Baucus to retire rather than seek re-election in 2014, strategists say

[karynnj]

11. My first thought as well

Could it really be that he believes the bill would not help? That and his negative comments on the ACA - that he as mush as anyone - designed really suggest that something is going on with him. It would seem that, if he wanted to retire, he could do it on a high note. If there is anything that will be his legacy it is the ACA. He was a key player in crafting something that could get all 60 votes needed. He could work on making sure he does as much as possible to help - not hurt it - and you would thing all his votes could be based only on the good of the whole country.

I have defended him as someone who when it came down to it was able to do some good things. One example, is that in fall 2010 the jobs bill that was passed when 2 Republicans (both retiring) signed on. Baucus' role? He and John Kerry wrote the amendment that closed some foreign tax dodges - and that provided the revenue to balance the costs of the various measures that stimulated or produced jobs. Without the bill being revenue neutral, it would have failed. In addition, as conservative as he has been, he has fought against cuts to social security - including trying to pass an amendment that would have required 60 votes to change anything on social security to a bill that would have given an "up or down" vote to any recommendations of the Simpson/Bowles task force. (The bill failed and S/B never got any recommendations voted out by the committee. )

I wonder if Schweitzer will run. It may be he is better positioned as Governor. (Is he term limited?) At any rate, he. like Tester, would likely quickly lose their status as a DU favorite if he ran and won. If not, this makes it harder for us to keep the Senate. Baucus - independent of any personal characteristics - offers Montana undue power as the chair of the Finance committee.