House Republican Retirements Hamper Drive to Retain Majority

[Judi Lynn]

House Republican Retirements Hamper Drive to Retain Majority

March 20 (Bloomberg) -- Republican House leaders, aware that incumbents rarely lose, are struggling to prevent a wave of retirements that would bolster Democratic prospects to regain control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the November elections.

New York Representative Sherwood Boehlert is the latest Republican lawmaker to retire, announcing Friday that he won't seek a 13th term in office. With Boehlert's departure, 17 Republicans have now announced their retirement compared with just nine Democrats.

``It's reaching a point where it's of concern,'' said Representative Gil Gutknecht, a Minnesota Republican.

This year, a toxic combination of low presidential approval ratings, a lobbying scandal and term limits on leadership posts may contribute to a flurry of further retirements, Gutknecht said.
(snip/...)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000103&sid=amzKCa1FDU5k&refer=us

[anitar1]

1. I read an article the other day, that predicted

40 Pugs would retire. I think I read it on DU.

[w13rd0]

2. I know...

...of at least a dozen that really NEED to retire, for the good of the country. From Bush on down....

[Skittles]

3. let the rat bastards abandon ship

good f***ing riddance

[Hekate]

4. Last I heard, Elton Gallegly's leaned on by everyone from Hastert on down

Rep Gallegly (R-CA) serves in the district next door to mine. He's known as completely anti-choice, hews to the party line, and threw out a delegation of Dems from his district when they tried to talk to him about Iraq several years ago. And I mean they were shoved out of his district office.

The man has some unspecified health problems, which cropped up awhile ago IIRC, and he gave health as his reason for wanting to retire this time.

He announced it, but his name is already on the ballot, so getting a replacement presents a problem. Less than a week later, we read in the paper that he's being leaned on by nearly the whole Republican Party because they do not want to lose this district.

So as of the last I heard, ol' Elton is back in the race. Which means that, if (when) he gets re-elected and decides to retire anyway, our noble Governator gets to choose his replacement.

Bleah.

Hekate

[remfan]

5. Could be a rude awakening for GOPers

that have never been in the minority before.

[Divernan]

6. Dems now hold 201 House seats; need 218 to take control

More info from article:

Primary filing deadlines will have passed in about half of all congressional districts by late April, and it will then be clear whether Republicans face a wave of retirements, said Amy Walter, House editor of the Cook Political Report. Nineteen House Republicans retired in 2004.

Democrats now hold 201 House seats and need 218 to regain majority control. Boehlert's and 10 of the other seats that Republican incumbents are abandoning are rated as ``competitive,'' according to the Cook Report.

Expecting a favorable political environment in part due to the president's falling popularity, Democrats believe they can retain almost all of their present seats and knock off at least five to 10 Republican incumbents in closely divided districts or where scandal allegations are a factor. Still, to take control, Democrats may have to win as many as a dozen of the seats held by retiring Republicans.
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Also noted is that the term limits on committee chairmanships is a strong factor. Of the 8 GOP House Committee chairmen who are in their sixth and final year, five are retiring. What that tells me is that those five (including the despicable Henry Hyde) are so addicted to the power and perks of chairmanship, that the "lowliness" of simply being a United States congressman is intolerable to them. So when it comes to a choice between their inflated egos and the good of their party, they say, "Screw you" to the GOP, take their very fat govt. pensions and go forth to make even bigger $$$$ as consultants and lobbyists. There is NO HONOR AMONG THIEVES.

[BR_Parkway]

8. But I want 318 - enough that we can show the GOP that we really

do have a mandate against their feeble, self serving and failed policies. Enough so that they understand that the American public has finally woken up to the steak they're selling, not the sizzle they sell it with.

And enough for all the spineless Dems to realize that the bulk of the country really is on their side - they don't need to pander to the other side of the aisle, or become RePug lite to get re-elected.

[woodsprite]

7. Is this the plan of repubs who really don't think Boosh should be

our prez? After all, it's alot easier to say you need to spend more time with your family then actually vote against the bastards and side the the Dems.

[Demeter]

9. Discretion Being the Better Part of Valor, or Getting Out While the

getting is good? Convicted politicains can lose all their pension benefits, don't you know.

Not to mention that working in the zoo that Bush built must be maddening for all but the keepers.

[PsN2Wind]

10. So!! They've decided to

"Take the Money and Run". "Get while the gettin's good". etc.

[Sadie5]

12. "Take the Money and Run". "Get while the gettin's good". etc.

This is exactly what they are doing. They probably had no plans to retire and allow the Dems to cut out their little schemes. They are deserting like most rats do Bye, Bye, Boosh!

[gratuitous]

11. Rats, meet gangplank

And thank you for finally taking your greedy, blood-soaked mitts off the levers of my government. Next stop (if there were any justice in the world): The Hague.

[wordpix2]

13. they retire for pensions after driving us $9 Trillion in debt: they know

they might not get such pensions in a few years

Rat bastards!

[mopinko]

14. retired congressman running again

can't spell the guys name, so i am not finding it. mikulski? he was on npr yesterday ripping them all a new one.