Graham to announce retirement

[jiacinto]

This is just horrible. Very horrible. How could he do that?

He could have won comfortably. According to the local news here he is about to announce his retirement.

This is a sad day.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Perhaps he is burned out

The man has only given the majority of his adult life to public service only to watch the gains die out in a few short years.

[jiacinto]

2. It's a selfish decision

That's how I feel right now.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

3. When you are his age you may feel differently

his health may be an issue, anyway, as long as he helps elect a Dem in his place, fine.

[charlie]

4. Pretty uncharitable

He's earned it, he owes nobody.

Write him. Start a petition. It's possible he can be convinced to run.

[jiacinto]

6. Sorry

That's how I feel right now. He knew what was at stake and who will take over his seat now. He could have at least held on one more term.

Maybe that's being uncharitable, but I feel angry.

[charlie]

9. Seriously

Write the man. Get everyone you know to write and call. He may just be feeling worn out and unappreciated from his presidential campaign.

[Heddi]

27. Why is it selfish?

because he's doing something YOU disagree with?

Sounds like he's not the selfish one......

Could it be that he has health problems that he doesn't wish to disclose to the public?

Maybe there's something going on in his family that needs his utter, 100% attention.

Maybe he's just tired of the political game and doesn't want to play anymore.

Until you live the man's life, and until YOU have to make the decisions he does, you have NO RIGHT to call this man's actions "SELFISH".

"He could have at least held on one more term"---BULLSHIT---HE HAS THE RIGHT TO RUN OR NOT RUN---YOU are the one being selfish by blasting this man for making a personal decision.

Didn't you just yell at a friend for "making" you miss the last half of a football game---a decision that YOU choose to make (re: picking said friend up to take to the mall)? Isn't that a bit selfish (Blaming others for your decisions? Only looking after yourself and what you missed?)

Seriously---calm down---he's served this long, has run for President---I'm sure he didn't just wake up this AM and say "gee. I don't want to run again"---I'm sure he has his reasons, which he's under NO obligation to get your permission or approval for....

[jiacinto]

33. I understand

I was just really upset.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

12. YOu have no idea if it is a selfish decision and there are some popular

Florida Dems after his seat that he has vowed to help.

He owes nothing and there are SO many senators running for President, why blame Graham?

[jiacinto]

26. I understand

It's just my anger right now.

[Forkboy]

20. Selfish?

Like bitching at a so-called friend because you missed part of a football game?

You're something else.

[CMT]

5. two terms as governor and three terms in the senate

I don't blame him if he doesn't run again. But I don't think he would rule out a Vice-presidential run and I think he would be excellent.

[jiacinto]

8. Ok

Yeah but still he retired. He has hurt our efforts to break even in US Senate races.

[Doomsayer13]

7. this is indeed very sad

it will be a fight to keep this seat.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

10. As A Floridian It's Going To Be Hard To Hold His Seat

Off the top of my head I say Alex Penellas gives us the best shot to hold it...

He's young, good looking, charismatic and Latin....

[RandomUser]

11. This is indeed sad

I like Graham. Sigh. He's a good guy.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

14. Great Guy

but he's sixty seven years old....


Sorry, Carlos, I know you hate the word but the REPUKES must be licking their chops...

[soup]

a sad day.

He has served Florida for so long. I was hoping he would chose to stay in the Senate.

notes:

He's coming to the podium at a high school now. Shaking hands. Wearing jeans and shirt for 'workday' doing roofing at the school.

His wife speaking now - introducing him-

thank you my dear for that wonderful introduction married 44 years. Thank you. I love you.

this is very important day for me, thanking friends and students and Lincoln high school, principal-

391st work day may say something about my ability to hold a job.
1977 announced intention to run for gov during a workday.

I will not be a candidate for election for 4th term to senate.

This is not the end.

Led a full, joyful and i hope, productive, life

will accelerate pursuit of goals. jobs, education, U.S. security, FL environment.

Hope to write, record truths I have learned.
Create institution for future.

Continue romance of 44 years with my wonderful wife. The person I most like to be with.
AW, sniff...

4 daughters, 10 soon to be 11 grandchildren.

Very strong field of democratic candidates for Senate (?)

Talking about his governorship.

Damn, this is sad. I really hate to see him go.

[Blue-Jay]

13. Vice president Graham....

That has a nice ring to it. I can't imagine a better choice, provided a New Englander wins the nomination.

[in_cog_ni_to]

15. Sad, sad news

:cry: You can email him, if you wish but, I emailed him last week BEGGING him to run. Guess it didn't do any good. :(

I wish him the best. I just hope we can keep his seat in the Senate.

[soup]

23. me, too.

Sent my hopes he would decide to continue to be my Senator.

feeling a bit of rudderlessness right now

[goobergunch]

37. It's 50-50

compared to 90-10 if Graham had run. :mad:

[tom_paine]

16. I agree, carlos, this is awful news

Imperial Amerika has cemented it's iron grip on the Formerly Free Imperial Subjects of Amerika.

