Senator Evan Bayh Announces He Won't Seek Re-election
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
United States
February 15, 2010 1:44pm CST
The democratic Senator from Indiana has announced that he will not seek re-election, citing the fact that he doesn't much like how things are run in Congress. I can't blame him, whether you are on the left or the right, I think many of us can agree that Congress is dysfunctional (to put it mildly).
Polls show that if he ran for re-election, any opponent would be hard pressed to beat him because he is very popular. He is basically considered a moderate.
I admit I don't know a whole lot about him, but I listened to his speech that aired a few minutes ago and he sounded gracious and reasonable. Of course I know that how a guy sounds in a speech isn't a reliable indicator as to how he really is, so I'm interested in what YOU think about him.
I am interested in reading the opinions of the rest of you, liberals, conservatives and middle of the roaders to see what you all think about this new turn of events - how do you think this will effect the 2010 elections? Do you think this will be good or bad for Democrats and/or Republicans? He mentioned that he is "an executive at heart" and he is a former governor, do you think he's eyeing higher office?
Here is a link to the story if you are interested:
http://www.indystar.com/article/20100215/NEWS05/100215009/Evan-Bayh-will-not-seek-reelection
6 people like this
8 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I most definitely do not like how things are run in congress. I think it will not be good for the Dumcrats to lose such a popular Senator especially if he get replaced by a Republican.
3 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Feb 10
That all depends on whether the GOP can come up with a decent candidate to replace Sen. Bayh. They should be careful of who they select to run and choose somebody who is familiar with isues that are important to the people of Indiana rather than someone who is just a bunch of talking points for the party - actually, that's what the Dems should do too. 
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I'm at a loss as to what his future plans or hopes are. All I know is he's been seen as one of the "rising stars" for several years now but while he's been seen as a moderate by some, some might call him a "DINO". Myself, I think it's the moderates in both parties that mostly represent the majority of the people. Some of us may lean more to the left or the right but I think the one on the extreme end of either are in the minority. Sadly, the moderates in the Senate will soon be something we only remember.
Since he was running far ahead in the polls in a state where it's hard for Democrats to win, this has to be seen as a plus but the GOP but I HAVE heard, possibly because they didn't feel they had much of a chance, they don't have any strong candidates. I guess some people are pretty upset with him because he didn't give anyone any warning. I can understand why he said he "doesn't love Congress". There are some good ones but far too many of them are only interested in playing their silly political games.
Annie
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Hi Annie, they are having a huge snowball fight in hell again, I think you are right! I've gotten more involved in politics the past year or so, and realize I am more "moderate" than anything else. People who are supposedly on "my" side turn me off just as much as the radical progressives lately because they seem equally crazy. I think, like you do, that MOST of us are not hard left or hard right, we are more in the middle and lean a little to one side. The present administration and all those who hope for election/re-election in the next few years would do well to realize this fact - regardless of party affiliation. I'll vote for a politician who represents fair, sane and reasonable stands on the issues no matter what party they belng to over a "one track mind" any day.
I don't think the GOP should be getting too giddy over Mr. Bayh's decision; because he is a moderate Dem, this can be seen as a loss to them too, he may be replaced with a Dem who tacks further left running against a lackluster (or crazy) GOP candidate and Congress could end up with one more voice of dysfunction in an already toxic environment regardless of who wins in November.
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Feb 10
It's funny, the people who are criticized as being "DINOs" and "RINOs" are the ones I tend to hate the least, with a few exceptions.
2 people like this
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
17 Feb 10
I think both parties lose some when their extreme takes over the party.. which of course is what extremes most try to do!
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
17 Feb 10
I completely agree with you. Well said.
1 person likes this
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
15 Feb 10
As you write Evan Bayh has a heart of an executive. Maybe he does not want his varnish damaged by people like Harry Reid. By getting out of the Senate he does not have to vote for unpopular things like bailout, card check, cap and trade, and government heath insurance. He can go back to Indiana and what until 2016 to run for President or even surprise attack an ever growing unpopular Obama in 2012.
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Feb 10
Excellent points, gewcew! Any smart politician would do well to distance him/herself form the exponentially growing unpopularity of this Congress if they seek higher office, or even re-election to an existing office.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Feb 10
I am willing to believe that the current situation in Congress is at least part of his reason for deciding not to run again. But also, if anyone did envision a presidential run in 2012, distancing himself from Congress is probably a good first step. No one wants to be burdened with that political liability, even if they are trying to walk a middle line and practice bi-partisanship.
