[RobFromGa]

He was one of the good RATs. Will he step down to let the Dem gov appoint a Dem replacement, to run as Incumbent? or serve out his term?

[4CJ]

If only it were "Brown Roots" Landrieu instead.

[RobFromGa]

Democratic Sen. Breaux won't seek re-election

Fifth Southern Democrat to announce retirement

From John Mercurio
CNN Political Unit
Monday, December 15, 2003 Posted: 3:48 PM EST (2048 GMT)

(CNN) -- Creating a fifth major headache for Senate Democrats in the South, Sen. John Breaux of Louisiana said Monday that he won't seek a fourth term in 2004.

Breaux, a centrist Democrat and the most popular politician in the Bayou State, won his 1998 re-election bid by a 2-to-1 margin. He announced his decision during a news conference in Baton Rouge.

Breaux spent Monday morning discussing his decision with Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, and members of the state's congressional delegation.

The retirement of Breaux, 59, deals another hefty blow to Senate Democrats as they seek to reclaim the majority in 2004.

He is the fifth Democrat from a southern state to announce his retirement before the 2004 elections. Others are Zell Miller, Georgia; Bob Graham, Florida; John Edwards, North Carolina; and Fritz Hollings, South Carolina.

Republican senators Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Don Nickles of Oklahoma also are retiring.

Two Congressional representatives -- Democrat Chris John and Republican David Vitter -- are expected to join the race to succeed him. Both have been raising money for a potential statewide race. Vitter ended September with $1.5 million in the bank; John had $826,000 on hand.

[Southack]

Vegas will soon show Repubs being the odds on favorites to pick up +5 Senate seats rather than +4 in 2004...

[Ragirl]

This is a decent guy who sees his party going down the crapper. Who can blame him for getting out now?

[Hank Rearden]

Sen. Breaux, 59, talked about his long career in government saying,"it's been a great 35 years - a few as a staff person, 14 years as a member of Congress, representing southwest Louisiana, and it will be 18 years as a U.S. senator, representing our state of Louisiana. I had the privilege of serving with five governors and seven presidents."

In other words, he's been an utterly-useless parasite his whole adult life, sucking on the taxpayer tit.

Never had to achieve against performance benchmarks, try to hold a company's payroll together, or market a product to a skeptical marketplace.

He's just squandered other people's money to buy votes, with no innate understanding of where that money comes from. Great job, Mr. Breaux Parasite. Now get the hell out of our wallets.

[KellyAdmirer]

Republicans haven't done too well statewide in Louisiana outside the Presidential race recently....

[Onelifetogive]

Hey Breaux...Don't let the door hit you in the Clymer on the way out!!!

[.cnI redruM]

I'm genuinely sorry to see Breaux bid us adieus. He was one of the better Dems. Why can't it be Barbara Boxer?

[Skooz]

Too be replaced by yet another moderate south Louisiana Democrat with a Cajun-sounding name come November.

The bayous are full of 'em.

[theDentist]

IT'S THE end of his term and he knows it,
It's the end of his term and he knows it,
It's the end of his term and he knows it,
and now he'll whiiiiiiiiiiiiiine!

[ReleaseTheHounds]

No time to read this article... is there ANY mention of what this guy went through working on Medicare reform during Bubba's administration, at Bubba's request and urging, only to have Bubba walk away when he knew that would p*ss-off his lying Demo supporters?

Can't be fun being in the minority with no hope of ever seeing majority status again in his lifetime. Maybe Bubba can arrange some speaking engagements, John.

[Kuksool]

Ping!

It's official! There's an open Senate seat in the Bayou State.

[Salvation]

Will this seat get picked up by the Republicans?

[Sloth]

Run Jindal again... he's got better name recognition now.

[NonValueAdded]

I'm not so sure this is a good thing for the Republicans. Breaux's vote on many issues was more reliable than the ladies from Down East, for example. What if a real RAT replaces him?

[montag813]

PLEASE PLEASE, ANYONE but Suzy Terrell!

[anymouse]

Pretty soon PIAPS is going to be singing opera. :)

Will the last Rat left in the Senate office building please turn out the lights. :)

[Eowyn-of-Rohan]

I wonder what he did....? Hard to believe he just stepped down without there being some skeleton in his closet.

[Kuksool]

Once Vitter announces his candidacy for the LA Senate seat, Jindal could run for Vitter's House seat, LA-01. Jindal carried the LA-01 when he ran for Governor last month.

[Republican Wildcat]

One of the good ones? Well, not one of the worst...but he is notable for his assistance in the obstruction of judicial nominees.