Mel Martinez won't seek Senate reelection

[techs]

http://www.miamiherald.com/new...rida/story/796033.html

Mel Martinez won't seek Senate reelection

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez announced Tuesday that he will not seek reelection in 2010, closing a chapter in an extraordinary success story of an empty-handed Cuban refugee and setting off a free-for-all over his open seat.

The longtime Republican lawmaker made the announcement at a press conference in Orlando, which he called ``my only true home since I left Cuba.''




While Republican/Neo-Cons are hoping the larger number of Democratic seats up for re-election in 2010 will help them regain some Senate seats, the short interval between the 2008 and 2010 elections may actually help the Dems as Republicans are still not getting campaign contributions and have limited time to redefine their party from its war mongering, Christian fundamentalist, pro-super rich policies of the last 8 years.

 

[winnar111]

Things will be quite different in 2010 than they are today. AQ will see to that.

 

[Jaskalas]

Originally posted by: winnar111
Things will be quite different in 2010 than they are today. AQ will see to that.

Associated Quagmire?

The most important thing happening in this country is the depression.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: winnar111
Things will be quite different in 2010 than they are today.

yes

AQ will see to that.

not so much

 

[Lemon law]

Exactly why Martinez decided not to seek re-election is basically in the realm of speculation, and injecting AL-Quida into the discussion really jumps the shark.

But in the grand scheme of things, Martinez is 62 now, he would be 64 in 2010, and would be making a commitment that would last until age 70 were he to win re-election in 2010. And if he and his family are not happy with a Washington environment, that alone would justify his decision.

We must also remember that Martinez is a product of the Cuban American community of Florida, an environment in which Martinez thrived in, and now Martinez found himself on the losing side of the Hispanic immigration issue within his own party.

So even as a somewhat partisan democrat, I am not going to take part in any R=bad, D=good discussions, Mel Martinez has simply decided not to run for re-election, his reasons are his own, and by announcing early, he shows responsibility. He still has two years to serve, he will have his own role to play in rebuilding the GOP and in shaping the future of this Country, and who knows what that legacy may be when he bows out in 2010. I am an optimist, and I hope Mel's last two years are as a productive key player.

 

[nageov3t]

wonder if he's setting things in motion for a 2012 run.

 

[JSt0rm]

Originally posted by: winnar111
Things will be quite different in 2010 than they are today. AQ will see to that.

god you're a moron. You think Democrats are soft on AQ? Why? Because we don't think Iraq was a good idea? You are no American just like AQ is no Muslim.

edit:
Let me also say that democrats have also spilled their blood for this shit and you do them a disservice.

 

[Deliximus]

Originally posted by: JSt0rm01

Originally posted by: winnar111
Things will be quite different in 2010 than they are today. AQ will see to that.

god you're a moron. You think Democrats are soft on AQ? Why? Because we don't think Iraq was a good idea? You are no American just like AQ is no Muslim.

edit:
Let me also say that democrats have also spilled their blood for this shit and you do them a disservice.

If i didn't know better, i think winnar11 believes only republicans are fighting on the battlefields in the middleeast in hopes to secure security for folks at home. His partisanship is off the scale.

 

[chowderhead]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
Exactly why Martinez decided not to seek re-election is basically in the realm of speculation, and injecting AL-Quida into the discussion really jumps the shark.

But in the grand scheme of things, Martinez is 62 now, he would be 64 in 2010, and would be making a commitment that would last until age 70 were he to win re-election in 2010. And if he and his family are not happy with a Washington environment, that alone would justify his decision.

We must also remember that Martinez is a product of the Cuban American community of Florida, an environment in which Martinez thrived in, and now Martinez found himself on the losing side of the Hispanic immigration issue within his own party.

So even as a somewhat partisan democrat, I am not going to take part in any R=bad, D=good discussions, Mel Martinez has simply decided not to run for re-election, his reasons are his own, and by announcing early, he shows responsibility. He still has two years to serve, he will have his own role to play in rebuilding the GOP and in shaping the future of this Country, and who knows what that legacy may be when he bows out in 2010. I am an optimist, and I hope Mel's last two years are as a productive key player.

very few Senators willingly retire after 1 term (Mark Dayton and Robert Torricelli being examples of someone who left after 1 term because they did a poor job and would have probably lost reelection). Martinez is hinting that he may even resign before the end of his term. He was heavily recruited by Bush and still barely won in a good Republican year. All signs pointed to him having a very tough reelection as his approval levels are very low with low name recognition. His very brief stint as head of the RNC was cut short when he announced he would resign that position to devote to being a Senator. So, he reigned from the Cabinet to run for Senate, resigns from the RNC to devote time to being a Senator and now is quitting after 1 term. Honestly, the Republicans may be better off having someone else running for the seat. Jeb Bush is said to be seriously considering the race.

 

[BoomerD]

Get ready for another Bush...

Jeb is looking to fill this slot...and he's retained his popularity, unlike his brother.

http://www.modbee.com/24hour/politics/story/520591.html

"Still popular in Florida, former Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday that he's interested in the seat Sen. Mel Martinez is giving up, and the field of possible candidates could quickly narrow to make way for the president's younger brother."

 

[EagleKeeper]

Originally posted by: loki8481
wonder if he's setting things in motion for a 2012 run.

For what. Govenor of Fla?

He is not elgible for the WH

 

[SP33Demon]

Originally posted by: JSt0rm01

Originally posted by: winnar111
Things will be quite different in 2010 than they are today. AQ will see to that.

god you're a moron. You think Democrats are soft on AQ? Why? Because we don't think Iraq was a good idea? You are no American just like AQ is no Muslim.

edit:
Let me also say that democrats have also spilled their blood for this shit and you do them a disservice.

Please, don't feed the trolls.

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: Common Courtesy

Originally posted by: loki8481
wonder if he's setting things in motion for a 2012 run.

For what. Govenor of Fla?

He is not elgible for the WH

oh, well, duh... there goes my idea