Chief
02-12-2008, 09:59 PM
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=287712625274253
By SEAN HIGGINS
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:30 PM PT
When asked about the 29 Republican-held seats that will go up for grabs this fall, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., gently corrected this reporter.
"As of today," Cole said at a breakfast briefing for reporters. He didn't say that further retirements are expected, but he wasn't exactly ruling them out, either.
Cole then recalled how one unnamed GOP leader recently said to him: "Cole, you and I better get out of here before all of the good jobs are gone."
It was a joke. Sort of.
One election cycle as the minority party and Republicans are stampeding to the exits. While at least five of them are trying for higher offices, most are opting to simply quit. They are one retirement away from the record number.
Cole put the best face on the situation Tuesday, telling reporters he did not take the job to preside over the "dismantling" of the party. There's no reason why the GOP can't beat the odds this fall, he said.
"The biggest problem I have, and the Republican Party has, is morale," Cole said. "We went through the worst defeat since Watergate (in 2006), and yet there are still 10 more (GOP House) seats than Ronald Reagan had on his best day."
On Monday, Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., a contender for GOP leader in 2006, became the latest Republican to drop out. By contrast, the Democrats have a mere five open seats going into the fall election.
Just in case you didn't have enough to weep into your political beer about....
ddrrii
By SEAN HIGGINS
INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Tuesday, February 12, 2008 4:30 PM PT
When asked about the 29 Republican-held seats that will go up for grabs this fall, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., gently corrected this reporter.
"As of today," Cole said at a breakfast briefing for reporters. He didn't say that further retirements are expected, but he wasn't exactly ruling them out, either.
Cole then recalled how one unnamed GOP leader recently said to him: "Cole, you and I better get out of here before all of the good jobs are gone."
It was a joke. Sort of.
One election cycle as the minority party and Republicans are stampeding to the exits. While at least five of them are trying for higher offices, most are opting to simply quit. They are one retirement away from the record number.
Cole put the best face on the situation Tuesday, telling reporters he did not take the job to preside over the "dismantling" of the party. There's no reason why the GOP can't beat the odds this fall, he said.
"The biggest problem I have, and the Republican Party has, is morale," Cole said. "We went through the worst defeat since Watergate (in 2006), and yet there are still 10 more (GOP House) seats than Ronald Reagan had on his best day."
On Monday, Rep. John Shadegg, R-Ariz., a contender for GOP leader in 2006, became the latest Republican to drop out. By contrast, the Democrats have a mere five open seats going into the fall election.
Just in case you didn't have enough to weep into your political beer about....
ddrrii