The Eight Retiring U.S. Senators

[Tx4obama]

As of yesterday, there have been eight incumbent U.S. Senators that have announced that they will be retiring and will not run for reelection in 2012.

Four Democrats
Daniel Akaka - Hawaii
Jeff Bingamen - New Mexico
Kent Conrad - North Dakota
Jim Webb - Virginia

Three Republicans
Jon Kyl - Arizona
John Ensign - Nevada
Kay Bailey Hutchison - Texas

One Independent
Joe Lieberman - Connecticut


There are 33 current U.S. senators whose 'seats' are scheduled for re-election in the November 2012 U.S Senate elections: 21 Democratic, 10 Republican, and 2 Independent.

To see a compiled prediction chart of which 'party' will win each seat (Roll Call, Sabato, Cook, 538, and Rothenberg) click on the link below and scroll down 1/3 of the way down the page to the 'PREDICTION' section

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Senate_elections,_2012

[Major Hogwash]

1. Well, at least Lieberman won't be there fucking things up anymore.

And in case you didn't notice, you misspelled Virginia.

[Tx4obama]

3. Thanks for the heads up. I fixed it. n/t

[speltwon]

2. Daniel Akaka is a good man.

I have a lot of respect for him

[mahina]

6. He is the best of us

Luckily we have 2 more years. Many many tears were shed when we got the news, all over the state.

[avaistheone1]

16. Way too conservative a Dem.

What difference has he made as a Senator?

[speltwon]

22. I wasn't commenting on that.

I was commenting on his character and his service to this country.

[Dawson Leery]

4. It does not look as bad as the pundits are making it appear.

[Old and In the Way]

5. I score it a little differently.

1 Democrat
3 liberal Republicans
1 moderate Republican
1 wackaloon
1 serial adulterer
1 scumbag opportunist

I'll leave it to the readers to figure which names goes with the labels

[RC]

7. 1 moderate Republican - Kent Conrad - North Dakota

[Tx4obama]

8. 1 serial adulterer: Ensign - Nevada

[Donald Ian Rankin]

24. You need to rethink the definitions of "Democrat" and "Republican".

"Democrat" does not mean "liberal" or "left-winger"; it means "member of the Democratic party".

Conservative Democrats are as much Democrats as left-wing ones.

[Old and In the Way]

26. Except when they vote like Republicans.

I really don't put much stock in the Party ID...but I know this. There are no liberal Republicans left in the Republican Party and moderates are becoming extinct as well. Democrats, on the other hand, are well represented with all 3. At the end of the day, if Democrats are helping to enact a Republican agenda...I'd say they are Republicans,,,don't you?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

27. No, I'd say they're conservatives.

Democrat and Republican are signifiers of part loyalty, not of ideology. No matter how far to the right - or how far to the left, for that matter - someone is, if they're officially a Democrat then they're a Democrat.

"Democrat in name only" is a weird phrase, because there's no such thing as a Democrat in more than name. There are Democrats who support positions held by the majority of Democrats, and there are Democrats who hold views to the left or the right of that, but that's about ideology, not party.

[Old and In the Way]

28. So a Democrat that votes a Republican Party line is a Democrat?

Sorry, I really don't know what a conservative is today. I hear lots of Republicans say they are conservative, but they also like their wars, their "drill, baby, drill", busting budgets with reckless fiscal policy, and getting government involved in a women's most intimate life decisions. All I know is a conservative label is the label of choice for most Republicans. I really don't care if a Democrat wants to call him or herself a conservative as long as they support/vote a Democratic agenda. Otherwise, they enable Republicans. 40 years ago, liberals vs. conservatives meant something different. Coalitions of like-minded Republicans and Democrats got progressive legislation passed over the objections of like-minded conservative Democrats and Republicans. But today's Republican Party is a monolithic entity. There are single minded in their ideological bent. There is no counterbalancing wing within their caucus. Just look at the voting patterns over the past 20 years. I wouldn't call them conservative, I'd call them servants in the employ of Big Business. I prefer legislators that vote a Republican agenda to call themselves Republicans. Nothing is more corrosive than allowing a Republican to use our Party ID to get himself elected and then use his position to enable the Republican agenda.

I consider myself conservative on a number of issues, but I'd never label myself as one in today's political environment.

[TygrBright]

9. There is some hope in New Mexico...

...although we are definitely heartbroken at losing Jeff.

