Source: Sen. Akaka will not seek reelection

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: cnn

A Democratic source informed of the decision tells CNN that Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, will not run for another term.

The Honolulu Star Advertiser first reported on Wednesday that Akaka will not seek reelection.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/02/source-sen-akaka-will-not-seek-reelection/

[RandySF]

1. I support Abercrmbie or Hirono.

[Tx4obama]

2. ...

[Tx4obama]

3. There are only three senators in their 80s and they are all democrats

Lautenberg, 87
Daniel Inouye, 86
Daniel Akaka, 86

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators_by_age

[Yupster]

5. Kind of young to be retiring

He's not even 90 yet.

[Tx4obama]

4. Senator Akaka's full statement

Akaka's full statement:

After months of thinking about my political future, I am announcing today that I have decided not to run for re-election in 2012. As many of you can imagine, it was a very difficult decision for me. However, I feel that the end of this Congress is the right time for me to step aside. It has been a great honor and privilege to serve the people of Hawaii. In 2006, the people of Hawaii gave me an opportunity to continue my service in the United States Senate and I fully intend to serve the last two years of my term in office.

At the end of this term, I will have served almost 22 years in the United States Senate and, prior to that, more than 13 years in the United States House of Representatives. I am proud of my accomplishments and my incredible staff in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. They have exemplified the true meaning of being a public servant. They have worked tirelessly and without their dedication and loyalty, I could not have accomplished all that I did.

Millie and I will return to Hawaii at the end of this Congress and spend time with our children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. I would also like to spend time documenting my life and career, and serving as a mentor to future political leaders. I have always strived to serve the people with much love and aloha, never forgetting my humble beginnings, and it is my hope that they, too, will continue this tradition. We must never forget that we, as political leaders, work for the people of Hawaii and not the special interests.

I will always cherish the time I spent working in Washington, D.C., and extend my heartfelt thanks to the people of Hawaii for their confidence in me.

I would like to thank my family, my staff and my friends for their unwavering support. I would like to especially thank my wife, Millie, for her continuous support and encouragement. I could not have done it without her.

Finally, I would like to thank Senator Dan Inouye. I will forever be grateful for his friendship and steadfast support.


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http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/03/akaka_will_not_seek_reelection.php#more?ref=fpblg

[provis99]

6. 35 years in Congress and zero accomplishments.

He must have set some kind of record for futility. Hope the next guy from Hawaii is better.

[sofa king]

11. He's been a solid vote on the Indian Affairs Committee.

That's counted a lot for tribes over the decades.

[provis99]

21. he's a body that showed up.

A blow up doll could have done the same work that Akaka did.

[mahina]

12. I really couldn't disagree with you more.

Senator Akaka is a real statesman, and a leader with so much grace and aloha. His work has helped our veterans more than I can even begin to tell you.

So he doesn't have his name on a big bill. He has been looking out for the people. He was the one that guided our entire Hawaii delegation to vote against the war in Iraq, which you will recall was an unpopular position to take then.

I love him, I worked my heart out for him in the last race and would have gladly done it again. No way are we going to see his equal.

[Ken Burch]

7. Trending: Sen Akaka will not seek re-election

Source: CNN

(CNN) – A Democratic source informed of the decision tells CNN that Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, will not run for another term.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser first reported on Wednesday that Akaka will not seek reelection.

Akaka was first elected to the Senate in 1990, after serving 14 years in the House.

Read more: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

---

Thanks for your service, Senator...and may I be the first to suggest

Neil Abercrombie For The U.S. Senate in 2012!

[opihimoimoi]

8. Neil is very much needed in Hawaii to help fix the Damage from Gov LINGLEs 8 years of GOPeresque F/U

Thanks for suggesting :beer:

[mahina]

13. Opihi!

What a sad day.

Inouye, what the hell is he thinking????

[opihimoimoi]

16. WHAT he be thinking??? Heavens noes...he kinda forced Akaka out by

announcing no support....?

That was a first.

But then, Akaka was getting old and perhaps showing it...Who noes..

[mahina]

17. It just breaks my heart.

Should have been the other way. Sen. Akaka would never have done that to him, never- esp not in the G.D. newspaper.

[opihimoimoi]

18. Yeah, that was UNcool.....coulda been Akaka was rejecting the notion and needed prodding

[mahina]

19. yeah but it isn't Inouye's decision!

I'm just really sad. I love Senator Akaka, and lots of other people do too. Anyone who says he is too old or senile or whatever are full of baloney. He is smarter than all the rest of them, and in perfect health.

Thanks for letting me vent Opihi

[opihimoimoi]

20. WE all need to rant sometimes

[mahina]

15. Neva happen....not this time.

We just finished getting him elected Governor, and it was a ballbuster. He would be a great Senator, I agree, but for Pete's sake, how could he walk away now? He wouldn't do that to us.

[ClarkUSA]

9. Both Hawaiian senators always voted to open drilling in ANWAR.

They were tight with that deceased "the internet is a series of tubes" idiot GOP criminal from Alaska.

I won't miss Akaka. I hope a relatively young Democrat takes over.

[Ken Burch]

10. The idea there was that the Senate delegations from the newest states

would have more strength if they joined forces. Ted Stevens' price for backing the Hawaiians on that issue was for them to back opening ANWR.

And, in Alaska, it's essentially impossible to win a statewide race for anything without backing ANWR's development(Mark Begich, our freshman Democratic senator does, and so would any Dem that defeated Don Young. I don't like that myself, but it's political reality up here(my own suspicion is that they'll dig up ANWR and then discover there isn't a DROP of oil).

[mahina]

14. I will miss him terribly.

Agree w you on ANWAR but that was due to Inouye's connection to Stevens. Senator Akaka did the right thing most of the time, better than I can say myself.