Ritter not seeking re-election

[Marlin]

Just announced on the radio.. I'll see if I can find confirmation...

[newracer]

9 news has it as breaking news but no other info.

[esaabye]

Great news

[Marlin]

Yeah,, that's what KOA has also..

[DD977GM2]

Good, screw that motherf*cker[Rant1]

[Zundfolge]

Can't....stop....dancing!!!

[Marlin]

That's what I'm worried about most..

Should've just resigned..

[Troublco]

Wow! It's so bad that he's not even going to attempt another opportunity to screw us more? Or they found someone who would be better at screwing us? As amazingly pleased as I am at the news, I wonder what's waiting in the wings.....

[Irving]

Wow! It's so bad that he's not even going to attempt another opportunity to screw us more? Or they found someone who would be better at screwing us? As amazingly pleased as I am at the news, I wonder what's waiting in the wings.....

I just called three local news stations and told them you were going to run. Sorry for the short notice, but get ready to answer your phone and get a hair cut first thing tomorrow morning.

[sniper7]

great news! i hope i can count on your votes! if that fucking retard could do it i gaurantee i can

[alan0269]

Woo-hoo!!!
[Beer]

[pickenup]

Should have never BEEN elected. [Mad]

[Irving]

A friend and I are supposed to be changing up the website we started to something that would directly cover this, but he hasn't started working on it yet.

[car-15]

DENVER - Gov. Bill Ritter (D), who was in for a tough reelection fight this year, canceled a scheduled fundraiser Tuesday evening and has decided not to seek reelection; that according to Democratic sources familiar with the governor's plans.

Former Congressman Scott McInnis (R) is the likely GOP nominee and will have a far clearer shot at becoming governor in an open seat race.

However, Democrats are far from ready to concede the race just yet. Former House Speaker Andrew Romanoff has been a thorn in the national Democrats side with his primary challenge to appointed Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). Several Democrats believe Romanoff will now take a serious look at the governor's race instead of continuing his Senate battle.
Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper (D) is another name mentioned to be taking a look at the statewide run now that Ritter has announced his decision to forgo the race.
Governor Ritter was elected in 2006 in a pivotal swing-voting state. He has been widely considered a rising star in the Democratic Party, but it has also been a tough year politically, one in which Colorado's dire budget problems have led to many unpopular funding cuts.
Two Democrats with knowledge of Ritter's decision disclosed it on the condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss the governor's political plans.
Although Ritter himself is not speaking to reporters, he has called a press conference for 11am Wenesday in Denver. Sources report that he'll make the announcement offficial at that time.

[Elhuero]

just like a democrat to quit when the probability of success greatly in their favor.

[roberth]

Hooray, I'm very happy with this news. [Beer]

[Troublco]

I just called three local news stations and told them you were going to run. Sorry for the short notice, but get ready to answer your phone and get a hair cut first thing tomorrow morning.

Good thing I'm leaving town in the morning. And I'm not going to tell you where I'm going. Batteriesnare, this is where you should be the soul of discretion....

[Ed_S]

Woo hoo.

Of course in the meantime he's going to f'up everyones kids education with his cuts:(

[Mtn.man]

first intelligent thing he has done since taking office.

[MichiganMilitia]

first intelligent thing he has done since taking office.
[ROFL1]

[Bailey Guns]

More good news...

Chris Dodd D-CT is also "retiring" from the senate. So is Byron Dorgan D-ND.

Dodd's departure from the senate was expected since he's not a strong contender and has been wrapped up in controversy for the last few years. He also has prostrate cancer.

But Dorgan is a different story and is a real blow to democrats. ND is a red state and his senate seat is all but gauranteed to go to a republican according to what I'm reading.

It's looking more and more likely that democrats will still hold a majority in the senate after the 2010 elections but it'll be most likely in the range of 53 to 55 seats...not enough for a super-majority.

[Batteriesnare]

Wow, thats the best decision he's made in office!

[newracer]

Just received this.


As you may know by now, I have decided not to run for re-election in 2010.

I am so proud of all you have done to support my campaign. Your incredible support of this effort put us in a strong position to win re-election. And I'm confident that your sustained commitment to our forward-thinking vision for the state will ensure we elect a governor who continues leading Colorado forward this November.

So before I explain my deeply personal decision not to run for re-election, let me just say: thank you.

Almost five years ago, in the spring of 2005, I began running for governor of Colorado.

My campaign theme -- the Colorado Promise -- was a deeply held belief that we as a state were not living up to our full potential.

So we laid out a vision to create a New Energy Economy, to build up other Industries of the Future like aerospace and biosciences, to reform our education and healthcare systems, and to modernize our transportation system.

Today, even in the face of the worst recession since the Great Depression, that vision is becoming a reality. We are leading Colorado forward. People all across Colorado are fulfilling the Colorado Promise, and Colorado is on the road to recovery.

It is my privilege and my honor to serve as governor of the greatest state in America.

Over the past years, but particularly over this last year, I have attempted to balance many roles in my life. I have been the governor, I have been a candidate for re-election, and I have also been a husband and a father.

I am proud of my work as governor. I am proud of the direction of the state.

I am proud of my campaign, of the staff we have built, and of our re-election efforts.

It is my family who has sacrificed the most -- my wife, Jeannie, and my four kids. I have not found the proper balance where my family is concerned, and I have not made them the priority they should be.

Ending one of my roles -- as a candidate for re-election in 2010 -- will allow me to concentrate on the things that are most important: taking care of my family, and taking care of Colorado.

While this decision allows me to make my family a priority, it also allows me to focus on keeping the state budget balanced and keeping Colorado on the road to recovery.

The Colorado economy is getting better, but we still have budget-cutting to do on the '09-'10 and '10-'11 budgets, and we'll be submitting the '11-'12 budget in November.

By not running for re-election, I'll be able to make the tough and unpopular decisions that simply need to get made -- free and clear of the sometimes bitter partisan politics of an election year.

We're positioning Colorado for a strong recovery with our New Energy Economy, our job-creation strategies and our education reforms.

The rest of the country is looking to Colorado on everything from the economy to energy to education.

We're in a great position, and we're on the right path. I look forward to spending the next 12 months keeping our budget balanced and our economy growing.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for giving me the honor and the privilege to serve as your governor -- and for all that you have done to help lead Colorado forward.

Sincerely,

Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor

What I get from the bolded text is he will continue to screw Colorado and not have to worry about getting reelected.

[Marlin]

Yep.....

[theGinsue]

Yeah, he's not only looking to give us the deepest screwing we as a state have ever received, but he's looking to break it off and leave it in.

It's great to hear that he won't seek re-election, but I am so afraid of what he plans before he leaves office.

[MuzzleFlash]

I think there's a scandal a-breaking. No way Ritter would walk away otherwise. I don't buy that spend more time with the family crap.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=34836

[Irving]

Politicians are angels. I don't buy it.