Think they know something we don't?

**Dredly** · September 29th, 2008, 09:26 AM

Alabama: Rep. Bud Cramer (D). Retiring

Alabama: Rep. Terry Everett (R). Retiring

Arizona: Rep. Rick Renzi (R). Retiring and under federal indictment.

Arizona: Rep. John Shadegg (R). NOT Retiring: Convinced by colleagues to reverse earlier decision to not seek re-election

California: Rep. John Doolittle (R). Retiring

California: Rep. Duncan Hunter (R). Retiring

California: Rep. Tom Lantos (D). Died. Rep. Jackie Speier (D) sworn in after winning special election

California: Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D). Died. Laura Richardson (D) seated after August 2007 special election

Colorado: Rep. Tom Tancredo (R). Retiring

Colorado: Rep. Mark Udall (D). Vacating seat to run for Senate

Florida: Rep. Dave Weldon (R). Retiring

Georgia: Rep. Charlie Norwood (R). Died. Paul Broun (R) seated in July 2007 special election

Illinois: Rep. Dennis Hastert (R). Resigned. Bill Foster (D) sworn in after winning March special election

Illinois: Rep. Ray Lahood (R). Retiring

Illinois: Rep. Jerry Weller (R). Retiring

Indiana: Julia Carson (D). Died. Carson's grandson, Andre Carson (D), seated in special election

Louisiana: Rep. Richard Baker (R). Resigning. Don Cazayoux (D), wins May special election

Louisiana: Rep. Bobby Jindal (R). Elected Governor. Steve Scalise (R) wins May special election

Louisiana: Rep. Jim McCrery (R). Retiring

Maine: Rep. Tom Allen (D). Vacating seat to run for Senate

Maryland: Rep. Wayne Gilchrest (R). Defeated in Republican primary

UPDATED JUNE 19: Maryland: Rep. Al Wynn (D). Defeated in February Democratic primary by Donna Edwards. Wynn retired before end of term, allowing Edwards to compete in June special election, which she won. Edwards sworn in

Massachusetts: Rep. Martin Meehan (D). Resigned. Niki Tsongas (D) seated in October 2007 special election

Minnesota: Rep. Jim Ramstad (R). Retiring

Mississippi: Rep. Chip Pickering (R). Retiring

Mississippi: Rep. Roger Wicker (R). Appointed to Senate.Travis Childers (D) seated after May 2008 special election

Missouri: Rep. Kenny Hulshof (R). Vacating seat to run for governor

New Jersey: Rep. Mike Ferguson (R). Retiring

New Jersey: Rep. Jim Saxton (R). Retiring

New Mexico: Rep. Steve Pearce (R). Vacating seat to run for Senate

New Mexico: Rep. Tom Udall (D). Vacating seat to run for Senate

New Mexico: Rep. Heather Wilson (R). Vacating seat to run for Senate

New York: Rep. Vito Fossella (R). Retiring

New York: Rep. Mike McNulty (D). Retiring

New York: Rep. Thomas Reynolds (R). Retiring

New York: Rep. Jim Walsh (R). Retiring

Ohio: Rep. Paul Gillmor (R). Died. Robert Latta (R) seated in December 2007 special election

Ohio: Rep. David Hobson (R). Retiring

Ohio: Rep. Deborah Pryce (R). Retiring

Ohio: Rep. Ralph Regula (R). Retiring

Oregon: Rep. Darlene Hooley (D). Retiring.

Pennsylvania: Rep. John Peterson (R). Retiring

Virginia: Rep. Jo Ann Davis (R). Died. Robert Wittman (R) seated after December 2007 special election

Virginia: Rep. Tom Davis (R). Retiring

Wyoming: Rep. Barbara Cubin (R). Retiring

In the Senate ...

Those who have left, leaving, or have died, by state:

Colorado: Sen. Wayne Allard (R). Retiring

Idaho: Sen. Larry Craig (R). Retiring

Mississippi: Sen. Trent Lott (R) Retired. Rep. Roger Wicker (R) seated by gubernatorial appointment

Nebraska: Sen. Chuck Hagel (R). Retiring

New Mexico: Sen. Pete Domenici (R). Retiring

Virginia: Sen. John Warner (R). Retiring

Wyoming: Sen. Craig Thomas (R). Died. John Barrasso (R) seated by gubernatorial appointment

**Stooperzero** · September 29th, 2008, 09:39 AM

Who wants to deal with the current/Builiding Shitstorm wer'e stepping into.

**BerksCountyDave** · September 29th, 2008, 09:50 AM

Sure does seem like lots of them have an (R) next to their name . . . . interesting.

**Kimba** · September 29th, 2008, 09:59 AM

Rats deserting a sinking ship?

I am not saying that any or all of the above are rats.

Just making a comparison.

**5711-Marine** · September 29th, 2008, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by Dredly

California: Rep. Tom Lantos (D). Died. Rep. Jackie Speier (D) sworn in after winning special election

California: Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D). Died. Laura Richardson (D) seated after August 2007 special election

Georgia: Rep. Charlie Norwood (R). Died. Paul Broun (R) seated in July 2007 special election

Ohio: Rep. Paul Gillmor (R). Died. Robert Latta (R) seated in December 2007 special election

In the Senate ...

Wyoming: Sen. Craig Thomas (R). Died. John Barrasso (R) seated by gubernatorial appointment

I don't want to know what these five knew... It could be bad for my health...

**Green Lantern** · September 29th, 2008, 10:04 AM

I would be curious to see what the stats have been in previous election cycles. Are these numbers comparable or unusual?

From the looks of it, one would think that there are a lot of elected officials bailing out but this might just be the norm.

I wouldn't know without seeing other stats.

**Dredly** · September 29th, 2008, 10:22 AM

Originally Posted by Green Lantern

I would be curious to see what the stats have been in previous election cycles. Are these numbers comparable or unusual?

From the looks of it, one would think that there are a lot of elected officials bailing out but this might just be the norm.

I wouldn't know without seeing other stats.

I think its extremly rare for this many to be leaving on their own, not getting voted out.

**5711-Marine** · September 29th, 2008, 10:46 AM

Since World War II, the lowest number of House retirements has been 20, in 1956. In the 1960s, House retirements generally ranged from the low 20s to the low 30s, but they increased dramatically during the 1970s and into the early 1980s, when they generally reached at least 40 per cycle. Then they fell, so that in 1984, 1988 and 1990 retirements ranged from 22 to 27 per cycle.

House retirements skyrocketed again in the anti-incumbent mood of the mid-1990s, falling back to the current level, in the low-to-mid 30s, from 1998 to 2006. There were 31 House retirements in 2004 and 2006, and 35 in 2002.

source:http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_14...1.html?type=pf

**PocketProtector** · September 29th, 2008, 11:22 AM

Since congressmen only need work one (that's 1) 2 yr. term (most of which is campaigning for the next election) and get a SAWEEEET pension why not??

**dc dalton** · September 29th, 2008, 12:07 PM

Jesus! I hadn't seen that before. I have to agree with Kimba here, rats jumping ship ... they know the shit storm that is going to happen over the next few years and they want to get as far away from it as possible.