What's with the mass retirements in both parties?

[Writer]

Is this a political rapture? My heavens. Next thing you know, Lieberman will publicly announce that he finally found the soul he lost a few years ago and quit.

But seriously... what's going on?

[YOY]

1. Interesting, isn't it?

Saving my conspiracy theories for sake of someone pointing out the obvious to me.

[timeforpeace]

18. Their survival instincts are warning them that the tar and feathers and pitchforks are coming soon.

[Jamastiene]

2. Maybe they can't wash the blood off their hands*.

Maybe they are just tired of politics. It is rather odd, though, to see this many retire at once, isn't it?

Maybe, this is our chance to run wild with some liberals (and stealth liberals) to replace some of them, if possible. :D





*except Barbara Lee

[Lerkfish]

3. a sinking ship metaphor comes to mind

and avoiding guillotines.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

4. Politics fucking sucks these days

You have to truly be power hungry or naive (neither are good) to actually want to put up with all of the bullshit that the people and the media deliver to them on a daily basis. I'm not sure I'd want to run for office, only to be met in the hallways every day by some lunatic teabagger claiming that I hate America. It gets very old after a while.

Plus, a lot of the Senate is pretty old, especially on our side of the aisle. It isn't easy campaigning and traveling constantly across the country at any age, much less when you're older than 70.

[GodlessBiker]

5. It's about time. We need new blood.

[DJ13]

6. $$$$$

With the rising influence of corporate lobby's now is the best time to take that Congressional pension (at near parity to their existing pay) and go to work making huge salaries.

I bet we'll see a lot more as we near the midterms.

[havocmom]

7. Next cycle or two will be Vote the Incumbents Out time. DEM, GOP won't matter as much as in now

People are pissed. Pols pretty much used up all their smoke and mirrors shilling for corporations. They know incumbents are an endangered species. This session and the last were the money dance for many pols on both sides of the aisle. Look for them (or family members) to get really swell jobs with the industries they have already been working for.

And, maybe a comet is gonna smash us all and they want to spend more time with their families :evilgrin:

[earthside]

8. The Fun & Passion Gone?

I just listened to Gov. Ritter of Colorado announce his withdrawal from the governor's race.

He didn't exactly say it (he said it's about family, and that is probably a lot of it), but I get the sense that being governor wasn't much fun for him anymore.

I suspect that after forty years in elective office Sen. Dorgan just wants to give it a rest, but how can being a Senator be fun anymore after he was stabbed in the back by Obama on his signature drug re-importation legislation?

But, bigger picture, even for some Republicans who are retiring, with the anger and hate and partisanship so steamed-up ... and with the huge, huge problems that the nation and world face, it could be that the fun of being in public office is disappearing, that the passion for getting something done has evaporated because special interests control everything.

Lastly, if the Democrats can somehow dump Reid as majority leader, if enough of a scare is put into Obama to make him start acting like an advocate for the people instead of a shill for Goldman Sachs, then 2010 may end-up a wash. For the Dems, anyway, these retirements may not be so bad.

[CTyankee]

16. Some guy on MSNBC this morning was saying "the music was over" for Dodd

once Kennedy died. I thought that was an apt metaphor. He was facing a humiliating defeat and he knew well about public and political humiliation after what happened to his father...at his age Dodd probably felt he just couldn't take it...

[wisteria]

9. Leiberman is going nowhere anytime soom. He loves being a pain in the *ss. n/t

[Umbral]

10. Out before the Crash? nt

[Cleita]

11. One of two reasons.

#1. They were so knee deep in the Washington corruption that the only way out is to quit.

or

#2. They got tired of banging their heads up against walls and not getting anywhere.

[CTyankee]

12. Or they see the handwriting on the wall...

the American people are sick of them and the elections this year are gonna be brutal...

[butterfly77]

13. We're watching...

[Bitwit1234]

14. If the retire and have the required time in service

and I think most do, they will receive their health benefits and their retirement pay. If they get defeated they are out of luck...would that be in. I think Dodd is retiring because of his health.

[CK_John]

15. If you're not a "geek" forgetaboutit. n/t

[DrToast]

17. I read the Dems will have below average retirements

I think this is actually pretty common.