Senator WARNER Will NOT Seek Re-Election

[kpete]

just now on CNN

Thanks Virginians

Will NOT seek reelection

Republican Sen. John Warner of Virginia says he will not seek a sixth term.
http://www.cnn.com/

VIDEO: http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/streaming_video.html

[TwilightGardener]

1. Kinda sad that the end of his distinguished and long career is overshadowed

by the tawdry Craig story, but then, he has Craig to thank for that.

[Inuca]

15. Actually...

I was just watching CNN as they switched from the one millionth replay of Craig's arrest tape to the the live coverage of Warner's announcement. The contrast was striking, and dare I say a show of dignity and class the republicans so sorely need right now. I may not agree with Warner on many (most) issues, but he is a gentleman in the best sense of the word, and a true statesman. I will be sorry to see him leave. A sorrow that will be aleviated to when his namesake or some other dem is sworn in come Jan 09, but still...

[TwilightGardener]

18. Yep--I salute him--he did not disgrace himself (like Stevens, Craig), and

was a worthy and honorable "old-fashioned GOP" opponent on the other side of the aisle--those are in increasingly short supply.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

22. He is against the surge? No?

I agree he represents a better version of Republican.

[spooky3]

27. agree completely. He was not as courageous

or possibly as honest as he should have been, and had he been, he could have really changed the course of both the Supreme Ct. appointments and Iraq.

But in addition to what you say, he certainly did try to serve the needs of his constituents, as he perceived the needs, and he was respectful to those with whom he disagreed.

However, his constituency has changed pretty dramatically since he first took office. It is time for a change that better reflects today's Virginia, such as Mark Warner for Senate.

[Inuca]

34. "respectful"

this is one thing I really admire about Warner. I remember one of these sometimes strange Senate floor colloquies he had with Kerry last year, when Kerry and Feingold introduced their withdrawal resolution. Warner was against it (if I remember correctly there were only 13 or so yes votes!), the GOP leadership was horrible in the way they put down and tried to ridicule the whole effort, and then late in the day Warner had this wonderful dialog with Kerry. They disagreed, but like two mature, intelligent men, that are interested in each other's opinions, and are respectful of each other. No "cut & run", "no respect for the troops" etc. BS from Warner. Beautiful.

[Sukie1941]

2. Even though he's a Republican

I think Sen. Warner is a gentleman and I hope he will have a great retirement.

And that there is a good replacement for him.

[Ediacara]

4. His replacement may also be named Warner

Mark Warner.

[demnan]

5. And that Virginia doesn't elect Tom Davis

go here to listen to what a crook Tom Davis is. http://www.peaceandaccountability.com

[Catchawave]

31. I hear a Tom Davis v. Jim Gilmore GOP primary...

Dumb and Dumber :evilgrin:

I bet Raising Kaine is exploding right now. I'll go take a peek.

[Party Line]

7. How dare you be civil!

You're in trouble now...

:popcorn:

[Perky]

12. That's ok I got your back on this one.

John Warner is everything a Republican Senator should be. AN expert at something. Every bit a gentleman and never a flame thrower. The epitome of how a Senator should be regardless of party.


Now here comes the Marc Warner-Tom Davis race. It is going to loud and boisterous and for the firs time both candidate are from Northern Virginia. Warner is very well liked....but this will cross him off everyone's VP shortlist.

[Captain Hilts]

24. Very gracious. And Warner would beat Davis [despite the blond hair-do]

I will say this for Davis. In the GW Parkway 15K, he always ran alongside Moran, who was the Oprah of the GWP 15K. Davis could have run faster, but stayed with Moran. Nice.

[AlecBGreen]

16. lol

.

[ArbustoBuster]

3. He's not quite stepping down.

He's not going to run for re-election at the end of his term.

On edit: The first version of kpete's message said just that he was stepping down. He corrected it before I even hit "Submit." Good timing, kpete! :)

[Stinky The Clown]

17. psssst ......

kpete is a she ... not a he. :)

[ArbustoBuster]

40. I was fooled by the "pete" your honor!

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it! :)

[rox63]

6. Time for Mark Warner to fire up his Senate campaign! n/t

[demnan]

8. You bet

and I'm going to help!

