democrat wins the WH in '08 it's pretty much guaranteed the economy will start to rebound.

It'll be a good time to buy back into the dollar as well (for all those who've shifted their assets overseas).

Keeping tally, now.

Or ... *git while the gitten's good*

time to go?

no.. not Him:



HIM

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001143.php

They can give whatever bullshit reason to leave that they want. They are trying to just quietly crawl under their prospective rocks. I welcome the scandals if it means the rethugs are easier to get rid of! If only Monkey Boy and co. would "resign", although I want them to do some jail time first!

have bushit to thank for that and their own enabling.

they have created.

The republicons know they have created a vast disaster with the USA's finances, environment, armies, laws, judges, democracy, public safety, public services, global reputation, environmental health, and general honor.

The republicons have trashed it all. They know it, and carry a secret SHAME.

Now they want to get out of Dodge before they are held accountable.

Slinking off is the final act of the SCOUNDREL.