I do think, that as a moderate, he is as disgusted with his own party at least as much as the opposing party.
Even though he is a shoe-in if he ran for re-election and even if the members of Congress changed significantly, he could still end up with bad connections by being there, especially if the next Congress is seen as obstructive because of a shift in power. Since there's no down side to getting out while the getting is good, I think it may well signal an interest (if not an intention) to seek higher office.
2 people like this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I agree, this is a win-win decision for Sen. Bayh no matter what he chooses to do in the future. I'm disgusted with both parties too!
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Feb 10
Here is an interesting quote: CNN reports this little gem that might otherwise be missed:
"He hates the Senate, hates the left bloggers," a friend and longtime adviser to Bayh said. "They are getting their wish, pure Democrats in the minority."
Hates the left bloggers? Could it be that it's the hate-spewing from the left that is driving him out of the Senate? Perhaps he doesn't want to be associated with that sort of venom and disgusting behavior.
2 people like this
@millertime (1394)
• United States
28 Feb 10
I don't know much about him or where he stands on the issues. It's hard to know what a politician is thinking or what motivates them besides their own self interest.
He may be leaving because he fears the upcoming elections and the possible backlash against the democrat party. If he is a true moderate, he probably can't reconcile with his party wanting him to vote the party line when the present party line seems to be socialism and wrecking the economy through unprecedented government spending. How could any true moderate go along with that in good conscience?
He may be leaving because he is planning on running for higher office in 2012 and he doesn't want to be associated with an institution that is about as popular as a social disease. I sure don't blame him for that.
If he really is a true moderate, it's a shame that he is leaving. We need more moderates to temper the extremes of both parties. What we really need though, is more people that are willing to stand up and do what needs to be done, which is to rein in big government and stop the spending, before it's too late.
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
28 Feb 10
[i]
"If he really is a true moderate, it's a shame that he is leaving. We need more moderates to temper the extremes of both parties. What we really need though, is more people that are willing to stand up and do what needs to be done, which is to rein in big government and stop the spending, before it's too late."
[/i]
Amen to that, Millertime! 
1 person likes this
@irisheyes (4370)
• United States
18 Feb 10
About the only thing I know about Evan Bayh is that he stayed loyal to Hillary Clinton until the end and I liked that. At the time I was also a Hillary supporter. Also, loyalty is something that scores high with me. I have a feeling Evan Bayh is probably one of the good guys. If he trully is a moderate, it must be almost unbearable to be in this polarized Senate for him. Unfortunately, we stand to lose the good guys.
2 people like this
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I think the midterms are going to be devastating for the incumbents of both parties.... especially if they have been therefor several terms.
People should be looking at voting records... especially for the repubs claiming to be conservatives.
There are far too many RINO's in there that need to be eliminated.
1 person likes this
@Destiny007 (5805)
• United States
18 Feb 10
RINO means Republican in name only.
That is used to describe liberals who pretend to be conservative and who really belong in the democrat party.
The term is an accurate one... and if it wears thin then maybe the problem is a personal one.
Since the republicans are supposed to be conservative... although they haven't been for a long time... then the time has come to get back to the Constitution.
Since neither party seems to be interested in that,we now have the TEA Party... which includes people who are sick of both parties.
I will continue to use the term as I see fit.
No one says you have to read it or even respond when you see it used.
You say you are neither pro-life or pro-abortion (pro-choice is an attempt to clean up an ugly truth).... so you say you have no opinion?
As to gay people.... marriage is the union of a man and a woman.... anything else is a cheap imitation.
1 person likes this
@AngryKittyMSV (4317)
• United States
17 Feb 10
I agree about incumbents, but the word "RINO" is wearing thin with me, when people are being ostracized simply for not falling lockstep into what some conservatives think needs to be rigidly adhered to. I guess I'm a RINO too, I've been a Republican all my life but I am not a prolifer (nor am I a prochoicer) and I really don't care one bit if gay people want to get married, but I veer hard right on a lot of other issues. I'm sick of people expecting us all to be one trick ponies.
1 person likes this
