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The announcement by Sen. Herb Kohl (WI) that he will not be seeking re-election makes him the sixth member of the Democratic caucus that has chosen not to run again this year. With Democrats forced to defend 23 of the 33 senate seats up in 2012, the loss of the incumbent advantage in another race is a minor setback for the party as it hopes to retain control of the Senate in 2012.
Leaving aside the issue of this particular year’s unusual imbalance of seats up for election, in general, for the long-term good of the Democratic Party, this is basically the optimum time for any of its members to retire.
2012 is a year with a Presidential election, which means a higher turnout among groups that lean Democratic over a congressional midterm year, and significantly higher turnout over special elections. Not only is 2012 a Presidential election year, but it is more likely than not a Democrat will win the Presidency. As basic conditions go, that is about as favorable as it gets for a Democrat running in an open race.
Senators like Kohl, age 79, and Daniel Akaka (HI), age 86, are (one way or another) going to need to stop being senators eventually. For the long-term prospects of the party, of all the moments they could leave office, choosing not to run again and creating an open race in a Presidential election is the way that is least disruptive to the party.
Even if the recent retirements create some problems for the Democrats now, this is, in general, a very good time for Senate Democrats up for re-election to step aside.
30 Comments
It’s always a good time for Senators (and Representatives) to retire bc they get gold-plated pensions & health benefits for themselves and their spouses for life. What’s not to like about that?? And if they feel like still working, why there’s some sweet sweet deal waiting for ‘em from the upper 1%, whose back they scratched whilst in office.
Win – win – win! For the upper 1% and multi-millionaire Senators, like Kohl.
Especially as the Republicans are pissing off a majority of Voters with their Draconian assault on the Safety Nets that all Americans have paid into and the rampart support for the Rich and their Corporations. Who by the way almost pay no Fed taxes, iirc it is almost 66% who none…
It’s a good time for Democratic Senators to retire if you think there will be better Democratic Senators waiting to replace them. I’m afraid I don’t believe it.
Good time for D senators to retire bc they’ll be replaced by Rs?
Yep, great retirement plan for them not much for Main Street. I can hardly wait to see who dnc gets to run, not that anything will change for demodogs still owned by the elite.
Oh, btw, who gives a ff who whether Ds or Rs are elected.
Jon seems to be suggesting that, in 2012, there will be Democratic voters willing to vote for Democrats running for the Senate … which is, apparently, a “good” thing, as yet there is no suggestion of how it might be a “better” thing.
And the “best” thing, candidates who will not make a career of “public service” before strolling through that “revolving door” and who WILL serve the real genuine needs and interests of those what voted for them, come hell or high water, do not appear to be coming out of the woodwork … yet.
Maybe the people will just simply have to seriously chose from among their own numbers?
The majority of voters seem to want MORE choices, even a third party.
Now THAT is a good thing, Margaret, and perhaps ’twill “lead” to something “better”?
DW
No chances of something better in 2012. Only alternatives are badder & worser.
2012 WOULD be a GREAT time for Dems to run for the Senate & the House IF Obama changes his mind & does NOT run. If he runs, I can’t imagine one reason why any Democrat would vote for him or any Dem. Incumbent. We’ve never had a President, either Party, who’s showed so much disdain toward the middle class, never.
NO ONE could be WORSE, NO ONE!
This post would be hilarious were it not so sad.
Like a drug addict, one needs to hit bottom before any possibility of a change, and most fall thru the bottom and into death.
Just maybe the american people will see their bottom during the period after the 2012 elections, with the Republicans taking control of Congress and the Presidency, then again, maybe not, for it just might be too late.
What diff duz it make who is prez after 2012.
Not much.
Yeppers.
Agreed, eCAHN.
A greedy lot of bad and worse isn’t much … at all.
;~DW
I’m gonna go with agreeing with you, once again, eCAHN.
By 2032 “the people” ought to just about be “getting it” …
Of course, the rest of the world’s people will have had “enough” some time before that watershed moment …
Should be innerestin’.
DW
If yer still alive that is..
Well, in the “long run” … nahant, we all is ….
But yer point is well-taken and I reckon, if the rest of the world’s people become weary enough, that more than a few of us will be “collateral damage”, one way or another …
DW
The problem with that is it could still go Nuclear and that would be the end as we know life..
For now I think the GOP has a better than even chance taking the Senate, considering the number of at risk blue dog Dems on the ballot. A lot can happen in 18 months, though.
Obama could help more but I’m not convinced he will. Too bloodless, a bit like Reid in that regard. The Dems best hope will be ham fisted mistakes by the GOP rather than their own accomplishments, which isn’t the best position to be in. The Bin Laden will wear out, as stunning and daring as it was.
Has Russ ruled out a run? I’d take Russ over Herb or just about anyone in the Senate. He was one of the few to oppose both The Bailout and the papered-over Dodd/Frank that hearted TBTF.
Here’s something for all of you.
“…it is more likely than not a democrat will win the presidency.”
I think that’s whistling past the graveyard…it assumes two things which are dicey, to say the least:
1. That Barack Obama is going to turn into the progressive reformer that we hoped, and thought, he would be…
2. That when he does it, the republicans who control the house, and who are within a half-dozen blue dog democrats of monkeywrenching any real reforms in the senate, are going to help him do it.
I think that both expectations are as wrong as two left feet.
True that, nahant.
Doesn’t seem to be widely grasped by the self-proclaimed “intelligent” species, however.
Guess, the “plan” is to muddle through …?
(The problem is that we’ve the same mental and emotional equiptment as our “caveman” ancestors, but we’re convinced that we’re smarter ‘cuz we can build bigger sticks and stones … Hoo Ha!)
DW
I get the logic but I hope we are not too smart by half.
Aye, there’s the rub, bluedot12.
And the only worser one is figuring it out … “too late …”
(As life may often give the “test” first … and the “lesson” … afterwards.)
DW
Oh yeah, & he was just wonderful on HCR, too.
I love the word “elitism”. It is as descriptive as “illiterate”. Education is elite while non-educated is illiterate. Gov. Scot Walker is uneducated; therefore he is illiterate, while Secretary of State Hillary Rodam-Clinton (graduate from Law School) is an elitist!
I suppose those claiming others as elite must be illiterate!
Let all the spineless and blue dog (D)s retire…Maybe we can find some liberals who won’t bale on our core principles when the (R)s go BOO!, whenever the “pig” business types threaten to pull thier “campaign donations” or a vocal minority of old, white christian conservates back home go all ape$#!t screaming at them and turning their constituent meetings into “town mauls”…