For those keeping track: yes on ‘stimulus;’ no on cap-and-trade and health care rationing. Apparently, that wasn’t enough:
Rep. John Tanner (D-TN), a leading Blue Dog Dem, will retire at the end of his current term, Dem sources tell Hotline OnCall.
[snip: see below]
Tanner has begun informing key House Dems of his decision — one that will make his seat a prime pickup opportunity for GOPers. He has served 11 terms in Congress representing northwest TN, a district based around Jackson, Clarksville and Union City.
At least, not enough for TN-08 – which is a R+6 district, and was a Leans Democratic pickup possibility (I assume that this will improve now). Rep Tanner’s claiming that he only stuck around to be President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly; which is why, of course, that he has no anointed successor for his seat and announced his retirement sans warning or initial explanation. For that matter: Rep. Tanner claims to be a fiscal conservative, even though he voted for the ‘stimulus.’ So you can believe or not believe his explanation as you like.
At any rate: that’s the second one. Meanwhile, the GOP’s excellent 2010 recruiting continues apace.
Moe Lane
Crossposted to Moe Lane.
Moe Lane
Steve Maley
KnightsofMalta
Dan Spencer
Dan McLaughlin
Geronimo
NeoKong (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 12:31AM EST (link)“Hey… that guy just jumped out and we have an extra parachute for some reason…
That’s funny….my back pack is missing.
Follow me on Twitter.
Wow
scarlos (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 12:42AM EST (link)That’s great news for us–Tanner usually wins his elections with 75-80% of the vote, and an open seat dramatically increases our chances at swinging this district.
That increases our potential gains in Tennessee to 4, as the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th are all now conceivably in play. It would be fitting for the Democrats to go from holding a gerrymandered 5-4 edge to looking down the wrong side of an 8-1 split.
Socialism is Oligarchy in disguise
First Dennis Moore, now Tanner...
Third Street (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 3:14AM EST (link)Both of these seats are now GOP-favored, and it won’t end here. I have a feeling the trickle of Democrat retirements is about to become a flood.
Was thinking about the Dem counterargument to the prospect of the GOP taking the House in 2010 — “well, the only reason that happened was because there were so many Democrat open seats that year! Not like this time!”
Well, libs, here they come…
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
"That year" being 1994. (nt)
Third Street (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 10:01AM EST (link)“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
Dems will lose a lot of seats
freedomfunds Wednesday, December 2nd at 3:35AM EST (link)are Republicans ready to steer the ship
TN-08: An R pickup, but at what price?
SoFiMil (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:39AM EST (link)Moe, are these Blue Dog retirement announcements an indication that Tanner (and others on their way out) will vote yes on any (potential) final health care bill? (i.e., knowing they’ll be voted out, regardless?)
As you indicated, in the House bill, Tanner was one of the “no” votes. http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml
www.suvstrategery.blogspot.com
Kowlaski
SoFiMil (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:42AM EST (link)Moore voted yes on health care. Does that mean that now there’s no chance he’ll flip?
www.suvstrategery.blogspot.com
Are there any blue dogs who might flip parties?
bk (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:51AM EST (link)Obama is going to be an albatross for them next year, and any that are allegedly fiscal conservatives and allegedly pro-life would seem to be unwelcome under Obama/Pelosi. This is the party of Ted Kennedy, not John Kennedy.
If the GOP is smart, that train is on its way out of the station. nt
mschmitt (Diary) Wednesday, December 2nd at 8:54AM EST (link)usque ad finem
This Is Excellent, Excellent News...
IJB Wednesday, December 2nd at 9:41AM EST (link)And expect more of these “retirements” as we go along. They’ll start picking up steam through January and February.
(And, once again, Tanner’s internal polling, like Moore’s, must have been *atrocious* to prompt a retirement. Gotta wonder how many other Dem Reps are sitting there looking at awful internal polling…)
Is Roy Herron (D) a strong candidate?
davepri Wednesday, December 2nd at 10:32AM EST (link)Jim Geraghrty notes Tanner was being out-raised by a “gospel singing farmer”- Stephen Fincher. I saw today that Roy Herron (D), who was running for TN Gov., switched and is now running for Tanner’s seat. Is Herron a formidable cndidate?
davepri