Rep. Larry Combest to Resign from Congress (R-19th-TX)

Lubbock Avalanche Journal ^

[GOPcapitalist]

Hance would be great. My only fear is that this district seems to overlap with ultra-RINO Robert Duncan's state senate seat. I don't know where Duncan lives or if it is in the district, but I would hate to see him get congressional ambitions.

[GOPcapitalist]

Green's loss was a bad note on a good night. Somebody needs to sue Ken Oden for character defamation.

[McGavin999]

I think you're right. Sounds like a battle with cancer that may have turned bad. Probably his wife. Prayers for both of them.

BTW, it's not a scandal, he wouldn't give that much lead time.

[okie01]

Combest is the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee.

The ranking minority member is another Texan, my Congressman, Charlie Stenholm (D-TX17).

Charlie voted for the impeachment of the First Felon. His district is increasingly Republican -- Charlie won by only 3 pts last week, against a near-unknown. There is a real question whether he could survive in this district as a Democrat through the 2004 election.

For whatever the real reason might be, Combest's retirement is also a clear "come on over, the water's fine" signal to Stenholm.

Between this and the ascension of Pelosi, I believe we're about to welcome another Congressman into the fold...

[MissAmericanPie]

Interesting, I know both Graham and Armey hightailed it out of D.C. like their coat tails were on fire, I know there is more to that story than meets the eye.

[TheWriterInTexas]

Dear MOTR:

Who's to say it's him? Perhaps his wife was privately battling something and received some very bad news.

Since he mentioned health twice, I'm guessing cancer. Certain types of cancer, particularly breast or uterine cancer, can go undetected for long periods of time. You can battle it and think you've won, only to discover you didn't catch it in time and now it's moved to your spine, your brain, other areas.

Sad to say, I know more than one woman this has happened to - young women. Once it spreads, it usually kills you within a year or two...a brutal, devastating, agony-filled year or two.

Let's not jump on him until all the facts are out. Chances are, we will sadly be reading his or his wife's obit in the very near future.

[Coop]

I did expect to hear about some pending Congressional retirements, but not from the Republicans. My best to Rep. and Mrs. Combest and family.

[twigs]

rather than having to be pried out of office like Gary Condit

Interesting you mention Condit. He was also on the House Agriculture Committee. I always wondered if some connection on that committee, which always seemed to fall under the radar, could not have been the secret he needed to hide, even at the risk of being accused of murder.

[Zack Nguyen]

Pete Laney is no conservative. He may be "personally pro-life" but pro-lifers had to do everything short of burn down the Capitol to get legislation to come up.

[Redbob]

"There have been a number of events that have happened to Sharon and me in the last year..."

And he's not resigning until next May.
Doesn't sound too sudden, nor too serious.

Just sounds like the taxpayers, those of us who pay for the elections, got screwed again.

[Lancey Howard]

Is Silverton in that district?

[jf55510]

State Rep Christian is a good guy. I meet him last session and I am glad that he won. The Repubs should win back Greens dist, and the one in Waco that Mabry (D) won, in 2004. So much for the gentlemans agreement that the house had that house members would not work against incumbents. Laney is a bastard, I hope that this will be his last session.

[let freedom sing]

I will submit my resignation from Congress effective on May 31, 2003

a healthier retirement