memeorandum: Thoughts on Bayh (Tom Jensen/Public Policy Polling)

10:25 PM ET, February 15, 2010

Top Items:

Chris Cillizza / The Fix:

Evan Bayh won't seek re-election, Senate majority in play? — Indiana Sen. Evan Bayh will not seek re-election this year, he announce Monday, a decision that hands Republicans a prime pickup opportunity in the middle of the country. — “After all these years, my passion for service …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, courierpress.com, Hot Air, The Cook Political Report, PostPartisan, Scared Monkeys, Ben Smith's Blog, The Huffington Post, Washington Times, The Huffington Post, Lynn Sweet, The Sundries Shack, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Real Clear Politics, DownWithTyranny!, Washington Monthly, Pajamas Media, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Cassy Fiano, Taylor Marsh, Philly.com, Top of the Ticket, Macsmind, Firedoglake, Chicago Breaking News, CBS News, The Politico, Breitbart.tv, Liberal Values, Climate Progress, AmSpecBlog, Left Coast Rebel, Atlas Shrugs, Doug Ross, NO QUARTER, Swampland, Ruby Slippers, Matthew Yglesias, Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!, Politics Nation, Dr. Melissa Clouthier, The Washington Note, Raw Story, And So it Goes in Shreveport, Eduwonk, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Power Line, AMERICAblog News, Moe Lane, The Note and JustOneMinute

Rich V. / The Vail Spot:

Senator Mikulski of Maryland to Retire — I've just heard from an impeccable source that Barbara Mikulski, the Democratic Senator who is up for reelection this November, will choose to retire. Mrs. Mikulski is expected to make her formal announcement in the next few days.

Discussion: National Review Online, DownWithTyranny!, Doug Ross, Open Left and The Lonely Conservative

Charles Lane / PostPartisan:

Bayh to Obama: take this job and shove it — Millions of Americans long to tell their bosses “take this job and shove it.” Hardly any have the power and money to do so, especially in these recessionary times. Sen. Evan Bayh (D) of Indiana, however, is the exception.

Discussion: Althouse, Eunomia, MyDD, Blue Crab Boulevard, Wizbang and Lawyers, Guns and Money

Tom Jensen / Public Policy Polling:

Thoughts on Bayh — I can't believe I'm saying this but I really think Republicans have a chance to win back the Senate this fall now. — Let's be realistic- there was a Rasmussen view of Indiana that showed Evan Bayh down to Mike Pence and barely up on John Hostettler and a Research 2000 view that showed him safe for reelection.

Discussion: The Corner on National …, Blue Crab Boulevard, CNN, msnbc.com, Hot Air and The Washington Independent

Eric Zimmermann / The Hill:

Bayh to retire in huge blow to Dems — Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) will announce this afternoon that he will not seek re-election in 2010. — The news is a big loss for Democrats, opening up a very competitive seat in what's shaping up to be a tough cycle for Democrats.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, PostPartisan, ABCNEWS, CNN, Newshoggers.com, The Washington Independent, USA Today, The Swamp, The Moderate Voice, TPMDC, NPR Blogs, Moonbattery, Ben Smith's Blog and Blue Indiana

ABCNEWS:

Evan Bayh Disses Washington on Way Out — Two-term Senator from Indiana Says He Will Not Seek Re-election, Pans Partisanship in U.S. Congress — Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh announced today that will not seek a third term — a huge blow to Democrats and an opportunity for Republicans to pick up another Senate seat in 2010.

Discussion: The Politico, CNN, Wizbang, Blogcritics, Mediaite, The Note, Truthdig and Wonkette

Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:

WHAT BAYH IS THINKING.... Sen. Evan Bayh's (D-Ind.) retirement is a shocker, leading many to wonder what on earth a popular incumbent with plenty of money and a big lead in the polls is thinking. Bayh alluded to his frustrations on the Hill as part of his rationale.

Discussion: Firedoglake, Crooks and Liars, Democratic Strategist and The Impolitic

Jonathan Martin / The Politico:

Challenger adds to post-Bayh chaos — A Bloomington, Ind., restaurant owner who had been running an obscure and uphill challenge against Sen. Evan Bayh for the Democratic nomination claimed Monday that she's just 1,000 signatures short of qualifying for the ballot.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, CNN, Hot Air, The Washington Independent and Ben Smith's Blog

David Dayen / Firedoglake:

Senate Candidate Tamyra D'Ippolito: “Politics in Indiana is the Old Boy's School.” — I just spoke with Tamyra D'Ippolito, the candidate who was already running in the US Senate primary as a Democrat in Indiana before Evan Bayh ended his re-election bid today.

Discussion: Erick's blog, Open Left, Angry Bear, The Moderate Voice and The Washington Independent

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:

Is Bayh Running for President — Let me start by saying, I don't buy it. If there's an explanation for this that involves the presidency it is that most of Bayh's career going back two decades anticipated an eventual running for the big office. And part of me thinks that at some point …

Discussion: Lean Left

Peter Wehner / Commentary:
Barack Millstone Obama

Discussion: The New Republic and Eunomia

Hotline On Call:
Explaining The IN Filing Process

Discussion: TPMDC, Firedoglake, The Plum Line, Commentary, Open Left, Daily Kos and Riehl World View

Ed Hornick / CNN: Too tough to be a centrist?

