Breaking: Senator Pete Dominici or New Mexico to announce retirement tomorrow

[Quixote1818]

I just heard this on local Albuquerque radio. This will likely be a Democratic pick up.

Possible people who could fill this spot:

Marty Chavez - Popular Albuquerque mayor
Congressman Tom Udall
Bill Richardson

Republicans who will want the spot

Heather Wilson
Maybe ex Gov. Gary Johnson
Congressman Steve Pierce

[mtnester]

1. Wait for it

you know it is coming.

[MissWaverly]

2. I am voting this for the Greatest Page

I wonder if this is over the firing of the AG out there for not pursuing voter fraud (non-existent).

[Quixote1818]

3. I actually know his sister

She is the principal of a St. Mary's school in Albuquerque. She is actually a really neat lady who has been a nun for 60 years. She has been telling me he has wanted to retire for a long time. He has health issues and I am sure the AG scandal is not something he wants to deal with on the campaign trail.

[MissWaverly]

11. well, I am glad that it will help clear the air

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Seems like we knew this was coming.

Anybody actually surprised?

[rockymountaindem]

5. Their Senate caucus is collapsing n/t

[rucky]

6. NM will go blue...

unless Gary Johnson steps in.

[Nite Owl]

7. Another one bites the dust

finally, this guy has been around forever.

[Quixote1818]

8. He was one of the Ranking Republicans too

I think he was one of the top five most powerful Senators. That will be a lot of lost power.

[VP505]

12. That's not as

dire as it might sound, Sen Bingaman has plenty of seniority also.

[blogslut]

9. This election season is turning out 2 b

...very interesting.

[Ikonoklast]

10. Rats and a sinking ship

Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out, Pete.

[MiniMe]

13. That's what happens when you start making calls to USA's

It can come back and bite you in the butt. Now, take Heather Wilson with you.

[terisan]

14. Had he been accused of getting a US Attorney fired for not doing politically motivated prosecutions?

[MiniMe]

15. The matter is being "investigated"

[Trillo]

17. Is that the primary scuttlebutt? n/t

[MiniMe]

18. I believe it was referred to the ethics committee

I'm sure that Gonzo got right on investigating him, so we know that it isn't the justice department investigating. Even if that phone call to the US attorney was on the up and up (which I doubt), it was highgly inappropriate.

[Nimrod2005]

16. Praise the Lord!

[JNelson6563]

19. Bye Pete, you piece of shit.

Don't let the door hitcha where the good lord splitcha.

Julie

[Peregrine Took]

21. Tee hee! Good one. I remember one time Ralph Nader was appearing before

some frigging Senate committee and this creep was so disrespectful and incredibly rude to him I wanted to jump thru my radio and spit in his eye.

Say what you will about Nader's political attempts but he was a tremendous consumer advocate.

[Jacobin]

20. Got a little too cozy with Gonzales and Rove

on this US attorney firing thing, and he's looking at obstruction of justice charges. He's lawyered up

[Quixote1818]

22. Personally I think Richardson will end up in his position

Democrats will be putting the pressure on for him to get in. He should chat with Hillary and find out if he is out as VP then once he comes in 4th in Iowa he can bow out of the Presidential and get into the Senate race. He can use all the money he raised for the Presidential race in his Senate race.

[Catherine Vincent]

23. I'll always remember him for picking his nose in the Senate chamber.

Also for raising the papers in hand gesturing other republicans to stand and applause during the SOTU address by President Clinton.