Five Golden Rings! Four Retiring Republicans...

good information. something to think about.

Thanks Diana. You are my political pundit of choice.

I saw it on the news...thanks for sharing.

Oh, how I wish one of them was Judd Gregg of New Hampshire!

Diana- I posted something on this, and now i just realized that you said it better first. 10 for you.

This is a good feature for the Humiliated Conservative group, I think. These politicians have detected lean times ahead for their ideology.

I will miss, Chuck Hagel, the Senator from Nebraska.

Too bad they didn't decide this in 2006 or 2004 when it would have made more of a difference.

My understanding is that Domenici's stated reason for bowing out is some sort of "brain disease". Could be something he picked up from his buddy in the photo there, who, having just vetoed a bipartisan bill intended to expand health care coverage for kids, has conclusively proven himself to be suffering from terminal brain rot.

It's beginning to look like the great Republican desertion. All the long term passengers seem to be abandoning the ship, either to cut and run, or make room for new blood that might be more publicly palatable.

From my perspective, a number of them seem to be leaving to avoid investigation while others seem to be leaving out of disgust.

If I heard Senator Grassely (R-Iowa) correctly, the SCHIP veto is a huge fiasco because congressional members were communicating with the Whitehouse throughout the entire proceedings and supposedly passed with a "veto proof majority" (quote from Grassely's web blog).

Thanks for the article, Diana. 10

Love your style of political reporting. Thank you.

Diana - tell me that Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska is retiring and that will make me a very happy person.

Who's next - the partridge in the pear tree?

Really, though, it sure seems like the GOP rats are becoming more and more eager to abandon the ship of state. And, the Religious Right are abandoning them!

I had no idea Diana...I've passed this info on to hubby too....fascinating! I'll be keeping an eye on this!

Wonderful news...well said

I think the Republicans are realizing that's a lot easier to sit in the passenger's seat complaining about how the car is being driven than it is to actually drive the car. In fact, I think that after the way they've driven our car into the ditch lately, they may prefer that role.

Tonia - Ted Stevens (R-AK) is currently under investigation for his involvement with Veco Corporation. He has reportedly received $70,500 in donations plus goods and services and the FBI is not too happy. Veco is an oil services corporation under investigation for corruption.

Devin - The Republican Party needs a major overhaul which is not to say the Democratic Party doesn't need some work, too, just a different kind.

Paul - yes, as we've all heard by now, Domenici has FrontoTemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD). Mayor Martin Chavez may be the likely Republican to run in his place - but it will be a tough race.

this is great news

Tis much easier to go down voluntarily than get chucked out for bad choices. Each on of these guys has to run with Dubya chain to their ankles. Better to bail now and avoid defeat.

Always nice to hear/read good news. Thanks.

For my money there was no better Senator on Capitol Hill than Chuck Hagel. I will miss his legislative work very much.

"On August 18, 2005, Hagel compared the Iraq War to Vietnam and openly mocked Vice President Dick Cheney's assertion that the Iraqi insurgency was in its "last throes."

In November 2005, Hagel made a much-publicized statement: "To question your government is not unpatriotic — to not question your government is unpatriotic." This was in reference to the increasing amount of debate surrounding the Iraq War, and his assertion that the United States should withdraw its troops.

In December 2005, in reference to Bush, the GOP, and the PATRIOT Act, Hagel made a much-publicized statement: "I took an oath of office to the Constitution, I didn't take an oath of office to my party or my president."

In January 2006, Hagel took issue with Karl Rove over controversial statements the White House advisor made concerning the mindset of Republicans and Democrats. Hagel said, "Well, I didn't like what Mr. Rove said, because it frames terrorism and the issue of terrorism and everything that goes with it, whether it's the renewal of the Patriot Act or the NSA wiretapping, in a political context." He also said that "dark clouds" are hanging over the Republican party", and "If you look at the environment and the atmospherics politically in this town, read any poll. The sixth year of a governing party usually ... is not good ... the country is tired, a lot of complications in these international issues, we're at war."

Hagel further criticized the Bush administration, saying, "National security is more important than the Republican Party or the Democratic Party. And to use it to try and get someone elected will ultimately end up in defeat and disaster for that political party."

