Although the worries about Larry Craig having a bad effect are somewhat overstated, since we aren’t likely to lose his seat (since he has declared he is not running for reelection), conversely, it’s folks like Doolittle that are threatening any chances we have at retaking the House by needlessly jeopardizing solid Republican seats.
Although challenger Brown should’ve maxed out in ‘06, Doolittle has all but made it completely possible for Brown to oust him next year if he insists on staying. Trailing badly in fundraising with the general appearance of ethical impropriety, Doolittle thinks he’ll get by like a Democrat, and that’s not going to happen. We need to coalesce around one Conservative challenger to oust him, or we lost the seat, and it’s just that simple.
I’m torn on why Doolittle is doing this. On one hand, Posting # 1 may be correct, that he simply is sticking around so he can milk full retiremene benefits from his job. But also, he may be motivated by a sense of entitlement, that his position of power justifies anything and everything he does and that no one has the right to question his actions or judgement.
Either way, he should go. Unfortunately, he faces a multi-candidate primary, which means that the anti-Doolittle primary vote will be split. If more shoes drop, he could still lose (like Mickey Edwards of Oklahoma did in 1992).