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.
Mrs. Mikulski seriously fractured her right ankle last fall just prior to Edward M. Kennedy's death. Due to the severity of the fracture, she had to have open reduction surgery, that included the insertion of pins, as well as the use of special surgical boots, during recovery. She had tried to arrive in time for Mr. Kennedy's funeral but was turned away.
Her recovery has been exceptionally slow and she is evidently still in a great deal of pain. Reportedly, she has told her physician that she does not desire to seek reelection. Additionally, friends and family have been saying in the near future she will announce her retirement. Because of the very slow recovery, she has been forced to use a wheelchair, a walker or a cane in order to get around.
One of her complaints is that the health insurance that is provided for Congress is "poor" with high deductibles and "limitations" on coverage. My contact tells me that she told an aide that she should have inserted in the ObamaCare bill an amendment to improve Congressional health insurance!
Mrs. Mikulski was first elected to the Senate in 1986, and thus is a very senior member of the Democratic caucus. Despite this seniority, she has never been offered any important chairmanships or leadership positions. Born on July 20, 1936, she is 74 years old, come July...it is perhaps fitting that she has choose this year to retire.
Her possible announcement along with that of Evan Bayh and Byron Dorgan of ND will the third Democratic Senator announcing plans to retire. This gives the estimate of Michael Barone, a statistician and columnist for the Washington Examiner much more "legs" than previously. Especially when tied to the election of Scott Brown, (R) of Massachusetts.
Mr. Barone has looked closely at the all of the 435 Congressional districts as well as the 33 Senatorial campaigns from the 2008 election. He then took the gubernatorial elections from last November in New Jersey and Virginia as well as the Senatorial campaign in Massachusetts from last month. His conclusion is that only 103 of the 259 Democratic Party's seats can be considered to be "safe". Additionally, by his calculation, only 1 of the 17 Democratic Senator's up for reelection this year can be considered to be "safe" as well (Charles Schumer of NY).
UPDATE: Fixed grammar...from the comments, thanks, a few minor mistakes...happens when you're in a hurry to get it up. thanks for the comments.
UPDATE II: My first instalanche...I hope you'll take the time to look around...and maybe join my 12 loyal readers. Thanks Glenn!
UPDATE III: While many are panning my two articles on Ms Mikulski...her office has yet to make an official announcement of any type. The only announcement has come from a spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
4 years ago
78 comments:
One probable Dem candidate will be MD's State AG Gansler. He has wanted to be a senator since he was a teenager. He has been a pretty effective prosecutor.
Might want to fix "cain" and "Jim" Dorgan while you're at it.
...and you also might want to fix "grammar"...
Another name being booted around is Martin O'Malley...the current governor.
She had tried to arrive in time for Mr. Kennedy's funeral but was turned away.
Talk about adding insult to injury. (Sorry, couldn't resist.) But seriously, that can't have helped any, even if health and senate leadership are the main issues. There's a time to breach etiquette in favor of real courtesy.
Uhh -- no important committees? She's on APPROPRIATIONS, for goodness sakes, and Chairman of the CJS subcommittee on Approps -- that's hardly chopped liver.
Ack, my eyes! Lose the orange background! There is a reason they don't print text on orange paper.
You forgot Dodd is retiring as well.
"One of her complaints is that the health insurance that is provided for Congress is "poor" with high deductibles and "limitations" on coverage. My contact tells me that she told an aide that she should have inserted in the ObamaCare bill an amendment to improve Congressional health insurance!"
Talk about BS! She has over a dozen insurance plans that are offered to her every November as part of the federal employees healthplan menu. If she CHOSE a plan with a high deductible and limitations, that's her problem.
She could have picked a richer plan, but then she would have had to contribute more for the premium, which she CHOSE not to do!
Another typo, over on the side:
Proud Member, Intenational Zionist Web
I know, sudden fame is no fun.
Ack, my eyes! Lose the orange background! There is a reason they don't print text on orange paper.
Don't you love it when people drop in for a visit and tell you how to decorate your "house?"
Arrogant knuckleheads.
If she is 74 would she not be eleigible for Medicare?
Keep up the good posts. You got the info try not to be so critical of the site. We need good sites to keep us informed about the idiots in Washington. They seem to have all gotten senile.
