Posted on 02/15/2010 1:05:00 PM PST by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (AFP) US President Barack Obama suffered another setback Monday as a fifth Democratic senator, centrist heavyweight Evan Bayh, decided not to run for re-election in dismay at the bitter political climate.
Obama, who reportedly tried to talk Bayh out of retiring, faces a looming Republican resurgence and risks watching strong majorities in Congress crumble in November mid-term elections, and with them his ambitious reform agenda.
With his tearful wife and two sons at his side, Bayh, 54, expressed disenchantment with excessive partisanship in the Congress as he announced his decision at a press conference in the state capital Indianapolis.
"For some time, I have had a growing conviction that Congress is not operating as it should. There is too much partisanship and not enough progress -- too much narrow ideology and not enough practical problem-solving," he said.
"Even at a time of enormous challenge, the peoples? business is not being done."
Democrats expressed shock at the development, seeing it both as the loss of a key consensus builder in the Senate and of a candidate strongly favored to win re-election in Republican-leaning Indiana.
A top White House official said Bayh, who called Obama on Monday morning, was "by nature a governor not a senator."
The New York Times reported that both Obama and White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel tried to convince Bayh to run again, but to no avail.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Indiana Senator Evan Bayh and US President Barack Obama, seen here in 2008. Obama suffered a major political upset Monday as a fifth Democratic senator, centrist heavyweight Evan Bayh, decided not to run for re-election to a third term in November. (AFP/File/Saul Loeb)
Keep talking BO/BS!
Like a fastball to the groin.
You did America a favor, Mr. Bayh
Centrist heavyweight ????
What’s bad for The Kenyan/Evil One is good for America.
does it seem odd to anyone else that so many dems are dropping out...??...maybe they have something up their sleeves...then again maybe they really do see the writing on the wall....
He really did. It doesn’t matter what his intent was.
My hemorrhoids bleed for Bayh.
U.S. Senate Races To Watch In 2010
http://thegovmonitor.com/world_news/u-s-senate-races-to-watch-in-2010-23863.html
“Here are the top 13 Senate races that Republicans have a strong chance to win in 2010”
Indiana was listed here, before Bayh’s announcement, and now Republicans’ chances improved dramatically.
According to the ACU, Sen Bayh ranks as the 29th most liberal Senator with a lifetime 20.70 rating. That makes him 'centrist' among Democrats. But, who's surprised AFP thinks the world extends only so far as the Democratic Party?
Maybe he is smarter than he looks. Might be getting out while the getting is good so he isn’t tied to the one.
Make that a 2008 rating of 29, or that percentage reliable on conservative issues. But, I don’t think my mistake changes the conclusions.
‘centrist heavyweight Evan Bayh’
roflol!
Like hell he was. Whoever the republican nominee was was going to defeat him.
Hey Evan, don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya!
Under the bus?
It’s all about Obama!
Yep, and he’s leaving with 13 million in his re election fund. I don’t think he can use that for personal items but I believe he can buy a lot of influence with it.
He’s going to run for president.
But it IS being done. The time for compromise is long past. There is no middle ground. The "people's business" is now the stuff of division and divorce.
Because of Obama, Reid, and Pelosi the country is fracturing down the middle. The only question is whether the divorce will be violent or peaceful. Self-styled middle-of-the-roaders such as Bayh have no place in the "people's business." He is smart to get out.
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