Did Adam (Opie) Putnam resign his leadership positions? If so, why?

[Stinky The Clown]

I think I recall hearing shortly after election day that Florida's own Boy Wonder resigned all his leadership positions.

Anyone know why?

[Dr.Phool]

1. Yes he did.

I don't know the reason why. My guess is that there's a shitstorm brewing on the horizon.

[csziggy]

2. He figured out his side lost?

Putnam To Give Up GOP Leadership Post
Saturday, November 08, 2008
By S. L. FRISBIE, IV, Publisher

Congressman Adam Putnam announced in an election night letter to his Republican colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives that he will not seek another term as conference chairman of the GOP, his party's third highest leadership post in the House.

He said that the highly partisan nature of his position makes it difficult for him to work with Democrats in Congress.

Explaining his decision, Putnam said:

“It is very hard to win bipartisan support for your legislation when a big part of your job is to go on TV and throw hand grenades at the other party. I very much want to be able to work toward finding solutions and making a positive difference.”

Reacting to press speculation that he wanted to position himself to run for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Governor, or the United States Senate in coming years, Putnam said:

"The people of the 12th District just re-hired me to represent them for another term. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity, and I intend to focus on doing this job.

“Any speculation about what I might do in the future is wildly premature.”

In a letter sent via e-mail to other Congressional Republicans shortly before midnight Tuesday, Putnam said:

“I have enjoyed every minute as Conference Chairman, but I believe it is time to step off the leadership ladder and return my focus to crafting public policy solutions for America's generational challenges - the very reason I ran for Congress in the first place.

“With the issues before us today come bipartisan opportunities and partisan differences. My current role obligates me to the latter and too often excludes me from the former.

“I want to fight the battles worth fighting and lock arms to strengthen our nation whenever possible.

“In the coming Congress, I look forward to focusing on the policy solutions critical to the state of Florida and the important work we face on the Financial Services Committee to hold Wall Street accountable and put our economy back on the right track.

“I have come to this decision reluctantly. I am immensely proud of the work we have done as a Conference. Together Republicans stood by our Armed Forces, refused to yield to demands for their surrender and delivered the resources they need to succeed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“We stopped last year's reckless Democrat spending spree and prevented massive tax hikes on middle-class families.

“We ensured that our intelligence officials have the tools they need to stay one step ahead of foreign terrorists.

“We successfully made the case for an ‘all-of-the-above' energy policy to lower gas prices, develop the next generation of energy sources and lessen our dependence on foreign oil. These are conservative achievements worth defending.”

It is wrong to characterize the decision as a resignation, he said. His decision was not to seek another term in the leadership position, “a small but important distinction.”

Putnam called the job “a little like being the pancake breakfast chairman for the Kiwanis Club; it's an important job, and somebody needs to do it. But you don't necessarily want to do it every year."

Putnam said he came to this decision in August when he had the chance to spend some uninterrupted time with his family. He said was confident of winning reelection as conference chairman if he pursued it, but felt it was not the path he should pursue.

“I didn't want this decision to become a distraction in any other campaigns so I kept the decision secret until the elections were over,” he said.

The majority party in the House controls all the committee chairmanships, so as a member of the minority party, Putnam is not eligible for such a post.

http://www.polkcountydemocrat.com/articles/2008/11/08/news/01aputnam.txt

I like this LTTE:

Published: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 12:11 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, November 14, 2008 at 12:11 a.m.

Adam Putnam announced he will be resigning his GOP leadership position. You know the one which all news articles released by his office contained the words "third most powerful Republican;" the one where he voted nearly 100 percent of the time with Bush; the position he used to "twist arms" to get party members to support Bush no matter how wrong it was; the one that The Ledger partially used to endorse him because of his seniority; and the one he used to obstruct new legislature so his party could point out how little the Democratic controlled Congress accomplished.

Does this mean that Congressman Putnam has seen the "light" and will start reaching across the aisle in a bipartisan manner to help solve the problems of our country? Putnam claims "It only means I am turning my entire focus to the issues facing the United States and Florida." And just what did you think your job as a Congressman was before Mr. Putnam?

We will soon have a new President and new bigger Democrat majorities in Congress all brought about (at least partially) by the absolute failures of the Bush Administration and the likes of number three, Republican Congressman Putnam. Well now is your chance Mr. Putnam to do something right for America and your constituents and work in the Congress for all of us and not just for the Republican Party. Please don't "blow" this opportunity, Mr. Putnam.

DANIEL M. JOHNSON

Lakeland

http://www.theledger.com/article/20081114/NEWS/811140283

[Stinky The Clown]

10. That's some serious weasel talk

Not surprising, since he's a serious weasel.

[madfloridian]

3. I have heard he was sort of forced out.

I really don't have a link, but have heard and seen a little about it. He was #3 in the power grouping...so why would he step down voluntarily? Don't know anything for sure.

[camera obscura]

4. Same reason Roy Blunt stepped down - their miserable failure in the Congressional races.

[seafan]

5. Yes, it does appear that Adam Putnam was forced out.

Rep. Adam Putnam, flanked in this file photo by Rep. John Boehner on the left and Rep. Roy Blunt on the right, has said he is leaving his congressional leadership position.

“I believe it is time to step off the leadership ladder and return my focus to crafting public policy solutions for America’s generational challenges — the very reason I ran for Congress in the first place,” wrote Rep. Adam H. Putnam , a 34-year-old Floridian who has been viewed as a rising star in his party since his first election to Congress in 2000. “With the issues before us today come bipartisan opportunities and partisan differences. My current role obligates me to the latter and too often excludes me from the former. I want to fight the battles worth fighting and lock arms to strengthen our nation whenever possible.” Adam Putnam, November 5, 2008

Link

MANASSAS, Va., Nov 10, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Conservatives deserve credit for the resignations of Roy Blunt and Adam Putnam from their positions as the second and third-ranking House Republicans, Richard A. Viguerie, the Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com, said.
The resignations show that "Grassroots conservatives are being heard," Viguerie said. "Conservatives who make up the base of the Republican Party know that we will never get to the political Promised Land with the leaders who got us into this mess."
Said Viguerie: "The so-called 'cranky conservatives' - those who refused to fall in line behind the Republican Party, and who maintained their independence, at the price of being ridiculed as 'impossible to please' - deserve credit for forcing the Republicans to change leaders.

"And credit should also go to those Republicans in Congress who risked their careers by demanding changes at the top.
"In addition, Congressmen Blunt and Putnam deserve thanks for putting the future of their party ahead of their own ambitions. It's nothing personal. These are good men, but the Republican Party needs to go in a different direction with new leaders.
"Now it's time to finish the job. The Republican leaders in the House and Senate, at the Republican National Committee, and everyone else responsible for this debacle, must go."

.....

Link

[ellenfl]

6. translation . . . he must have barely squeaked out a win this year.

i would love to see him go.

ellen fl

[SoCalDem]

7. OR

He's gonna "decide" to "spend more time with his family"..and soon :)

Sounds like someone's got some emails or pictures:rofl:

[ellenfl]

8. from your lips to fsm's ear . . . eom

[Ghost in the Machine]

13. One picture was released...

[Stinky The Clown]

11. Sounds to me like he's smarter than being a crazy, flaming eyed righty

Actually, he is, but maybe now he wants to seem more reasonable.

Hey Opie ...... we KNOW who you are.

[QC]

9. Howdy Doody looking nimrod! n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

12. He has a face you'd like to just smack.