Senator Dayton's decision will help us now!

[mediaman007]

Senator Mark Dayton's decision to not run for reelection in 2006 will empower him for this session of Congress. Without having to raise money and worry about voting to set himself up for reelection, Dayton is free to vote and speak as he chooses. This is a win-win for Dayton. He will now become very powerful, and outspoken about the abuses in the Bush* White House.

I look for Mark to filibuster and challenge Rupublicans in their quest to undo our democracy.

Here's to you, Mark!

[Skink]

1. Isn't Franken from Minnesota...

Dayton will get plenty of offers for the next cabinet.

[President Jesus]

2. not that simple.

The more Dayton makes himself a target, the harder it is for the next Democrat to win. The prospect of having two republican senators from Minnesota is far worse than staging some symbolic filibusters.

And how do you figure he becomes more powerful now? What is it, opposite day?

[mediaman007]

3. I think that Dayton is more powerful now because he can speak and

vote his conscience. For the first two years he was in the shadow of Paul Wellstone. The last session he began to step up in Paul's place. In this last session he won't have to worry about raising money and campaigning.

In my book those things limit what a senator can say and do. Dayton is now free to not worry about the swing voters back home.

As for setting up the next candidate, I think that Dayton will do more good for that candidate by being forthright.

[President Jesus]

4. I don't get it. He hasn't been forthright thus far?

And also, to most people, "powerful" means the ability to get things done. Sorry, but if you announce you are leaving the Senate, your ability to get things done legislatively is severly, severly hampered.

Speaking out is nice, but if it leads to nothing changing or happening, it's just more hot air.

My educated guess is you will hardly hear the name "Dayton" for the next two years, unless he runs for governor. Just ask anyone from Illinois how much impact Fitzgerald (another one-termer) had after he announced he wasn't running again.