Breaking: GOP Senator Pete Domenici To Retire
Earlier this afternoon a rumor was racing around in D.C. that Senator Pete Domenici was set to announce at a 4 P.M. press conference that he planned to retire at the end of his term. His press office shot down the rumor.
Now, however, The Washington Post is reporting that Domenici is indeed expected to retire:
Veteran Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) is expected to announce tomorrow that he will retire from the Senate in 2008, according to several informed sources, a decision that further complicates an already difficult playing field for Republicans next November.Domenici has struggled with health problems over the last several years and has been dogged by questions about the role he may have played in the firing of U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias in Albuquerque.
Domenici's ratings were also weakened by the Iraq war.
This brings the number of retiring GOP Senators to five, along with John Warner, Chuck Hagel, Wayne Allard, and Larry Craig (who's retirement is not certain but very likely). Domenici is up for reelection next year, meaning that his expected retirement adds to the mounting woes of the GOP as they ponder the 2008 map. The seat is totally up for grabs now, and even could be seen as leaning Dem.
More soon.
Late Update: The Associated Press is now running with this too, adding that Domenici will make a formal announcement in New Mexico tomorrow.
Late Late Update: The New York Times reports that "close associates" of the Senator confirm that he'll announce his retirement tomorrow. His spokesman, however, is still declining to comment. No official on-the-record confirmation of this anywhere, but no denial, either, so it looks like it's definitely happening.
Still Later Update: MSNBC's First Read reports that Domenici's retirement press conference is set for tomorrow at 4 P.M. Mountain Time.
Comments (24)
Ralph wrote on October 3, 2007 4:58 PM:whose
neo1 wrote on October 3, 2007 5:15 PM:oh boy, maybe we can have another democrat!!!
And we know what that means....
what exactly?
gjdodger wrote on October 3, 2007 5:15 PM:Republicans:Congress::Rats:Sinking Ship
Thethinredline wrote on October 3, 2007 5:19 PM:Wow, i mean, i know Domenici is in his 70s but this is still kinda out of left-field, i mean he still has quite a lot of influence. He probably saw the writing on the wall, what t=with the Republicans looking to alienate all Hispanic-Americans. This is great for the 2008 Senate prospects, i mean Domenici got well over 60% in his election in 2002, and now for the Republicans someone is going to have to replace him, and to win the primary he'll have to say some pretty nasty things about, ohhhhh, 30% or so of the population.
This seat might be even more ripe for a Democratic pick-up than New Hampshire.
Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 3, 2007 5:24 PM:Here is a link to an AP story on ABQ Journal website that says Pete WILL retire.
http://www.abqjournal.com/news/appete10-03-07.htm?jsbottom
Daniel wrote on October 3, 2007 5:24 PM:HUGE HUGE news. This opens up a new fabulous opportunity for Dems, at a time they have so many already. Check out these latest very recently updated Senate Rankings!
Dave wrote on October 3, 2007 5:36 PM:But who will be the Dem. nominee?
Richardson is running for President.
Mayor Marty of Albuquerque who was once rumored to have been waiting for Domenici to retire has now all but said he will run for Governor. The tough part for him is that he is more popular with Republicans which might help him in a statewide race but I doubt he can win the Dem. nomination against Lt. Governor Denish.
We have 2 Republicans and 1 Democrat in the house now. We know one of them, Heather Wilson wants that seat bad, but she just narrowly won re-election by less than 1,000 votes to a very weak opponent. She has been spotted a lot this year out of her district though, leaving all to speculate she will run if Domenici retires. Rep. Pearce (R) I suspect would not try to challenge Wilson, but what about Rep. Udall (D)?
We have Don Wiviot (sp? I think I butchered that) already announced to run for the Dem. nod in this race but will that change with Domenici retiring? Are there better candidates out there? Who are they??
Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 3, 2007 5:42 PM:The implications of this go beyond the Senate seat. Look for Heather Wilson (R-NM01) to throw her hat in the ring for the Republican nod, and Tom Udall (D-NM03) to announce for the Democratic nod. Udall's House seat is safely blue. But Heather is in a district that has a slight Dem advantage in registration. She squeaked by on less than a thousand votes against a truly awful opponent. Democrat Martin Heinrich (a young and rising star for Democrats) is already actively campaigning for Heather's seat.
Of course, many New Mexicans want Bill Richardson to end the madness and come back home to run for the seat. But Bill is Bill and his massive ego may override his ability to just say no to being a Presidential candidate.
Long story short: Yay Team Blue.
jac wrote on October 3, 2007 5:50 PM:Tom Udall will be the Dem in the race.
Heather Wilson will be the Republican.
This means two pickups (Patricia Madrid will probably go for Wilson's seat again).
Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 3, 2007 6:00 PM:jac:
If the Dem's run Madrid again they should lose for being idiots. Madrid is an awful candidate and does not deserve the support of Democrats. She should have beaten Wilson in 2006, but never got off the dime. Her problems are many and the fact that she is not a clear and concise speaker when she has to think on her feet should be a stark warning for anyone who wishes to support her candidacy.
Harsh? You bet. But this is blood sport and she had her chance. Patsy screwed it up. Time for her to go away and get a job in the private sector.
Martin Heinrich is a much better choice. He's young, articulate, well-informed and very capable of running a good tough campaign.
Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 3, 2007 7:05 PM:I just heard an NPR report that Domenici's office CONFIRMS (with NPR) he will announce his retirement here in NM tomorrow.
