Rep. Dunn (R-WA) says she won't seek return to Congress

[Newsjock]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2001847720_webdunn30.html

The Associated Press

OLYMPIA -- U.S. Rep. Jennifer Dunn, Washington state's senior Republican in Congress and a favorite of the Bush White House, told The Associated Press tonight that she's retiring from politics.
Dunn, 61, who had been courted by President Bush to run for the U.S. Senate this fall, said she has decided to serve out her sixth House term and then retire from public life.

... Dunn was chairwoman of the state Republican Party for a decade before winning her congressional seat in 1992. The Bellevue native was regularly re-elected by large margins, and had been a heavy favorite to win again this year. She already had amassed a warchest of about $1.5 million.

[saltpoint]

1. I heard Rep. Dunn interviewed once --

-- and the phrase "lockstep Bush apologist" came to mind. I hope a Democrat runs and wins this Congressional seat.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. Good riddance you miserable bitch

[bluestateguy]

3. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out

This will be a competitive seat.

[stevedeshazer]

4. What does she know?

Why is she doing this now? Hmmmm....

[benddem]

5. She is most likely

taking one of those big buck lobbying jobs...like Tauzin. Good riddance to both of them.:nuke:

[keopeli]

6. A mixed blessing

I'm happy Dunn has decided to retire. It's probably a wise move. But, it opens the door to a new Republican...and the new breed of Republican is really very unpleasant, especially here in Washington State. Since Dunn's district is FULL of republicans, including the infamous McCaw, a Bush* debutante, the seat will likely stay in the Republicans' control.

[regnaD kciN]

10. Yes, I live in that district...

...and it is about as gerrymandered a Republican district as you can find outside of Texas. (Actually, this was part of a compromise between the two parties which created a safe Democratic district in Seattle and a safe Republican one on the eastside.)

What I'm terrified of is that talk-show blowhard Michael ("Laura Schlessinger with a Y-chromosome") Medved will probably run for the seat, as he lives on Mercer Island and has had political ambitions for some time. Worse yet, he'll probably win. It's bad enough that I have to have a Republican congressentity -- it would be infinitely worse to have it be a "moral crusader" who broke up the marriage of a friend of mine...

:puke:

[fortyfeetunder]

14. Look at the gruesome possibilities

The Pug party here has nothing of substance to offer today as a viable congressional candidate. I can think of two people I hope to hell don't even think about running.

That sawed-off little punk, John Carlson, who had the audacity once trying to run for Governor. He is an intellectual lightweight, Gov. Locke won in a near landslide. Ibhope he doesn't think he has a chance to run for that seat....I think he lives in the Blah-vue area.(Bellevue, the somewhat upper class yuppie slime community east of Seattle).

And I also hope Tim Eyman (another instigator to our current financial woes) keeps his *** in Mukilteo (another district) and doesn't move down this way for running for Dunn's old seat. He is again another intellectual lightweight.

[regnaD kciN]

16. Oh my God, I'm about to become a Republican!

According to KING-5 news, Carlson is indeed running for Dunn's seat.

On the good side, that probably puts the kibosh on Medved, as Carlson is even more popular a radio blowhard than Mikey. On the bad side...well, Carlson is everything you say, and worse. Think of a cross between Rush and a newly-graduated frat boy. Aargh!

So, my duty is clear. Before the September primary for state offices, I shall re-register as a Republican so that I can cast a binding vote in the primary for whoever has the best chance to beat Carlson (hopefully, a Religious Right type who can be taken in the general election).

Of course, I'll change my registration again the moment the polls close...

;-)

[0rganism]

20. If you're going to re-register r, then RUN IN THE R PRIMARY!

That way, you may be able to do more than cast one vote against the dipshits. And who knows, if Bellevue has been hit as hard by the Boeing layoffs as I think it has, maybe a populist campaign would have a shot?

[jsw_81]

23. John Carlson? Bring him on!

He's an idiot and lost to Governor Locke by twenty points.

[bushwakker]

25. A little mischief

I love it

[fortyfeetunder]

26. Carlson, is running, oh $#!+!

I might have to join you on the dark side too, JD. Carlson is nothing but a right wing wacko and WASP hate-monger.

He was the slime that architected that I-200 (like California Prop 209 - the so called "civil rights" initiative).

I don't want that slime to ever represent me, not even at a dogfight.

[jsw_81]

22. Nonsense

This district (I live in the eighth) went for Clinton in 1992 and 1996, and for Gore in 2000. It also went for Senators Murray and Cantwell in their elections. We Democrats have an EXCELLENT chance of taking this seat.

[Ediacara]

24. TOTALLY

ESPECIALLY if the GOP puts up a blowhard like Carlson. He's a know-nothing idiot that most Republicans reviled, and his first (and last) foray into public office saw him lose in a landslide against Gary Locke.