[Clark Can WIN]

17. He's a good man

Maybe he's tired of wading through the cess pool day after day.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. The REAL shame is that out of ALL the Dems he was probably the

MOST qualified to be president and his campaign barely got ANY traction.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. I Think That Played In His The Recent Decision

It must have been humiliating for a man who won two gubernatorial elections and three senatorial elections in the fourth largest state in the Union to be summarily rejected by Democratic voters....

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

21. I doubt it. I think he sees the writing on the wall and knows

his time will be spent more valuably doing other things that will strengthen the party. It is a SAD day in politics when the MOST qualified are set aside for the LEAST qualified better connected. McCain saw the same thing in South Carolina.

[ScreamingMeemie]

22. Sorry to hear that....and good luck Florida.

Hang on to that seat!!!

[caledesi]

24. A sad day indeed! Bob Graham is a treasure. nt

[OneBlueSky]

25. maybe he could use his new found free time . . .

raising holy hell about that list of 16,000 disqualified voters that Florida used in 2000, and 2002, and will use again in 2004 . . . seems to me that 4 years is plenty of time to fix it, but I guess they claim they can't get it done until 2006 . . .

[spindoctor]

28. He will be missed.

It's always sad to see one of the good ones go.

[eissa]

29. VP Graham?

I've heard his name mentioned here and there as a possible VP candidate for the democratic ticket. Does anyone think that played a role in his decision?

[livinontheedge]

30. My guess, he's tired of being in the minority party.

It can't be fun having to fight the republican assholes everyday. With republicans in control, democrats can't chair any committees, can't pass their legislation, etc. About all they can do is stop the republicans from doing even more damage. Although that is important, it cannot be that rewarding for someone as sharp has Graham.

My guess is the republicans will pick up (net of losses in Illinois and Alaska) at least 2 if not 3 seats in '04. They will have at least at 53 to 46 advantage over democrats. That is what I think Graham foresaw and just couldn't take anymore.

[KG]

31. he's 67 and just had major heart surgery

he may not feel so good when he gets up in the morning anymore. :(

but, i say, dam him for not calling up carlos and clearing it with him first!!! :eyes:

[GBD4]

32. While I am very disappointed...

...we need to be way more optimistic. If there is only one Democrat who can win a statewide race in FL in 04 (Graham) then what condition is the Party in right now? Are there no decent Florida Dems in the younger generation? We have two United States Congressmen (Deutsch and Hastings), the highest elected official of the largest of the 67 Florida counties (Penelas), and a former education commissioner who's already been elected statewide twice (Castor). While I really only like Castor, I think these four can all be competitive - and win! Who do the Republicans have? Ultraconservative House Speaker Byrd, ex-Rep McCollum whom Bill Nelson defeated for Senate in 2000, and some other folks. WE are the ones with current US Reps and a statewide official in the running, NOT THEM. Additionally, Deutsch is the #2 biggest war chest of all 435 House members (don't ask for a link, I read it a while ago, trust me :) ). Further, Deutsch and Hastings are in safe Dem seats, and those seats will remain Dem if either one wins the Senate nomination. Of all the people on this board, I might be the most pro-Graham! But even I have some optimism on this sad day!

[mndemocrat_29]

34. While I disagree about Hastings

I think that both Castor and Deutsch (along with Penelas, who I have issues with) can beat anyone the Repukes come up with. McCollum looks likely to win the nomination, and will probably come out of a bruised primary after being preordained. Bill Nelson beat McCollum, and Deutsch, Castor, and Penelas all can too. Possibly Graham saw that his seat would go to a Democrat and ducked out when he figured he could. He'll campaign heartily for the Democratic presidential candidate, as will the Senate candidate.

However, I do wish that Graham would've run. He's a great senator and will be missed.

[goobergunch]

38. Don't forget the money factor

The national party now has to spend money on this race that might have been spent elsewhere.

[Bake]

35. As for the speculation about Graham's health

Obviously, I have no knowledge of the Senator's health, but he DID just run a campaign for President, albeit short-lived. That would seem to indicate that his health must be OK.

I too fear the prospect of losing Graham's seat. But more than that I regret the loss of Sen. Graham from public service. He's one of the good guys.

Bake

[Starpass]

36. As Judy Woodruff said today

Wish I had the exact words but was wanting to throw something at the TV. She showed all the Dem Senators who have thrown in the towel and said they will not run for re-election and observed and snickered about him and basically accused him of just seeing the hopelessness of it. She is positively crowing about how literally wiped the Dems are going to be in '04. She even assaulted him with Zell Miller's praise for Bush and condemnation of the Dems. Apparently the South now will be dedicated to hunting down and killing any filthy Dem who dares to run down there. Good-----let the rednecks rot; they deserve it.

[Yupster]

39. For prez, Dem. nominee doesn't have to win the south, but

if he throws in the towel and doesn't try to be competitive there, we can end up with Republican freshman senators in N Carolina, S Carolina, Georgia and Florida. There's only so much tide you can ask a candidate to fight against.

[GBD4]

40. Louisiana

don't forget all of the rumors flying around regarding John Breaux's retirement, too :(

[LuCifer]

41. THIS SUCK SERIOUS ASS

Great. Just what I always wanted out of life. "Senator Mark Fucking Foley."