18 House Republican, 12 House Dems to retire....is this normal?

[happy_liberal]

I am just wondering...is this a normal number of retirements? What is going on in DC?

[Uzybone]

1. I hope it continues, the whole place; especially the Senate; needs new blood.

[nRkiSt]

20. Let's "retire" them all...

...it's the only thing that will save this nation

[ddeclue]

2. Out of 435 members.. not unusual..

[happy_liberal]

8. are you sure?

Do you have any facts to back this up, I am really trying to find the info...

[merh]

3. In my state, retirements are unheard of unless the congress critter

is facing some scandal or potential scandal. They stay until they die or are forced out or until they are too old to know the difference.

I don't know about the history of the house to know if it is unusual or not.

[happy_liberal]

9. exactly

same thing in Alaska

[Blue_In_AK]

14. Same here.

Ours have to be indicted and convicted to get voted out, and even then people still support them. I have no idea why the deeply corrupt Don Young is still down there.

[tabbycat31]

24. but in your state they quit halfway through their term

oh wait that's your governor.

[Blue_In_AK]

25. No, I was referring to the likes of

Ted Stevens (elected in 1968), Don Young (1972), and Frank Murkowski who served from 1980 to 2002, and would probably still be there if he hadn't decided to run for governor. That's when he sent his daughter to do his bidding.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. Take the money and run.

[sui generis]

5. at least no mysterious plane crashes to wonder about

there has to be a pretty good amount of churn - it ain't easy being a politician AND supporting your family in every way.

[notesdev]

6. It's not normal

They're scared witless over facing the electorate with the track record of Congress, especially during this financial crisis.

[Kokonoe]

7. Probably all taking millions in consulting jobs

rewarding their years of service to our country.

Its been an expensive year for tax investors (banks&insuranceCo).

[GoCubsGo]

10. Mine is quitting to run for governor

He is one of the rethugs. Don't know if that qualifies as "retiring", but he isn't running for re-election to his House seat.

[hfojvt]

18. yeah and two from Kansas are running for the Senate

one of them is very likely to win (whichever on wins the primary) and their seats are very likely to be filled by Republicans, and so is the other Kansas seat where the Democrat is 'retiring'.

[damntexdem]

11. Yeah, it doesn't seem like nearly enough, does it?

;-)

[happy_liberal]

13. well actually no....I don't exactly mind...

it just seems kinda strange.

The way things are going, I think we should throw them all out and start over.

[Mari333]

12. corporations have their candidates waiting in the wings

[Arkana]

15. 18 Republicans?

Do we have a chance to pick up any of their seats?

[old mark]

16. Many have 20 or more years in congress, have other, better ways to make money now.

I think there may be a few more this time than is typical because some of them are afraid of losing and don't want to go to the trouble of campaigning....just take the money and run.

mark

[onenote]

17. in 2008 there were 33 retirements and in 2006 there were 28, so not an unusual number

[happy_liberal]

19. Do you have a link?

need the info

[onenote]

22. here you go

for 2008 :http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/summary_2008-08-21_13-30-19.php
Note that the total number of retirements includes those who decided to leave their house seat to run for another office. It does not include those who lost a primary.

for 2006, the best I can give you is an uncredited Wikipedia statement: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_House_of_Representatives_elections,_2006

[shanti]

21. it's boomer time

we're retiring now in droves, and they aren't any different.

[happy_liberal]

23. now it is 18 repubs 14 dems?

Rep Patrick Kennedy won't seek re-election
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE61B0O020100212?type=politicsNews

Rep Dianne Watson to retire
http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=news/politics&id=7271958

[Divine Discontent]

26. ARE YOU KID'N? they got millions to spend on vacations, they gotta quit sometime to enjoy it! ;)