Evan Bayh pretends he's above the partisan fray, Part 984

Sen. Evan Bayh announced his retirement earlier today. The golden boy of the Democratic establishment years ago has had enough of the Senate's gridlock, he said. Either Bayh has a poor sense of irony, or he's just flat dishonest about his motives.

His reasoning for retiring (the excessive partisanship of Washington) was laughable given his pride in the filibuster when it came to health reform. It was that pesky debt commission that finally broke his little back he says:

“Two weeks ago, the Senate voted down a bipartisan commission to deal with one of the greatest threats facing our nation: our exploding deficits and debt. The measure would have passed, but seven members who had endorsed the idea instead voted ‘no’ for short-term political reasons,” he said. “Just last week, a major piece of legislation to create jobs — the public’s top priority — fell apart amid complaints from both the left and right. All of this and much more has led me to believe that there are better ways to serve my fellow citizens, my beloved state and our nation than continued service in Congress.”

So he quit.

I'm also reading some conflicting views on what party he screwed over worse, the Democrats or Republicans, by his timing. He certainly leaves Democrats in general in a bind to say the least.

But maybe it's bad news for both parties. I wouldn't put it past Bayh. I guess he's "bipartisan" with his political sabotage.

Jane Hamsher says it's Indiana progressives since there won't be a primary:

Why would Evan Bayh file to run for the Senate, and then pull out 24 hours before the deadline for signatures to be filed?

Well, because the Indiana Democratic Party gets to choose Bayh’s replacement on the ticket. And that means unless you can pull a candidate out and line up 500 signatures in each district to be filed by noon tomorrow, you’re a write-in.

How does the sound of Senator Hill or Senator Ellsworth sound?

Well, Rahm was in town doing a fundraiser for Hill recently. This has, no doubt, been in the works for a while.

Rahm! Should've known.

Jed Lewis says it's the GOP:

Unlike Democrats, Republicans already have candidates vying for their party's nomination, including former Rep. John Hostetler and Senator-turned-lobbyist Dan Coats. Because the signature deadline is tomorrow, that pretty much sets the GOP field. Unless both Hostetler and Coats were to withdraw, Republicans won't be in a position to choose a nominee as will Democrats. The implication of that: Bayh's timing appears to make it nearly impossible for candidates like Rep. Mike Pence (who says he will not run despite Bayh's retirement) or Gov. Mitch Daniels to get on the ballot.

So while Bayh was a sure thing versus Coats and Hostetler, given his retirement, Bayh's timing here may actually give Democrats the best chance at holding onto the seat.

Good riddance. His sole reason for being in the Senate was to plaster a shit-eating grin on his face when people perceived him as a sensible centrist.