Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ won't run for re-election in '14. Cory Booker to run

[jimmy olsen]

I don't know much about Booker's politics, but at least he's not boring.

http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/14/16964641-nj-sen-lautenberg-wont-seek-re-election-easing-bookers-path?lite

By Michael O'Brien, Political Reporter, NBC News

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."

[Phillip V]

Let's have term limits for Senators.

[jimmy olsen]

I would like a 6 term limit for representatives and a 3 term limit for senators, giving them at best a 30 year congressional career.

[DGuller]

Let's have term limits for Senators.

Yes, because the new ones that have been elected are the cream of the crop.

[Caliga]

Cory Booker sounds like a little kid's name.  I can't take anybody seriously as a US Senate candidate with a name that sounds so childish.

[Phillip V]

Let's have term limits for Senators.

Yes, because the new ones that have been elected are the cream of the crop.

Let's only have them for 12 years at the most.

[Admiral Yi]

He's a handsome black man, and very well spoken.

I like him, but a lot of the credit for his accomplishments as mayor have to go to the corporations that generously donated money.

[DGuller]

Let's have term limits for Senators.

Yes, because the new ones that have been elected are the cream of the crop.

Let's only have them for 12 years at the most.

So we then have a new wave of idiots?  The crusty old politicians are the ones who are most likely to resist turning a political opposition into an insurgency aiming to obliterate the government.  That's also why a lot of them have been purged by the Republicans.

[derspiess]

He's a handsome black man, and very well spoken.

I like him, but a lot of the credit for his accomplishments as mayor have to go to the corporations that generously donated money.

He's a likable guy, for sure.

[Hansmeister]

Let's have term limits for Senators.

Yes, because the new ones that have been elected are the cream of the crop.

Let's only have them for 12 years at the most.

Repeal the 17th Amendment.  Cory Booker is quite an impressive figure, he is considered somewhat of an action hero for saving someone from a burning house last year.

[CountDeMoney]

Repeal the 17th Amendment.  Cory Booker is quite an impressive figure, he is considered somewhat of an action hero for saving someone from a burning house last year.

And the freezing dog last month.  That locks up the Crazy Cat Lady demo.

[Ed Anger]

Plus he brought Hot Pockets to that dazzling urbanite during Sandy.

[The Minsky Moment]

Sad to say it, but the Senate seems like a waste of his talent.

EDIT: my initial reaction was suprise at realizing Lautenberg was still alive.  They named a rail station after him in Secaucus recently and I just assumed he must have died.  Can't think of anything he's done in the last 5 years.

[Caliga]

Dude, it's Jersey.  The request to name it after him was probably submitted in 1988.

[DGuller]

Sad to say it, but the Senate seems like a waste of his talent.

EDIT: my initial reaction was suprise at realizing Lautenberg was still alive.  They named a rail station after him in Secaucus recently and I just assumed he must have died.  Can't think of anything he's done in the last 5 years.

It wasn't that recent.  I remember seeing it as far back as 2006.