Sen. Kent Conrad Announces Retirement

[txradioguy]

http://a57.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/Politics/397/224/111010_conrad.jpg

Sen. Kent Conrad said Tuesday he will quit his seat at the end of his term in 2012, opening up a spot prime for a Republican takeover.

He said he wants to concentrate on the problems facing America, not his re-election.

"After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012. There are serious challenges facing our state and nation, like a $14 trillion debt and America's dependence on foreign oil. It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for re-election," Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said in a statement.

Sources close to Conrad said the North Dakota Democrat's decision was one he had been weighing for several months, and made final over the holidays.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/sen-kent-conrad-announce-retirement-tuesday/#ixzz1BPgQ6SAZ

[Madisonian]

http://a57.foxnews.com/static/managed/img/Politics/397/224/111010_conrad.jpg

Sen. Kent Conrad said Tuesday he will quit his seat at the end of his term in 2012, opening up a spot prime for a Republican takeover.

He said he wants to concentrate on the problems facing America, not his re-election.

"After months of consideration, I have decided not to seek reelection in 2012. There are serious challenges facing our state and nation, like a $14 trillion debt and America's dependence on foreign oil. It is more important I spend my time and energy trying to solve these problems than to be distracted by a campaign for re-election," Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, said in a statement.

Sources close to Conrad said the North Dakota Democrat's decision was one he had been weighing for several months, and made final over the holidays.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/01/18/sen-kent-conrad-announce-retirement-tuesday/#ixzz1BPgQ6SAZ


Sounds like the beginning of a 2012 exploratory presidential run to me.

[fettpett]

Sounds like the beginning of a 2012 exploratory presidential run to me.

I was thinking the same thing...it's the only place that he can do those things and not be in the Senate.

Though...maybe the Obassiah is thinking of dumping his current idiot VP

[lacarnut]

Repubs need not get too giddy at the fact that Conrad and other left wing loons like Dennis Kucinich will rail against Obama in the primaries. They can point to single payer was not passed, Gitmo is not closed, the troops have not left Iraq & Afgan, etc. Obama can then say to independents, see I am a centrist. Conrad and the Democrats have a plan. The Repubs are clueless.

[noonwitch]

Lieberman is also retiring at the end of his current term.

[MountainMan]

http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:8QhB26Izvhut-M:http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb262/gnomeling/WellBye.jpg&t=1