Evan Bayh's letter on why he retired

[Juche]

He blames the growth of money in politics, abuse of the filibuster, and radicalization of politics. Can't say I blame him. He is my senator since I'm from Indiana and I have written and called him before on various issues, and I know he isn't popular on DU (because he isn't always progressive), but he supported most dem legislation and I think his letter is good.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/21/opinion/21bayh.html

[DefenseLawyer]

1. He's running for Governor in 2012

I'll almost guarantee it.

[Juche]

4. He's already been governor

I don't know if he is running again though.

[jpljr77]

5. He was already a two-term governor. n/t

[DefenseLawyer]

7. Duh

No kidding. The term limit restriction in Indiana is only that you can't serve more than two consecutive terms or no more than 8 years in a 12 year period. There is nothing keeping him from running again now.

[Bicoastal]

2. So, he's not a turncoat--merely a weak-willed coward?

Gee, that totally reverses my opinion of the man.

[hlthe2b]

3. I think his bank account now and in coming months is a better

indicator of why he is leaving... 'Sorry, but he has done nothing but obstruct. He is a large part of the problem. Given his wife's obvious role (and conflict) with one of the biggest health insurers, I am amazed that Indiana constituents have supported him this long.

[zipplewrath]

6. I think it's bad

We could probably go over the finer points. But the summary is more a case of "what did you do?". Yes the problem of money in politics is as bad as ever, if not worse. What did he do besides raise a ton of it and participate in the whole DSCC approach? And if he took a moment, he'd notice it isn't "partisian" activity that is getting much of the headlines, but in fact huge groups of disenfranchised voters, from tea baggers, to the whole Ron Paul crowd, and progressives in general, not to even get started on the homosexuals. Huge numbers of people are wondering when their concerns will be addressed. They see corporate america getting more and more representation, and everyone else getting hosed.

And really, how did quitting two days before the filing deadline do anything other than serve the entrenched interests of Washington insiders and party hacks?

I'm sorry he didn't have much fun while he was there. I'm sorry he didn't get to have more lunches with the GOP. What did he ever do to try to change that?

[mod mom]

8. some of us don't like him because he sided w the corporations while his family profited from them:

Susan Bayh, a lawyer, drew more than $837,0000 from her work on seven corporate boards last year, as Bloomberg News notes.

She is a director at Indianapolis-based WellPoint Inc., "which is part of a medical research partnership awarded a $24.7 million federal grant in May after Evan Bayh and his Indiana colleagues in Congress recommended the group to the National Institutes of Health,'' Bloomberg's Timothy Burger reports. "She's on the board of E*Trade Bank, a subsidiary of E*Trade Financial Corp., while her husband sits on the Senate Banking Committee. She is lead director at Emmis Communications Corp., an Indianapolis radio-station operator that published Evan Bayh's 2003 memoir.

-snip

http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2008/08/evan_bayhs_wife_corporate_boar.html

[LiberalFighter]

9. He is being a hypocrite IMO when he talks about the problems.

First, the money in politics? Really? He has over $13 million in his war chest. Only Schumer and Shelby have more.

Second, the filibuster. He hasn't tried to stop any potential filibusters by the Republicans.

Third, he knew or should had known it was not friendly in the Senate. There was 1994. And he didn't do much except mostly kowtow to Bush when he was President.

In the 11 years he has been a Senator only 1 of his bills was enacted.

I voted for Bayh 5 times in the past. I was not going to vote for him this time only to reduce his margin of victory. I've had difficulties getting through to his district office with the message machine always full. And the last time I received 3 letters that had nothing to do with the subject of my letter. The 3 letters were identical.

[Sebastian Doyle]

10. The former chairman of the DLC blames the growth of money in politics???

Somebody buy Evan the crybaby a mirror so he can blame the proper person for that.

[hlthe2b]

11. Bayh Says New Sen. Brown May Be Part Of 'Cure'

(02-22) 09:35 PST WASHINGTON, (AP) --

Retiring Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana says new GOP Sen. Scott Brown may be part of the "ultimate cure" for partisan gridlock in Washington.

Bayh said in an interview on "The View" on Monday that Brown's election from Massachusetts was the result of independents and moderates rising up and "saying they had enough."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/22/national/w093505S27.DTL


With "friends like this....

[spanone]

13. hey evan. the democrats have had enough weak spined democrats like you

[Barack_America]

12. $

There, I put it more succinctly for him.

[Bitwit1234]

14. You know what.

If I decided to retire and I really wanted to I wouldn't waste my time trying to convince people of this and that. I just go ahead and retire and enjoy myself. I think Bayh is stupid.