Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin Won't Seek 6th Senate Term

[Hissyspit]

Source: Huffington Post

AP NewsBreak: Harkin won't seek 6th Senate term

THOMAS BEAUMONT | January 26, 2013 10:13 AM EST |

CUMMING, Iowa — Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin says he will not seek re-election in 2014.
The 73-year-old Harkin tells The Associated Press in an interview, "It's just time to step aside," because by the time he would finish a sixth term, he would be 81.

Harkin said it would also allow a new generation of Democrats to seek higher office.
The announcement comes as a surprise, considering he had $2.7 million in his campaign war chest and was planning a fundraiser next month.

Harkin played a lead role in urging the Senate's more liberal members to back the 2010 health care bill.
No Iowa Republicans have taken formal steps toward seeking the seat. Harkin's decision eases the burden on the GOP, who have to gain six seats to win the majority.

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130126/us-harkin-iowa-

[a kennedy]

1. D*mn, he was always one of the good guys....

he will be missed.

[frazzled]

4. Yeah, I remember standing for him in the 1992 presidential caucus

He was my guy back then. But I respect his decision to step aside for the next generation. We need our wise elders in the Senate, but we also need to develop the fresh talent of tomorrow.

[earthside]

19. I held a house party in Colorado for him in '92.

Tom Harkin would have made a great President.

One of the great U.S. Senators.

And ... a good example for some other Senators (and U.S. Representatives) --- know when it is time to go!

I agree, we need "wise elders" ... but, for example, Frank Lautenberg and Charlie Rangel are not helping anymore and look increasingly foolish trying hold-on to office.

[Ken Burch]

27. We had one for him in Juneau in '92.

Unfortunately, he was forced out of the race long before our caucuses.

There was no excuse for anyone in the progressive wing of the party NOT to back Harkin that year-Paul Tsongas wasn't a liberal and had no real appeal anywhere- Harkin was the real deal and actually had a spine. And the real problem was that the party leaders and the media had decided in advance that they wouldn't tolerate anyone BUT Clinton as the nominee.

Tom Harkin would have beaten Bush the First like a rented mule in '92. We never needed to go with a poor-bashing, ceo-loving death penalty freak to get elected.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Not too surprised

Still sad news though. Can we say Senator Bruce Braley?
Early congrats to Senator Harkin, a great "prairie populist". He will be missed. As already mentioned, BRALEY BRALEY BRALEY!

[exboyfil]

10. Big second on that recommendation

Braley is a great guy. I wish he was a bit more aggressive, but his heart is in the right place. He will get my support. I hope we have a good backfill for his House seat though. We have a lot of whacked out Republicans running around this district (some go to my church and one in particular I have known since he was a baby - love the family but hate the politics).

Harkin still can do some good before he leaves in two years. I do wish him the best. I would have liked Braley try for the other Senate seat though.

[UpInArms]

3. he will be sorely missed

He's been one of the best

[montanacowboy]

5. He is fed up with the bullshit

He knows nothing can be accomplished - Harry Reid is a disaster and needs to go; the whole Democratic slate needs to be updated and ready to change things. lmagine in 4 years where we will be, I can't even watch the news anymore. Gloating fuck faces of the wingers, knowing they will stop everything all because of the weak sister Dems and Harry Reid.

Love you Senator Harkin, one of the very best

[Bluzmann57]

6. Now if only grassley would quit...

He's old too, so he needs to go. Not only because he's in his 70's, but because he just sucks.

[Ken Burch]

28. Grassley still think's he's the Senator from God, though.

He took that seat by Bible-bashing John Culver and never stopped with the sanctimony or the arrogance. Grassley will DIE in that seat.

[chuckstevens]

7. The Last of a Dying Breed...

An unashamed, New Deal Democrat! Thank you Senator Harkin! Let's hope there some younger Democrats who understand the party's heritage and will not be afraid to embrace it against the Blue Dogs Democrats and loony-tune right-wingers like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz.

Ronald Regan was a complete phony and a bad actor to boot! FDR, Harry Truman, JFK, and LBJ. Now those were leaders of a righteous case!

[sadbear]

9. As long as we can keep that asshole Steve King out of his seat

[exboyfil]

12. I hadn't thought about that

That is the worst case scenario. Up thread the recommendation is Braley. Tom Vilsack? I couldn't get behind Culver given the way he dialed in the last Governor's election. We are going to have the two big statewide races in 2014 (Gov. and Harkin's Senate seat). Branstad might make a play for the Senate seat. Who else in Iowa?

