Sen. John Warner stands with wife Jeanne Vander Myde, at his University of Virginia announcement that he will not seek re-election. (AP Photo/Andrew Shurtleff)
by Frank James
Sen. John Warner (R-Va), made it official today, announcing he will retire from the Senate at the end of his current term in 2008.
The announcement by the 80-year old Warner throws his Senate seat in play since the state has trended more blue in recent years as the northern part of the state has grown increasingly Democratic.
That, of course, gives Senate Democrats a real shot at increasing their majority if they are able to pick up Warner's seat, which certainly seems doable now that he won't be defending it, as well as a few other Republican seats that are either vulnerable or are being vacated through other retirements.
Warner indicated he had gone back and forth, Hamlet-like, in recent months over whether to end his nearly 30 years in the Senate.
From listening to the man who always looked like a senator from Hollywood central casting, it sounded like it finally came down to his recognition that a senator’s job requires a lot of physical exertion. He wasn’t sure he’d be up to it over the long haul of the next six years.
Warner’s announcement on the grounds of the University of Virginia where he attended law school, wasn’t a surprise, really. Recently, he seemed to be openly questioning whether he could stand up to another six years of senatorial wear and tear.
Having recently returned from a trip to Iraq, he had talked recently about the energy level it takes to jump in and out of helicopters and cargo planes during such trips. He mentioned that again today. He sounded like a man who wasn’t certain he wanted to do much more of that.
Warner said:
So I say that my work and service to Virginia as a senator -- and I repeat: my work and service to Virginia as a senator -- will conclude upon the 6th of January, 2009, when I finish, as the Constitution of the United States -- on the first Tuesday of a new Congress, my career of then 30 years in the United States Senate.
And I thank again all those who have made it possible for this humble individual to have achieved a footnote in Virginia history that I will then be, as I am now, the second-longest-serving United States senator in the history of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Looking to the future, some of the names being mentioned as possible successors to Warner are former Virginia governors who once appeared to have presidential aspirations and may still harbor them: Mark Warner (no relation), a Democrat and Jim Gilmore, a Republican.
There's also Rep. Tom Davis, a senior House Republican who represents a Northern Virginia district who has high name recognition in the part of Virginia where Democrats are growing in strength.
And the possibility can’t be ruled out that another former Virginia governor, George Allen, could try to regain his spot in the Senate, having lost it to Democrat Sen. Jim Webb following the infamous "macaca" incident. He lost in a close race and is still very popular in many parts of the state.
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Comments
Well here we go again...they are all slowly but surely finding the door and exiting the White House...
Warner finally realized that he needs to be able to sleep at night so he is retiring just so he can start to slowly learn how to close his eyes, relax and think nice thoughts.
Too many years of the Iraq war on your brain Warner?!?!? So you can only imagine what our troops are going thru over there in Iraq and you are not even fighting in the war.
That's it...several down, several more to go!!
Posted by: Bella | August 31, 2007 3:21 PM
Bella,
Civics lesson here. The White House is where the President lives and where his administration is based. Senators, such as Sen. Warner, conduct their business mainly within the Capitol building, separate from the White House. Sen. Warner is a Republican, but is not part of the Bush administration. Therefore, he is not "exiting the White House," but rather leaving the Capitol.
Also, I believe I predicted on an earlier thread that Sen. Warner would not be treated as an elder statesman, but rather as a "Repuke neocon piece of filth." Thanks for coming through on that one.
Posted by: JB | August 31, 2007 3:57 PM
Senator Warner is an honorable man.
A combat veteran who enlisted at the age of 17 who fought in WWII and Korea. A Navy Secretary and distinguished senior U.S. Senator. A man who understands what elder stateman means.
I don't agree with some of his politics but so what. I'm glad we're a republic/democracy and not a dictatorship.
Kick back, put your feet up, and enjoy your retirement senator, this Democrat salutes you.
Posted by: Doug Zook | August 31, 2007 4:00 PM
I'm in complete agreement with Doug Zook's post.
Warner is honorable, patriotic, and a great American. He has served his country his entire life. Now it's time to enjoy a nice retirement.
Posted by: Doug R. | August 31, 2007 4:14 PM
JB- thanks for the Civics lesson that I am already aware of believe it or not. I should have thought my comment thru a little more technically than I did.
Yes, he is a Veteran and yes he served his country and worked 30 years in the Senate, doesn't mean I have to necessarily like his politics or anything about him. Retirement is a lovely word.
Posted by: Bella | August 31, 2007 4:29 PM
I agree with DZ. It is a shame that when Warner spoke against the illegal occupation of Iraq, we was trashed by members of his own party. I guessing that's got a lot to do with it.
