Congressman Heath Shuler to Retire

"I spent time with the family and realized I have to be at home more, spend some more time with them." Politician never want to spend more time with their families until there is nothing else to do but spend time with their families. I do wish they could come up with a different reason for choosing to retire. "I would really like to get falling down drunk without having to worry about it." or "I won't have to worry about picking up women in bars anymore." Heath Shuler is the latest victim of collateral damage from the Pelosi Speakership but one might argue an indirect causality. He voted against the stimulus bill and Obamacare and survived the last election but the fallout from that election was the loss of some 700 state legislative offices, a bad thing to happen in years ending zero. In North Carolina, as in many statehouses the Republicans hold large majorities and they can make their majorities felt by redrawing congressional districts in ways favorable to their party. By removing liberal, full of yankee retirees, Asheville from Shuler's district state Republicans killed Shuler's political career without firing a shot. Maybe he should get falling down drunk.