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Ouch! Bayh Called Obama But Not Harry Reid
Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN)
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The news about Sen. Evan Bayh opting not to seek reelection had been out for an hour before Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid heard from him.
As we reported earlier, Bayh (D-IN) phoned President Obama this morning about his decision.
But an aide to Reid tells us that Bayh called the majority leader at about 11:45 a.m. to let him know.
During his 2 p.m. press conference Bayh will say that partisan gridlock in Washington is one reason he's bowing out.
Late Update: Hours later, Reid issued out a statement about Bayh's decision. It doesn't mention that he was the last to know and is fairly laudatory of Bayh's record.
Reid says:
Evan Bayh has been a strong voice for Indiana for many years and I thank him for his service. I respect his decision to step aside and look forward to continuing working with him to create jobs, strengthen the economy and keep our country safe throughout the remainder of his term. I am also confident that the efforts of Senator Bayh along with those of the DSCC will keep this seat in the Democratic Caucus.
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temptxan
February 15, 2010 1:11 PM
Gridlock caused by people like Bayh. Good riddance to anyone who would treat his party and constituents this way, up and retiring just days before the filing deadline. Does he really think people will believe he is doing it for altruistic reasons?
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PJCoco
February 15, 2010 1:21 PM
the second reason: he can make a lot more money working for PhRMA or some other insurance company. After all he did for them during the healthcare debacle, he's probably looking at a very big annual check, not to mention his wife has some solid connections.
Gee, all those uninsured constituents of his are really gonna be sad, but Evan was real upset when the progressives in the House didn't kiss Jim DeMint's ring and hold onto Mitch McConnell's ankles for dear life.
So sorry, Even. Allow me please: Here's your hat, what's your hurry?
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JadeZ
February 15, 2010 1:44 PM
These corrupt vile creeps don't even try to hide their motives anymore.
He did the bidding of drug and insurance industry so now he takes the cash out of the freezer and gets out of town with it.
Leaving congress is a free pass from scrutiny.
They take care of their own.
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Michael A
February 15, 2010 1:46 PM
Why would he call reid? Reid is a dead man walking. He is toast . . . and . . . he isn't doing a gd thing to save his seat. Nothing. Very bizarre.
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kgb999
February 15, 2010 2:33 PM in reply to Michael A
Who do you think the GOP has in Nevada that can beat him? There's a reason people advise taking polls 9 months before an election with a grain of salt. I don't think Reid is toast.
Also, what do you think he should be doing to "save his seat"?
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Michael A
February 15, 2010 2:42 PM in reply to kgb999
1. All three of the repukes are leading him in the polls, by alot. I do agree with the grain of salt point, but he has alot of ground to make up.
2. Just getting things done. I know the repukes are blocking everything, but he could use reconciliation to get stuff done. Also, he is not very pro-active in going after the repukes blocking tactics. I would submit that he is suffering in the polls because he is coming across as a weak leader in the senate and is not accomplishing anything.
All of the dems are suffering due to the economic situation and the fact that people wanted action in 08 and they are not seeing any action. The economy sucks and it doesn't look like the dems are doing anything about it, in the last year. The stimulus was huge, but after that there has been nothing.
Maybe in 6 months the economy will improve dramatically and the stimulus will kick in. I hope so.
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kgb999
February 15, 2010 4:11 PM in reply to Michael A
As I said, WHO do you think can take him? Danny Tarkanian sure as hell can't. I don't care what polls say, he doesn't have the chops - always polls well and loses. I don't see Lowden doing it either; she's hated by half the base while the GOP is carrying the weight of Gibbons and Ensign. As a party insider she's pretty well connected to both - she sure won't excite a big turnout. It is VERY telling that Krolick (the most top-tier potential GOP candidate) is sitting this race out, it seems he's going to wait and try for Ensign's seat in 2 years. To me, Angle doesn't seem like a serious contender for the GOP primary - but I know least about her (her lead is within the margin of error - not a good place to be starting).
