Linder To Retire (R)

[ccharles000]

Rep. John Linder (R-GA) will retire at the end of this term, according to local media reports, finishing an 18-year career notable for a rough stint as chair of the NRCC.

Linder, who represents a solidly GOP district on the northeastern outskirts of Atlanta, has served in public office since winning a seat in the GA House in '74. After winning his House seat in '92 by narrow 51%-49% margin, he never faced a serious challenge again.

A longtime ally of ex-Speaker Newt Gingrich, Linder took over the NRCC in during the '98 cycle, when Gingrich was speaker. But the public sided with Bill Clinton after the GOP Congress impeached him, and GOPers lost 5 sets. Shortly after the election, Gingrich resgned, and Linder lost the NRCC chairmanship to then-Rep. Tom Davis.

Linder is a hero of the anti-tax crowd, though, and his FairTax proposal was at the center of ex-AR Gov. Mike Huckabee's (R) WH'08 campaign platform.

http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2010/02/linder_to_retir.php

[bluestateguy]

1. The wheels are coming off the bus for Republicans

They are jumping off the sinking ship!!!!!!

[recadna]

3. his district is as red as it gets

he is tired being in congress. That's it.

[XOKCowboy]

2. So is it going to be hookers, young boys, payoffs?

I'm just saying.... There is a pattern.