Breaux Privately Telling Colleagues He Will Announce Retirement Today

[Freddie Stubbs]

Sen. John Breaux (D) has decided to retire after three terms in office, calling colleagues in the Louisiana delegation to reveal his intention to step aside, according to Democratic sources.

more: http://www.rollcall.com/pub/1_1/breakingnews/3880-1.html

Keeping this seat won't be a cakewalk.

[GregW]

1. Was he telling his REPUBLICAN colleagues?

Hope we can find a true Dem to replace him.

[edzontar]

2. Good.

He is a major DINO.

[Freddie Stubbs]

3. I'm sure you will be happy then

if the voters in LA replace him with a full-fledged Republican. Breaux votes with the Democrats some of the time. I doubt that Vitter will do it at all.

[HereSince1628]

7. Even the DINOs can help provide the chairmanships.

[Frodo]

4. No. There's a difference between a Miller and a Breaux

He'll be missed by many.

And his seat will be hard enough to hold on to unless our replacement is just as moderate.

When should we expect Jindal's announcement?

[Freddie Stubbs]

8. I haven't heard anything about Jindal running

David Vitter will probably be the Republican nominee.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

5. Breaux is not that bad. He does not bash the party as Zell...

Miller (Love Child of Lester Maddox) does. He is a Democrat, just a conservative one. Miller is a Reich Wing Republiklansman!

This not good and I am sad to hear this. We need that seat.

[amazona]

6. a sad day...wish he would reconsider

I heard this rumor some time ago and wrote to Breaux asking him to tell me that it wasn't so. He usually answers his letters so when I heard nothing back I feared the worst. People who think Breaux can be easily replaced by a "real" Democrat have no idea of the savagery of the right-wing attacks on our Democratic Senators here in Louisiana. Breaux was a strong Senator and well-liked. I do not know why he would wish to give up his seat. I hope that health issues are not involved and that he will continue to be available to help campaign for his replacement. He was an excellent campaigner for Landrieux. I don't think he will be easily replaced.

[LiberalFighter]

9. Need to look on the positive side too

Electing a new Democrat to that seat now would increase the odds of keeping it Democrat longer.

Electing a younger Democrat will mean that they can stay in office longer. We can't and shouldn't count on having someone like Strom Thurmond staying in office for a life-time.

It is possible that Breaux decided that now would be the best time to retire and still keep the seat in Democratic control.

[Judi Lynn]

10. What about these guys?

From the Salon article someone provided:

Four other Southern Democrats in the Senate have announced plans to retire in states where President Bush figures to run strongly next year: Bob Graham of Florida; John Edwards of North Carolina, Ernest Hollings of South Carolina and Zell Miller of Georgia.

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2003/12/15/breaux/index.html

What are the chances as it stands now that good candidates will come forward to replace them?