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Quote of the Day: Evan Bayh’s Retirement
“… in a rational world, the idea of a middle-aged man tiring of the political system and deciding to move on should make perfect sense.”
– Matthew Tully, political columnist, The Indianapolis Star, on Sen. Evan Bayh’s retirement
8 Responses to “Quote of the Day: Evan Bayh’s Retirement”
Except Bayh is a preening opportunist who sullied his father's good name and has no business complaining about anything.
Bayh's move can not be seen as an expression of the street-level loathing of the senate. It's impossible to sympathize with the man.
Unfortunately, the Senate is no longer a place for honorable service to one's country– but of making lucrative connections for the big payoff after retirement.
Bayh: “Man, this job's getting hard. I'm pulling a Palin.”
ok, so he's not quitting mid-term. but still. same idea.
Unlike Bayh, at least Palin had reasons for quitting — getting rich quickly, exploiting nation-wide political attention.
I have yet to be given a reason for Bayh to have quit (a real, valid reason).
“making lucrative connections for the big payoff after retirement”
Ron Beasley noted on another thread that Bayh has a tie to the health insurers.
Reform involving the federal government is inevitable, and the insurers' role and years are numbered. They can fight while they can for the best deal they can get, and make all the money they can while they still can, relatively easily. The Dems can't expect to stay in as much power as they are in now; the GOP will compete with Dems for lobbying slots as well as Congressional and executive positions, so perhaps Bayh decided it's his best chance now to become a lobbyist or get some other good role for a former Dem politician than may be the case later.
This was certainly a surprise with no apparent reason and we're all curious what he'll do, where, next.
uh, how about getting rich quickly and cashing in on his years of selling out?
“[H]ow about getting rich quickly and cashing in on his years of selling out?”
Cashing in now would be a choice (now) of selling out. (Not being far left up to now is not “selling out.”)
As far as getting rich while he has the best, or only, opportunity (while the insurers are still central to health care in the USA), well, imitation of Palin is the sincerest form of flattery. (I wonder if he'll make any public Palin-bashing statements — hmmm.)
In 2013, we'll have to ask president Bayh what his real reason for quitting was.