BLOGGERS: Bayh Retirement Will ' SCREW PROGRESSIVES ' Yet Again

[Segami]

Dem pollster: Decision gives GOP 'one in three' odds of taking back Senate


WASHINGTON -- Progressives immediately responded with bittersweet amusement to Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-IN) revelation that he won't seek re-election in November -- as the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza first reported.

The conservative-leaning Democrat was always a frequent target of his party's liberal base, but he ratcheted up tensions after blaming its "furthest left elements" for the Massachusetts loss, and it seems they haven't forgotten.



"After years of screwing progressives over as a Senator, Evan Bayh to screw progressives over by retiring," remarked Think Progress's Matt Yglesias, just minutes after the news broke.


Bayh is only one of many Democrats in both chambers of Congress to call it quits in the face of November's daunting re-election landscape. Cillizza notes that his decision "hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country."


"Apparently, Evan Bayh wants to spend more time scolding his family for moving too far to the left," said Washington Post's Ezra Klein.


Salon's Glenn Greenwald, who in November labeled Bayh " the face of rotted Washington," jested, "How long will it be before Evan Bayh joins Dan Coats' lobbying firm? Maybe Bayh and Coats can switch jobs."


"Holy crap," said Talking Points Memo's Josh Marshall, calling Bayh's retirement "a huge blow for the Democrats and a big, big surprise."


Steve Benen of the Washington Monthly said, "To hear Evan Bayh tell it, Republicans have made it impossible for Congress to work on issues important to him ... so he's decided to make it easier for the Republican caucus to have more power."


"When the going gets tough, the conserva-Dems pack up and go home?" Benen added.


Firedoglake's David Dayen called Bayh a "pathetic child," summarizing his explanation for retiring as, "Nobody likes my bold ideas to cut taxes for billionaires and force seniors onto cat food, so… buh-bayh."


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<http://rawstory.com/2010/02/bloggers-bayh-retirement-screw-progressives/>

[liberal N proud]

1. Today 2/16 was the signing deadline for candidates in Indiana

It is not possible for any candidate to get the signatures to be on a primary ballot. Allows the party leadership in Indiana to pick a candidate thus branding that candidate as being selected in dark smoke filled back rooms as they say.

[LiberalFighter]

3. That may be true but if the right candidate comes out of it then I will support it.

Otherwise, the blame will be all Bayh's and he will absolutely be history.

Candidates that in my opinion that suck:
Baron Hill
Brad Ellsworth

Better choices:
Joe Hogsett
Joe Andrew


Candidates that should not be considered:
Those that are U.S. House Representatives (We can't afford to lose the edge we have in Congress)
Those that are Indiana State Representatives (We can't afford to lose the Indiana House)

[FBaggins]

4. You've already ruled just about everyone out.

All of the statewide offices are "R"... If you're even going to rule out those holding most lower offices, then thereis no shot.

[LiberalFighter]

6. The two I listed have more name recognition than the others.

Hogsett the best of the two as he had been SoS previously and ran for US Senator previously.

They are our best shots.

Former Governor Kernan is unlikely.

[FBaggins]

8. Yeah... he "ran for US Senator previously"

Against Coats the year we first elected president Clinton.

He lost by 16+ points.

Not encouraging for another run against (likely) the same candidate in a far less democratic year.

[LiberalFighter]

11. Nobody else would run against Coats back then.

Factors are different then in '92. If Coats wins the nomination he has more baggage.

[FBaggins]

13. Yes... "factors are different"

but they aren't different in a way that is better for a Democratic candidate.

Nor is Hogsett without "baggage" picked up since that 1992 run.

For one... it was just a few weeks ago that he dropped out of a mayoral race because the party didn't support him enough (having lost three previous races). The jump to Senator seems unlikely.

No question that I would prefer him to anyone with an "R" next to his name... but wishing rarely makes it so. He's been a willing sacrificial lamb for the party before, so I wouldn't rule him out... but if the party picks him it will be tantamount to a concession.

[Voltaire]

10. My wife knows Hogsett

I wonder if I can get her to pry some info out of him...LOL

[Ganja Ninja]

9. By doing that Bayh will be able to dictate who they name as well.

He has $13 million in his campaign coffers to disburse as he sees fit. Think the party will be asking his opinion before they nominate his replacement?

[LiberalFighter]

2. I hope his daddy is chewing his ass out.

[Segami]

5. Only if he pulls out the silver spoon first.

[FarCenter]

7. The children and grandchildren of famous politicians seldom work out as well

For example, John Quincy Adams, son of John Adams.

The sons of rich and powerful men marry wives more noted for their ornamental quality than their intellect, and the family goes downhill in a generation or two.

[tabbycat31]

12. you left out a major one here

dare I mention the guy's name--- the one who's mess we're cleaning up after