[sadbear]

22. As a Texan, I think Iowa is a complicated place.

Iowans seem to be more politically astute than other states, but then they elect guys like Steve King. I'm sure there are some decent Democrats in that state in the tradition of Tom Harkin. Perhaps Braley is the best bet.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

14. IOWA REP. STEVE KING STARS IN TRAGIC TALE ‘A CHRISTMAS WITHOUT GUNS’

Rep. Steve King (R-Red Dawn) has a new grievance against gun registration proposals: They would ruin his family’s Christmas.

Speaking to the birther conspiracy site World Net Daily, King castigated Democratic proposals in the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre.

“And I look at the President’s argument on background checks. That would mean that every transaction on guns in America would have to be approved by a federally licensed firearms dealer,” King explained. “And that would mean that Christmas at the Kings would be outlawed unless one of us got a federal firearms license. If we want to trade guns or buy one for each other, it can’t change hands without having the universal registration component of that. So I’m concerned about that from a constitutional perspective.”

So presumably, King has never bought or sold a car for anyone in his family and then filled out paperwork for it.

More: http://wonkette.com/498416/iowa-rep-steve-king-stars-in-tragic-tale-a-christmas-without-guns

[SHRED]

11. I had a "Harkin for President" sticker on my car...

...back in the day.

I so much wanted him rather than Bubba.

1992

TOM HARKIN'S FIVE-POINT PLAN FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH

1. End George Bush's supply-side, trickle-down, tax-breaks-for-the-rich economics.

2. Use Tom Harkin's INVESTMENT BASED ECONOMICS to invest in America -- our workers, our schools, health care and our infrastructure.

3. Stop subsidizing the defense of our allies. And use that money here at home. Invest in America.

4. Get tough on trade and stop exporting American jobs to foreign countries.

5. Help America's working families with national health care, parental leave, child care and pay equity.

Now, our job is to ensure that the rich possibilities of life in America are within the reach of average American citizens, not just a rich and privileged few."

Tom Harkin has spent over 100 days on the job with ordinary working people. He has served as an auto mechanic, nurse's aide, school teacher, construction worker, deputy sheriff and cafe waiter, to name just a few.

"The time has come for you and me to tell George Bush that we're going to stand up for the ordinary working people, and we're ready for a fight. I'm ready. Are you?"
-Senator Tom Harkin

http://www.4president.org/brochures/tomharkin1992brochure.htm

[Mass]

13. So, we're losing two progressive Dems this cycle (Rockefeller and Harkin)

Hopefully, we can get two people to replace them. Sadly, however, they are also two of the most outspoken people for the working poor, with the exception of Bernie Sanders.

[Purveyor]

15. I wonder if it was the filibuster 'bullshit' that push him to make this decision. eom

[hedda_foil]

16. Oh nooo!

Harkin is the best of the best. The thought of losing him,and possibly losing his seat to a Repug is so awfully sad. Even replacing him with a blue dog...

[CBHagman]

17. I'm so sorry to see him go...

...and I still regret not voting for him in the 1992 primary.

[Proletariatprincess]

18. May he continue to fight for progressive causes....

Retirement is no excuse....

[JDPriestly]

20. One of the last of the Roosevelt Democrats in office.

What a great loss to our country! This is a sad moment.

[Archae]

21. Hopefully a democrat with more brains than Harkin runs.

Harkin has done lots of favors for his buddies that push woo...I mean, "alternative medicine."

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/03/03/senator-tom-harkin/

[bluestateguy]

23. I wish Hilda Solis would stay through 2014

Then we could replace her with Harkin at Labor.

[decayincl]

24. I'm a life-long Iowan

Iowa and the country will miss him greatly. I doubt that Steve King could be elected to the Senate. Eastern Iowa and Des Moines-Ames area are pretty liberal. Western Iowa is more conservative. With redistricting, I am now a King constituent. That's cold,even in July.

[davidwparker]

25. I'm tired of Harry Reid, too. Don't blame you.

Notice how this came after filibuster reform went nowhere.

I'd like to see Reid go.

on edit: to clarify what was meant in the subject.

[Ken Burch]

26. Thanks for your service, Senator. n/t.