Obama Releases Statement On Lugar ‘Retirement’

[ProSense]

Obama Releases Statement On Lugar ‘Retirement’

The White House released this statement Tuesday night from President Obama, following the defeat of Sen. Dick Lugar (R-IN) in his Indiana primary. The title refers to the “Retirement of Senator Richard Lugar” — a standard form that the White House has used when senators have retired — though Lugar’s circumstances are obviously not the usual, voluntary ones.

Statement by the President on the Retirement of Senator Richard Lugar

As a friend and former colleague, I want to express my deep appreciation for Dick Lugar’s distinguished service in the United States Senate. While Dick and I didn’t always agree on everything, I found during my time in the Senate that he was often willing to reach across the aisle and get things done. My administration’s efforts to secure the world’s most dangerous weapons has been based on the work that Senator Lugar began, as well as the bipartisan cooperation we forged during my first overseas trip as Senator to Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. Senator Lugar comes from a tradition of strong, bipartisan leadership on national security that helped us prevail in the Cold War and sustain American leadership ever since. He has served his constituents and his country well, and I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entries/obama-releases-statement-on-lugar-retirement

[dejo1957]

1. I am seeing a conservative wave again.

This is getting depressing.

[gateley]

2. MY NYT email alert said the bagger ran on "questioning Lugar's conservatism" --

plus that he was out of touch. But I'm guessing it was this new breed of rabid conservatives that showed up to vote.

[caraher]

13. Yes, Mourdock is a non-entity

The whole campaign was an anti-Lugar referendum driven by Tea Party types, and with low turnout the outcome is no surprise. They made a big deal about his residency, his age ("Retire Lugar" signs funded by Dick Armey's Freedom Works were ubiquitous; promotion of Mourdock an afterthought), his willingess to actually talk to Democrats ("Obama's favorite Republican senator" was a typical "insult&quot , even nutty things like how much the deficit has grown since Lugar went to Washington (as if Lugar had veto power over budgets).

[backscatter712]

3. No, the Repubs are overextended.

The teabaggers aren't nearly as enthusiastic as they were in 2010.

I think, and Markos Moulitsas thinks, that we have a real chance of keeping the Senate. What this GOP primary did was take a mainstream Republican (I use the term loosely) and replaced him with a batshit crazy tebagging loon, which means that a seat that used to be an assumed re-election for Lugar is now a potential Democratic win!

[dejo1957]

4. You forget rule 1 of conservatives

They don't pay attention until a few weeks before the election. The tea party is bigger and more organized than it was in 2010. The idea that because some want to believe it isn't makes it so is ridiculous.

[Bjorn Against]

5. They are also far more unpopular than they were in 2010

They may be more organized than they were in 2010, but I have a hard time believing they are bigger. When was the last well attended Tea Party rally you heard of? Hardly anyone shows up to their events any more. They have built up a strong organization but that is because they have completely merged with the GOP which already had a powerful organization, but the more people see the Tea Party members elected in 2010 the more they dislike them. In 2010 many people believed the Tea Party was a genuine grass roots movement, but as they have become more and more intertwined with the GOP the more people realize there is nothing grass roots about them. I predict the majority of Tea Baggers elected in 2010 will lose their seats in 2012, don't get me wrong it won't be an easy battle for us but the Tea Baggers are vulnerable to big losses this year.

[Kaleva]

6. There used to be signs announcing teabagger meeting galore where I live a couple of years ago.

I haven't seen such a sign now in months.

[backscatter712]

7. dejo1957 has been PPR'd.

His concern is noted.

[Crunchy Frog]

21. He was mainstream 30 years ago.

These days, batshit crazy IS mainstream for the Republican party.

I hope we can pick up the Senate seat, but I do find it kind of sad that one of the last of the non-batshit Repubs is being forced out.

[Generic Brad]

11. This was a Republican primary

Nothing to worry about. Cooler heads will prevail come November.

[caraher]

12. Do you know Indiana?

Sorry, while we went to Obama in 2008 it's still a very, very red state. I'm worried.

[LittleGirl]

8. Question? So does Lugar step down now?

Or does he continue to serve until the November election? I'm in Indiana but I don't know how this works. Can anybody assist me?
Thanks.

[Tx4obama]

10. Sen Lugar will be the senator until the winner of the November election is sworn in in January 2013

The guy that beat Lugar tonight has not won the 'general' election yet, all he did was win the 'primary' and a chance to run against the Democratic candidate in the general election.

We have to wait to see who will win in November, because the republican candidate will have to run against the democratic candidate. (and then the winner of the November election will be sworn into office in January 2013)

Edited to add:
This wasn't a primary for a 'recall election' this was a primary for a regular 'general election' in November.

[SoCalDem]

14. He'll be the senator until January when the new congress is sworn in

He's a lame duck senator until then

[Tx4obama]

15. Oops, you're correct. I'm sleepy and wasn't thinking clearly ;) n/t

[SoCalDem]

16. no biggie

[LittleGirl]

18. Thanks!

appreciate the quick response.

[LittleGirl]

17. that's what I thought

thanks for the quick reply. It just seemed odd that President Obama gave Lugar a send off now.

[Tx4obama]

19. I've seen President Obama issue statements pretty quick when other GOPers and Democrats have ...

either announced their retirement or lost their primary.

So, it's pretty standard procedure.

Probably they release a statement when it happens so that they don't forget to do it in the future.
Also it probably helps to lessen the blow to the person that lost.

[Tx4obama]

9. Part of why President Obama won the Nobel Prize was because of his work re nuclear proliferation

and that work he did was with Lugar. I am sure President Obama feels bad about the teabagger beating Lugar.


Related:

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2009

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 is to be awarded to President Barack Obama for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples. The Committee has attached special importance to Obama's vision of and work for a world without nuclear weapons.

Obama has as President created a new climate in international politics. Multilateral diplomacy has regained a central position, with emphasis on the role that the United Nations and other international institutions can play. Dialogue and negotiations are preferred as instruments for resolving even the most difficult international conflicts. The vision of a world free from nuclear arms has powerfully stimulated disarmament and arms control negotiations. Thanks to Obama's initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened.

Only very rarely has a person to the same extent as Obama captured the world's attention and given its people hope for a better future. His diplomacy is founded in the concept that those who are to lead the world must do so on the basis of values and attitudes that are shared by the majority of the world's population.

For 108 years, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has sought to stimulate precisely that international policy and those attitudes for which Obama is now the world's leading spokesman. The Committee endorses Obama's appeal that "Now is the time for all of us to take our share of responsibility for a global response to global challenges."

Oslo, October 9, 2009

http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2009/press.html

[Crunchy Frog]

20. I feel really bad about Senator Lugar.

He was just about the last of the decent Republicans out there, and I've always felt like he was a genuinely decent person. I have some Indiana ties, and he's been Senator there for just about as long as I can remember. I'm not surprised that the teabaggers finally went after him.

I actually think it would be nice if Obama could find some position for him in his administration, if it's something he'd be interested in.

[Major Hogwash]

22. President Obama is placing coals on Lugar's head.

Making him do a slow burn after losing tonight.

Whoever said that President Obama doesn't know what he is doing?