Republican congressman Jim McCrery is considering retiring

[NewJerseyDem]

This district gave Bush 55% of the vote in 2000 but it also voted for Landreiu in 2002, so I think we could have a shot at this district if McCrery does retire.

Politics1.com mentions republican State representative Wayne Waddell as a potential candidate along with democrats St. rep Taylor Townsend, Shreveport mayor Keith Hightower, and Public service commissioner Foster Campbell (who considered running for senate.)

http://www.politics1.com/

YET ANOTHER BAYOU STATE RETIREMENT? It now looks like four of the seven Congressional seats in Louisiana this year may be open seat contests. Congressman Jim McCrery (R-LA) said Friday that he is "considering" retiring this year because of the strain serving in Congress places on his family. McCrery explained he doesn't like having to leave his wife and two young children behind in Shreveport every week when he is in DC, and doesn't think he can afford the costs of having his family live full-time in DC. He promises to announce a decision within the next month. Meanwhile, Congressman Billy Tauzin (R-LA) said Friday through his spokesman that he may resign early from Congress -- necessitating a special election -- depending on what his doctor tells him after his February 27th exam. Tauzin is apparently suffering from severe pain in the area around his wallet -- as it seems he wants to quit Congress ASAP so he can accept that million-dollar lobbying job offer from the pharmaceutical industry.

[joeybee12]

1. Love the comment about Tauzin!

He is such filth!

[NewJerseyDem]

2. Here's the Shreveport Times story on this

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/html/7B57EE0C-8C4C-4B6F-B06C-04403E39C590.shtml

Citing a desire to be with his family more now that his children are getting older, Republican U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery said Friday he is seriously considering not running for re-election to Congress this year.

"I have not made a decision, but I'm having a harder time deciding to run again than I've ever had before," said McCrery, who first took office in a 1988 special election.

McCrery, 54, said that before the past few elections, he and his wife, Johnette, have discussed what he wanted and their family situation before he committed to running again.

"The thing that's different this year is my boys are two years older than last cycle," McCrery said. "They are 10 and 8 now. They're into more things, more activities. And it's harder for me to leave Shreveport every week and not see them during the week."

[finecraft]

3. Could go Dem if the right person ran

Caddo Parish (the Shreveport area) went for Blanco(D) in the Gov's race. Bossier Parish (across the river)is a solid Republican area...If the current Shreveport Mayor Keith Hightower ran, or Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell ran, I think that district could go Dem. These are the two strongest candidates on the list for us.

[EX-CONservative]

4. McCrery

There have been rumors swirling for a while that McCrery is gay.

Could it be possible he'll retire to keep his sexual identity covered up?

[David__77]

5. I thought he was gay...

I have heard this also. It doesn't seem to be cause much problem for Sen. Lindsay Graham or Rep. David Dreier. It did of course cause Rep. Mark Foley to drop out of his senate bid in Florida.

[NewJerseyDem]

6. The Advocate reported that McCrery, Foley and Kolbe were gay

Jim Kolbe was the only one that admitted but Foley and McCrery have never come out of the closet, if indeed they are in the closet.

I doubt that has anything to do with McCrery's retirement. This has been reported for 8 years and it didn't scare him out of politics. What is weird is that McCrery appeared to be the frontrunner to become the next powerful Ways and Means committee chairman once Thomas was term limited out, assuming the republicans held control of the House. It's unusual that someone would retire if they might become so powerful, so soon.