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Republicans: Democrats’ Best Friends

August 18th, 2007
By Michael van der Galien


Are Republicans rushing for the exits? The New York Times certainly seems to think so:

A rash of retirements among House Republicans is adding to the party’s electoral challenges and raising questions about a rush for the exits.

Four House Republicans — Representatives J. Dennis Hastert and Ray LaHood, both of Illinois; Deborah Pryce of Ohio; and Charles W. Pickering Jr. of Mississippi — have all announced in recent days that they will not seek re-election next year, worrying Republican leaders anxious to hold back a potential wave of retirements after the loss of their majority in 2006. Mr. Hastert, the former speaker, Mr. LaHood and Ms. Pryce were all well-liked leaders within their party.

LaHood explained: “I think our party’s chances for winning the majority back next time are pretty bleak at the moment and I will admit to you that being in the minority is less fun.” He added: “People are going to continue to have heartburn over the war. Democrats will win the White House, hold their majority in the House and in the Senate in 2008, and then in 2010 we will have an extraordinary opportunity in the off-year of a Democratic presidency and Congressional majorities to possibly win it back. But it is not going to happen the next time.”

So, instead of fighting for his job, and for the Republican Party, Representative LaHood has decided that it is better to call it quits.

Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, chairman of the House Democratic campaign committee, argued that there might be quite some announcements of early retirements (more): “If the past is prologue here, we can expect to see a lot more than the average number of retirements after an election, and every vacancy creates opportunities.” Opportunities for the Democrats that is of course.

So, from a Republican perspective, this is incredibly bad news. The more Republicans decide to retire, the more likely it becomes that the Democrats will, indeed, win in 08. Not just the Presidency, but also the House and the Senate. Talking about a self-fulfilling prophecy.

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 18th, 2007 at 9:58 am and is filed under Congress. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


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