Posted by: snitramc | August 31, 2007 4:36 PM
Sad to see him go. The one that needs to go, Larry Craig, hasn't left yet!
http://OsiSpeaks.com or http://OsiSpeaks.org
Posted by: KYJurisDoctor | August 31, 2007 4:53 PM
Of all the Republicans to quit why did it have to be him?
I hope he has a great retirement, he's earned it.
Posted by: nisleib | August 31, 2007 5:02 PM
Not enough republicans like him in the senate.
Other republicans should look up to him. Then they can look at themselves, & understand why they will continue loosing out to Democrats.
Posted by: RomanB | August 31, 2007 5:39 PM
Bella's comment about Sen. Warner and the White House is so typical of those liberal democrats. They just shoot from the hip and operate by their emotions rather than by their rational thoughts. It almost seems that in order to be a liberal, you have to abandon logical and intelligent thought processes.
Senator Warner deserves a big "THANK YOU" from all US citizens for having served his country.
Posted by: Hate those emotional liberals | August 31, 2007 5:54 PM
Bella, you should be ashamed of yourself.
You're one of the prime examples of why moderates like me can't stand most liberals.
If you don't agree with his views, that's fine. Writing idiotic things like "you're not even fighting the war" in regards to an 80 year old COMBAT VETERAN is about as pathetic as it gets.
Good luck, Sen. Warner, this American salutes you.
Posted by: thinker | August 31, 2007 6:01 PM
before everyone gets all misty eyed and conciliatory with the republican party, I would invite you to review Warners voting record. He, just like every other republican has committed acts of grievous high treason against the people of the United States and what is tantamount to War Crimes against the people of the world. He just looks more senatorial while he's committing these crimes.
Posted by: HB | August 31, 2007 6:08 PM
Know when to "fold 'em". Pension and medical benefits still intact.
Posted by: lochnessmonster | August 31, 2007 9:04 PM
Snitramc, please show where Warner was trashed by his own party for suggesting 5,000 troops be cut come Christmas.
Bella, it's weirdos like you that will enable the GOP to win in 08.
Doug and the other Lefties who saluted Warner, good for you. I did not always agree with him, but he served honorably and with distinction.
And, Frank James, love your negative to Republicans headline. How much you wanna bet the GOP win the Senate in 2008?
Posted by: John D | August 31, 2007 10:32 PM
I am about as leftie as you can get, but I've voted for John Warner, both in the general election and in the primary.
In Virginia, Dems can vote in any primary since there's no party affiliation.
I remember when Warner stood up to Ollie North; and if it hadn't been for him, North would have been in the Senate. Granted, six years later, Warner supported Allen, who was just as bad, but guess Warner didn't realize it or perhaps he became more conservative with time.
Maybe that primary challenge by the batwings in between had something-something to do with it.
Be that as it may, I found it heartwarming that one of the things he mentioned in his speech was how he and Jim Webb corroborated to pick judges to recommend to Bush.
Of course, Bush probably won't pick anyone from the list and just leave half the bench vacant so his administration doesn't suddenly start losing cases before he leaves office.
Posted by: Mimi Schaeffer | September 1, 2007 3:21 AM
Senator Warner is 80 it's time for this RINO to go. If Doug Zook likes him it must be because he married Elizabeth Taylor. Dems all love Hollyweird. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | September 1, 2007 10:07 AM
Hopefully, all the rinos will soon be gone from the Republican Party. The rinos have made the party able to disguise it's real heart. The farther to the right the party goes, the more vulnerable it will be. Bruce, John D. Jerry White and Paulo will be isolated in their wing nut glory.
Posted by: c. perry | September 1, 2007 10:35 AM
So John "macaca" Allen wants to run for Warner's seat?
Oh, dear God, please let him run! It'll be so much fun watching this racist pig try to avoid his past!
Posted by: BC | September 1, 2007 3:43 PM
[quote]
Dems all love Hollyweird. Jerry White, Springfield, IL
Posted by: Jerry White | September 1, 2007 10:07 AM
[/quote]
Which explains why Republicans are going ga-ga over Fred ("Law and Order") Thompson's campaign for the White House, right Jerry?
Posted by: BC | September 1, 2007 3:46 PM
"Dems all love Hollyweird. Jerry White, Springfield, IL"
Actually the GOP has more in common with Hollywood than the Dems: philandering, fornication, gay sex, numerous marriages and opposition to interracial couples. So, I do not know what you are talking about.
Posted by: George Chell | September 3, 2007 12:25 PM