Dodd + Dorgan =/= Doom

[Bleacher Creature]

As expected, the media (with an assist from the GOP) is starting to equate the Dorgan and Dodd retirements as symbolizing a harbinger of doom for Democrats in 2010. I haven't seen it yet, but expect to see some sort of cute name applied to yesterday (i.e., "Black Tuesday"). I'm sure the folks over at Politico are testing phrases as we speak.

That said, let's be perfectly clear. Dorgan's retirement is a real blow and without him on the ballot (and possibly even with him), I'm not sure how we hold that seat. Dodd, on the other hand, when coupled with Blumenthal's announcement, makes it likely that we hold that seat and, just as important, saves the DSCC time and money that can be better spent on other races. Don't get me wrong, Dodd was a really great Senator and one of the more progressive members of that body, but this is NOT good news for the GOP -- and they know it.

[kenny blankenship]

1. Bad news for the GOP in 2006 and 2008 was good news for us-

Sauce for the goose.

Unfortunately our party is too much led by the same kind of people who predominately characterized the GOP.

[karynnj]

25. Not really - if you think Dodd was like the Republicans, you are not aware of his record

He was the author and sponsor of the Family leave act and he was a close Kennedy ally on all medical bills. You should remember that he led the (unsuccessful) fight against the provisions in teh FISA bill we all hated. His speech on the "torture" bill was one of the strongest in the Senate.

As to Dorgan, it is hard to find a more down to earth progressive, though in some ways a conservative, than Dorgan. There is no one in the Republican party like him.

[phleshdef]

2. The fact is, for whatever reason, people DO retire and now would be the time to announce it.

[Bleacher Creature]

4. Agreed -- people also forget that SIX Republican Senators have already announced.

Bunning, Bond, Gregg, Martinez, Voinovich and Brownback -- with Kay Bailey Hutchison to come. Compare that with TWO Democratic retirements.

[uponit7771]

14. whoa....good point

[high density]

3. Dodd retiring is certainly good news

I like the guy but the Republicans successfully branded him corrupt for being important and getting a mortgage.

[WI_DEM]

5. Bad news in ND, but good news in CT where Dodd was quite unpopular. Actually,

AG Blumenthal will be a much stronger candidate than Dodd.

[quiller4]

12. Actually good news in ND, too, where Dorgan's poll numbers tanked.

[WI_DEM]

17. But what Dem in ND can win against a popular Governor?

[StreetKnowledge]

24. I'm hearing the Dems are trying to get Ed Schultz to run.

That might, might just do it. :D

[Hippo_Tron]

20. Only on the presumption that Hoeven would've challenged him

Dorgan could've won otherwise.

[bigwillq]

6. I am very confident about CT

My home state. I am glad Dodd did the right thing by stepping down. I think DEMS hold on to that seat in 2010 now.

[wisteria]

7. It is all political nonsense orchestrated to squash Democratic enthusiasm and encourage Republican

exuberance. Many in the media, in cohort with the Republicans are trying to sway the voting processes by sending one message of doom and gloom to Democrats and a message of encouragement and positive progress to Republican voters.
We need to just make sure we get all Dems out to vote.

[chat_noir]

8. Republican retirements outnumber Democratic retirements in the House, in the Senate...

and among governors.

In the House, 14 GOP incumbents have decided not to seek re-election, while 10 Democratic incumbents have made the same announcement. Does this mean Republicans are "dropping like flies"?

In the Senate, six Republican incumbents have decided not to seek re-election, while two Democratic incumbents have made the same announcement. Is this evidence of a mass Democratic exodus?

Among governors, several incumbents in both parties are term-limited and prevented from running again, but only three Democrats who can seek re-election -- Parkinson in Kansas, Doyle in Wisconsin, and Ritter in Colorado -- have chosen not to. For Republicans, the number is four -- Douglas in Vermont, Rell in Connecticut, Crist in Florida, and Pawlenty in Minnesota. (Update: the GOP number is five if we include Palin in Alaska.)

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_01/021783.php

[high density]

9. Don't tell NBC that

They like the idea of doom and gloom for the dems.

[shotten99]

10. I'd actually equate Dodd's retirement to Larry Craig's.

It's not as humorous, but it didn't exactly do any substantial damage to the Republic Party.

[Blasphemer]

11. You are correct, the situations can't be compared

Dodd's retirement has been long expected. He had little chance of turning things around. Dorgan is a real loss.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

13. It's pretty much zero sum, in my opinion.

We were going to lose CT if we kept Dodd. Dorgan is the only guy that would win ND. We swapped a sure loss for a sure win. Bottom line = 0.

[Arkana]

15. Dodd we were kinda hoping would quit--now Blumenthal can run, and he might win.

[jenmito]

16. Sure enough: "First thoughts: Dems' Black Tuesday "

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/06/2166474.aspx

[Bleacher Creature]

18. I SWEAR to you -- I had not seen that before I wrote my post.

That said, it's pretty unimaginative.

[jenmito]

21. I believe you!

It IS pretty predictable.

[rasputin1952]

23. LOL...consider the source, Chuck Todd...

and then he runs a "read the tea leaves" bit that completely blows it when he comes up w/"tea leaves"...first thought for anyone w/sense..."teabaggers". RW zealots are tearing apart the GOP, leaving it a shell of it's former self. The whole thing is a joke, and you should tell Todd he owes you $100 bucks for the tag line...:D

[rasputin1952]

19. This is not all that bad...

it'sd 2 seats, the R's are giving up 6 to retirement/just getting out...we could easily pick up some of those as well...depends on the candidates, and the issues. For one thing, the R's have nothing to offer, and anything can happen between now ands the election. If we get good candidates, we could crush them for good...:hi:

[HughMoran]

22. Dodd's leaving is probably a blessing in disguise

& indeed if the governor of ND was going to run, perhaps Dorgan's seat was in jeopardy (we don't know the internal poll numbers).

[Marsala]

26. The media narrative is already swinging the other way

Dodd's retirement makes his seat incredibly safe for Democrats. Politico's lead story is now announcing that Democratic majorities are safe, for now. I'm sure that in a couple days they'll be proclaiming the ascendancy of the Tea Parties or whatever. Really, it doesn't matter very much.