The announcement of Byron Dorgan’s retirement brought back one of the most searing memories from my childhood – and a lesson that I learn over and over again – when you are about to get your ass kicked, and kicked hard, you're better off going home.
I grew up in the Chicago area. My neighborhood was populated by assorted Irish hooligans. I was plenty tough, having spent my youth playing hockey. But one lesson remains indelibly seared into my brain: If you're facing a sure beating, hang it up and live to fight another day.
So it is with Byron Dorgan. He's not retiring because of anything that happened to him during the health care debate. Quite the contrary, actually. He's retiring because he was going to spend a lot of time and money and face a world of hurt in a likely futile attempt to save his seat.
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According to The New York Times:
Mr. Dorgan, who is completing his third term, has been regarded for months as one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents. Gov. John Hoeven, a popular Republican, has been weighing a run for Senate, and recent polls indicate he would easily defeat Mr. Dorgan, who nonetheless remains well-regarded by voters.
...
Mr. Dorgan has grown increasingly pessimistic about his prospects for re-election in recent weeks as he traveled around the state and met with constituents and he did not hide his sentiment that the Congress and the Obama administration erred in putting too much emphasis on the health care overhaul and not enough on job-creating economic programs.
And Chris Cillizza at The Washington Post added:
But Dorgan was facing a potentially serious race in November against his state's popular Republican governor, John Hoeven. Senate strategists indicated that Hoeven was genuinely undecided about the race but that an open Senate seat in the Republican-leaning state -- North Dakota has not gone for a Democrat for president since 1964 -- now makes it very likely that he will run.
The Hill reported:
Dorgan’s exit comes as Republicans have toyed with pursuing a run against him. Gov. John Hoeven (R) has polled wide leads in some surveys of the race, but had yet to publicly indicate his interest. And, barring Hoeven’s candidacy, Dorgan was a good bet for reelection.
And on and on...
I like Byron Dorgan and I think it's too bad that he has decided to retire. But if we take the information that is available at this point for the reasons for his retirement, it seems clear that he opted to quit while he was ahead. Same goes for Chris Dodd. This is what long-time politicians do when it looks like there's a very good chance they will lose.
And my guess is that the "searing memory" Dorgan had burned into his mind was that of his friend and mentor, Tom Daschle, who lost his seat in another bad year for Senate Democrats.
In no story that I have read has it been implied or insinuated that Dorgan retired because the administration "didn't have his back" on drug re-importation.
It's agood fable, but that's all it is.