Eric Kleefeld / TPMDC:
Another Dem Already In Race For Bayh's Seat …

Discussion: Guardian, The Politico, Swing State Project, RedState and Talking Points Memo

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Lane on Bayh — I have several more months in which to kick him around.

Discussion: TalkLeft

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
Bayh, Relative to His State, Was Valuable to Democrats

Discussion: Bob Cesca's Awesome Blog!

Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Evan Bayh — Obviously, Evan Bayh's never been my favorite Senator.

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Reid Wilson / Hotline On Call:
Bayh To Retire In Face Of Challenge

Discussion: AmSpecBlog, The Huffington Post, The Politico, Michelle Malkin, The Political Carnival, Firedoglake and Swing State Project

Andrew Malcolm / Top of the Ticket:
New poll: Now, signs of real vulnerability for California's Democratic …

Discussion: Don Surber and Weasel Zippers

Jim Geraghty / National Review Online:
Evan Bayh to Retire... The Deluge Continues — By: Jim Geraghty

Discussion: The Washington Independent, Betsy's Page and Gawker

The Caucus:
Bayh Decides Against Re-election Bid

Discussion: msnbc.com, The Reality-Based Community, Newsweek Blogs, Balkinization, New York Magazine, Think Progress, Prairie Weather, The Political Carnival and CANNONFIRE

Ezra Klein:

Democrats released a compromise health-care reform proposal — On Friday, I posted about the guest list for the White House's health-care summit, but I missed the big news in the accompanying invitation (mostly because I didn't notice that there was an accompanying invitation). Here's the money bit:

Discussion: The New Republic, Democratic Strategist, Hit & Run, Liberal Values, Daily Kos, DISSENTING JUSTICE, Grasping Reality …, SpeakEasy, Washington Monthly and The Reality-Based Community

Chris Bowers / Open Left:

GOP demands White House post health care proposal online, then attacks WH for doing exactly that — Here is one from the “negotiating in good faith” files. — On February 8th, Republican House leader John Beohner sent a letter to the White House, demanding that the White House post online …

Discussion: TPMDC, Alan Colmes' Liberaland, thedanashow.wordpress.com, The Moderate Voice and Daily Kos

Josh Gerstein / The Politico:
Graham: W.H. mulls indefinite detention

Discussion: TalkLeft and Emptywheel

Walter Alarkon / The Hill:
Dems try to avoid overselling jobs bill

Discussion: Gateway Pundit

New York Times:

Secret Joint Raid Captures Taliban's Top Commander — WASHINGTON — The Taliban's top military commander was captured several days ago in Karachi, Pakistan, in a secret joint operation by Pakistani and American intelligence forces, according to American government officials.

Discussion: ATTACKERMAN, Matthew Yglesias, Hot Air, democracyarsenal.org, AMERICAblog News and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Carol E. Lee / The Politico:

Senator: VP comments ‘insulting’ — Joe Biden shakes hands with Scott Brown. AP — Sen. Scott Brown thinks Vice President Joe Biden was “off base” when he suggested Sunday that the Massachusetts Republican get his facts straight on the legal procedures for military tribunals.

Discussion: Pundit & Pundette, Josh Gerstein's Blog, The Lonely Conservative, Sister Toldjah and JammieWearingFool

Andrew Orlowski / The Register:

Now IPCC hurricane data is questioned — Open science: Got Excel? Debunk this — More trouble looms for the IPCC. The body may need to revise statements made in its Fourth Assessment Report on hurricanes and global warming. A statistical analysis of the raw data shows that the claims …

Discussion: EU Referendum and GayPatriot

Boston Herald:

‘Oddball’ protrait emerges — Suspect's family, pals offer clues — As authorities searched for clues into what could have sent a University of Alabama neurobiology professor on an alleged killing spree, friends and family yesterday described Braintree native Amy Bishop as an awkward introvert …

Discussion: New York Times, theblogprof, PoliBlog, Jules Crittenden, Don Surber, Michelle Malkin and No More Mister Nice Blog

Boston Herald:
Quincy man recalls Amy Bishop holdup

Discussion: American Power, ABCNEWS, The Confluence, Jules Crittenden, TPMMuckraker, Breaking News … and Gateway Pundit

Andrea Adelson / Sun-Sentinel:

Sarah Palin Mania takes over Daytona — DAYTONA BEACH - Palin-mania easily surpassed Danica-mania at Daytona International Speedway on Sunday. — While Patrick got all the headlines for the better part of two weeks, she had no stake in the Daytona 500. Palin did, and as a VIP guest for the race, she ate up all the attention.

Discussion: The Confluence, Conservatives4Palin.com and Gateway Pundit

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

The Making of a Euromess — Lately, financial news has been dominated by reports from Greece and other nations on the European periphery. And rightly so. — But I've been troubled by reporting that focuses almost exclusively on European debts and deficits, conveying the impression …

Discussion: Matthew Yglesias, naked capitalism, Paul Krugman and Cato @ Liberty

Megan McArdle:

The Benefits of Health Benefits — Ezra asks why, if I think thebenefits of health insurance are so minimal, I have health insurance. Revealed preference! Gotcha! — But the answer as to why I have health insurance is simple: my employer pays for it. If my employer didn't pay for it, I wouldn't have it.

Discussion: Ezra Klein, The Incidental Economist and The New Republic