I live in the Peoples Republic of MD (allbeit in the sane portion along the coast) and we are quite excited about Jim Rutledge - I thought he had a pretty good chance to beat Babs before, but if she retires, I think he's got a real shot at being the first Republican Senator from MD in I don't know how many years.
Although Mikulski has been eligible for Medicare, she must have opted to maintain her private coverage as her primary insurance, which is her right. My guess is she liked the Congressional plan better.
BTW, I kinda like the yellow background. Nice site.
Good catch. I like the look..
How about if Michael Steele runs? First he has to resign as GOP chair, he said deviously...
She is a dreadful gasbag who should have been kicked out of office 20 years ago. She voted against the first Gulf war, which had her side won, would have resulted in Saddam controlling Kuwait and probably Saudi Arabia. This is only one of dozens of errors in judgment on her part.
For her to whine about her insurance coverage is typical. Her entitlement mentality knows no bounds. It's just other people's money, so what's the problem?
OMalley might even be worse. Look up incompetent in the dictionary and there is his picture. And Gansler? He is the Tracey Flick of Montgomery County, MD (see the movie "Election").
Either way, as a Marylander I am excited about Jim Rutledge's candidacy. Check out his website www.rutledgeforussenate.com.
Very interesting story. I will be eagerly waiting/hoping for her announcement. Please disregard the spelling police.
Maybe the reason Ehrlich has been so coy about his plans is some notion Mikulski might quit?
Interesting call for O'Malley-he's a safe bet to win a second term as Governor, but this might be his best shot to get the Senate seat. Once the program cuts and tax increases get pushed through the legislature next year, he'll be damaged goods. If a (D) wins the seat, he's blocked for at least a decade, figuring Cardin will run again in 12.
Thanks for stopping by...The errors stemmed from, literally, trying to get something done on posted in a hurry.
As someone who lives in Pikesville, a very blue realm, to say the least. I have been hoping that she's stay as for the first time since Spiro Agnew held a seat here, the GOP has the opportunity to grab hers.
I hope that those who can, will take a look around.
Martin O'Malley for Mikulski's seat?
He's been an abject failure as a Baltimore Mayor and Maryland Governor...why not let him fail as a Senator as well?
I suspect that if Babs retires, the imperiled freshman "Blue Dog," Frank Kratovil of Maryland's first congressional district, would rather try for the Senate seat than try to keep his own seat, which he barely won last time. If Kratovil goes for the Senate, that would make his challenger, conservative Republican Andy Harris, a shoe-in for his seat in Congress. -- Robert Bidinotto
Jim Rutledge is a Ronald Reagan republican, a true constitutional conservative. He is candid. He has made a series of Youtube videos for the citizen's study. www.youtube.com/jimrutledge2010
Pikesville, eh? I'm in Owings Mills.
I've been thinking about Ehrlich, too. His lack of commitment to the gubernatorial race now makes complete sense. He's probably had his ear to the ground with respect to Mikulski, and waiting for some movement from her.
Has he been talking up the Tea Party movement in MD much? I think I've heard him mention it a couple of times, but I've not been able to tune him in on Saturday mornings of late. If so, then this will be an interesting race to watch, if he runs. MD is every bit as blue as MA. But Ehrlich's a very likable guy, and not an extremist, policy-wise. He may very well be able to pull off the win, especially since he's well known, but doesn't have a ton of baggage. I think most people recognize that his tenure as governor was knee-capped by the overwhelmingly Democratic Legislature in Annapolis.
This'll be fun! Good to know you're around, Rich. I'll come back.
Late to the thread but see the spelling, grammar, color, etc police are here in force. LOL
Will be glad to see this Dem go. Right on with choosing an insurance plan. You get what you pay for.
Medicare for a Congressperson? Get real. Medicare is for us common folks.
signed:
Reader 13
Thank God Almighty! This loudmouth has been fouling the airwaves for aeons with her mouthy whining. She reminds me of the kind of woman lives next door and who speaks at the top of her lungs aggravating the whole neighborhood. Not being in the spotlight will just kill her. Good Riddance.
I am encouraged that there are clear-thinking dems who refuse to drink the cool aid.
