All eyes are going to be on Virginia through 2009 for a sense of where this nation is headed.

The Examiner is probably right, but they are just a rag who is trying to get more people to read their magazine by publishing this story.  As far as I've seen today, every other real news organization has decided to wait and let Senator Warner make his own announcement today.  I'm sure others might get a scoop at 1:30 or so today, but I hope they let him make his own announcement.

he is close to the age the cardinals retire.  He should be put out to pasture.  Davis would run for senate, connely would run for congress, and the trickle down effect will  move a lot of fairfax  politicos around.  Its fun to live in virgina!!!

What will Leslie (Byrne) do?

that it all depends on what Mark Warner does.  If Mark runs for Senate, then I bet that Leslie will go for the 11th Congressional seat and will battle it out with Gerry Connolly.  If, however, Mark goes for the governor job, then I'll bet Leslie will run for the Senate. 

So now it's all in Mark Warners corner. 

Definitely fun to live in Virginia, even if I don't anymore!  Still, Virginia politics is way more enjoyable to watch than any other state I can think of.

A John Warner retirement will be a sea change in Virginia.  John Warner has represented Virginia for a very long time, and is the oldest political institution in the state.  When he goes, so does an entire brand of Republicanism.

But then again, we have a new brand of Democratic politics filling that void, led by the likes of Mark Warner, Tim Kaine, and Jim Webb.  And hopefully soon also be Creigh Deeds and others! :-)

Matusleo
Ut Prosim

of Republican who I respect greatly, even if I don't agree with him much of the time.  John Warner has always conducted himself with dignity and grace, as befitting the great office to which he has been entrusted.  Virginia should be proud to have had John Warner representing it since 1979.

It's a shame that he's on such a short list nowadays.

John Warner, Russ Potts, John Chichester....all retiring. Who left fits that mold here in Virginia?

I would like to echo this point.  Even though Warner is a Republican, he helped to torpedo the Oliver North Senate bid, which really ticked off the wingnuts, but earned the respect of lots of moderates and independents.

The more recent pronouncements about the situation in Iraq show that he still isn't totally blinded by ideology and party loyalty.

Even when I haven't agreed with him, which has been often, I've always respected him.  And I will always thank him for saving Virginia from Michael Farris and Ollie North. 

If he does retire the fun begins.  I really can't wait to watch a Gilmore/Davis battle...not to mention all the other trickle down effects.

Putting partisan politics aside, I wish there were more lawmakers in the Congress like Warner.  He never attacks people, and is very thoughtful, even though I disagree with him often.

Senator Warner commands a great deal of respect, all of which he has earned. He is a gentleman legislator of the highest order. I want to see that seat held by a Democrat, but his retirement will be a loss in the Senate. He is one of the few individuals there who has the ability to whip the entire body into order, and he almost always used that authority for a worthy cause (the gang of 14 for example).

he said one thing and did another, on the Military Commissions Act?  Or perhaps when he effectively looked the other way, on torture?

No, it's time for him to go, and the sheen of respectability he'd built up earlier in his career has worn thin, if not completely out, this last term.

But thank you, John Warner, for your service.

Warner's retirement statement was at 2:10 P.M. EDT.

Great man, great career. I knew he had been a Navy Petty Officer the last year of WW II, but I never knew until now that he reinlisted as a Marine Lt. for service in the Korean War. He surely does have special connections with Jim Webb, even more than both having been Secretary of the Navy. Amazing !

He's still talking.