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Nicholson Steps Down from VA - Next Stop Senate?

by: Colorado Pols

Tue Jul 17, 2007 at 19:54:04 PM MDT

We noted last month that Secretary of Veterans Affairs Jim Nicholson's appearance at a Denver fundraiser raised the question of whether he might indeed run as a Republican for the U.S. Senate in 2008.

Today, Nicholson announced his resignation from the VA, according to Reuters:

U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson said on Tuesday he would step down, leaving an agency criticized for the care provided to veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Nicholson, whose resignation is effective no later than October 1, said he wanted to return to the private sector.
"This coming February, I turn 70 years old, and I feel it is time for me to get back into business, while I still can," he said in a prepared statement.
Nicholson was sworn in on February 1, 2005. He has also served in the Bush administration as U.S. ambassador to the Vatican and was a former chairman of the Republican National Committee.

Nicholson would seem to be less likely to run for the Senate after a strong Q2 fundraising performance by Bob Schaffer, but it's no secret that moderate Republicans have been searching for a more moderate candidate than Schaffer to run against Democrat Mark Udall.

Colorado Pols :: Nicholson Steps Down from VA - Next Stop Senate?

Tags: jim nicholson, bob schaffer, (All Tags)

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Nicholson Steps Down from VA - Next Stop Senate? | 20 comments

With all due respect

to Nicholson and his distinguished career, but do we really need another old white man in the US Senate?

by: Car 31 @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 02:04:48 AM UTC

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Haha

No, you're right...I'd prefer a middle-aged white guy. :P

by: Dabee47 @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 02:07:08 AM UTC

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VA hospitals won't win elections for him

He's too old and needs to make some $$$$.

He's served his country well.

by: Another skeptic @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 03:15:58 AM UTC

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where is Joe Rogers when his party needs him?

by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 12:13:52 PM UTC

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Joe Rogers?

Isn't he too tainted after his '02 House run?

by: Haners @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 16:00:09 PM UTC

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beggers can't be choosers

If the GOP is looking for a non-white male candidate, it's either Joe Rogers, Bob Martinez or Ed Jones. Isn't that about it?

by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 16:12:34 PM UTC

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P.S. unless the Republicans want Alan Keyes to move to Colorado to run

by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 16:13:13 PM UTC

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Ha!

I'd like to think that we don't have to import diversity...

I think Roger's problems with fundraising reporting might hurt him, but people do have a tendancy to overlook such things if they happened a while ago. '02 was a little while ago, so maybe that's long enough.

Personally, I'd root for Ed. Personable, reasonable, all in all a good guy. Too bad he isn't in the Senate anymore and I hope he runs for something again some day

by: Haners @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 16:25:54 PM UTC

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'02 was a little while ago

There is precedent for the GOP recycling (and who says they're not ecologically-friendly?) their Congressional candidates. Remember, Lil Ricky O'Donnell was first runner up to Both Ways in C.D. 7 in '02.
Why not re-use Rogers and Zakem as well.

by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 20:50:20 PM UTC

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Walter Reed kills his chances

Yes it's DoD, not VA. But people don't know that. And the VA system has had some major problems too. I don't think he can win, especially as a Republican, with that still in the news.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 05:47:25 AM UTC

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No. It's really Newt Gingrich who will Primary Schaffer

I mean, I figure I'd get in on the wild, outlandish speculation too.

What I'm really waiting for is the rumor that Terry Considine is being recruited by the "party moderates" to run against Schaffer. (ROFLMAO!)

by: Iron_Mike @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 05:53:00 AM UTC

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I heard it's Lamborn

He's been so successful as a Rep he figures it's time to move on. His plan is 8 years as a Senator and then run for President after Tancredo's second term ends.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 05:56:27 AM UTC

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hmmmm, I would have figured...

that the republicans would have brought Neil or Marvin Bush in, and declared them republican candidates.

I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.

by: windbourne @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 07:59:41 AM UTC

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Nicholson was Ambassador to the Vatican

Nicholson is a life long Catholic and was the Ambassador to the Vatican.....where the Pope recently announced that only catholics count with Christ...there would go over real big with the Dobson crowd...

Benson, Allard, Owens and Wadhams....the Four Horsemen......I don't know what they are planning...other than Rommey's nomination and election....but somehow I don't see Schaffer or Nicholson headlining their senatorial effort....

here is a name out of the blue...Shawn Mitchell.

PS John Kennedy was against appointing an ambassador to the Vatican....

For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT

by: dwyer @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 06:34:13 AM UTC

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mea culpa

I don't have a clue if Wadhams is supporting Rommey...my mistake....the names just rolled off and I liked that Four Horseman title....made an assumption for which I have no facts.....Are Republican Party State Chairs supposed to be neutral until a nominee has been chosen? Aren't Democrats?

For politics, geezers are golden.
by: BlueCat @ Tue Aug 16, 2011 at 19:19:14 PM MDT

by: dwyer @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 06:39:39 AM UTC

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desperately seeking rumors of a contested GOP Senate primary race

Here we go again! Just as the rumors of Scott McInnis, Josh Penry and Bill Owens running against B.S. for the Senate nomination started and stopped on ColoradoPols, we'e treated to the latest rumor of a challenger for B.S.: Jim Nicholson.
You can do better than this rumor! Nicholson is tainted goods with the scandalous condition of the V.A. hospitals in this country.

by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 12:12:19 PM UTC

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No primary == no fun

So of course everyone wants a primary. The thing is, the Repubs need a very visible primary in this state between a wingnut and a moderate. That is part of the process of the moderates reclaiming the party.

Guess that will have to wait till '10

- dave

ps - for those that are curious programming uses "x = 3" to assign the value 3 to x and "x == y" to test if x and y are equivilent. Very different operations.

Where all the cool kids will be on Saturday - Code War!

by: DavidThi808 @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 13:20:34 PM UTC

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Guess that will have to wait till '10

Is that enough time for the state GOP to acquire a full-grown RINO to run a primary against a wing nut?

by: One Queer Dude @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 16:14:33 PM UTC

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Rayburn for VA Secretary

How about getting Bentley Rayburn appointed as the VA Secretary now that Nicholson is leaving? Rayburn knows vet issues and supports a National Cemetery for the Pikes Peak Region - something Nicholson didn't support. This would clear the hurdle for Crank to run against Lamborn without the split vote if Rayburn ran against Lamborn as well.

by: brownstain @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 17:03:04 PM UTC

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great idea!

by: Haners @ Wed Jul 18, 2007 at 18:01:09 PM UTC

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Nicholson Steps Down from VA - Next Stop Senate? | 20 comments