In July 2006, Hagel again took issue with the Bush administration, this time on its handling of the Israel-Lebanon issue saying "The sickening slaughter on both sides must end and it must end now. President Bush must call for an immediate cease-fire. This madness must stop."

After Republican losses in the 2006 midterm election, Hagel penned an editorial in the Washington Post highly critical of military strategies both employed and proposed for Iraq. He unequivocally declared that "There will be no victory or defeat for the United States in Iraq," and called for a "phased troop withdrawal"—making Hagel one of the most prominent voices in his party to do so.

According to a SurveyUSA poll, Hagel has a 10% higher approval rating among Nebraska Democrats than Republicans. OnTheIssues.org rates Hagel as a "libertarian-leaning conservative."

In January 2007, Hagel openly criticized President Bush's plan to send an additional 20,000 additional troops to Iraq. He called it, "the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out."

Chuck Hagel together with Democrats Joseph Biden and Carl Levin proposed a non-binding resolution to the Democratic-controlled Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which rejected Bush's policy as "not in the national interest" in a 12-9 vote.

After an April 2007 visit to Iraq with Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Joe Sestak, Hagel expressed his belief that support of Iraq should not continue indefinitely and defended Congressional actions to set a timeline for an end in occupation.

In July 2007, Hagel expressed his intention to cooperate with Senate Democrats in voting for a bill that would set a timeline to get out of Iraq.

On September 10, 2007, Hagel announced that he would be retiring from the Senate at the end of his term in 2009. The announcement ended speculation regarding a possible bid for the presidency in 2008."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Hagel

If you'd like...check out VIDEO at:

http://rawstory.com//news/2007/Sen_Chuck_Hagel_Republicans
_are_NOT_0915

Diana, good news and great reporting! I will write you soon on an update on me & Ma.
Changes are coming!! thx, mo-zy

Felix, Hagel is one of the better senators but Democrats would undoubtedly prefer one of their own in his seat.

Some of Hagel's more unpopular votes include: NO on repealing tax subsidy for companies which move US jobs offshore in 2005, YES on restricting rules on personal bankruptcy in 2001, NO on continuing the COPS Program in 1999, NO on reinstating $1.15 billion funding for the COPS Program in 2007, NO on adding sexual orientation to definition of hate crimes in 2002, YES on ending special funding for minority & women-owned business in 1997, NO on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines in 2007, NO on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives in 2005, NO on shifting $11B from corporate tax loopholes to education in 2005, NO on funding smaller classes instead of private tutors in 2001, NO on factoring global warming into federal project planning in 2007, NO on $3.1B for emergency oil assistance for hurricane-hit areas in 2005, YES on terminating CAFE standards within 15 months in 2002, NO on including oil & gas smokestacks in mercury regulations in 2005, YES on allowing some lobbyist gifts to Congress in 2006, NO on banning "soft money" contributions and restricting issue ads in 2002, NO on banning campaign donations from unions & corporations in 2001, NO on favoring 1997 McCain-Feingold overhaul of campaign finance in 1997, NO on background checks at gun shows in 1999, NO on allowing patients to sue HMOs & collect punitive damages in 2001, NO on including prescription drugs under Medicare in 2000, YES on funding GOP version of Medicare prescription drug benefit in 2001, NO on negotiating bulk purchases for Medicare prescription drug in 2005, NO on implementing the 9/11 Commission report in 2007, YES on reauthorizing the PATRIOT Act in 2006, NO on restoring $565M for states' and ports' first responders in 2005, NO on restricting business with entities linked to terrorism in 2005, NO on restricting employer interference in union organizing in 2007 and as of December 2006 had a 90% conservative voting record (95% supporting President Bush).

Anyway - you get the point.

" Better to bail now and avoid defeat. "

I'm with Sam C.

After vowing for months to fight the investigation into his illegal influence peddling with the Justice Department, Domenici suddenly announces retirement.

I'm guessing that there is going to be a break in this investigation in the next few months.

Couldn't happen to a slimier jerk than the retiring senator from New Mexico.

getem out, getem out!, rout 'em!!!

I have not been keeping up on politics lately-----so much to digest. It does sound strange to hear so many deciding to give up their seats----must be good reason or like one comment suggested ----leave on their own before defeat.