Still Standing

[ProSense]

Still Standing

Some people are survivors. Others are Congressional Republicans.

They're falling like dominoes.

And they seem to be going two at a time, which, curiously, is the number of years that it would have taken before they could officially lobby former colleagues had they waited until January to hit the road. By leaving now, they only have to wait a year. Isn't that the strangest coincidence?

Just yesterday Dennis Hastert officially resigned, and following in his footsteps, Trent Lott announced he will be resigning before the end of the year. That brings the count of Congressional Republicans leaving to "spend more time with their families" to 23, with more expected.

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Is that a lot? Well, yes. Historically, as this Christian Science Monitor piece explains, it doesn't happen without reason.

It's rare for a US senator to resign during a term of office for reasons other than health, scandal, or quest for higher public office. It's happened only twice since World War II.

Moreover, Senator Lott's resignation takes effect just before a new ethics law kicks in that will extend the "cooling off" period – from one year to two – before an ex-lawmaker can lobby former colleagues.

Asked whether the new law had a role in his decision to step down, Lott said "it didn't have a big role in that decision."

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I found it interesting that every Republican in today's video is either going or gone. Either voted out or no longer interested in their former careers.

And that every Dem who stood with Senator Kerry is still standing.