Free Republic

The Federal Aviation Administration. The Social Security Administration. The National Science Foundation. The Treasury Department. All could lose as much as a quarter of their employees by 2012, mostly because of retirements. They are not alone. Across the government, about a third of full-time employees will retire in the next five years, according to estimates prepared by the Office of Personnel Management. The turnover could be even higher in the ranks of federal executives and supervisors. From the start of the Bush administration, agencies have been preparing for the churning that will be caused by the baby boom retirement wave....

Two GOP Congressmen announce today they are not seeking re-election. Google the news for details.

You may think that it seems like there's been a lot of nomination activity lately. But even including the last two departures from the Supreme Court, there's been a remarkable lack of retirements from the Court. As a result, there are several judges who may yet go before the end of Bush's term. (I'd give an over-under of about 1.) Which do you think is most likely to go next? --> Liberal John Paul Stevens, appointed by "President" Ford in 1975. He will be 88 by the next election. --> Radical Ruth Bader Ginsburg, appointed by "President" Bill Clinton in...

IN 1987, the Reagan administration seriously underestimated the energy and ruthlessness that its opponents would be willing to bring to bear against a Supreme Court nominee.There was no excuse for being thus taken by surprise: earlier campaigns against various Court of Appeals nominees had shown what the organized left was willing to do. For example, Daniel Manion--confirmed in a squeaker, by a Republican Senate; Alex Kozinski--confirmed after suffering attacks for demanding work from his employees; Jeff Sessions--defeated by a 10-8 Judiciary Committee vote (with Arlen Specter, now chairman of the Judiciary Committee member, among the nays). These experiences even led...

The Supreme Court ends its work tomorrow with the highest of drama: an anticipated retirement, a ruling on the constitutionality of government Ten Commandments displays and decisions in other major cases. Traditionally, there is an air of suspense as the justices meet for the final time before breaking for three months. Justices usually wait until then to resolve blockbuster cases. Added to that is the expectation that Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist is presiding over the court for the last time. Chief Justice Rehnquist has thyroid cancer and many court experts believe his retirement is imminent. Long lines have formed...

<p>U.S. Sen. John Breaux on Sunday deflected questions about his re-election plans for next year but said that U.S. Rep. Chris John would probably enter the race if he decides not to run.</p> <p>Breaux, D-Crowley, said that he was not concerned that a Republican would win his seat if he does not run. Breaux said that he’ll announce his plans by Dec. 15.</p>

Candidates looking for a winning issue in the 2004 elections should pay close attention to a new Gallup poll. It shows that American voters still strongly support proposals allowing younger workers to privately invest a portion of their Social Security taxes through individual accounts. Indeed, despite the sluggish stock market of the last few years, relentless Democratic attacks, and the failure of Republicans to provide real leadership on this issue, a stunning 62 percent of voters support individual accounts, up five points since summer. Moreover, the support for individual accounts cuts across nearly all political, ethnic, and age groups. One...

U.S. Senate '04: Four Down, Two More to Go? by John Gizzi Posted Sep 23, 2003 Four of the 34 U.S. Senators up for election next year have announced their exiting--Zell Miller (Ga.), John Edwards (N.C.), and Ernest Hollings (S.C.), Democrats all, and Republican Peter Fitzgerald (Ill.) Now, signs are ominous that the next two senatorial shoes to drop will be those of Republican Don Nickles (Okla.) and Democrat John Breaux (La.). Word on the D.C. cocktail circuit over the weekend was that four-termer and Senate Budget Committee Chairman Nickles was anxious to make more money in the private sector,...

North Carolina. Democratic Sen. John Edwards is expected to announce within two weeks that he will not run for re-election to the Senate so that he can focus on his struggling White House bid. Last week, former South Carolina Gov. Jim Hunt (D), a key Edwards supporter, predicted Edwards would drop out of the Senate race when he officially declares his candidacy for president Sept. 16, in his hometown of Robbins, N.C. Several Democrats may run if Edwards opts not to seek a second Senate term. They include former White House chief of staff Erskine Bowles, who lost to GOP...