So first, Republican Congressman John Shadegg announced his retirement in February, telling reporters that life in the minority is a real bummer:
“I’ve just reached the conclusion I’d like to do something else with my life other than be in the minority in the U.S. House of Representatives.”
Desperate GOPers immediately begged Shadegg to unretire, and within days, he changed his mind and decides to stick it out for another term.
However, it’s clear that John Shadegg has fallen out of love with his job. In fact, he’s already openly musing about the next gig that he’d like to take! From PolitickerAZ.com:
“I see my friends in the Senate deeply engaged in fights where even in the minority you matter,” said Shadegg, who won a seat in Congress in the GOP’s 1994 rout but has since seen his party lose its majority. “Yeah, I could find that very interesting, very appealing.”
Asked point-blank if he would take McCain’s current position if given the opportunity, Shadegg responded: “Yes.”
Don’t you think that the voters of Arizona’s 3rd District deserve a representative who’s actually, you know, interested in their job instead of staring out of their office window and daydreaming all day?
I’ve seen examples in other countries when a politician running for reelection makes public statements predicting what will happen after they go back in.
There was this one guy, an MP from British Columbia, Canada, when running for reelection in 2004, said it would be his last campaign during the campaign. What happened? He lost to his opponent by 4 points.
I guess what I’m saying is if the Democratic candidate wants to try a different strategy, instead of the usual “Shadegg is in bed with big oil and lobbyists” argument. He or she should say something like:
“I’m running for reelection because I know I’ll be here in the next few years representing you and asking for your support, unlike my opponent.”
Probably give voters something to think about. My hope is that Shadegg does another flip flop and announces his retirement (again)
http://www.cookpolitical.com/
That’s a surprise. I can’t remember the last time he moved an incumbent past Tossup status. Though maybe he doesn’t consider Stevens likely to get renominated anyway.
“Don’t you think that the voters of Arizona’s 3rd District deserve a representative who’s actually, you know, interested in their job instead of staring out of their office window and daydreaming all day?”
Wait a second, doesnt this sound alot like what Mark Udall did? Remember back in 2004 he ran for the US Senate, but dropped out after only one day when party leaders started to unite between now Senator Salazar. He then reversed himself, ran for re-election, and waited until now to try and move up in the Senate.
Might want to remember some of your own guys for this kinda stuff as well.
and i do appreciate your thoughtful comments in general – this seems like a case of sticking your fingers in your ears and saying “la la la la” when presented with facts that don’t reinforce your premise.
yes, mark udall showed interest in running for higher office in ’04 – as many elected officials do across the country every year (i’d be surprised if udall was the only one you could find in the last four years) but that is the only commonality in these 2 cases.
shadegg said he wanted to retire while sounding discgusted with “being in the minority” months ago, now in a second instance he pathetically bemoans being in the minority where he doesn’t matter. And he’s in a tough re-election!
Speaking as a voter I’m afraid I don’t see an exploitable issue here. If my Congressman wins a seat in the Senate, he still represents me, in the other chamber. The issues he’ll be called upon to vote on are the same issues. His positions are all still applicable. He didn’t desert his post. Unless he ran on district-specific issues, where’s my damage?
This is not the same as a freshly-elected governor jumping into a race for Congress, or a state office holder leaping into a run for federal office without completing the goals he or she ran on.