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Go Home Bayh Low

JONATHAN CHAIT FEBRUARY 15, 2010

Bayh Low

BY JONATHAN CHAIT

The Washington Post's Jonathan Capeheart calls Evan Bayh's retirement a "brain drain." Hmm. How to out this. I once had the chance, along with numerous other reporters and editors, to speak with Bayh in an off-the-record context. I'd say the group was quite favorably disposed toward him going into the discussion -- here was a young, popular, telegenic moderate Democrat everybody could see on a presidential ticket soon. As far as I could tell, everybody came away thoroughly unimpressed. He said nothing especially disagreeable, it was just that he seemed so mediocre. He expressed himself entirely in terms of platitudes. Not a single interesting thought escaped his lips.

This wasn't a function of him avoiding uncomfortable positions. I've seen smart politicians dance around questions, and this wasn't that. This was just a completely unremarkable man who, had he not been the hansome son of a famous politician, would never in a million years have been a Senator.

If Bayh's loss is a "brain drain," then the Senate is in even worse shape than I thought.

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12 comments

Classy -- this could run on The Spine.

- Lymon1

February 15, 2010 at 8:58pm

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Hansom? He's a horse drawn carriage?

- ratnerstar

February 15, 2010 at 9:22pm

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The description of him sounds like a Democrat equivalent of GWB. Groovy. HuffPo has a story right now that he may run in 2012. He's delusional if that story is true.

- tnmats

February 15, 2010 at 9:44pm

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Is this a surprise? Even to the less-than-casual observer (like me), he comes off as a total non-entity. I mean, the NYT piece on him today had him barely attending votes--much less debates--on many issues in the Senate recently. If he weren't a party-bucker and not as "attractive," he'd basically be a Tom Carper...a two-term "who????"

- Tilghman

February 15, 2010 at 10:34pm

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The only brain drain going on is whatever happened to the editors of this magazine the past month. Enough with the personal attacks.

- Maxblum13

February 15, 2010 at 11:17pm

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Okay, "hansome" is closer, but I think you're still missing a 'd'. Also: Baradar captured in Karachi! I'll drink to that.

- ratnerstar

February 15, 2010 at 11:22pm

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Good riddance.... Hopefully, Indiana Democrats will pick someone more Progressive as his replacement. Given the disarray of Republicans in that state, might even elect a better class of Dem than Bayh. His possible pick as VP by Obama says a lot about both of them, confirmed many times in the last year. Obama and DINOs will miss him a lot more than many DINAPs (Democrats In Name And Policies).

- gdbittner

February 16, 2010 at 5:36am

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I kind of agree with everyone on this post - Bayh has never shown any particular brilliance and the idea that leaving the Senate to Republicans is somehow a noble protest seems typical of him. But Lymon and Max are right too. Sorry for my petty soul!

- WandreyCer

February 16, 2010 at 8:50am

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Take The Money And Don't Run

Why didn't Bayh admit his family milked the job for all it was worth & he might have to survive on his salary but it wouldn't be enough? Pass or fail, HCR or not, the Mrs. wasn't going to see the millions coming in from her insurance and drug shilling. It wasn't a matter of nekked pics or an Evan look-alike baby but this campaign would get dirty with a known lobbyist as his first real challenger. Uh-oh, the Bayh's would be stuck in a Pot-Kettle Campaign. How many people do you know who can claim they served on the boards of fourteen corporations since '94? Nice work if you can get it, eh? So it's an insult to claim he'd had enough of the job, the mood harsh or some partisan hooey. Not only did the system he claimed to despise serve him well, they made millions from his wife's part time jobs. One way or another that train was leaving the station. As her value would be falling he'd have to tell everyone she was cutting her ties and still reveal how lucrative the office had been. He was dumb, as a fox. -

- michael

February 16, 2010 at 9:10am

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It might be a personal attack, but it's also relevant and valuable information. Reporting on Edwards' affair was a personal attack as well, and was also important. Truth be told I think it's more interesting to know which senators are wonky and which really aren't, than to know which senators are vain enough to make sex tapes of their affairs while on the campaign trail

- Simon Greenwood

February 16, 2010 at 9:23am

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Simon nails it.

- WandreyCer

February 16, 2010 at 10:10am

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Les Pauvres

"But running for the sake of winning an election, just to remain in public office, is not good enough," Bayh said. "And it has never been what motivates me." Obviously not. From '07: "Since leaving Indiana as a first lady, Susan Bayh has become a professional board member, earning more than $1 million a year in director fees for advice she gives to companies that make pharmaceuticals, operate radio stations, sell health insurance policies, offer online banking and distribute ingredients to fast-food restaurants. In the past four years, Bayh collected more than $1.7 million in pre-tax income when she exercised stock options from two of the corporations. Her actual income from exercising stock options is higher, but the details of one transaction were not publicly reported." [1] Yes it is legal but public office was plenty good for two terms. [1]http://tinyurl.com/yja88f8 -

- michael

February 16, 2010 at 10:22am

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