If any more proof were needed as to how bad a year this is going to be for Democrats in November, in a stunning development Evan Bayh, Democrat Senator for Indiana, is going to announce today that he will not seek re-election. Bayh is only 55, in the latest poll was running 20 points ahead of Dan Coats his Republican opponent and enjoys fairly strong popularity in the Hoosier state. His getting out makes Coats almost a certain victor in Indiana, and is yet another indication of the political tsunami bearing down on Democrats.
Update: Interesting. Apparently Obama unsuccessfully attempted to talk Bayh out of retiring. Watch the panic increase among Democrats in Congress and more retirements and some switches to the GOP forthcoming. I hear that Barbara Milkulski of Maryland will be the next Senate Democrat to announce her retirement.
WOW!!! I am stunned
Wow indeed. This is a surprise. And if you read Game Change, he was on the VP shortlist as a serious consideration.
Something odd is going on here. From what I am reading the filing deadline is like FRIDDAY to run for this seat. Somewthing sneaky is happening here 🙂
According to Ed Morrissey, the filing deadline is tomorrow. Something strange does indeed appear to be taking place.
Indeed it is good news but don’t assume that Coats is a shoe in.
1. Coats has lived outside the state since he left the Senate. He has made his money lobbying for companies such as Bank of America and Lockheed Martin. His firm even represented a big oil company in setting up a deal with Hugo Chavez. He would be just another Neocon Republican who once elected would vote for Welfare (corporate in his case) and Warfare. As a matter of fact one of Coats’ chief aids is Kevin Kellems a former aid to Dick Chaney and Paul Wolfowitz. (I guess Scooter Libby was unavailable.)
Coats was recruited by and is being foisted upon Indiana by the Republican establishment. Opportunistic lobbyist carpet baggers do not go down well with us Hoosiers. It is argued that he has name recognition but those of us who do remember his less then memorable tenure in office remember him as the guy with a bad comb-over who tuck his tail between his legs and ran from office when up against a strong challenger (Evan Bayh).
2. His primary opponent is likely to be John Hostettler a strong and principled social conservative who was one of only six Republicans to vote against the Iraq War recognizing the WMD rational behind it to be a farce. http://www.johnhostettler.com/index.htm
Sure Hostettler faces an uphill challenge against Coats, but Hostettler held on to one of the toughest districts in the State for a Republican for 6 terms. The man has proven his intestinal fortitude.
“Something odd is going on here. From what I am reading the filing deadline is like FRIDDAY to run for this seat. Somewthing sneaky is happening here.”
In Indiana you have to provide County officials with nominating petitions to be certified by noon tomorrow (Tuesday) for filing on Friday. Basically, what Bayh has done is to eliminate any bloody struggle in the Democratic primary since he was going to be unopposed and handed the decision as to who will be the Democratic candidate over to the State Democratic Chairman. I’m guessing it will be Bart Peterson former mayor of Indianapolis.
This is actually scary. It seems the traditional-conservative-libertarian coalition within the Republican party is being managed by the Rockefeller-Northeast-establishment overlords. As much damage as the Progressives within the Democrat party cause damage it seems like their deceit has been uncovered. Me thinks we need to fear the shenanigans within the Republican party more because most people don’t recognize them as easily.
This is nothing new:
“The real menace of our republic is this invisible government which like a giant octopus sprawls its slimy length over city, state and nation. . . a small group of powerful banking houses generally referred to as international bankers. The little coterie of powerful international bankers virtually run the United States government for their own selfish purposes. They practically control both political parties.” New York City Mayor John F. Hylan, 1922
Rockefeller-Northeast-establishment overlords? Next AK you’ll be talking about the Bilderbergers and the Trilateralists. Conspiracy theories almost always strike me as congealed foolishness.
Donald, we agree! It seems to be occasion for a drink…if only I actually did drink. Oh well.
We agree then on something else Eric. I am one of the few tee-totaling Irish descended lawyers.
I blame the unreformed fremasons of the Cornish Rite.
You can drink to your heart’s content to Bayh going bye-bye and the candidacy of Dan Coats; but, if he is the Republican Candidate for Senate and the Dems have a nice bland “centrist” like Peterson, you can bet the seat is safe for the Democrats. The Republicans might have just as well as shipped in Alan Keyes to run for the seat.
Ain’t nothin’ conspiratorial about a carpet baggin’ candidate who’s captive to special interests.
Huge opportunity for Republicans as the tide continues to turn.
Conspiracies have existed since the exile form the Garden. Theories are more plausible than conjecture. So a conspiracy theory is a plausible statement that at least two individuals are joined in secret to perform an unlawful or immoral act.
Can you think of any such occurrences in history. What did the Sanhedrin and Judas do? As far as recent events what happened at Jekyll Island 100 years ago? Why were there attempts on the lives of the three principle players in the demise of Soviet Communism? and, who was behind New Coke?
There is no doubt that a collectivist element is seeking to maintain control of the Republican party and traditional, conservative and libertarian Americans aren’t putting up with it. Who will win? That depends on how faithful people are and if they are willing to look beyond the illusion of a two-party system. I suspect that most Republicans want a traditionally moral, conservative principled, fiscally-libertarian, anti-Communist, strong national security including borders and so-called “free-trade” party.
Establishment interests don’t want that, they want Democrat lite. The battle is joined.
I thought the Cornish rite had been reformed 😉
According to Ed Morrissey, the filing deadline is tomorrow. Something strange does indeed appear to be taking place.
If no one qualifies for the primary the Democrats can pick whoever they want. On the other hand, there is apparently one candidate who is close to getting the required signatures. She’s a local business owner with no political experience. If she can get her signatures in by noon tomorrow, she will be the nominee. Which would be interesting, to say the least.
Rep. Brad Ellsworth is being mentioned as one of the leading possibilities to be selected. Ellsworth is a pro-life Democrat and I’d be very happy with that pick.