Trent Lott to Retire from Senate; Become Lobbyist?

Photo from source, CNN

All of the old guard seems to be cashing in their chips. Whether by election or retirement, the big bogey-men (at least to the left) Republicans seem to keep vanishing. Just a few years ago, there was Bill Frist, George Allen, Rick Santorum, Denny Hastert, Tom DeLay, and of course Trent Lott. He of the fabled porch that Bush would reconvene on after the Gulf Coast cleanup, post-Katrina.

Lott apparently couldn't wait to get out, even though he was just re-elected last year. There's some sort of Congress-to-lobbyist law going into effect next year, and if Lott stayed in much longer, he'd have to wait two years to rake in some cash.

[Excerpt]

Pro-Business Republican Lott To Retire From US Senate

Mississippi Sen. Trent Lott's decision to retire from the U.S. Senate by year's end shocked Washington Monday, catching lawmakers and lobbyists alike off guard.

The departure of the pro-business, conservative Republican, who as minority whip was the No. 2 GOP senator, also sent the clearest signal yet that Republicans could be in serious trouble in the 2008 election. . .

Read more at: CNN.com