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Subscribe to RSSSen. Frank Lautenberg, an 89-year-old Democrat from New Jersey, has announced his will retire instead of seeking a sixth term. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Updated 3:40 p.m. ET: New Jersey Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D, won't seek re-election next November, a Democratic source confirmed to NBC News.
Lautenberg, the 89-year-old senator who served for almost two decades in the Senate from 1982 through 2001 before returning for a second term in the upper chamber in 2003, will not seek another six-year term.
"I will be traveling to my hometown of Paterson tomorrow to announce that I will not seek re-election in 2014. This is not the end of anything, but rather the beginning of a two-year mission to pass new gun safety laws, protect children from toxic chemicals, and create more opportunities for working families in New Jersey," Lautenberg said in a statement. "While I may not be seeking re-election, there is plenty of work to do before the end of this term and I'm going to keep fighting as hard as ever for the people of New Jersey in the U.S. Senate."
The decision clears the path for Newark Mayor Cory Booker to pursue the Democratic nomination for Senate. Booker, who's built a high national profile with his work as mayor, had provoked some public sniping from Lautenberg for seeming too quick to assume that the longtime senator would necessarily retire when his term is up in 2015.
Another Democrat thought to be eyeing the seat, Rep. Frank Pallone, effusively praised Lauternberg in a statement.
"I have peen proud to serve with Senator Lautenberg and even prouder to call him a friend," he said. "I look forward to continuing to work together in the coming months to continue to address the issues that are important to him and New Jersey. Like all New Jerseyans, I am grateful for his service to our state and our nation."
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Is the Pope going to take his job?
Good luck, Senator L, enjoy the rest of your life!!! Go Booker, GO!!!!
As a former NJ resident, all I can say on Lautenberg's retirement is GOOD RIDDANCE. Decades too late.
How is it that the fat Pork rind eating Feisty is the first to post.
Pretty obvious. First reads first mouth has some kine of association with First Read.
Its Obama's new welfare plan. The lazy stay home and get to post first.
He is retiring from the senate to run for Pope.
.
These men live to a ripe old age because they have sold their souls to the devil. And at 89, he's still doing the devils work.It warms my heart to know that soon he'll get his just reward. And remember Senator, this time a bribe won't help you.
Off topic but relates to some politicians:
Ex-San Diego mayor's gambling losses top $1 billion but her lawyer says she was a selfless public servant!
Well, if she was buying state lotto tickets, she was contributing to the general welfare.
wht is the difference between barak insane obama your welfare momma and michelle obama?
michelle has a much larger penis and is a little less arrogant, (a little less).
That is just dumb.
She is actually a Northern Pike with bangs. Be kind to the wildlife.
So N.J. Sen. Lautenberg will be leaving the Senate next year. Now if we can only get Mitch McConnell to leave the Senate we would be better off by far.
Thank You Senator
for 89 yrs. You are a God Send and a true Believer of American Democracy For Which It Stands. Take a Walk, Hike, Limo, Plane Ride, Boat Cruise or even get the next Space Shuttle. You deserve it and make sure you have one hell of a time. I don't mind spending my tax dollars on that. Hope to hear about the trip on your 90th B-Day. Don't forget to tell us all about it.
Yep, this Senator is well past the best used by date. Shining example of term limits.
Thank You LORD! Another Senile Pro-DEATH Liberal GONE! Good Riddance!
Aw, come on. This guy's good for another 2 or 3 terms easy. We can keep Menendez in office if we hold our noses and look the other way, then prop up Lautenberg in the Senate to vote for whatever the liberals want. No stressful thinking required.
I want to be a senator, Tell me why he had to come back to the Senate after serving almost 20 years prior. He gets the exact same (full pay).pension and keeps all the perks. I'll tell you why, its all the graft, piss, and corruption that they cannot let go of. 89 years old and he was seriously giving thought to run again. give me a break. Adios jerkxff. Watch when he craps out and you read how many millions he was worth.
all dumbocrats should resign and obama your welfare momma should do us all a favor and commit suicide before he is successful at turning the U.S. into a third world country and gets our arse kicked by little rogue nations like iran or north korea or big ones like china. I will personally take care of the grass above obama your welfare momma's grave, I will take a huge dump right where his mug would be so he has a nice green lawn to stare up at and an odor that reminds him of his house.
a sane country would not let itself be run by senile old people. yet, here we are.....