However, Her Imperial Bovoskankness Heather Wilson has already declared and we are expecting rabid wackjob millionaire Steve Pearce to throw his hat in the ring any time. If he does, the likelihood that the two of them will annihilate each other in a steel-cage deathmatch of tasteless lunacy and unparalleled tackiness is VERY HIGH. Their hatred for each other is far, far greater than either's hatred of any possible Democrat in the state.

Go Steve, go!

evilly,
Bright

[rabs]

13. Is Pierce really going to take on Heather again?

I saw a TV spot on Her Skankiness Heather last night in which she declared she would run for Bingaman's seat.

But have not seen that Pierce covets it too.

Another Her Skaniness/Pierce go around would be entertaining. (Both of them listed as among the most corrupt member of Congress a few years ago by FAIR)

Have you seen a viable Demo candidate yet ?

[TygrBright]

15. I can think of a couple of Dems who would be viable if they'd take it on.

Heinrich is one, but I don't think he's inclined that way. Bill Richardson could have it in a walk if he wanted it. I drool at the thought... he's got quite an intel file on many of the usual suspects and I think he could be quite effective at quiet arm-twisting and diplomatic kneecapping.

Harry Teague might go for it, but I don't know how well he'd play in El Norte, he's a solid DINO. That might give him a chance in ABQ, though, and he's got deep pockets.

So far Steve isn't saying anything. But you KNOW he's gotta be thinking it. Because, after all, who's the most brilliant, wonderful, qualified, DESERVING GOPpie in the Southwest? His mirror tells him every morning!

It would be an awful lotta fun to watch.

dreamily,
Bright

[Obamanaut]

10. Another opportunity to 'limit' the terms of 33 incumbents. But most

people vote for "the name you know", keeping incumbents for long careers (there are several senators in their 70s and 80s), and then complain about what congress does.

[Tx4obama]

11. There are only three senators in there 80s and all three are democrats

As of March 9, 2011, 3 senators are in their 80s, 18 are in their 70s, 37 are in their 60s, 31 are in their 50s, 9 are in their 40s, and 2 are in their 30s.

List of current U.S. Senators by 'AGE' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_current_United_States_Senators_by_age

List of current U.S. Senators by 'SENIORITY' http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seniority_in_the_United_States_Senate

[Obamanaut]

12. Since there are 3 in their 80s, and 18 in their 70s, what I typed is in

fact true: There are several in the 70s and 80s.

Regardless of party affiliation, that is a long career, and it is time for a new crop to belly up to the trough.

[Tx4obama]

14. But age is not the same as seniority (length of career)

Look at Akaka, he is in his 80s but he is 21st in seniority.
And look at Lautenberg, he is the oldest senator at age 87, but he is 47th in seniority, only has been in the senate since 2003.

The total number of senators over the age of 70 is only 21, or basically only 20% of the senate.
So, that number is just about right to have in the senate to represent their age group, bringing their life experience and knowledge.

Edited to add:
And only 21 senators have been in the senate for over 20 years.

And of the 25 longest serving senators (the ones with the most seniority) FIVE are retiring.

In my opinion the percentages are pretty well balanced.

[Obamanaut]

25. Knowing as I do the difference between age and seniority, here is

a tidbit, from your link, about the two senators mentioned:

Frank Raleigh Lautenberg … his fifth non-consecutive term in the Senate, first serving from 1982 to 2001 and again since 2003

Akaka was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1976 to represent Hawaii's Second Congressional District. He won seven consecutive elections by wide margins

As you can see, they are not new to the trough of government largesse. It is time, past time for many, to let some newer ones fatten their wallets.

In my opinion, when one third of the senate is over 70, it is time for a change. Consider that right here on DU some have typed that John McCain should retire because of his age. Please note that there are many in the senate older than McCain. They should retire as well.

[avaistheone1]

17. Why is Jim Webb retiring?

especially given this is his first term as a Senator

[SoCalDem]

19. He's a DINO, and being a senator is not as lucrative as speaking tours & book-writing.

I think I read somewhere that one of his books had a movie-deal..

and he has seen these maps:(

No one likes being in the minority

[avaistheone1]

20. Oh...

I thought he might prostrate himself to K Street.

Let's just hope a real Dem takes his seat.

[The Northerner]

21. He mentioned in an article that he didn't want to spend the rest of his life in politics

or something similar.

[SoCalDem]

18. We will not control the senate for quite a while after '12 elections

Not many reds will turn blue, but many blues will be red..

[Tx4obama]

23. I disagree. Time will tell. n/t

[upi402]

29. Joe Lieberman that rat, worse than a RW loon! n/t