Michael wrote on October 3, 2007 7:16 PM:Wow, it's looking like the dems may get enough seats to blow through a filabuster, notwithstanding repuke lieberman. This is awesome, just as long as clintooon isn't the nominee, we might get our country back. Praise the Lord.
On the Clock wrote on October 3, 2007 7:41 PM:This means the Dems will officially be able to filibuster their own votes to end the war.
Ron wrote on October 3, 2007 8:09 PM:What about David Iglesias as a Senator? Young and inexperienced; but he has a good mind and is ethical. He could be a good convert to the Democrats since I assume he's a reputlican now (or was).
Richard L. Adlof wrote on October 3, 2007 9:17 PM:Damn . . . This means that Domenici won't get prosectuted for obstruction et al.
Hopefully, his hellspawn demon bitch, Wilson, will be dumb enough to hang in there until she gets ejected from Congress for high crimes and misdemeanors.
daniel155 wrote on October 4, 2007 12:18 AM:I wish more senators like Domenici would realize that their time is up and retire and leave their seats to be taken by younger sucessors. Regardless of what you think of him, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV) is basically being propped up and I won't even discuss other senators that stayed on too long such as Senator Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
At any rate, it should be a lively contest for Domenici's seat and I would have to give the Democrats the edge at this time.
Cinderella Ferret wrote on October 4, 2007 1:54 AM:I agree its probably time for Byrd to go.
lower tiberius wrote on October 4, 2007 5:52 AM:So that's it? Domenici retires and never has to face federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of justice? Oh and he's not feeling well. The only way to cure all this blatant bad behavior is to present the offenders with the consequences of their willful, arbitrary, abrogation of existing laws. For Domenici to now state he regrets the phone call and overt coercion of a US Attorney after denying it, is to say he's regretful he got caught. Continue the process and restore rule of law, for these offenders are surely criminal in their intent and traitors to our country, instrumental in a Republican criminal conspiracy for absolute power through felonious mechanisms. Intentional repression of voting is election fraud. Wilson, Hastings, Scholzman, Goodling, and many many others deserve prosecution and the orange incarceration jumpsuits that go with the verdict of guilty. Let the court mandate a program during their prison sentence that they review Senatorial and Congressional ethics handbooks during group therapy sessions in prison.
BernieO wrote on October 4, 2007 8:58 AM:NBC is saying that Pete is retiring because of a degenerative brain condition. That will probably be his defense strategy - he didn't understand what he was doing.
As for Byrd, yes he is very old and his style of talking is annoying, but the substance of what he says if often very important. He is adamant about following the Constitution, something too many aren't so he still has an important role to fill.
Seems Domenici has "frontotemporal lobar degeneration":
That he's suffering some form of dementia is obvious to anyone who has heard him interviewed on radio lately, the few times he deigns to do so. He'll often pause a very long time before answering, refuse to answer a question then answer it a minute or two later in the middle of another question or answer, get angry at the interviewer saying "I already answered that!", and often mangle his talking points as much or more than Bush.
geulincx wrote on October 4, 2007 9:11 AM:Oops, links didn't show. I'll try again:
http://www.koat.com/news/14264099/detail.html?rss=alb&psp=news
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontotemporal_lobar_degeneration
YIKES! Just double checked and found that Byrd is 3rd in line as successor to the President after Pelosi but before Rice! What is wrong with this that we didn't change the rule after 9-11 when Strom Thurmond was the guy in line to succeed?? If a plane had hit the capitol building and Cheney had been there as well as the Speaker, Thurmond would have been in. (Thurmond almost never was because he was too ill and senile.) Imagine the disaster that would have been! Yet, I NEVER heard this discussed by our brilliant media.
What is wrong with us that we haven't changed this idiotic rule that the President Pro Tem of the Senate comes after speaker?? President Pro Tem is always ancient because he is the longest serving member of the party in power. He hasn't been elected by his peers, it's an automatic position. We should change the rule to the majority leader, a position parallel to Speaker of the House. Then you would have an official elected by Senators who were themselves elected and hold a majority.
The latest reports on this show that Senator Domenici is suffering from Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration, which causes "disinhibition, neglect of personal hygiene, mental rigidity, perseverative behaviors, voracious appetite and hyperorality."
This may explain his pugnacious behavior, as well as the widely-reported pajamas incident.
Cheryl H wrote on October 4, 2007 10:55 PM:That Congresswoman Heather Wilson will run for Domenici's seat is a forgone conclusion - Domenici brought her into New Mexico from out East several years ago to groom her for his position. The then-governor, a Republican, made her the State Children Youth & Families department head, to burnish her thin resume. Then he appointed her to Bill Richardson's Congressional seat. A few terms in the Congress, with the oldster's hand upon her shoulder, and she'd be ready to inherit her seat.
But Domenici (and Wilson) tried too hard in 2006 - were too into the dirty tricks. Pushing to get prominent state Democrats indicted weeks before the election, finessing the federal takeover of the New Mexico Treasurer investigation, so they could use it to smear Patricia Madrid, who had announced as Wilson's opponent - New Mexicans may be figuring out what sort of people Wilson and Domenici are.
State Democrats - if they're on the ball - may be able to pick up both a House and Senate seat out of this. There has recently been a takeover of the State Party leadership by progressive activists. This doesn't mean the old bulls of the Party are gone, but it does make it more likely that strong, progressive candidates will be selected to run.
Also, Republican David Iglesias says no way he'll ever become a Democrat. Yes, people have asked him, but he's loyal to what remains of his Party.
