Gephardt Drops Out of Presidential Race

[goobergunch]

Jan 20, 2:12 PM EST

By JIM SALTER
Associated Press Writer

<snip>

"I gave this campaign everything I had in me," Gephardt told a news conference, his voice breaking at times. "Today my pursuit of the presidency has reached its end. I'm withdrawing as a candidate and returning to private life after a long time in the warm light of public service."

Gephardt said he would serve out his final year in Congress.

more...http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GEPHARDT?SITE=PAPHQ&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[XNGH]

1. He'll be missed

He was so right when he said that American workers CANNOT compete with workers from countries who don't care about the environment or the living conditions of their workers. The repugs would have the American worker living in mud huts ... hell I'd be surprised if the repugs wouldn't want to chain workers to their work stations

[kskiska]

2. I feel bad for him

He had a long political career. He really wanted to be Speaker of the House, but elections didn't go his/our way. I don't like the way he cozied up to Smirk after 9/11, though.

[dennis4868]

4. I am sorry but....

I don't feel sorry for him....he was a spineless leader who help give Bush a blank check to go crazy in Iraq and kill many innocent people, not to mention 500 of our own soldiers.

[dusty64]

10. Yup, I for one

am not sorry to see him go. Now if only Lieberman would get out of the way.

[sleipnir]

3. Now maybe we can get a fighting Dem in charge of the House

Sorry, I can't say I'm that sad to see him go. Lately, he became a rubber-stamper for * and that angered me to no end.

[yellowcanine]

5. Well at least we won't have a prez without eyebrows

No problem in that department with Kerry, anyway.

[denverbill]

6. Anyone know why he's retiring from Congress too?

Why not run again? Why not run for the Senate?

[aeon flux]

7. Good riddance

I was getting sick of his shrill attacks against the other candidates. That and I believe he voted for the $87B to escalate the Iraq War.

[Voltaire99]

9. He should have apologized on the way out

I feel the same way. He did dirt on his fellow candidates - particularly on Dean - with more passion than I'd ever seen him display in criticism of Repugs.

[damnraddem]

8. I'm glad he dropped out because ...

he accepted federal financing -- the funding trap. He would have left the Dem Convention with no money to fight against Dubya's $100+ millions. Fed financing of campaigns won't work until or unless it is mandatory for all.

[Lost4words]

11. now he can go back to openly supporting the junta!

where was the outrage 12/12/2000???????