48th GOP Congresscritter abandons ship

[ehrnst]

Rep. Garrett announces he is an alcoholic and will not seek reelection

RICHMOND — Rep. Thomas Garrett (R-Va.) announced Monday that he is struggling with alcoholism and will abandon his run for a second term in Congress so he can focus on recovery and his family.

Garrett, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, is the 48th Republican to retire or announce they will not seek reelection to the House this year, according to a list maintained by the House Press Gallery.

Many are leaving in anticipation of a strong Democratic performance in congressional races this fall and out of frustration with partisan politics in Washington.

Garrett, 46, was facing a robust challenge from his Democratic opponent, journalist and author Leslie Cockburn, who had raised more money and had more cash on hand than he had. In recent days, unnamed former staffers had accused him and his wife of mistreating staff who worked in his congressional office.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/rep-garrett-announces-he-is-an-alcoholic-and-will-not-seek-re-election/2018/05/28/40e8839a-62b2-11e8-99d2-0d678ec08c2f_story.html

[OnDoutside]

1. He'd rather admit being an alcoholic than disagreeing with Trump.

Such is the world we now live in.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Admitting to being an alcoholic, falsely, would kind of be overboard...give him credit...we do

not need to be tribal also.

[OnDoutside]

3. You missed the point. If Trump was riding on a high, would he have

quit ?

[Fred Sanders]

5. I get the point...I am not him. Alcholicism is a serious disease. We do not need to be tribal.

[tanyev]

4. I did not realize Leslie Cockburn was running until I saw this story.

Good for her. I remember reading her book Out of Control about the Reagan administration and the Contras in Nicaragua. It made such an impression on me that many years later when I was watching Colbert and he asked actress Olivia Wilde about her parents, I remembered the name and the book right away.

[underpants]

6. What turnaround - on Thursday the last I heard he was back in

I've been out of the loop all weekend playing golf.

Well good luck to him on his recovery.

[not fooled]

7. As an aside

it's a nice change to hear "golf" mentioned without negative connotations. Hope you enjoyed your time on the links.

[haele]

8. Isn't he the congresscritter who treated his staff like private servants?

Alcoholism is not an excuse for abusing taxpayer-provided resources and being an asshole. Maybe an explanation for the severity of the abuse and assholery, but not an excuse.

Haele