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Kyl Retiring

By Massimo Calabresi | February 10, 2011 | +

Politico reports that Jon Kyl won’t seek re-election in 2012.

If true, this is a big loss for the GOP in the Senate, as Kyl is one of their toughest cross-aisle knife fighters. It’s also a loss for conservatives, as Kyl has overtly and covertly advanced their cause as effectively as any Senator over the last 15 years.

Re-election wouldn’t have been a problem–Kyl won in the Dem wave of 2006 with 53% of the vote. So the question is why give up the GOP’s number two-spot in the Senate? He made a two-term promise when first elected, then broke it to serve his current third term. His agenda, including repeal of the estate tax and other classic conservative measures, is far from complete. He’ll be 70 in Nov. 2012.

Perhaps he just wants to retire. Or maybe he has a better job lined up. It’s hard to picture him as a lobbyist. Governor of Arizona I could see but Jan Brewer just won re-election. Given his mastery of the behind-the-scenes maneuver–he was behind the demise of Harriet Miers’ Supreme Court nomination–anyone in a job Jon Kyl wants should watch his or her back.

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  • nflfoghorn

    Maybe he’s tired.
    Maybe he posted on Craigslist.

  • Matt

    The GOP’s number two in the Senate is leaving? That’s big news can’t imagine the doomsday scenario talk in the media had it been a Dem. The MSM may think it’s a blip, but it opens the door for a Christine O”Donnell primary situation where they could lose the seat.
    http://www.sunstateactivist.org

  • nflfoghorn

    I know it’s Thursday, but the ‘wingers on this blog would be apoplectic if, say, Kerry stepped down.
    Not a peep here.
    Wonder why.

  • square1

    Wow! Kyl was behind the demise of Harriet Miers’ nomination? What a master of behind-the-scenes maneuvering.

  • nflfoghorn

    What’d she ever do to him?

  • Ivy_B

    Just read that Kyl said that the office he wouldn’t turn down would be VP.

  • afguy

    Did he mention that the office he’ll probably never be offered was ALSO VP?

  • rdw56

    Kyl is very highly respected within the conservative community and would make an excellent VP candidate much as Cheney was to Bush. But at age 70 he’s probably too old. Not the most charismatic guy but like Cheney a very smart guy, very reliable and a very effective bureaucrat.

    Kyl was one of the key players in the Meirs nomination with the hard job of convincing Bush he made a mistake and gracefully accepting the resignation. He not only saved Bush from a disaster but set up a fantastic legacy for Bush in the appointments of Roberts and Alito. We’ve recently tossed the DC and Chicago Gun laws, created an individual right to bear arms and rolled back the notorious campaign finance reform bill. Moreover this court will almost certainly declare the individual mandate unconstitutional and roll back the commerce clause that will reverse a dozen prior decisions to limit the ability of the Federal Govt over the States.

    Kyl is going to be well remembered by conservatives but fortunately over the last two decades he’s also helped recruit and develop bright conservatives in Arizona. The seat will remain in conservative hands.

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