If you truly have a source, congrats on being the first to break the story.
I live on Maryland"s eastern shore, and Babs hasn't earned an ounce of respect here. She's a party-line voter.
Millions of beach-goers from Baltimore have to travel Rt. 404, which is a proven death trap.Babs shows up every once in a while to deliver a million here and a million there to improve the road. Pittances, considering the economic importance of coastal tourism. You think we like western shore folks clogging our roads and making us wait at 5-minute red lights so they can "Reach the Beach?" Good riddance to Sen Mikulski.
Robert Bidinotto,
Harris couldn't even ride McCain's coattails in 2008. He was such a horrible candidate that he only won 3 of the 12 counties that John McCain carried . In the first district, E.J. Pipkin is by far the best Republican option.
Dr. Wargotz, an independent-minded conservative republican will be in even better position to take the seat if what you posted is true!
http://www.wargotzforussenate.orf
It's pretty obvious that your "impeccable source" nor you has any idea about the FEHB, the health care plan that all federal employees, including ALL members and employees of the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the judicial branch of the federal government are allowed to participate in. The FEHB is NOT a Cadillac plan, but it does offer a lot of choices for those who participate in the FEHB.
By the way, which insurance company do you think claims are filed with?
Since your "impeccable source" is quoting something that Senator Mikulski would not have stated, the rest of your post is open to extremely dubious veracity.
Or are you (or your "impeccable source") letting your political hopes and wishes color anything and everything that you hear?
Isn't it Senator Schumer's sock puppet that's running for office this year? Not the Senator himself?
Nice website. Don't worry about the spelling. We need the information more than correct grammar. Love the l'orange background too.
I would sing "Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow", but the People's Republic of Maryland will probably elect another Dim in her place as well as her Oompah-Loompah counterpart in the House,Chris Van Hollen and Stenne Hoyer too. As a Conservative, living in Maryland is like being consigned to purgatory.....or worse.
Jeez, everyone's a copy editor!
A final eastern shore thought....Erlich's just another gasbag.
check out the correct website!
Eric Wargotz, MD for US Senate, to fill "the peoples senate seat" of maryland! He get's it!
http://www.wargotzforussenate.org
I heard a rumor that there is supposedly a picture of Babs Mikulski with her mouth closed. Anyone seen it?
I'm from Baltimore. Mikulski's seat is as safe as money in a vault. Maryland is a blue blue state. I have a strong feeling that if Mikulski is thinking about retiring for health reasons, Reid and many powerful forces behind the scene will do everything possible to make sure babs doesn't resign. Barbara likes power to much, I still don't see her resigning.
I hope this is true. Babs needs to go. I thought it would be feet first, but this is just as good if true.
I am a 'Shoreman, won't miss Babs a bit. She has been using the injury line to avoid her constituents for months. As for Kratovil taking her place - it might be wise, he won't be a congressmen come November.......and I am pretty sure he won't do any more town halls in Rock Hall either...........
Nice site, was sent by Hot Air.
Congrats on your instalanch. I just linked you...but, don't hold your breath for another:-)
The complaints about her health insurance - hilarious.
Great post! Don't you love being the bearer of good news?
Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook
Maryland is beyond hope and will undoubedly replace one pathetic fraud with another pathetic fraud. By the way, Mikulski is not a Mrs.
For very good reasons, she has never been married. I am quite sure her fellow democrats would tell you that however short and wide her stature, she nonetheless possesses a "towering" intellect, wink, wink.
I did miss her at Teddy's Funeral. She and http://www.FATBOY.cc were close. Both devout CATHOLICS.
That great English philosopher,the late Douglas Adams, once envisioned a place where, every year, the governing class was selected at random through a lottery. The logic was that, by definition, anyone who WANTED that much power was the last person who should be trusted with it.....
Amedori has scared her out of the race. Amedori is the conseravative with a voting record to support her philosophical beliefs.
Support Amedori in the primary GOP!
Amedori? never heard of her. More spam I guess. I'd rather support Vaughn
Life without "Babs the Babe?" There is a God. Perhaps Gov. Ehrlih will run, instilling some moderate/conservative DNA in MD politics. Maybe my family and I won't move to VA from the Peoples Republic of Maryland after all....
