Evan Bayh Won't Seek Re-Election

[UNHWildCats]

Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat prominently mentioned in connection with the White House in recent years, is ready to announce he won't seek re-election, saying he's fed up with Congress.

"To put it in the words most Hoosiers can understand: I love working for the people of Indiana, I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives, but I do not love Congress," Bayh said in comments prepared for an announcement later Monday in Indianapolis. His statement was obtained by The Associated Press from a Democratic official who declined to be named publicly.

Bayh's departure continues a recent exodus from Congress among both Democrats and Republicans, including veteran Democrats Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Patrick Kennedy of Mass. The announcements have sprung up in rapid-fire fashion amid polls showing a rising anti-incumbent fervor and voter anger over Washington partisanship, high unemployment, federal deficits and lucrative banking industry bonuses.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35406833/ns ... itol_hill/

[dbackjon]

Can we get another 600+ of these?

[UNHWildCats]

Can we get another 600+ of these?

at the rate we are going there may be very few returning members of congress next year. Good thing for those Sens who arent up this year. I think both parties would be wise to challenge their incumbents, because there isnt a anti democrat movement as conks would like u to believe... there is an anti incumbent movement.

[ASUMountaineer]

Can we get another 600+ of these?

at the rate we are going there may be very few returning members of congress next year. Good thing for those Sens who arent up this year. I think both parties would be wise to challenge their incumbents, because there isnt a anti democrat movement as conks would like u to believe... there is an anti incumbent movement.

It's about time...

[dbackjon]

Can we get another 600+ of these?

at the rate we are going there may be very few returning members of congress next year. Good thing for those Sens who arent up this year. I think both parties would be wise to challenge their incumbents, because there isnt a anti democrat movement as conks would like u to believe... there is an anti incumbent movement.

Yup - John McCain has serious competition in the Republican Primary

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

McCain is the number 1 guy I would like to see out on his old crippled ass this fall.

[Baldy]

Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat prominently mentioned in connection with the White House in recent years, is ready to announce he won't seek re-election, saying he's fed up with Congress.

"To put it in the words most Hoosiers can understand: I love working for the people of Indiana, I love helping our citizens make the most of their lives, but I do not love Congress," Bayh said in comments prepared for an announcement later Monday in Indianapolis. His statement was obtained by The Associated Press from a Democratic official who declined to be named publicly.

Bayh's departure continues a recent exodus from Congress among both Democrats and Republicans, including veteran Democrats Christopher Dodd of Connecticut and Patrick Kennedy of Mass. The announcements have sprung up in rapid-fire fashion amid polls showing a rising anti-incumbent fervor and voter anger over Washington partisanship, high unemployment, federal deficits and lucrative banking industry bonuses.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35406833/ns ... itol_hill/

Another rat off the ship.....

The Donks are setting themselves up for one of the biggest turnovers in Congressional history.

[GannonFan]

Can we get another 600+ of these?

at the rate we are going there may be very few returning members of congress next year. Good thing for those Sens who arent up this year. I think both parties would be wise to challenge their incumbents, because there isnt a anti democrat movement as conks would like u to believe... there is an anti incumbent movement.

The thing is, it's been an anti incumbent movement going back to 2006 but some people haven't been playing close attention. Back then, the GOP got tossed because they were spending uncontrollably and Bush was weak in the WH. It continued through 2008 as the GOP was seen as the party of the incumbents, and now, as the Dems have pretty much bungled that interpretation and thought they had a huge mandate to do whatever they want, including continuing the spending spree, they look to lose the most this Fall.

It's a shame because Bayh is probably the type of politician we really want in Washington, however, as he admits, the town is almost pandering entirely to the political zealots and both parties have lost the middle ground where typically power resides. Until one party makes a move to claim the middle ground, both parties will be faced with anti-incumbency issues.

[UNHWildCats]

at the rate we are going there may be very few returning members of congress next year. Good thing for those Sens who arent up this year. I think both parties would be wise to challenge their incumbents, because there isnt a anti democrat movement as conks would like u to believe... there is an anti incumbent movement.

