The Writing On The Wall

"[Sen.] Roland Burris Won't Run For Senate Seat In 2010" [Chicago Sun-Times, July 10, 2009]

"Governor Bill Ritter Won't Seek Re-Election In 2010" [KRDO ABC-13, Jan. 5, 2010]

"[Sen.] Dorgan Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election" [USA Today, Jan. 6, 2010]

"Sen. Chris Dodd Announces He Won't Seek Re-Election" [CNN, Jan. 6, 2010]

"[A.G.] Beau Biden, VP's Son, Won't Seek Senate Seat" [USA Today, Jan. 26, 2010] The seat is currently held by VP Biden's replacement, Ted Kaufman, who will not run in 2010.

"Rep. Patrick Kennedy Will Not Seek Re-Election" [Fox News, Feb. 12, 2010]

"[Sen.] Evan Bayh Will Not Seek Re-Election" [IndyStar.com, Feb.15, 2010]

What is the common thread here? All are Democrats. Sure, there are Republicans who will not be seeking re-election in November, but many of them are moderates. Case in point: moderate Sen. John McCain is likely to face his stiffest challenge yet in former Republican Rep. (and staunch conservative) J.D. Hayworth. Many would argue (as do I) that it was this maverick's moderate stances that cost him the presidential election in 2008. Had the Republicans run an unabashed conservative candidate instead, an entirely different outcome would have been likely.

So what's the source of the aforementioned hubbub? An over-reaching federal government that is transmogrifying our great country into something radically different. Americans are fed up with all the 'crap sandwiches' being served up in Washington D.C., and as such, these elected leaders are scrambling out of the kitchen now before facing the heat of their constituents in November (including the Colorado governor). After making a mess, these representatives are bailing out. Or to paraphrase Andrew Wilkow, "It's like the guy who throws up at your party and then leaves."

Without a doubt, however, the month of November will mark an actual case of manmade global warming, courtesy of a fired up electorate. Feeling the heat will be liberal and progressive Democrats, radical statists, and spineless moderates (whether they be Democrat or Republican). Feeding the flames will be an alliance of conservatives, libertarians, independents, and disillusioned former Obama supporters (i.e. - the Obama girl).

For whatever shortcomings the current administration sees in our country, and which it is thereby trying to fundamentally change, I contend that a vast majority of Americans want to preserve what our forefathers created some 230 years ago. Most would agree with the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan when he said the following:

"Am I embarrassed to speak for a less than perfect democracy? Not one bit. Find me a better one. Do I suppose there are societies which are free of sin? No, I don't. Do I think ours is, on balance, incomparably the most hopeful set of human relations the world has? Yes, I do." [DPM, 1975]

Amen to that.