Holy Crap Kyl is retiring.

[Perky]

enate Minority Whip Jon Kyl will announce Thursday that he is not running for reelection in 2012.

The second-ranking Republican in the Senate is expected to make the announcement at 12 p.m. ET from his home state of Arizona.



Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/49238.html#ixzz1DZeuuJZl


Perfect Storm for Janet Napolitano???

[rurallib]

1. my bet would be that clown that McCain beat in the primary

happily I can't remember his name.

[GoCubsGo]

2. JD Hayworth.

Unfortunately, he will probably crawl out from under his rock and run again. I think Janet N. could beat him, if she were to run.

[Clio the Leo]

3. This was apparently supposed to be Gabby Giffords race..

.... "and she could have won it." someone said on Twitter this morning.

[GoCubsGo]

5. Well...

If her recovery continues at the same pace, you never know... They're saying she might be well enough to go to watch her husband's shuttle launch in a few months. I just hope she gets better soon, regardless.

[Jennicut]

6. Really? That just makes me so sad.

At least she seems to be getting better, though recovery can take a long time.

[BluegrassDem]

4. Will Janet Napolitano go for it?

She'd probably be as close to a shoo-in as you get in AZ for a Democrat. If she's getting tired of the grind at DHS, this may be her out.

[Arkana]

7. If she's well enough, Gabrielle Giffords for Senate in 2012.

Or, alternately, Janet Napolitano.

[lame54]

8. if she fully recovers - she will win in a walk

[Arkana]

11. I want nothing more than for her to be able to go back to work.

It'd be the ultimate thumb in the eye to those violent crazy thugs that call themselves "concerned citizens".

Plus (I know, I know) she'd be a walking argument for gun control (saying that made me feel dirty).

[Perky]

10. I hope not

I just think that would lead to a relitigation of who was responsible for what happened and I don't think that is in our best interest. It is not that I am unsympathetic, I just think we suck at messaging and its a battle we are likely to lose if the race gets positioned as a proxy for either gun control or RW hate mongering.

[Arkana]

12. She'd be Teflon in any argument about guns.

All she'd have to do is say "I was shot in the goddamn head by a crazy person who bought a gun legally, and I survived. What's YOUR argument?"

[Perky]

14. the problem is that that the ad war would not be run by her

The NRA would have to engage in defense of the status quo and we know how powerful they are. She nay not want it to be about Gun Control. She may never bring it up. but the proxy fight about Gun Control could not be managed. the real campaign will be about Gun Control because the GOP and the NRA want that seat to remain in their control. SO they will put the battle plan together on that basis.

[former9thward]

15. It seems you and others are putting words in her mouth.

Before the shooting she was opposed to gun control. Do you think she will automatically be for it now?

[Arkana]

18. Fine, then she wouldn't say that. Whatever, I don't care.

That wasn't my point. My point was that if she's well enough she'd make a great Senate candidate.

[DCKit]

9. Retirement pay + low cost lifetime healthcare... what's not to like?

We should all be running for Congress.

[Mimosa]

13. Webb isn't going to run in 2012, that is bad. n/t

[ellie]

16. Sayonara asshole!

[Phx_Dem]

17. As a Phoenician, I should be excited, but

we'll just get someone equally as bad or worse. Unless . . . Janet were to sweep in and save us. She's doing such an awesome job heading Homeland Security (God I hate that name. Why not just call it Motherland Security?), I'd hate to see her leave but Arizona is in such pitiful shape, we need her more.