should democrats have convinced many old-timers to retire in 2006

[freepcrusher]

much like how some republicans in marginal seats did this year?

[Nyvin]

Would've been nice if they did...

[Skill and Chance]

It may have helped in 2008.  Almost all of the class of 2006 seats were held by Dems in 2012.

[freepcrusher]

It may have helped in 2008.  Almost all of the class of 2006 seats were held by Dems in 2012.

I'm talking more about the HOR

[Amenhotep Bakari-Sellers]

Senority has held in the House; since the Revolt of 1910; with Speaker Cannon and power was enthrusted into cmtee chairs.

In the Senate, when new members are constantly taking over; from old timers; like Mark Warner replacing John Warner; the Senate is more influencial for Dems; and it wouldnt have mattered that much in the Dem loss in House.

[Mr.Phips]

Yep.  Had Dennis Moore, David Obey and John Tanner retired in 2006 or 2008, Dems would have almost certainly have held there seats.

[Skill and Chance]

Harkin retiring in 2008 would have very likely saved Dems a seat that could be crucial for 2016 Senate control without any risk to the 2009 supermajority.  Perhaps Johnson should have retired for Herseth-Sandlin?  But she still could have lost in a McCain state.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

In 2005, when most of the decisions were being made, there was no guarrantee that 2006 would be a Democratic year. It was not until Katrina hit that the GOP and Bush took a real big hit and though Social Security was going to be a drag, there was not the unifying factor of incompetence and corruption that the trifecta of Iraq, Katrina and the Abramoff and subsequent scandles wrought until the early part of 2006. Before that only Santorum and maybe Chafee were considered to be in grave danger, with Talent likely facing a close race. The corruption turned Montana into a Likely Dem seat, which it remained for much of the year, and led to DeWine falling behind in Ohio as well and put Talent and Chafee at a disadvantage.

[Nichlemn]

2008, probably, but it's hard to do because it's in the selfish incentives of incumbents to run when they're in a good position to hold a lot of power.