Heidi Berends-Benedict (sp) is a great candidate, and although she hasn't been supported strongly by the DNC she has been getting closer and closer to beating Dunn.

Dunn has been perceived as a moderate, even though her only moderate position has been on abortion IIRC. With a truly conservative Republican vying for her seat, and the DNC putting some money into the race, we've got an EXCELENT chance at picking up this seat.

Despite the Dunn and money facade, WA-8 is not GOP-yuppyville, as one can see from the voting history since 1992.

[fortyfeetunder]

27. Potential Pug Party gong show--

I hope Chris Vance (WA state Pug Party chair) has a snippet of common sense and tells Carlson to keep his @$$ in front of the microphone, and off the election trail. Pull Carlson out of contention before he makes an ass of himself and the WA state Pug party once again. It's like ringing the Gong before the act has started.

[Ediacara]

28. Why don't you want Carlson to run?

He's an ineffective loudmouth and would lose massively. I'd love for him to run :-)

[NewJerseyDem]

31. The district voted for Gore!!

That is hardly a republican seat. Alex Alben, the current democratic candidate is a good candidate and has had impressive fundraising. This seat will be very close and depending on who the republican nominee is I would even guess that Alben has an advantage given all the time he has had to raise money and prepare for this race.

[kurtyboy]

7. I don't think this is good for *

Dunn was one of his original consultants back in '98-'99 as he primed the pump for 2000. She was the architect of the "Compassionate Conservate" meme--played well with women. She was expecting an appointment to a cabinet position, it was speculated, and the call never came.

I think she's done fighting for this guy...

[Ediacara]

8. This is shocking news

And good news :-)

WA-8 is competative, as Dunn was viewed to be a moderate (even though she isn't), and her margins of victory kept decreasing against token DNC opposition. In 2000 WA-8 went for Gore, so I think this can be a pickup with Dunn out of the picture, and a DeLay clone probably trying to take her place.

[regnaD kciN]

11. Sorry...

...but there's no way the 8th district is going to go Democratic, this year or anytime in the forseeable future. It just isn't going to happen.

:-(

[Ediacara]

21. WHY?

Dunn was perceived as a moderate, and her district went for Gore in 2000 (granted by a slim margin, but still went to Gore). The GOP replacement will probably be a DeLay clone, and if the DNC actually puts some cash into the race, we have a VERY GOOD chance of winning in 04. On top of that, the district has, under MINIMAL DNC campaigning been trending more and more Dem; even if Dunn had stayed on, I doubt she'd keep the seat GOP past 2010. Her leaving congress just jumpstarts this process.

[banana republican]

9. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE FINALLY GOT RID OF THE B*

SHE MUST REALIZE THAT BUSH IS GOING TITSUP AND DOESN'T WANT TO GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP.

SHE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.....

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

13. Strange, if she's a sure election winner, to up and quit the job

when other sorry-assed GOP members, like Janklow, would have to be taken out of the limelight with a crowbar.

I wonder what her specific motivation is.

[regnaD kciN]

17. Dunn-derhead's "likely motivation"...

She says she's quitting to run the statewide * campaign. My guess would be that, should the Chimp win, she'll be in line for a Cabinet post (rumored last time around) or an ambassadorship.

[fortyfeetunder]

12. WOOHOO!!!!

she represented the district I live in....at last a chance to get better representation. Her letters back were so banal and inane...good riddance to her...She was a * ***-kisser anyway.

[Zomby Woof]

15. F&#* that vile piece of scumsucking shit

I lived in the 8th district for the better part of 12 years. I worked on Heidi Behrens-Benedict's last campaign against Dunn in 2000. (Heidi was awesome, and it was worth it no matter how it turned out). I remember cringing when Dunn delivered the GOP response to Clinton's 1999 SOTU, after his acquittal, and telling us "There are no tanks in the street! There is no crisis!" Well no shit, but I bet that upset you, since your phony witch hunt of Clinton didn't yield his arrest and hauling off from the Senate floor.

Gawd, she is the bottom of a rusty septic tank after Rush eats poisoned chili for a week and fills it.

[Isere]

18. She has the worst face lift in Congress

Shouldn't that be reason enough for her to retire from public life?

[dusty64]

19. Good!

Another rethug hack out of Congress. What are the chances a Democrat could win this?

[banana republican]

ding don the wicked witch; the wicked witch of the west

is dead; ding dong the wicked witch is dead.

hurray

[banana republican]

29. ding don the wicked witch; the wicked witch of the west

is dead; ding dong the wicked witch is dead.

hurray

[banana republican]

30. my mouse finger twitched with joy....