What's almost as funny as these people's rants about how bad Bush is (hey dolts, how many times has the US been attacked since 9/11? – You're welcome), are all of these posts about how racist the Republican party is. What a crock! This is a myth perpetuated by Dems who know that they can fool people. In the election it was the DEMOCRATS bringing up Obama's skin color, not the Republicans. Yet because they don't warmly embrace every slacker, rap artist wannabe, check collecting baby mama, illegal alien, they are considered racist. You get Bill, Jesse, Nancy, Al Sharpton, Hillary, Ludacris, you name it to say Republicans are racist and you all start repeating the mantra like good little mockingbirds. Good thing you all weren't lemmings near a cliff.

Ed Dugan @ 9:46
"Mel and his counterparts never understood. Most Americans don't want immigration reform, they want immigration, legal or illegal stopped! We don't need any more people right now, thank you."

So by your logic, any babies being born to people already living here should be denied citizenship and deported?

Basically, what you're incorrectly stating is that most Americans don't want any more people trying to make their lives better in this country – but only if those people have dark skin.

Careful.
Your ignorance is showing.

This not an issue for the conservatives. Sen. Martinez is a freaking rino and we are dumping them faster than you can dump a cup of coffee. Don't let the door slam you in the arse Sen.

Is CNN recycling stories now? I am sure I saw this yesterday.

TO THE FAR-RIGHT: the GOP is self-destroying, their own lies, hate, fear and division, their own vile politics are destroying the party!

The Republicans are in trouble, because they do not "get" that America REJECTED their VILE politics! We are SO sick and tired of lies, of the hate being spewed by the extreme right…… like Hannity, Limbaugh, O'Reilly, etc.!

Until the Republicans figure out, that they have to offer some IDEAS and REAL SOLUTIONS, without destroying their opponents they will continue to LOSE!

AMERICA REJECTS THE VILE POLITICS OF THE FAR-RIGHT. HATE, LIES, FEAR AND DIVISION IS ……NOT…. WHAT AMERICA STANDS FOR!

Immigration reform, hmmm.

Most of us miss the point on this issue. Immigration reform is a red herring, a diversion; the real policy issue is the exploitation of imported labor for the purpose of lowering the American standard of living. Immigration reform could be done in such a way as to inhibit that kind of exploitation, but the sitting administration's laissez-faire policy has encouraged the exploitation of foreign labor, to the detriment of American workers.

It's not that I'm against international competition, but the US is the richest 5% of the world's population, and when one person expecting $7 an hour is in dollar-for dollar competition with 19 people working for $1 a day, he's not going to do well. For the US economy, free trade is suicide.

We have only two real options: protectionism, or foreign/trade policy intervention designed to raise the standard of living in the countries we trade with. If we do nether of those things, the American standard of living goes down the tubes.

The GOP drowned itself in New Orleans. McCain drew as many votes as a GOP candidate could. The party needs to take itself out in the back yard and end its misery. As presently constituted it will not lead any branch of government for the foreseeable future.

Minorities are quickly becoming the majority in our nation. The GOP has yet to accept this. Until they come to terms with this fact, they will continue to lose. It's time for the old guard to retire and bring in fresh new thinkers. Our nation will be better for it.

Basically what this comes down to is.

Democrats=Yes we can.
Republicans=No you can't!

The negative comments he may have been forced to make about our 44th President that were baseless and unfounded probably turned his stomach and it would be political death to switch parties while holding office. He'll be back as a democrat. The republican party is a party of separatist – if it walks, talks and smells like a duck even lipstick won't change the fact its a duck.

Dear Larry @8:32
That must really be a cheap Ouija board you have
If you consider the Republican cast of players in the last eight year comedy to be any good. My guess is you will hardly be able to wait for the next show. 'Republicans in bondage on ice.' What a joke you guys are!
Hey Larry can you pronounce "Self Denial?" or did you go to the same igloo school as Sarah (If I only had a brain) Palin????????????

Hey Rob, of 9:28 fame,
if the Dems don't fubar it, then what?

Problem I see right now is that President elect Obama (not Barry as u say) is off to a running start in terms of the people he's appointing. So, if his appointments do their job well, then there's not much room to change out. Think about it, "my friend."
Think of McCain's cheesy smile when he says that "my friend."

rm,

What part of the win in Georgia do you think is a dream–it happened,really,you will need to bring up the CNN post from last night.It's in black and white.

Think about it. Reagan is the GOP's christ figure and he's to blame for the existence of the "Southern Strategy." The core of that theory is not a failure of outreach, it's encouraging division based on race in order to secure voters.

"the failure of the Republican Party's outreach to minorities"

Now there's a euphamism at which we can all giggle hysterically. The GOP is full of racists. You need evidence? They just managed to get one elected in GA yesterday.

GOP is against immigration, Want to make english the "official" language of the U.S.
oppose universl health care and increases in the min wage, as well as being against MLK day. Good luck with bringing minorities into that tent

It is very simple, unless the RNC stops being controlled by the far right of their party they can expect a lot of loses in the future. We want a country that comes together not divided.

Jeb is on his way.
Yes, another Bush to "save" the good ole USA.

"The base of the party is so racist and hatefull."

In other words, you're upset there are people in the Republican Party who believe illegal immigrants should be prosecuted for violating U.S. laws.

Actually…for me it was Palin that signified that there is a huge problem with the GOP. This just further enforces it.

