Growing List of Republicans Saying Goodbye to Washington

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

WASHINGTON — A growing number of House Republicans are choosing to voluntarily drain the swamp one year ahead of the midterm elections.

Nearly two dozen congressional Republicans have so far announced they will not be running for re-election, leaving Democrats enthusiastic about the potential for major gains in the 2018 elections. Nine Republicans are running for a different elected position, while 12 are retiring.

And while congressional retirements are common (on average, 22 House members retire each cycle, according to a CQ Roll Call analysis), the numbers so far are glaringly one-sided. Just two Democratic House members have announced retirements, while six are running for a different office.

Five of the departing congressional Republicans hold seats in very competitive districts where President Donald Trump won by seven points or less in 2016. One, Washington Rep. Dave Reichert, represents a district Hillary Clinton won.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/growing-list-of-republicans-saying-goodbye-to-washington/ar-BBEQH6h?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=edgsp

[JDC]

1. I think they know something is coming

And they don’t want to be tied to it. It puts them in the position of defending it or competing against it. Lose, lose as they say.

[Iggo]

4. Ivanka might not know the word, but they do.

com·plic·it

involved with others in an illegal activity or wrongdoing.
"all of these people are complicit in some criminal conspiracy"

[justhanginon]

2. They don't want to be standing near the proverbial fan when it gets turned on.

[bdamomma]

3. or

rats jumping ship.

[Nevernose]

5. I think its BAD news

Most of these 25-30 retiring are in safe Republican seats. They know they’re getting primaried and are looking for the softest exit.

Since a lot of these retirees are Tea Partiers anyway, that means their primary opponents will — somehow — be even worse.

A few we can pick up, but most are “safe” for a reason. No need to get excited yet.

[longship]

6. We'll see about that.

Under such chaotic political conditions, such common sense political realities go out the window.

I remain hopeful. Yet still a bit afraid of what this chaos might breed.

My best to you.

[Demsrule86]

11. I disagree...we will pick up quite a few.

[Nevernose]

14. I certainly admire your optimism

I’ll certainly work like hell to make that happen next year.

[Demsrule86]

15. You and me both! Trump and the GOP are screwing themselves with health care and taxes...they

think the gerrymander will hold but I don't.

[Jopin Klobe]

7. Growing list of rats ...

... leaving the Ship of State ...

[Initech]

8. Kind of hard to "drain the swamp" when you *ARE* the swamp!

[nitpicker]

9. They may be preparing for other careers

Such as senior positions in business/lobbying/law firm$.

The revolving door isn't just confined to DC.

[onenote]

10. In recent years, the number of incumbents that don't run for re-election is 37

The article says 22 looking back to 1976, but if you look just at the last 12 years (six election cycles,), the number is much higher: 37. During that period the average number of house repubs not standing for re-election is around 22 and the average number of Democrats not seeking re-election is around 13. The current trend has an above average number of repubs retiring (or running for a different office) and a below-average number of Democrats.

[eppur_se_muova]

12. They're "self-deporting" !

(I was gonna say "self-draining" -- but eewwwwww. Sounds more like Steve Bannon's style.)

[Aristus]

13. I'm looking forward to flipping Dave Reichert's seat.

There's got to be some way of making our entire Congressional delegation blue. The rubes out in Spokanistan are keeping the Evergreen State purple instead of true-blue.