Posted on 02/15/2010 12:28:16 PM PST by Free ThinkerNY
I've just heard from an impeccable source that Barbara Mikulski, the Democratic Senator who is up for reelection this November, will choose to retire. Mrs. Mikulski is expected to make her formal announcement in the next few days.
Mrs. Mikulski seriously fractured her right ankle last fall just prior to Edward M. Kennedy's death. Due to the severity of the fracture, she had to have open reduction surgery, that included the insertion of pins, as well as the use of special surgical boots, during recovery. She had tried to arrive in time for Mr. Kennedy's funeral but was turned away.
Her recovery has been exceptionally slow and she is evidently still in a great deal of pain. Reportedly, she has told her physician that she does not desire to seek reelection. Additionally, friends and family have been saying in the near future she will announce her retirement. Because of the very slow recovery, she has been forced to use a wheelchair, a walker or a cane in order to get around.
One of her complaints is that the health insurance that is provided for Congress is "poor" with high deductibles and "limitations" on coverage. My contact tells me that she told an aide that she should have inserted in the ObamaCare bill an amendment to improve Congressional health insurance! Mrs. Mikulski was first elected to the Senate in 1986, and thus is a very senior member of the Democratic caucus. Despite this seniority, she has never been offered any important chairmanships or leadership positions. Born on July 20, 1936, she is 74 years old, come July...it is perhaps fitting that she has choose this year to retire.
Her possible announcement along with that of Evan Bayh and Byron Dorgan of ND will the third Democratic Senator announcing plans to retire.
(Excerpt) Read more at thevailspot.blogspot.com ...
“Itd be great if we got Michael Steele to try again for this and leave behind the RNC....”
The perfect two-fer...
It’s not free. As is the case in the private sector, her employer pays part of the cost, she pays the rest.
Mother and son.
Former Congressman and Governor Bob Ehrlich has said he was studying a run for this seat. He may have a big chance at winning, even though he is a semi-RINO (pro-abort, pro-gay but fiscally conservative).
All GOP needs to do to win this seat is run a “hunk with a trunk” who can use a teleprompter....Another one of those seats....
Like Forrest Gump, she ran up the stairs with her arms flailing and her leg braces crumbling from the exertion, only to be turned away at the door. A heart-warming, poignant moment.
http://redmaryland.blogspot.com/2010/02/rumor-mikulski-to-retire.html
Wow, i just found a good source. Red maryland is a top conservative blog in Maryland and he quotes instapundit. Let’s see what happens.
Chris Dodd was left out of the list.
It's still going to take more dollars for the DNC to defend it than if Mikulski had stayed in. Now if only Carl Levin would make the same decision.
Reminds me of the supposed Blanche Lincoln retirement announcement the other day. All smoke. No fire.
I heard from insiders that he was going to declare for Governor in March, but maybe this makes a difference. Still, it’s harder to win in the Senate here than Governor, so we’ll see what he decides.
Part of me says rats and ships; the other [tin foil] part wonders if they were considered placeholders for this admin.
The GOP beat out a Kennedy chick for the gov post a couple cycles back. Don’t count us out yet!
She’s never announced her candidacy for a new term (although she has her campaign website from the last election, senatorbarb.com, still up). I’ve felt that she would call it quits this year. The big question is who will fill her seat—I’ve suspected that the ‘Rats have lined up John Sarbanes, but this guy is a marxist moron. I think Van Hollen will be the ‘Rat candidate.
Yes, get Steele in there. Outstanding suggestion. He can’t run the GOP for sh!te.
I'd love to see Mike Steele run for Senate again and I'd gladly support him if he did so. I think his talents would be far more useful in the Senate than RNC chief.
wrong state isn't it? (not that that ever mattered to the dems)
Well, it’s not official, but this looks to be turning out to be a wonderful week!
Good point.
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