Do any of you think Jim may have retired, because, I don't know...24 years in Congress is enough for anyone? This is his 12th term, that's enough. He could retire and run for the US senate seat held by Lautenberg in 2008, but that's not what's happening apparently. I wish he would, as a Repubican. But it just seems he's retiring and moving on to something else. I say good for you Jim, and I wish you the best!

Anyone else think US rep. Frank LoBiondo is going to run against Corzine for the governor's office in 2009? If he wins he get's the governor's post, and if he loses he keeps his house seat.

"The voters of South Jersey will send another Republican to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008 to build on Jim Saxton's formidable record." - John Cole

John Cole is delusiional, as always. But you can't really hold it against the poor guy - it's part of his job description as head of a republican Committee to be delusional.

jon.morgan.1999, what part of IIRC don't you understand?

but by all means keep fact-checking posts. Very good way to spend your life.

Ah yes, Cubin. Who can forget her impassioned House floor speech about her "blond-haired blue-eyed daughters"?

"See you in Toledo," ya beeotch!

Funny that Cole mentioned Saxton's record on resources and the environment. When the chairmanship of the Resources Committee opened up and Saxton had the most seniority, Republican leaders skipped over him because they thought he was too liberal.

"Roll Call is reporting that Congresswoman Barbara Cubin (R-WY) will reportedly announce her retirement tomorrow."

Best news I've had all week. When elected reps start acting like third world banana republicans I'm always embarassed. Buh-bye, Barbara.

Saxton is not even ON the Budget Committee (which Jim Nussle and John Kasich chaired in recent years). He's on Armed Services, Resources, and the Joint Economic Committee.

Checking your facts is always a nice touch.

http://www.house.gov/saxton

Another one down, the charming Cubin:

'Roll Call is reporting that Congresswoman Barbara Cubin (R-WY) will reportedly announce her retirement tomorrow.

Cubin had been facing a primary challenge from state House Majority Leader Colin Simpson, the son of former U.S. Senator Alan Simpson (R-WY), as well as a second campaign from 2006 Democratic nominee Gary Trauner.

In Cubin's special case, the open seat might actually improve the GOP's chance of holding the seat. Despite representing an overwhelmingly Republican state, Cubin barely won re-election last year after she threatened to hit the Libertarian candidate -- who was in a wheelchair.'

This is where the audience is shouting "TAKE THE PENSION!"

You know what's behind door number three - a future of filibuster threats. That doesn't spell bacon for the home district as much as the "permanent Republican majority" which, by the way, sounds *totally* more marketable than "1000 year rule" or "Third Reich".

forgot link:

He, too, expressed despair over the plight of Iraq's youngest generation.

"Our children are suffering. All they talk about is weapons and bombs," he said. "They are children. We are older; our hair turns gray. What happens to them hearing all the explosions and bombs?

"We can't make them feel better because we are down."

That's a sentiment that haunts the head of the Iraqi Red Crescent.

"There are times I get up in the middle of the night and I say, 'Oh my God, how are we going to solve it? God help me to help those kids!'"

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/11/09/iraq.children/index.html

The Philadelphia Inquirer has confirmed Saxton's intentions to retire. It appears that health issues were the deciding factor.

http://www.philly.com/philly/hp/news_update/20071109_N_J_s_Congressman_Saxton_to_retire.html"

I just read this and it made me want to punch the idiots who come on here blathering, 'The Surge is working, the Surge is working. Working to what, I wonder?

this is what hit me the hardest: 'The greatest concern is the ripple effect it will have in the long term -- an entire generation lacking basic life skills, surviving with no education, no income and no families. ' Half a trillion dollars to utterly destroy an entire generation.

"Hakki says Red Crescent has the monumental task of treating and feeding more than 1.6 million children under the age of 12 who have become homeless in their own country. That's roughly 70 percent of the estimated 2.3 million Iraqis who are homeless inside Iraq.

With 95,000 volunteers and 5,000 employees, the Iraqi Red Crescent is the last line of defense for the country's poor, sick and displaced. They try to blend in as best they can, with Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds working in the neighborhoods distinct to their ethnicities.

Six employees of the Iraqi Red Crescent have been killed over the last four years. Eight have been wounded, including six left disabled by the severity of their wounds.

Hakki says the spike in numbers of abandoned children is especially alarming, the result of sectarian violence and drastic socio-economic problems. The majority of parents in Iraq, he says, leave their children with a single relative who often has about 20 to 30 children to look after. Some parents just leave their kids altogether.

Many of the families are living in areas without basic needs, like water and electricity, and there are no jobs available. "It's a desperate situation," he said. "Children are becoming a liability for both the father and the mother."

The greatest concern is the ripple effect it will have in the long term -- an entire generation lacking basic life skills, surviving with no education, no income and no families.

"The trauma of what's happening to those children is enormous," he said. "If somebody is injured by a bullet or shrapnel, it takes a week or two and he's fine. ... The psycho-social injury is pretty deep and can take months, if not years, to heal.

"That's the task -- the mammoth task -- the Iraq Red Crescent is facing."

bsimon: I'm pretty sure Saxton was chair of the House Budget Committee -- a presigious post. Hard to go from that to ranking member. And, yes, Saxton -- like most of the others stepping down -- from what I know is not someone who'd be satisfied with being a partisan "bomb-thrower."

this is funny -- a trailer of just about every fox show, featuring all the gratuitous pornography they show, particularly Bill O'Reilly.

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/10906

Beautifully stated, my comment.

Brittman-- apparently bashing Latinos isn't working out so well for them.I think they'll just stick to their tried and true bashing Democrats, although that doesn't seem to be working too well either. but you know, they have a bunch of agencies working on a new 'brand' for them, I'm sure they'll come up with something evil.

Loudon writes
"these senior Republicans really can't stand the idea of being in the minority for the long term, can they?"

Perhaps. I don't know anything about this Saxton guy; but in further considering Rep Ramstad's decision, I wonder if he took a look around at the role the GOP leadership wants to play in the minority and said 'no thanks'. The point: I'm not so sure its being in the minority per se that's unappealing, but that current GOP leadership is focusing on partisan battles rather than solving problems. When you're in the majority, it can be easy to overlook such tactics, because you're still getting stuff done. In the minority, what's the upside?

That's all just a theory.

Don't let the door bang yur @ss on the way out, Jimbo
~

well, now that the republicans have successfully bankrupted the country; degraded the military; alienated our allies and all in all reduced a once proud nation to a hollowed out shell of its former self, i suspect they're all thinking 'mission accomplished'; time to go cash out those long-promised favors from their benefactors...

With the economy now tanking (on top of everything else) no wonder so many Republicans have decided to "spend more time with their families."

Then again, bashing gays kept them in power in 2004. Perhaps bashing Latinos will save them next year. They'll try anything to stay in power.

Boy, these senior Republicans really can't stand the idea of being in the minority for the long term, can they?

And another one... damn. Wonder who'll be the last man standing?