IT MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE PURE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPRING WATER. What is it with senators from Colorado? I was perfectly happy to hear that the robo-conservative Wayne Allard had announced that he would not seek reelection to the Senate, opening one of many great opportunities for Dems to build their margin in 2008. But it raises one of the little unexplained quirks of American politics: Why do Colorado Senators seem to come and go as often as Spinal Tap drummers? Allard is now the sixth consecutive Colorado Senator to retire voluntarily in middle age after two terms or fewer. Allard's predecessor was Hank Brown, who quit after a term (and was so nondescript that the senator I worked for once asked me, "who was that guy?" after receiving a hearty slap on the back from Brown in the halls of the Capitol), who succeeded Bill Armstrong, who quit after two. In the other seat, currently occupied by Democrat Ken Salazar, Ben Nighthorse Campbell changed parties and then quit; his predecessor Tim Wirth quit after one term (with a fierce, eloquent speech denouncing "relentless and pointless maneuvering for short-term political advantage" and the corruption of money in politics), and Wirth succeeded Gary Hart, who had retired after two terms. Very few Senators leave office voluntarily when just on the verge of gaining enough seniority to have an impact. Those that do, like Bill Frist (who had already reached the pinnacle of institutional power, and wasted it), Peter Fitzgerald of Illinois and Mark Dayton of Minnesota are usually either aiming for another office, or extremely vulnerable if they sought reelection. Today's political trivia note was brought to you by Coors Light.
--Mark Schmitt