[napi21]

9. Candy is talking about Mark being his replacement. That's the only

name she mentioned! GOOD. I hope Mark wins!

[cui bono]

19. Yeah, what's he been doing? I remember talk of him running for president last time around

then never heard about him again.

[BrklynLib at work]

10. Somebody here at DU sort of predicted this today..

[Lone_Star_Dem]

11. This is good news for Democrats

That's a seat that could well be taken by us.

[mzmolly]

13. I wonder if he'll advocate for an end to the war given he's not seeking re-election ?

:freak:

[ButterflyBlood]

14. I wish him well

He didn't seem like a bad guy for a Republican. Here's also to hoping the next senator from Virginia is also named Warner. :)

[AllyCat]

20. Wow, a Repub that actually served in the military

I didn't know that was allowed. I'd say, "wow, they must be forcing him out" but you know, at 80, I'd have been long ready for retirement.

Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Warner!

[LSK]

21. how many other Republicans will follow suit

[TwilightGardener]

23. Allard (CO) and Hagel (NE). And Craig, of course--if he's still there.

[Inuca]

26. IMHO

if the GOP had any sense left (big IF, I know), they would go on their hands and knees and beg Hagel to run for reelection. I assume (???) that with enough support from the center he can still win the rep nomination, and this would almost surely keep the seat republican. Another assumption followed by many question marks is that he is still interested, and of course I have no idea about that.

[TwilightGardener]

35. Hagel promised to serve only two terms--I don't see him doing anything

in terms of campaigning or fundraising that suggests he will run. He's gotten so much crap from GOPers out here that I think he understands he's no longer welcome anyway, even though he was their Shining Golden Boy before Iraq. I'm willing to bet he has something else lined up--he's still pretty young. In the meantime, he will either pass the torch to Kerrey (hope so) or Johanns (hope not). Both are friends of his, I believe. Will be interesting to see which one he endorses--the D or the R.

[orleans]

25. why? blackmail for calling some troops home?

obviously i just don't take any of them at face value anymore.

[spooky3]

29. He's 80 years old; I tend to believe he's ready for a different

life.

[Inuca]

30. Some (few) should be taken at face value

and I think Warner is one of them. I doubt Warner would have had major problems being re-elected if he wanted it.

[ButterflyBlood]

36. That'd be idiotic and self-defeating

If Warner had ran again he would've won easily, stepping down makes it a toss up and possibly even Lean D if Mark Warner runs. The Repukes aren't going to force out an incumbent if it means losing a seat no matter how much they disagree with him. Look at how they attempted to save Lincoln Chaffee despite him being completely opposed to the war since day 1.

He's 80 years old and has been in office almost 30 years. That's probably the reason.

[orleans]

41. maybe. n/t

[rateyes]

28. I would love to see Mark Warner win that seat...

One question: Is there a possibility that Gov. Wilder would enter that race?

[Catchawave]

32. There's no incumbent to defeat, just horrible GOPers

slugging it out right now. It's the Democrats seat to lose. I hear Mark Warner would rather be Governor again. Wilder would be good, as would Tim Kaine. Hell, Chuck Robb might even consider it again.

[Nimrod2005]

33. I think he already said he would, no?

It would be great to turn VA into a solid blue state!!!

[Solly Mack]

37. Hard to top the MCA of 2006 he helped to craft

Fucker...he'll probably be allowed to live his life out a free man

[KingFlorez]

38. The RSCC will be scrambling

They'll probably get Tom Davis, but it will still be a uphill battle for them to retain the seat.

[opihimoimoi]

39. I smell 62 Dem Senators...enough to stave off the Pubs fili's

[eridani]

42. Too bad that the sane Rs are stepping down--

--and all too many of the whackjobs refusing to. I'd especially like to get rid of Vitter the Shitter.

[roody]

43. Was he married to Elizabeth Taylor?