Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Byron Dorgan (D-ND) announced that they will both retire. News media is already frothing at the mouth because this offers them the opportunity to rampantly speculate and, also, play what Mean Girl expert Rosalind Wiseman calls The Banker, a role that enables them to gossip and drop divisive and corrosive information seemingly innocently (we're just informing, we're just talking) all while stirring up frenzy and fights.
Consider this bit of fear and hysteria mongering from MSNBC's First Read's Domenico Montanaro, Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Ali Weinberg:
"The biggest story with these retirements? The effect on President Obama. He’s the head of the party, and to see so many Democrats in one day decide they don't want to run while he's the leader can create the perception of political weakness -- at the very time when he's trying to strong-arm Dems to give him health care and other major domestic achievements[.]"
and
"** Reading the tea leaves: Collectively, these retirements are a sign that many Democrats are reading the tea leaves and determining that this year is going to be difficult for their party. It's what happened to Democrats in the year preceding the GOP’s sweep in 1994."
Ooohhhh color me trembling in my boots. 1994.
Look I remember 1994 well and what happened then. I bet you there's not a major Democrat who doesn't.
Don't fall for it. Don't fall for the fear, the hysteria, or the mud-slinging and impugning of President Obama's strength.
The alternative interpretation, Domenico, Chuck, Mark and Ali, (et al) and (in my humble opinion) the better interpretation, is that, like Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Souter, these Democrats now feel safe in the current political environment to take the action to retire. Like Souter, they trust in the strength of the party and feel confident that they can be replaced by strong, progressive Democrats.
So Dodd and Dorgan are retiring, so what. Let them. In fact, let them go without one whimper and see it for the opportunity it is.
No, not for Republicans to take the seat (although, of course they'll try, as we should expect them to and must respect that they will) but rather as an opportunity to let two middle-aged white men step aside and open up an opportunity for diversity in the Senate.
This gives strong female and other minority contenders in North Dakota and Connecticut the opportunity to step up on the national stage, and if the Democrats have any wits about them, this is what they'll support.
Connecticut offers a good opportunity. Clearly voters there are happy to elect women to top positions. Consider Governor Jodi Rell. She is a Republican, and has announced she will not seek re-election in 2010, so...she may be a potential opponent.
North Dakota's Republican Governer Hoeven has been murmuring about considering running for Senate. However, supporters have already begun a call for former Democratic attorney general Heidi Heitkamp, including starting
a Facebook page promoting her for the race.
It means change, it means transition, but it also means opportunity. Let's hear from some Democrats in these states -- the party now has a huge chance to support a candidate that represents the modern US in this new century and decade. Let's see some women step up -- with full party backing!
Who can YOU recommend?
CT AG Richard Blumenthal (D) has announced that he will seek Dodd's seat. He seems to be pretty popular with a solid reputation. Jodi Rell is not well-liked but she had the advantage of coming into office after 2 disgraced governors.
Posted by: Lisse | January 06, 2010 at 08:44 AM
Yep, I noted Blumenthal -- who looks strong from way over here (good to hear that's true there too) and also Mary Glassman for Gov -- what do you think of that?
Posted by: Julie Pippert | January 06, 2010 at 08:47 AM