A sane country would follow the old adage: children should be seen and not heard and reserve voting for people over 35. Lazy stupid children are an anchor.
Booker? You guys do not even know his background, his first year as Mayor he raised the City's property tax by 8.3 percent. Yea, that is all we need is another Tax Man up on Capitol Hill. He loves the SNAP program too so get ready for more Free Handouts. Plus this is your grand Cory Booker... Out of town all the time, hhhhhhhhhhhhhmmmmm, just like Obama, can speak well with no substance, hhhhmmmmm, just like Obama, people have been laid off and taxes risen, hmmmm just like Obama, crime is up and unemployment is up, hmmmmmm, just like Obama, the city finances are in trouble, hmmmm, just like Obama. Yea, who would not want a Obamawannabe, um, the clueless Liberals that is who. Figures Liberals would want another Obamawannabe. They love failure.
They say Mr. Booker’s frequent Twitter posts to his 1.3 million followers, his appearances on television and at gatherings of moguls and celebrities — he was out of town nearly a quarter of the time between January 2011 and June 2012, according to The Star-Ledger — have distracted him from the local trench work needed to push his agenda. Business leaders say he dazzles at news conferences, but flags on the follow-through. Residents have wearied of the outside fascination for the mayor whom Oprah Winfrey called “a rock star” and Jon Stewart on Wednesday referred to as “the superhero mayor of Newark.”
Taxes have risen more than 20 percent over the past three years, even after the city laid off about 1,100 workers, including more than 160 police officers. Crime has risen, and unemployment is up. Schools remain under state control, and the city’s finances remain so troubled that it cannot borrow to fix its antiquated water system. While new restaurants have risen near the Prudential Center downtown, those in the outer wards were placed under a curfew this year because of shootings and drug dealing.
This is a progressive website where competence is derided and incompetence revered. The solution to every problem is raise taxes, even if you're trying decide what to eat for dinner. Booker is no different, but being black he, aswith our President is held to the lowest standard possible and cannot be criticized because if you do you're a racist. Little children have so much say that an inane buffoon who posts on twitter gets elected.
Nice post skibum, yea the Twitter Id iots is what is making this country run now. What a joke.
Good bye Senator...now you can sleep on your own dime!
At last another Democrat out of office that probably was a political puppet to OBAMA. I hope we get rid of some more stupid democrats like Pelosi, Reid, and Feinstein AKA HITLER JR!!!!
The Senate will soon be back in the GOP! All of these "Senior-Citizen" Demo-Rats are either retiring or being called home by Ted Kennedy and the Grand-Wizard Robert Byrd
Why was this ossified old relic allowed to keep his job and milk the system when ordinary citizens get laid off from their jobs at 55, 58, 60, 40, and then have the greatest difficulty finding a job. It's a well know fact once you hit 40 job searching starts to get very difficult. Think about the money and benefits he has loaded up on for himself, his family and his future generations. Wake up America!
Because people like myself voted for him, that's why. And we did so with pride and enthusiasm, knowing Frank will always be there fighting for the common man, and for his fellow New Jerseyans.
This guy is a true American success story, who came from humble beginnings, but became a self-made millionaire after returning home from his service in WWII. He went to college under the VA bill, and founded ADP, a firm that today employs thousands of workers and is used by companies across the nation.
Thank you Senator for a job well done!
Well said.
Besides being a crook, he is a senile bastard. Quit now before you cast any more idiotic votes.
I thought that old leftist fool was dead. He sure as hell looks, and sounds, like it.
Cory Booker need to get his head out of his ass and switch parties. He's the epitome of the American Dream, yet he spouts communist ideals. Doesn't make sense.
Anybody here see the HBO show Boardwalk Empire...
Yes, I love it, why do you ask?