I’m mildly surprised but I can’t say I’m displeased.
That doesn’t mean she won’t try for the Senate or the presidency
She’ll never get anywhere near either. As a conservative, I’d rather have her throwing rhetorical bombs from outside Congress rather than within it. There’s a place for ill informed radicals: as a guest on a talk show.
She’ll probably be replaced by a Republican who is just as conservative but a lot smarter.
Her statement left open the possibility that she would just run in a new district. She was weirdly specific about not running in that district.
ETA:
“I have decided next year I will not seek a fifth Congressional term to represent the wonderful people of the sixth district of Minnesota.”
“In my opinion, well, eight years is also long enough for an individual to serve as a representative for a specific congressional district.”
Thank you, Lord Feldon, for finding the cloud in that silver lining. Ugh, you’re probably right, she’ll find a new district.
My initial thought was there must be something to this ethics investigation of her campaign finances. I don’t see her running for president again. While she may have the ego for another run, I can’t see anyone parting with enough of their money to fund her campaign. I’d love to see her take on Al Franken in the same way that I like to watch train wrecks.
Back in 2012, she was practically an Iowan. Maybe she’ll go back there.
Of course, the reason she might not be re-running could have to do with the pending charges. Or that the polling isn’t going in her favor. Or that she’s going to make a lot of money on her romance novel (yes, she’s written a romance novel).
I just saw the news. Hot DAMN! Best news I’ll probably hear all day.
I don’t fear her in a senate or presidential race. Her district was horribly gerrymandered, as I understand it.
I have to say after the “Did Antonin Scalia Resign…” thread from yesterday the “Michele Bachmann Not To Run…” title didn’t inspire hope. At least one delivered.
As I said in the Pit thread, I had two thoughts upon seeing this;
- She has 18 months to change her mind and probably will.
- What scandal is about to pop?
But the idea that she may try to move to Iowa or somewhere more conservative wouldn’t shock me. She barely won re-election in a ludicrously conservative district by spending massive amounts of out-of-state cash and I think there is a certain amount of local fatigue from the stupid that keeps pouring out of her mouth, regardless of what a ‘Conservative Hero’ she is.
Going forward, unless a very charismatic Republican steps up to run and wins lots of $$backing$$, I think Jim Graves, the centrist Democrat who barely lost to her this last time, will easily win the seat.
I also see her playing the Sarah Palin “travel around giving speeches and making stupid assed statements to try to stay relevant” card for a few years.
Most of the early speculation seems to be that it will be a slam dunk for the GOP in 2014. Apparently the only reason the race was so close last time was Bachmann, any other Republican would have won easily.
She’ll write a book and get hired by Fox as one of their political “experts”; probably already has deals in hand for both.
May this be the first sign that the Tea Party is finally starting to wane? One can hope…
I will never understand why the people in her district kept re-electing her. Was she any good as a representative? All I have seen is her continually making a fool of herself. I never saw how she was an asset to the Tea Party movement. I would take them a bit more seriously if they actually elected serious candidates, but every one that makes into the spotlight looks like Poe’s law in action.
I do wonder if there are more revelations coming out regarding her campaign finances.
Bachmann predates the Tea Party. Rand Paul’s rise is far more consequential for the viability of the Tea Party movement than Bachmann ever was.
I know she predates it, but she was one of the first to jump on their bandwagon, and I believe they carried her for the last two elections. I doubt she would have won last year without their support.
The general consensus is that the ethics investigation is going to find some illegalities but Bachmann will probably be personally exonerated. It appears that the people in charge of “her” campaign didn’t see any need to get her involved in what was going on.
You know, she’s so narcissistic that I wouldn’t put it past her to simply be a ploy.
- Announce not running for re-election in 18 months.
- Expect surge of pleas and requests from supporters for her to keep running.
- Announce will run again due to “popular support”.
- Cash Massive Ego check.
[QUOTE=Little Nemo]
The general consensus is that the ethics investigation is going to find some illegalities but Bachmann will probably be personally exonerated. It appears that the people in charge of “her” campaign didn’t see any need to get her involved in what was going on.
[/quote]
This is probably right, and probably fair. Her campaign was pretty rinky-dink, so it wouldn’t surprise me that any illegalities were the result of incompetence rather than criminality.
What I find somewhat interesting about her statement is that she didn’t give any clear reason why she decided not to seek re-election (other than some clap-trap about term limiting herself), especially considering how much time she spent explaining what was NOT causing her to step down. My guess is like many in the GOP, she’s wised up to the grift and decided she can squeeze more money out of a wider base by ranting on Fox or publishing over-promoted books. Sarah Palin showed her the way.
I’m sorry, but there are no wonderful people in the sixth district of Minnesota. They sent her to congress 4 times?!?!
Half of the people in the 6th district are assholes. Tinklenburg, Clark and Graves did get some votes, you know.
I think she should consider a career in professional wrestling
M BACH…THE MVP of WTF !!!