Dodd, Dorgan and Ritter Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2010

Democrats, who have a 60-40 Senate majority that includes two independents who vote with them, now will have to defend four open seats in the Senate. The others are Delaware and Illinois, where Sens. Ted Kaufman, who replaced Vice President Joe Biden, and Roland Burris, who replaced Obama, aren't running for full terms.

4 open seats in the Senate and a governorship up fer grabs?

THIS should get interesting.

Be Well.

re; our public servants retiring

allow an increase in their net worth at 10% per year during their service years - - -
the remainder should be taxed at 100%

these guys seem to all become millionares on our dime

Spud will not be sad to see Dodd go.

Neither will Phoenix. And from the article:

...in Democratic-leaning Connecticut, Dodd's retirement may actually heighten the likelihood that the seat he's held for five terms will remain in Democratic hands.

Dodd's retirement may actually heighten the likelihood that the seat he's held for five terms will remain in Democratic hands.

No "may" about it.

The seat *will* remain with the Dems.

Spud's "not sad" comment was mostly alluding to Dodd's increasingly overly cozy relationship with some of the very entities* he's supposed to regulate.

/*Specifically but not exclusively AIG

Too much FAIL on his hands.

His recent cancer diagnosis lends credence to the rumours that Dodd will announce on Wednesday that he will retire before his term is even up allowing the Dem replacement a head start on his potential opponents.

Be Well.

Knowing that he won't be running for reelection gives Dodd an opportunity to redeem himself by pushing through reforms good for the world but not likely to be favored by his usual constituency:

U.S. and EU authorities are expected to hammer out the definite shape of a new regulatory order in 2010 that will fundamentally change how world banks and markets operate.

Stricter limits on leverage and capital will emerge, leading eventually to slimmer profits for banks, policy analysts said. Formerly unregulated off-exchange derivatives markets will have to conform to new procedures.

Lenders' power to package and securitize mortgages and other forms of debt will face new limits, while hedge funds -- once the darlings of high finance -- will face new scrutiny.

Banking lobbyists and Republicans are working to block reforms. Senate debate will resume this month, with analysts expecting passage of legislation in early spring... The Senate will reconvene on January 20, with hearings expected to commence promptly in the banking committee, chaired by Democratic Senator Christopher Dodd.www.reuters.com

Save em the embarrassment.

Knowing that he won't be running for reelection gives Dodd an opportunity to redeem himself by pushing through reforms good for the world but not likely to be favored by his usual constituency:

Dodd's cancer scare may have given him an Ikiru like epiphany.

We can but hope.

And pay attention, of course.

Be Well

/As he do
stage left.

Same as what happened to Clinton: push socialist medicine and lose Congress to the pubs.
I tremble at the hangover from the debt and what it will do. As I warned since last January, the consequence of Carter economics was a 12-year pub White House. Obama is adding socialized medicine to that mix.
I want my party back...the Democratic Party that represented working families rather than transgendered, green-conscious, Che admiring loons.

incumbency is no longer the boon it once was

Now THAT is good news!!!