Sen. Don Nickles not running for re-election

Fox News Channel | October 7, 2003

[PhiKapMom]

Because Don Nickles has been in the Senate for a long time wants to return to OK.

BTW -- During Don Nickles first Senate campaign when he debated at the University of Oklahoma is what made J.C. become a Republican -- he was covering the debate for the OU paper and during the debate realized that he had more in common with Don Nickles and his positions then he did the DemocRAT!

[LS]

Yah, but that's not the point: this guy, like Roberts of Kansas, is one of the super-solid conservative votes in the Senate. A trade-off of him for a gain in NC last year of Liddy Dole is a step backward---and don't get me wrong, Dole is far better than a Dem.

Watts would be a fine replacement. Does he want the job?

[PhiKapMom]

OK Republicans are sure things when they graduate from The University of Oklahoma and played football! LOL!! Seriously in the last Governor's race, Barry Switzer went all over campaigning for the DemocRAT and he won (also had 9,000 more Cherokee votes turn up then ever before not to mention cockfighting on the ballot brought out every Dixiecrat in SE Oklahoma)!

The Cockfighting issue should never have been on that ballot -- Largent would have even beaten the Indy and Henry without that issue. People voted who had never voted before in their life. Keating made a huge mistake having it put on that ballot -- probably because Tulsa voters didn't elect his wife to Congress!

J.C. would be a shoe-in -- no one can come close because he was an excellent Congressman and responded to his constituents. Best Congressman I have ever had.

[PISANO]

I think you may mean REAL conservatives. But your point is well taken. There really is NO PLACE for us in the political scene any longer. Look around..... there are very few REAL conservatives left in CONGRESS and as much respect as I have for GW, he is NO CONSERVATIVE.

Like those who will VOTE for AS this morning they SETTLE for the lesser of two evils. We must keep TRYING to elect those that reflect our principles, but the outlook is bleak.

[egalois]

"Let's hope J.C. Watts decides to run for his seat. "

Or Steve Largent. How does one choose between two conservative football greats?

[TRY ONE]

"How come only the real Republicans are the ones that quit?"

The major reason most quit on Capital is MONEY --- or the lack thereof. Some are able to make it while they are there, however. Take LBJ --- he made millions while in office.

[LI conservative]

Maybe Frank Keating.

[William McKinley]

Well, seeing as this is Oklahoma, I suggest Oklahoma drills.

[PhiKapMom]

Does Watts want the job?

Let's put it this way -- J.C. spoke to the OU College Republicans recently and when asked if he would return to politics, he said he never ruled anything out and the audience stood and cheered. I think J.C. could be convinced to run as he is a protege of Don Nickles and J.C. stayed in Congress an extra term when asked during the 2000 election.

This might be the reason J.C. retired from Congress to set up a run for Senate which has been rumored since he stepped down. His daughter in High School graduated in June and that was one big reason why he didn't run along with the fact he didn't like going back and forth to D.C. and having to face the voters every two years.

Having J.C. on ticket just might get us President Bush here in 2004 to help out J.C. I already told one of his aides that if J.C. runs, count me in -- I would volunteer 24/7 for the man! When he was at the Cole campaign primary victory party he spent 10 minutes talking to my youngest daughter about her plans to go into Journalism at OU. Came away even more impressed than before when he made the statement -- "We need more Conservative teachers and journalists and less doctors and lawyers!"

[Coop]

Or Steve Largent. How does one choose between two conservative football greats?

Pick the one that didn't lose the race for governor.

[PhiKapMom]

Voters in Oklahoma will choose J.C. because he was a star at The University of Oklahoma here in Norman! Not to mention that J.C. is one of the most personable candidates in the State if not the Nation. Everywhere he goes, people really like J.C. because he talks with people not at them or down to them.

[PhiKapMom]

Give it a rest! Don Nickles will be replaced by a Conservative. Even Henry, our RAT Governor, is more conservative than almost any DemocRAT in D.C. except Zell Miller and Ben Nelson of NE.

Oklahoma will send another conservative to the Senate -- you can take that to the bank!

Quit the whining! This is Oklahoma not California!

[Mr. Bird]

Nickles was my hopeful pick to replace Lott as Majority Leader. When that didn't happen, I'm sure Don made up his mind to leave. Snubbing him was a political blunder of the first order. He'll be back, probably in '08, running for President.

[Wphile]

I'm sure y'all come up with a suitable replacement for Don but it still is a shame. He's such a good Senator and spokesman for the GOP. I hate to see him go.

Now, Specter on the other hand would be a blessing. Seems it's always the conservatives and not the RINOS that decided to call it quits.

[montag813]

OK THIS CLEARS THE WAY FOR SANTORUM...TIME FOR "LIMP WRIST" FRIST TO STEP DOWN AS TED KENNEDY'S BUTT BOY.

[PhiKapMom]

I cannot believe Specter isn't retiring! That is my #1 candidate for retiring from the Republican Senate side! Hope Toomey retires him!

Saw an article this morning that Connie Mack's son is throwing his hat in the FL Senate race! Hope he can take out Graham because that would be one more conservative.

[FRgal4u]

J.C. watts will be the most xcllnt choice for the Republicans - articulate, african-american, fiscal/social conservative. I can't recall any black male senators after reconstruction. I hope JC Watts is running.

[Brian S]

Moving on the AP wire...



Republicans say Nickles intends to announce plans to retire

DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent Tuesday, October 7, 2003

---

(10-07) 07:26 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Sen. Don Nickles, R-Okla., who carved out a solidly conservative record across four terms in the Senate, intends to announce plans to retire rather than seek re-election next year, Republican officials said Tuesday.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity as Nickles, the former Senate GOP whip, scheduled a midday announcement in his home state to announce his future plans.

Nickles would become the second Republican lawmaker to announce retirement plans, after Sen. Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois.

Nickles' departure would complicate Republican efforts to hold the seat and also to retain their current majority, although Oklahoma has swung solidly behind GOP candidates in recent senatorial and presidential elections. The White House as well as Republican senators have tried to persuade Nickles to seek another term.

Nickles would be a safe bet for re-election. So much so that Rep. Brad Carson, D-Okla., has signaled an interest in running for the seat -- but only if the four-term incumbent does not.

Nickles was the second ranking Republican until earlier this year, and became chairman of the Budget Committee at the beginning of the most recent Congress.

As whip during the previous several years, he often clashed behind the scenes with then-Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss. And when Lott became embroiled in a racially charged controversy over the winter, it was Nickles who first said publicly that rank-and-file Republicans should look elsewhere for a new leader.

That began a series of events that led to Lott's decision to step aside and the selection of Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., as the new Republican leader.

Nickles, 54, was elected to the Senate in 1980, at the age of 31. He has maintained a conservative voting record, and in his brief tenure as chairman of the Budget Committee, frequently spoke on the Senate floor against legislation he said would exceed spending limits that Republicans had agreed upon.

At the same time, he has shown an ability to work across party lines, finding common ground with Democrats on legislation to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless.

[TheBigB]

The last one was Sen. Ed Brooke (R-MA). He was defeated for reelection in, I think, 1978.

[WOSG]

Dang, he was/is a great leader ... dang dang dang we need him not Frist in the #1 spot.