(sorry for the server problems; we’re getting hit hard with traffic)
It’s official folks, Congressman Ramstad will not be seeking re-election. He announced as much just moments ago at his 3PM press conference in Minnetonka. I’m told we’ll have video sometime later today, but for now here’s the story from the Strib:
U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad, R-Minn., announced this afternoon that he will not seek a 10th term.
Ramstad, 61, was first elected in 1990 and represents the 3rd Congressional District, which includes the western suburbs of Minneapolis.
“Now it’s my time to do something else,” he said during a Monday afternoon news conference.
After years of commuting from Minnesota to Washington, Ramstad acknowledged, “I’m burned out. I’m tired. I still have the passion for policymaking, I still have the passion for politics. But I want to be home.”
The rest of the article is a nice retrospective on Congressman Ramstad’s career; worth the read.
Well, farewell Congressman Ramstad; you’ve been my representative for nearly all my life. I remember meeting you at the Capitol when my 7th grade class visited DC; I still have the group picture. I remember sitting beside you as you waited to give a speech at the 1st anniversary of 9/11 and resenting that a Republican represented my district. And I remember later on looking down at my first real election ballot and being happy to be able to vote for a Republican I respected. You grew with your district and while I disagree vehemently with many of the stances you took, I must acknowledge that for the last 18 years you’ve represented us well. Good luck Congressman.
Maybe this is a little self-indulgent, but it’s my blog and I’m feeling nostalgic; so here’s that 7th grade picture (click to see it full-size):
We’ve been busy today, take a look:
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BREAKING: CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD TO RETIRE #5 | Possible DFL Candidates
BREAKING: CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD TO RETIRE #4 | Strib Confirms
BREAKING: CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD TO RETIRE #3 | Press Conference @ 3PM
BREAKING: CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD TO RETIRE #2 | Analysis
BREAKING: CONGRESSMAN JIM RAMSTAD TO RETIRE
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If the Republicans are smart, they’ll endorse a conservative woman. State Rep. Joyce Peppin fits the bill perfectly. Her hard work in beating an incumbent Republican for endorsement and her sizable re-election percentage in 2006 show she knows what voters in the 3rd CD look for in their public servants.
The first thing my spouse said when he heard the news was “Oh, so the Republicans want to find a home for Michele Bachmann when her CD goes away?” Ashley’s comments above lend credence to that line of thought.
Of course, Ramstad’s also joining the growing list of Republicans nationwide that are running for the exits in the wake of Bush and the neocons’ showing America what Republican greed-is-good ethics look like when taken to their logical conclusions. (Some, like Lincoln Chafee, are leaving the party entirely.)
I agree Phoenix,
Jim Ramstand is old school rightie, a respectable man. He’s part of a rather large list of retiring Republicans.
He is someone who didn’t always act like some who act like Patrick McHenry. I think he might just be disgusted with his party, but that’s just a hunch.
But the writing on the wall is obvious, and no rightie can’t be thinking about that when they try to fall asleep at night.
Maybe Jim will get a good night’s sleep soon, comforted in the fact that he won’t be responsible for the poor job performance of the right anymore.
Ramsted is a dieing breed, a principled conservative. There aren’t many of them left anymore.
Somewhat off-thread, but when I see principled people like Ramstad leaving the Repub slime machine, it makes me wonder how Randy Kelly and Norm Coleman feel about their decision to jump on the titanic just before it ran into the iceberg.
Down with the Ship! Good riddance to them both!