Dick Durbin to retire, 2014?

[Vosem]

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Who-Can-Replace-Dick-Durbin-160780605.html

A bit of a shame -- I've always rather liked Durbin. If this happens, Chuck Schumer is totally set to succeed Harry Reid someday, bar something extraordinary. Reading the article, it makes some interesting points (in spite of my avatar, I haven't actually been to O'Hare in a few years, never mind the rest of IL):

Dan Hynes seems set to get the D nomination if Durbin retires. They seem rather bullish about Schock, Kinzinger, or Dillard being a serious Republican challenger. It would be hella fun to see Illinois have two R Senators, but it won't happen if Romney is elected

[Mr. Morden]

If this happens, Chuck Schumer is totally set to succeed Harry Reid someday, bar something extraordinary.

Isn't the conventional wisdom that this was already set to happen....that Schumer had outmaneuvered Durbin as Reid's inevitable successor within the caucus, and this is why Schumer was given an expanded leadership portfolio after the 2010 elections?

I assume that that's *why* Durbin might retire.  If he realizes that he's never going to be Democratic leader in the Senate, then why stick around?

[OC]

His goal was to get Obama elected. Once 2008 happened, he accomplished what he set out to do and that and not being Senate Democratic leader when the 2016 elections arrise which Dems should have big gains prompted him to retire. Sheila Simon and a Dan Hynes primary which it looks like it very well might would do the state good.  Simon isn't gonna be governor Madigan is so if she wants to stay in politics she should run for the Senate and I would vote for her over Dan Hynes.

[CathKhan]

Shall we run muon to fill his place?

[JulioMadrid]

Shall we run muon to fill his place?

The only republican I'd support.

[Jayhawker]

Shall we run muon to fill his place?

Now there's someone I can get behind!

Schock or Kinzinger won't run, I'd bet. They'll wait.

[hopper]

Shall we run muon to fill his place?

Who is muon?

I think Schock will run although I prefer Bob Dold since he is a little more moderate than Schock is. Schock is a Moderate Conservative whereas Dold is an actual Moderate Republican.

[MilesC56]

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Who-Can-Replace-Dick-Durbin-160780605.html

A bit of a shame -- I've always rather liked Durbin. If this happens, Chuck Schumer is totally set to succeed Harry Reid someday, bar something extraordinary.

I agree; that's what I dislike the most about Durbin retiring. I'd hate to see Schumer as Majority Leader.

[Zioneer]

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Who-Can-Replace-Dick-Durbin-160780605.html

A bit of a shame -- I've always rather liked Durbin. If this happens, Chuck Schumer is totally set to succeed Harry Reid someday, bar something extraordinary.

I agree; that's what I dislike the most about Durbin retiring. I'd hate to see Schumer as Majority Leader.

Yeah; Schumer's actually a bit of a corporate shill; he's funded by a lot of the same interests that deregulated the financial system and led to the recession. Let's hope someone else takes over as Majority Leader; who's a better choice for Majority Leader (if the Democrats keep the Senate)?

[Seattle]

Patty Murray

She's up there in leadership, but I don't forsee anything that will deprive Schumer of the top dog position.

[muon2]

Shall we run muon to fill his place?

Who is muon?

[Keystone Phil]

Durbin has always been one of my least favorite Senators but my feelings towards him are like my feelings towards my most hated sports rivals: keep him around to keep the rivalry going. The thing is, I strongly dislike Schumer, too, so I've been wondering who I'd "want" as the Senate Dem leader. I think Schumer would be more of a positive for the GOP though.

Whether Durbin stays or leaves, muon should run.

[RodPresident]

Schumer and Patty Murray would be very polarizing in Democratic leadership. If Durbin retires, Wyden and the Udalls would be good options for leadership. Menendez is another candidate, like Klobuchar. If elected, Tim Kaine would be interesting too.

[MilesC56]

Schumer and Patty Murray would be very polarizing in Democratic leadership. If Durbin retires, Wyden and the Udalls would be good options for leadership. Menendez is another candidate, like Klobuchar. If elected, Tim Kaine would be interesting too.

Kaine or Klobuchar would be good, but they would lack seniority.

[Mr. Morden]

Like I said, my understanding is that Schumer has basically outmaneuvered the competition and is likely to become the next Democratic leader in the Senate when Reid steps down from the job (which *might* even be as early as January 2013 if the GOP wins back the Senate and Reid doesn't want to go back to being Minority Leader).  So I don't think Durbin retiring really impacts that one way or the other.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

Like I said, my understanding is that Schumer has basically outmaneuvered the competition and is likely to become the next Democratic leader in the Senate when Reid steps down from the job (which *might* even be as early as January 2013 if the GOP wins back the Senate and Reid doesn't want to go back to being Minority Leader).  So I don't think Durbin retiring really impacts that one way or the other.

True, sometimes a Senate Majority leader steps down, and keeps serving in the Senate. Robert Byrd served over 20 more years.

[Mr. Morden]

There was talk even before the 2010 election that Reid might not want to serve the entirety of his next term as Democratic leader, since it's a rather thankless job.  And he's 72 years old.  He may well decide to serve out the rest of his time in the Senate as the chair or ranking Dem. on a powerful committee, rather than as party leader.

[Governor Scott]

How about Mark Warner?  Popular guy, somewhat bipartisan, and he won't be as much of a newcomer by the time Reid decides to call it quits.

[Vosem]

Well, on a thread where people don't like Schumer, I have to note I like Schumer even more than I like Durbin. (I like Durbin for his work with Alan Simpson, largely).

[GPORTER]

Well, on a thread where people don't like Schumer, I have to note I like Schumer even more than I like Durbin. (I like Durbin for his work with Alan Simpson, largely).

One of my favorite quotes came from Chuck Schumer

[Jayhawker]

How about Mark Warner?  Popular guy, somewhat bipartisan, and he won't be as much of a newcomer by the time Reid decides to call it quits.

Something tells me Warner won't run in 2014 for reelection, and will instead run for President in 2016. I don't think he's big on thet Senate.

[RodPresident]

Schumer and Patty Murray would be very polarizing in Democratic leadership. If Durbin retires, Wyden and the Udalls would be good options for leadership. Menendez is another candidate, like Klobuchar. If elected, Tim Kaine would be interesting too.

Kaine or Klobuchar would be good, but they would lack seniority.

LBJ got Democratic leadership with only 4 years in Senate. Mansfield and Daschle got in 2nd term.