As a screaming liberal I read the Times (NY) before some of the other papers every morning because, alas, I don't think that the NYT editorial (now called opinion ye gods) gets it right all the time or even much of the time given the state of things. Gail Collins is my target today not because she missed the boat completely with this column. Actually she got it right except for the rationale for a Senator does not seek re-election.
Most things in life are about timing. When does she propose a senator bow out? Right after he is elected to a 6 year term, then offering his constituants little other than 6 years of lameduck powerlessness. A Senator's power, due to the length of office, is highly about the longevity issue as most senators win re-election unless they are morons. That gives them a decade plus in power and the state should know and does which side it's bread is buttered on. This means nothing generally, except in CT's case where it means keeping it safely in democratic hands.
I watched that inept bozo who leads the republican party on Chris Matthews last night and I'm not going to name him because this blog gets some tracking now and I don't want anyone to know that I even recognize him. His childlike enthusiasm for the two democrats not seeking re-election and taking it as a sign that he has them (the dems) on the run is just plain insane. The party of "no" is going to get creamed and not because the democrats don't deserve to get creamed because of their nicey-nice attitude, but because "you can't do that" is no longer an option.