The thing is, it's been an anti incumbent movement going back to 2006 but some people haven't been playing close attention. Back then, the GOP got tossed because they were spending uncontrollably and Bush was weak in the WH. It continued through 2008 as the GOP was seen as the party of the incumbents, and now, as the Dems have pretty much bungled that interpretation and thought they had a huge mandate to do whatever they want, including continuing the spending spree, they look to lose the most this Fall.

It's a shame because Bayh is probably the type of politician we really want in Washington, however, as he admits, the town is almost pandering entirely to the political zealots and both parties have lost the middle ground where typically power resides. Until one party makes a move to claim the middle ground, both parties will be faced with anti-incumbency issues.

it wasnt . Dem incumbents werent losing many seats then... it was an anti GOP cycle both years... this year both parties will lose several incumbents, the best bet for both parties is to get challengers for incumbents and hope the new guys win the primaries and maintain the seats in Nov.

[dgreco]

great speech by Bayh today.

[yosef1969]

The thing is, it's been an anti incumbent movement going back to 2006 but some people haven't been playing close attention. Back then, the GOP got tossed because they were spending uncontrollably and Bush was weak in the WH. It continued through 2008 as the GOP was seen as the party of the incumbents, and now, as the Dems have pretty much bungled that interpretation and thought they had a huge mandate to do whatever they want, including continuing the spending spree, they look to lose the most this Fall.

It's a shame because Bayh is probably the type of politician we really want in Washington, however, as he admits, the town is almost pandering entirely to the political zealots and both parties have lost the middle ground where typically power resides. Until one party makes a move to claim the middle ground, both parties will be faced with anti-incumbency issues.

it wasnt . Dem incumbents werent losing many seats then... it was an anti GOP cycle both years... this year both parties will lose several incumbents, the best bet for both parties is to get challengers for incumbents and hope the new guys win the primaries and maintain the seats in Nov.

Huh? 2006 and 2008 were no less anti-incumbent than 2010 will be. The party seen as the incumbent party, the dems, will have more losses in both houses of congress. There will be losses for both parties but the polls and general consensus indicate that the dems will take the brunt of it. Still 10 mos until election day, a lot can change but that's the current landscape.

[HI54UNI]

Bye Bayh!

[OL FU]

great speech by Bayh today.

The start of the Bayh run against Obama in the Democratic Primary. What better way than to say he hates congress


Pardon my cynical side.

[dgreco]

great speech by Bayh today.

The start of the Bayh run against Obama in the Democratic Primary. What better way than to say he hates congress


Pardon my cynical side.

I believe he may be preparing to run for 2012, but I also agree that he felt that way about congress.

I think he may of been a shoe in he is did another term as senator and in 2016 ran.

[ASUG8]

I heard him on CNN this morning, and walked away a bit confused. He's calling for less partisanship, more moderates, more compromise - he's generally viewed as a more moderate democrat, and he's leaving to make room for potentially a more partisan replacement? If he really wants to serve the people of Illinois as he said repeatedly this morning he'd continue to push for compromise. He said that he felt he could do more in the private sector by educating young people, creating jobs, or working in a charitable organization - all of which in his words "would be more than Congress is currently doing."

I can certainly understand frustration with congress from the outside looking in, and I'm certain it's even worse internally. The process is broken and needs new blood on both sides of the aisle.

[OL FU]

The start of the Bayh run against Obama in the Democratic Primary. What better way than to say he hates congress


Pardon my cynical side.

I believe he may be preparing to run for 2012, but I also agree that he felt that way about congress.

I think he may of been a shoe in he is did another term as senator and in 2016 ran.

I think you are right. Who doesn't feel that way about congress except possibly the other 99 senators. But let's face it. If he is contemplating a run against Obama much better to be on the sideline saying I don't agree than saying it in the senate and pissing off democrats for the next three years.

[GannonFan]

The thing is, it's been an anti incumbent movement going back to 2006 but some people haven't been playing close attention. Back then, the GOP got tossed because they were spending uncontrollably and Bush was weak in the WH. It continued through 2008 as the GOP was seen as the party of the incumbents, and now, as the Dems have pretty much bungled that interpretation and thought they had a huge mandate to do whatever they want, including continuing the spending spree, they look to lose the most this Fall.

