What Great News To Wake Up To

No reason is given yet, but Sen. Trent Lott will be retiring by the end of the year. Now he can spent more time with his family reminiscing about his old pal Strom Thurmond, and sitting on his porch with President Bush.

Lott is, by the way, the sixth Senate Republican to announce retirement this year... 16 or so in the House have also announced plans to retire. I guess being in the minority isn't fun. The lower amount of incumbents next year will definitely make for more interesting elections.

[UPDATE: This MSNBC report seems to find the reason why he wants out by the end of 2007... "the general speculation is that a quick departure immunizes Lott against tougher restrictions in a new lobbying law that takes effect at the end of the year. That law would require Senators to wait two-years before entering the lucrative world of lobbying Congress." What a true giant of a leader.

Flashback: Sen. Lott laments the new lobbying rules; threatens to eat dinner with his wife.]