I am sorry that Mikulski is in pain from her accident, but honestly, she needs to go.
I am excited about Jim Rutledge's campaign. I hope everyone will check out his website at www.rutledgeforussenate.com
Senator Lurch has a statement - www.LIVESHOT.cc
My contact tells me that she told an aide that she should have inserted in the ObamaCare bill an amendment to improve Congressional health insurance!
Well she would have to do something to change the entire Fed Employees Health Benefit Plan since the congress critters get theirs from the same source (FEHBP) as federal employees!
Fredster said...
My contact tells me that she told an aide that she should have inserted in the ObamaCare bill an amendment to improve Congressional health insurance!
Well she would have to do something to change the entire Fed Employees Health Benefit Plan since the congress critters get theirs from the same source (FEHBP) as federal employees!
February 15, 2010 11:17 PM
Yes, they do...and if you read BOTH the senate and house versions of the bills, they specifically exempt Congress, Federal, Executive and Judicial branch employees from ALL of the provisions of the health care seizure plans.
That is why I have been such a staunch opponent of the Obama Administration's plan to seize control of the health care industry. If it's good 'nough for me...then dammit it should be good enough for all Federal employees and Congress as well.
Thanks for coming by. I hope you'll come back again.
Rich
Just checked out Dr Eric Wargotz based on the post above: a very cool candidate! I've got my dough on him!
Is it me or do Dr Eric Wargotz supporters resemble Ron Paul voters? In other words, they anonymously comment on every blog and throw his name out there regardless of the topic.
The Examiner is disputing your blog post by name, citing Washington Post, RealClearPolitics and National Review.
http://www.examiner.com/x-3108-Baltimore-Republican-Examiner~y2010m2d15-Rumors-that-Barbara-Mikulski-will-retire-are-not-true
Yes they are...but I stand by my story...I've had a couple dozen emails and not a few phone calls from reporters demanding to know who my souce is. I've posted another article about it.
I like the orange background... it's really more of a pumpkin... easy on the eyes and distinctive. It's your blog so do what you want to do. You're very gracious about the corrections. I can read my own writing 50x's and not see a mistake until it's uploaded... very frustrating. Am bookmarking your site.
Thank you BlueRidgeMtn, I appreciate it.
My wife jumped all over me for not proof reading more. When I get a something that's hot...like this (and the follow up article) I WANNA GET 'EM UP! So I don't pay as close attention as I should.
As for making grammatical/stylistic corrections, I just want it right. I'm taking a lot of heat right now because this is so far "unconfirmed" but my source tells me the Ms. Mikulski is pissed that the story got out. She wanted to raise more money (like Evan Bayh did) so she can retire much more comfortably.
Ehrlich? Hike your property taxes, car taxes, flush taxes, income taxes, business taxes and explode the amount of government spending the year before you run for re-election? That Ehrlich?
He may be sucking up to the idea of tea parties, but we know his game. Smile, talk a good game, glad hand and deflect your weaknesses as best you can.
He lost because he lost true conservatives in this state by what he actually did as governor - tax and spend, pro-abortion and anti-gun rights, pro-CASA funding. He never once supported concealed carry laws - even as a policy fight he would lose to the libs.
There IS hope for Maryland - LATER, Babs!
There IS hope for Maryland - Babs has GOT to GO!
I hope you still have lots of confidence in your source. Several blogs, etc, panning your story now, as well as some of the details - i.e., she hasn't been in a wheelchair for some time.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/02/mikulski_another_dem_retiremen.html
http://www.examiner.com/x-3108-Baltimore-Republican-Examiner~y2010m2d15-Rumors-that-Barbara-Mikulski-will-retire-are-not-true
I do indeed. But only time will tell. I'm either right, or wrong.
If I'm right, then I'm brilliant, if I'm wrong, I'm an idiot....take your pick.
It doesn't take an idiot to believe one...that's the worst you can be...a trusting soul, not a bad thing.
asinera
"She has told her physician that she does not desire to seek reelection"
Now THIS is interesting... I think we found the source of these rumors.... her physician.