It's a shame because Bayh is probably the type of politician we really want in Washington, however, as he admits, the town is almost pandering entirely to the political zealots and both parties have lost the middle ground where typically power resides. Until one party makes a move to claim the middle ground, both parties will be faced with anti-incumbency issues.

it wasnt . Dem incumbents werent losing many seats then... it was an anti GOP cycle both years... this year both parties will lose several incumbents, the best bet for both parties is to get challengers for incumbents and hope the new guys win the primaries and maintain the seats in Nov.

Come on, man, you don't actually believe that, do you? Everything is in proportion to the number of seats parties have - sure some Republicans are going to lose, but if you can't see that the Dems are in far worse shape this time (just as the GOP was in 2006) then you're pretty much fitting the description of what Bayh is complaining about. Having power means that people are going to blame those with power when things don't go as they hoped it would. The GOP have power in '06 and lost it on a grand scale. The Dems have the power now - I still don't think November will return both Houses of Congress to the GOP, but it'll still be a Dem bloodletting at this rate.

[FargoBison]

The Dems have run off some of their best and brightest in the past few months, Dorgan and Bayh were good moderate Dems. They both would have had a decent shot at being reelected even in this difficult climate for Democratic incumbents but frustrations with their own party pushed them over the edge.

[dgreco]

I believe he may be preparing to run for 2012, but I also agree that he felt that way about congress.

I think he may of been a shoe in he is did another term as senator and in 2016 ran.

I think you are right. Who doesn't feel that way about congress except possibly the other 99 senators. But let's face it. If he is contemplating a run against Obama much better to be on the sideline saying I don't agree than saying it in the senate and pissing off democrats for the next three years.

I didn't look at it that way, but I think its valid. I just wonder how stepping down and running is going to affect his chances if he does run. Maybe being elected and in 2 years say, you continued to try but it is not changing and run. Maybe for those 2 years he can go around and canvass and build a base, I just think 2 years off might hurt him, or anyone looking to run.

[OL FU]

I think you are right. Who doesn't feel that way about congress except possibly the other 99 senators. But let's face it. If he is contemplating a run against Obama much better to be on the sideline saying I don't agree than saying it in the senate and pissing off democrats for the next three years.

I didn't look at it that way, but I think its valid. I just wonder how stepping down and running is going to affect his chances if he does run. Maybe being elected and in 2 years say, you continued to try but it is not changing and run. Maybe for those 2 years he can go around and canvass and build a base, I just think 2 years off might hurt him, or anyone looking to run.

Here is what I think and it is pure speculation. He was tired of the congress, both sides dems and repubs. so this is a good time to quit. But I think he has always (like most senators) thought of the presidency, so this is also an opportune time to get out, not be lumped in with Reid and Pelosi, see how Obama navigates the next 18 months and if the opportunity presents himself he can jump in the fray without a lot of baggage that democratic congress people have built up over the last year and more than likely will continue to build up.

[houndawg]

He doesn't want to be on duty when the country collapses. Understandable.

We could pick 535 names at random from a phone book and not get any worse government.

[ASUMountaineer]

I didn't look at it that way, but I think its valid. I just wonder how stepping down and running is going to affect his chances if he does run. Maybe being elected and in 2 years say, you continued to try but it is not changing and run. Maybe for those 2 years he can go around and canvass and build a base, I just think 2 years off might hurt him, or anyone looking to run.

Here is what I think and it is pure speculation. He was tired of the congress, both sides dems and repubs. so this is a good time to quit. But I think he has always (like most senators) thought of the presidency, so this is also an opportune time to get out, not be lumped in with Reid and Pelosi, see how Obama navigates the next 18 months and if the opportunity presents himself he can jump in the fray without a lot of baggage that democratic congress people have built up over the last year and more than likely will continue to build up.

I think you're spot on...plus, he's young enough to get back in if things turn around over the next 18 months--making it not "his time."

[ASUMountaineer]

He doesn't want to be on duty when the country collapses. Understandable.

We could pick 535 names at random from a phone book and not get any worse government.

Agreed.

[Ivytalk]

Bye Bayh!

Na-na-na-na,
Na-na-na-na,
Hey, hey, hey, ...

[Ibanez]

Can we get another 600+ of these?

Where are the other 65 coming from? We need reform people! We need term limits imposed on the incubents and finance reform. Also, i'd go a step further and say stop spending taxpayer money on individual campaigns.