There are also several local issues on his side. 2009 saw Reid finally win on the epic (and bipartisan) fight against Yucca Mountain. This 2010 budget essentially decommissions the site. There are also regional water issues and such on the horizon to highlight the benefits having a senior senator provides to the state. No sense in breaking out the guns until we know who on the GOP side we're firing at. It's far too early to be really fighting for polls - seriously campaigning today would just make the hand weaker come June. I know what to expect from Reid - my money is still on him. Come campaign time, you may be surprised.
Legislatively, it would have been very difficult for Reid to behave as you indicate he should have. Either Obama would have to stop undercutting the fight (ie going direct with the caucus - as this article highlights - and also by undermining an aggressive course through his public rhetoric) or Reid would have to start fighting the WH. For chrissake, there is NO way Reid can do reconciliation quickly now that Obama has called for a bipartisan summit to "discuss" a bill that's already pretty much done ... it ties the congressional leadership's hands until at least the 25th and put HCR on ice for more than a month. This entire year has been instance after instance such as this where the WH has taken a bat to the knees of Reid and Pelosi. The dysfunction in the Democratic party is with the leadership at the White House, not congress. Harry's biggest flaw is that he's loyal - but IMO at some point, he's going to refuse to take the fall for what can only be described as Rham's fuckups.
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Michael A
February 15, 2010 6:54 PM in reply to kgb999
You clearly know his situation better than I do, by a mile or two. I was solely relying on the bad polling.
What I do not get is why is he polling so bad based on your analysis. Your analysis makes sense, so why is he polling so bad right now?
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Rockridge
February 16, 2010 3:29 AM in reply to Michael A
Um, he would call him because he is the majority leader and Bayh is a member of the caucus. That he didn't suggests anger on Bayh's part toward the leadership.
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VictorLH
February 15, 2010 2:07 PM
Yet another example of what a vile piece of shit this guy is.
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mycomment
February 15, 2010 2:44 PM
so, a man bitching about the lack of comity among colleagues and he doesn't have the decency to inform the leader of his party of his decision to resign.
josh has a post that: 'I think the most generous read of Bayh's decision is simply that he was bored.'
take a look at the nyt photo accompanying the article about him. look how clean his senate desk is.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/15/bayh-decides-against-re-election-bid/?hp
bayh doesn't appear to be someone who has ever done any heavy lifting. and he's getting out while those sweet, fat lobbying gigs are still ripe.
what a loathesome asshole.
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daveminnj
February 15, 2010 2:51 PM
billy taupin just quit as pharma's main lobbyist like a week
ago- bets that bayh/his wife gets his old gig?
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trippin
February 15, 2010 3:07 PM
Well, why would he call Reid? Reid's own dog probably doesn't respect him. No self-respecting corporate fellating right wing prostitute would pay him any deference.
Besides, Bayh had some calls to make on behalf of his new bosses before he officially registers as a lobbyist and has to endure that inconvenient hiatus between public service and public parasitism.
Ahh, the life of the bribe-peddler. How grand it must be to finally realize the fruits of a life of labor doing the bidding of your "consitutents."
And since the Supreme Court says that corporations are people, you can fancy yourself a public servant to ward off any twinges of guilt for selling your soul, and selling so many of us down the river in the process.
Rather we have a genuine Republican so we have no ambiguity for pundits to twist into an example of "moderate" and "centrist" that would make Mussolini blush.
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AhTrini1
February 15, 2010 3:49 PM
Don't let the right of center door hit ya, where evolution didn't give ya!
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Barney
February 15, 2010 4:24 PM
I think it is fantastic that he announced juts before the filing deadline. It wasn't a slap in the face to Harry Reid. It was a kick to the groin.
Obama, Reid, and Pelosi tried to take the country on a 90 degree left turn...and and crahed spectacularly.
I have to hand it to mr. Bayh. he fell on the sword for the American people
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drjackanapes
February 15, 2010 9:16 PM in reply to Barney
Health insurance is a 90 degree left turn? We have the second highest infant mortality rate in the developed world. Oh wait a minute, those are actual babies, not foetuses. Never mind.
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stevelaudig
February 16, 2010 3:30 AM
Another intellectual lightweight leaves the scene. What's there to miss? It isn't hard to always be in the middle of the road. The courage of mediocrity of "do nothing" except make sure the cheerleader has the sentator's wife affirmative action directorships with big pharma and big insurance.
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