Yippee! A 4th GOP senator is not seeking re-election, no democrats have announced any retirements

[Happyhippychick]

Looks like 2010 ain't gonna be their year either.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/12/AR2009011203010.html

A spate of retirement announcements by Senate Republicans this year have further complicated attempts by GOP strategists to begin rebuilding a party devastated by across-the-board losses in recent elections.

The latest departure news came yesterday, when Sen. George V. Voinovich of Ohio said he has decided not to seek a third term in 2010, citing a desire to "step back and spend the rest of our time with our children and grandchildren." Voinovich joins Republican Sens. Sam Brownback (Kan.), Christopher S. Bond (Mo.) and Mel Martinez (Fla.) on the sidelines heading into the 2010 election. So far this year, no Democrats have announced plans to retire after the current Senate term.

The rapid pace of Republican retirement announcements has dispirited many in the party who thought the 2008 election, in which the party lost seven or eight seats (depending on the outcome of the Minnesota contest), marked the GOP's nadir.

[bdamomma]

1. rats are jumping ship.

[havocmom]

4. They know the brand is dead. Look for a new party in a few short years

Same old faces, but new brand. They will come back when America has something to steal again.

Yeah, I AM that cynical. But then, I have been around a long time and noticed patterns.

[Happyhippychick]

5. I agree! I think it will be called "the conservative party". They should be a threat by 2104.

[Beetwasher]

7. Nope, Not A Threat

Because the Repubs will still be around too, but controlled by the Reactionaries and fundy's.

[havocmom]

8. That core group will be down to under 19% and written off

Palin's Party and nothing more. The real corporatists WILL be back, just re-packaged. The far out tools they have used have already been pitched aside like a prom date with a soiled gown and reputation.

[Beetwasher]

9. Yeah, But That 19% Is A Big Chunk In An Already Shrunken Party

How could the new party, whatever it will be, win a presidential election without them? :shrug:

[havocmom]

11. When the DLC fails the expatations of the masses

(the masses having a short attention span and being heavy into the myth of instant gratification) the middle will swing again, and New Coke will have its day.

[Beetwasher]

13. Not Very Likely

It will be hard when they are that splintered.

[havocmom]

14. the disillusioned middle are never splintered

they are always up for graps. And they are notorious for having short attention spans

[Beetwasher]

6. Yup, I Predicted The Demise Of The Republicans

Bush has ruined the brand forever. :rofl:

[Happyhippychick]

15. Well at least he did one thing right.

[babylonsister]

2. Now there's five. KBH is running for gov in TX. nt

[pinto]

3. Kick.

:kick:

[Libertyfirst]

10. Problem: we need Democratic candidates that will stand up for

left of center positions on jobs, health, energy, regulation, and the environment. We picked up a lot of right of center Democratic representatives in the last election. We don't need any more of those types in either house. If we leave it up to the Party and Congressional committees, they will simply look for those who can finance their own campaigns. We need to identify good people and start helping them now.

[Aristus]

12. The unhappy trade-off of this situation is the Supreme Court. All of the left-leaning

moderates (there are no liberals on the SC) are headed for retirement soon, and none of the ultra-right wing, fascistic hanging judges (there are no conservatives on the SC) are. We need five steadfast unbending progressives on the bench to rid our court of the wishy-washy taint of Anthony Kennedy and the prospect of a see-saw 5-4 decision on EVERYTHING.