Evan Bayh Will Retire

[deacon blues]

Last year we were being told that the Republican Party was a marginal party, that the conservative movement was over. We were told how that the country was a center-left nation versus being a center-right nation.

Today's announcement by Evan Bayh that he will not seek reelection 24 hours before the filing deadline is the proverbial canary in the cave for Democrats. Just when you thought the Dems could not get more bad news, Evan Bayh a moderate Democrat and a senator thought to be heading to a more challenging, yet victorious, reelection campaign announces that he is not going to run.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report had Indiana leaning Democrat. After today's announcement that status was changed to "Lean Republican".

What a mess for the Democrats! They've lost governorships in formerly Democrat held states, Virginia and New Jersey. They lost Senator Kennedy's seat in Democrat stronghold Massachusetts. Obama's approval rating has dropped precipitously. The unemployment numbers have not been good. Healthcare, their signature issue, has stalled and is on life support. Many are chisling its headstone as we speak. Prognosticators are saying now that it is possible the GOP may bump their numbers up in the Senate to 49. Senate majority leader Harry Reid is lagging in the polls in his reelction campaign. Obama's senate seat in Democrat stronghold Illinois, has a chance to go Republican. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas is fighting for her political life.

The Democrats are in some serious trouble...

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

Last year we were being told that the Republican Party was a marginal party, that the conservative movement was over. We were told how that the country was a center-left nation versus being a center-right nation.

Today's announcement by Evan Bayh that he will not seek reelection 24 hours before the filing deadline is the proverbial canary in the cave for Democrats. Just when you thought the Dems could not get more bad news, Evan Bayh a moderate Democrat and a senator thought to be heading to a more challenging, yet victorious, reelection campaign announces that he is not going to run.

The nonpartisan Cook Political Report had Indiana leaning Democrat. After today's announcement that status was changed to "Lean Republican".

What a mess for the Democrats! They've lost governorships in formerly Democrat held states, Virginia and New Jersey. They lost Senator Kennedy's seat in Democrat stronghold Massachusetts. Obama's approval rating has dropped precipitously. The unemployment numbers have not been good. Healthcare, their signature issue, has stalled and is on life support. Many are chisling its headstone as we speak. Prognosticators are saying now that it is possible the GOP may bump their numbers up in the Senate to 49. Senate majority leader Harry Reid is lagging in the polls in his reelction campaign. Obama's senate seat in Democrat stronghold Illinois, has a chance to go Republican. Blanche Lincoln in Arkansas is fighting for her political life.

The Democrats are in some serious trouble...

He will more than likely be replaced with a Republican. This last election was just a little weird for IN...but it usually leans Republican. Evan Bayh was popular here because he actually was a little more conservative than most democrats and was beloved Birch Bayh's son. (former Senator)

Pressing On is wanting Mike Pence to run for that Senate seat... I personally thought it would be impossible to put Bayh out of office....but after this news today. wow... Mike Pence just might get the chance.

[drummerboy_dave]

Buh Bayh....

[ChTatum]

When a normally sure-handed receiver drops an easy catch, they are said to have heard the sound of footsteps, meaning they knew they were about to be hit, and lost their focus.

I think Bayh heard footsteps.

[oletime]

the latest in a long line of rats jumping ship while they have a chance ?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

...
The Democrats are in some serious trouble...

It couldn't happen to a nicer bunch.

[n david]

Originally Posted by ForeverBlessed

He will more than likely be replaced with a Republican. This last election was just a little weird for IN...but it usually leans Republican. Evan Bayh was popular here because he actually was a little more conservative than most democrats and was beloved Birch Bayh's son. (former Senator)

I've been reading that Bayh was a "conservative" democrat, but one conservative group (American Conservative Union) put his rating at 20.70%, barely over Reid's 18.96%. Doesn't sound too conservative if you ask me. Then again, if you look at Biden, BHO, Pelosi and others, they're close to single digits, so maybe he's more conservative compared to them.

The Republicans favorite Democrat/Independent - Lieberman ... 15.96%!

A note, these are from 2008, so they're not very current.

Source's Homepage

[ForeverBlessed]

Originally Posted by n david

I've been reading that Bayh was a "conservative" democrat, but one conservative group (American Conservative Union) put his rating at 20.70%, barely over Reid's 18.96%. Doesn't sound too conservative if you ask me. Then again, if you look at Biden, BHO, Pelosi and others, they're close to single digits, so maybe he's more conservative compared to them.

The Republicans favorite Democrat/Independent - Lieberman ... 15.96%!

A note, these are from 2008, so they're not very current.

Source's Homepage

Bayh was fiscally conservative as Governor, did some good things as governor here in IN, reformed welfare. That is what got him elected as Senator, he knows he is in trouble because he will never get reelected now with his record. Marion (Inpls)and Lake (chicago area) Counties might shake enough votes for the democrats here in IN, but the majority of the other counties vote mostly Republican.

I think that even the average Democrat from IN is far more conservative than most.... I live in a heavily Republican area where the Mayor was a democrat for years.. he was conservative though.

[n david]

Some quotes from Bayh's CBS GMA interview:

"And let me say this: I think the president, you can disagree with his policies if you want to, but he is making a sincere effort to try to bring the two sides together, to try and find some common ground, to forge that practical progress that Americans are so yearning for. And I want to help him over the next 11 months to make that kind of progress."

I would say the President has been working, since the shocking loss of Kennedy's seat, to show the public he's "trying" to be bipartisan and work with Republicans. I don't know about it being sincere, since he's made public his intentions to have a bipartisan health summit on Feb 25th or 28th ... but behind the scenes Dems are talking about moving forward with the current bill thru reconciliation.

That's not being sincere. It's being a politician and lying ... but it's not being real, sincere, genuine, etc.

"But if I could create one job in the private sector by helping to grow a business, that would be one more than Congress has created in the last six months."

Ouch! I remember the admin blasted Scott Brown for stating the gov't hasn't created one job in Mass. I wonder what the reaction or response will be - if any - from the admin.

Bayh has sure been talking trash since his retirement announcement. Must feel good to get those feelings off his chest.

I do wonder if he'll, or any Democrat, will try to challenge BHO in 2012.

Source

[Jermyn Davidson]

His primary reason for retiring is the partisanship that makes accomplishing anything nearly impossible.

He was not in any clear danger of losing his seat.

He announced his retirement long before his re-election, which MOST political folks says that he would have still won, even with the voter dissatisfaction that's rampant in our country.