Which, coincidentally, if turns out to be true, would be gross violation of HIPAA regulations regarding patient privacy.
If I were someone on Senator Mikulski's staff trying to figure out the source of these false rumors, I'd be looking very carefully at her physician.
Let's look at some the commentary allegedly supporting this rumor.
Every time someone mentions why this rumor about her retirement is true, it has to do specifically with the Senator's health, and contains claims/information all of which very easily could have been provided by her physician.
For example:
1. "seriously fractured her right ankle" - something her physician would know;
2. "had to have open reduction surgery" - something her physician would know;
3. "included the insertion of pins" - something her physician would know;
4. "the use of special surgical boots, during recovery" - something her physician would know;
5. "Her recovery has been exceptionally slow" - something her physician would know;
6. "she is evidently still in a great deal of pain" - something her physician would know;
7. "she has told her physician that she does not desire to seek reelection" - HELLO!?!? Could you BE MORE OBVIOUS?
8. "she has been forced to use a wheelchair, a walker or a cane in order to get around." - something her physician would know;
9. "One of her complaints is that the health insurance that is provided for Congress is "poor" with high deductibles and "limitations" on coverage" - something her physician would know;
10. "she told an aide that she should have inserted in the ObamaCare bill an amendment to improve Congressional health insurance" - something her physician would know.
I think you might have been jabed at by the Sun:
http://fwix.com/baltimore/share/a798636884/Mikulski_running_unannounced_campaign_for_re-election
I don't what all of above is SMOKING but no no matter what you wish for as far as Sen. Barb is concerned is total BS. No one has a chance to beat her and take that to the Bank.
This is made up fabrication online.....I think it is a way to try to get people to join forces to throw a party to demand her retirement. People,people, Barb is a powerhouse and you better have a better excuse than a fracture. Remember there is dynamite in small packages. Kabammmmmmm! Wake up and think like credible journalists- consider the source-who, what, someone, somewhere-a joke that you are all wishing heavily. Ain't going to happen.
Rumor is that Eric Warthotz's campaign for Senate fabricated this present rumor as a fundraising ploy. BTW, Nothing in this blog posting mentions March 4th...
His campaign must've orchestrated it because now they're sending it around as a fundraising pitch with a website about Sen. Mikulski's retirement.
I am in no way connected to Eric Warthotz. I'd never even heard of him before one of his supporters had posted a link to his site. I still haven't followed it yet.
I'd just love to know where the "March 4" deadline for Mikulski's retirement came from all of a sudden?
The date wasn't specified in your posting and I'm not sure who made the suspiciously ultra conservative Queen Anne County Commissioner Warhotz the decider of when Senator Barb should retire - but he's sure publicizing it everywhere online...
GREAT NEWS FOR MARYLAND!!!
(I was "worried" for a minute that the Queen Anne County Commish was gonna replace Senator Barb.
ATTENTION Dr. Warhotz:
Maybe you oughta send this out in your suspicious "March 4th" mailing:
"She's...stashed away more than $2 million in campaign cash. That isn't a huge pile of money, but it's big enough for now--with no significant opponent in sight and no apparent prospect that one will materialize."
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/2010/02/mikulski_to_formally_announce.html
good article...i like it and the comments are funny too.
Mikulski WILL retire because as soon as the Montgomery County residents see the grass & weeds growing out of control this summer, & the County Gov. NOT responding to complaints because...um..of being understaffed due to all of the...um..furloughs of the workers...oh, that's right! Management doesn't have to answer the phones! They aren't represented by UNIONS! What was that??Babs was elected by campaign funds from UNION support! Let us see where that UNION support come from THIS time HON. The AFL-CIO UNION dues coming from THIS neck of the woods might get a little "muddled" from what I hear... Maybe Babs doesn't know that yet?
Here's the one thing you have all missed. Yes, the old Socialist herself will indeed retire...HOWEVER, NOT until after re-election. Then she makes an excuse to step down..yes, due to health, and THEN, O'Malley will take her place. OK, so the Governor appoints her replacement, but can't appoint himself...THEREFORE, O'Malley steps asside and Brown appoints O'Malley to the Senate seat. How convenient...It's just what little Marty wanted all along.
GO JIM RUTLEDGE!!!
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