Rep. Chip Pickering (R-MS) to Retire (Fox News)

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

Just announced on Fox News.

Rather unexpected, I think. I figured he'd be the heir apparent to Lott or Cochran.

[bw17]

I don’t know much about him, but I have to wonder if the Republicans are purging any known liabilities in advance of the 2008 election.

One of the things Rove said about the 2006 election was that the Republicans didn’t get rid of the scandal-tainted guys soon enough.

Does Pickering have some skeletons?

[YellowRoseofTx]

No reason why? Health reason maybe? Is his “retirement” immediately or at the end of his term?

[Galactic Overlord-In-Chief]

I don’t know. Someone else will have to fill us in. I’ve heard he wanted to step down and become a lobbyist, perhaps.

[fieldmarshaldj]

This is an unfortunate bit of news and quite a surprise. I’m wondering who we have lined up to take a run here. Pickering is the heir apparent to one of the two Senate seats in the near future.

[fieldmarshaldj]

I just realized the 3rd just barely contains Oktibbeha County (Starkville), and Lt Gov Amy Tuck is from there. She’d be a perfect fit to succeed Pickering. MS has never had a woman in federal office.

[oyez]

What’s Charlie Ross doing these days?

[darkangel82]

Just as long as she’s not Olympia Snow.

[Kuksool]

{I have to wonder if the Republicans are purging any known liabilities in advance of the 2008 election.}

If anyone that needs to be purged, it would have to be Sen Ted Stevens of AK.

[Kuksool]

With Pickering retiring, Ronnie Shows might try a comeback. Also Thad Cochran might retire. Things could get complicated in MS.

[csmusaret]

I have no idea why any sane person would strive to become a member of the worlds most dysfunctional committee; the US Congress.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Ross lost the GOP primary to Phil Bryant for Tuck’s office last week.

[billhilly]

“Does Pickering have some skeletons?”

Since he is a member of Congress

[fieldmarshaldj]

Shows could try, but he got obliterated by a 2-to-1 margin in 2002. This is a heavily GOP district.

[fieldmarshaldj]

No, Tuck was a DINO who switched to the GOP.

[grandpa jones]

MS Ping

[grandpa jones]

I think his father’s confirmation battle in the Senate Judiciary Committee left him a little jaded with the whole DC scene.
Plus, he has a large family — money/income needs.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Plus it’s not like he arrived yesterday, he’s served the 12 years (by January ‘09) that is the ideal cited by many Conservatives as a decent maximum number of years in Congress. His predecessor, Sonny Montgomery, served for 30.

[Clintonfatigued]

This is a surprise, and indicates that Thad Cochran will seek one more term.

[wardaddy]

I think there are personal family reasons....