Mel is a weak man and has not done anything significant for our state and I am so happy he is going away. He is scared of a hard fight.

As a Latino voter I been affected profoundly by the present administration policies and I do not see voting ever again for a GOP candidate. What I saw during the campaign was scary; I am taking about the base of the party and not McCain.

Bush and he’s team have gone so far down a road and created so much damage to his party, country and the world for that matter that it will take a lifetime to wheel back from that.

joe the troll,

There's many more than a,or one ROCK STAR,and Sarah is not the only person that may or may not,be running on the Republican ticket next time.

The GOP is the Party of old white people, racists and fundamentalists. If they want to attract minorities, people under fifty and "thinking" people of all faiths, they need to start addressing reality. Trickle down does not work, legislating one view of morality repels two thirds of the country, and privatising the country by handing every aspect over to corporations has failed Americans terribly. The only thing Conservatism has brought us is a full blown structural meltdown and potential depression.

We also need a media agenda that is centrist, one that tends to be bipartisan, and stop focusing mainly on the issues that have been so divisive. Getting the drift here CNN senior political analists??

The GOP needs to find some smart and progressive people to lead the party if they want to come back in 2010. Perhaps drop the idea of legislating morality and get back to being fiscal conservatives who believe in less government interference in our lives.

I understand the decision of Senator Martinez not to run for re-election in 2010.
The Republican party during the past eight years, has consistently moved its moderate positions, to ones more radical and intolerant.
In doing so, they have forgotten their roots and alienated minorities, especially the latino voters which tend to be more conservative with traditional family values.
On the other hand, the democratic party has done a good job in understading the needs of minorities and as a result, minoritites are now supporting the democratic party in larger numbers because they feel that their needs and concerns are in tune with what the democratic party preaches.
Finally, I still hope that Senator Mel Martinez will continue to have a role in the Republican Party, the country needs more moderates like him.

How can the Republicans think they will become anything other then the "GOOD OLD WHITE MAN" COMMITTEE? They only want white people in their group. And Latinos are waking up and realizing how prejudice the Republican party is.

I heard that Martinez is actually a moderate senator and was willing to negotiate to get things done…..hopefully whoever takes his spot will do the same.

Larry @ 8:32am: wrote
In 2010 the Republicans will make huge gains,we have already seen the beginning of a backlash of the NO CHANGE Clinton administration return,last night in Georgia with a huge win for Saxby.People will get over the "ROCK STAR" of Obama,and realize trying to buy our way out of this by increasing the government is just going to drag it out.Common since will WIN out.
___________________________________________________

Nice dream you had. Did your dream in color or black and white?

I live in a rural southern white republican area, and I know what these rural white republicans think of Blacks and Hispanics. They dislike them as a group. On a one on one basis they will be kind to Black or Hispanic, but they dislike minorites, as a group. I cannot count the number of times that rural white republicans used the N word to refer to Obama. I wish a news organization had taken a hidden camera into a rural southern resturant or meeting place and expose how prejudice the heart of the Republian party has become. I was amazed at how many of my neighbors asked me if I was voting for that N—-r, Obama. Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater are heroes here, because they fought against the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lincoln would be ashamed of what his party has become(Party of Jefferson Davis). How could any Hispanic or African-American be a member of a Party whose base dislikes them so much????

Mel and his counterparts never understood. Most Americans don't want immigration reform, they want immigration, legal or illegal stopped! We don't need any more people right now, thank you.

The GOP is out-dated. They haven't kept in touch w. how people *really* live. This is a multi-cultural country. We are chock full of different sorts of people, with different sorts of religions. We are not all Straight, Christian White males. "Small town values" just don't cut it if you want to speak to the majority of people here. We are a melting pot.

If he is any Republican at all, he will retire early and let Gov. Crist appoint a replacement in the form of Jeb Bush. That will give Republicans the best position in the 2010 election, however, even that will not be enough to overcome Bush hatred and Democratic momentum. Obama does not seem to be making many mistakes. If he continues that course, Dems will make even bigger inroads into the Republican block in Florida.

Dave of illinois,

I hope EVERYBODY ,including CNN,reads your post….It's a FACT ,not an opinion.

Senator Martinez is doing the honorable thing and I for one am glad he is leaving office a proud statesman. Either that or Jeb Bush paid Senator Martinez one heckuva sum of money to retire to South Beach so that he could have his chance at Washington. I figure Jeb doesn't have much chance of being President Bush (thanks bro!), but Senator has a good ring to it.

Dave,

Comparing Georgia to Florida is like comparing peaches to oranges. Georgia is solidly Republican. Chambliss was going to win easily. Florida, on the other hand, is a much different story…

Only when people's wallets are being pinched, do they wake up. Free Market economies probably do well when 70% of the overall economy isn't based on shopping and credit and there are plenty of family wage jobs. I'm very proud of states like Florida, NC, Ohio, Indiana, NM and Colorado..They stepped up to the plate to elect real change..It's coming on 1/20/09.

"We are overpopulated with respect to our resources,"

Bull. HAITI is overpopulated in respect to its resources. We're the richest people on Earth yet we whine because we can't afford luxuries while people in countries raped by colonization die from lack of necessities.

On another note, I get a kick out of Republicans that mock Obama for "rock start popularity" while other Republicans use that same phrase to describe Sarah Palin's main strength.

This is confirmation of the GOP's small tent culture wars mentality.

Thanks to the Uniter "that failure of a president" GWB, who has left the GOP in ruins – now the Dems are reaping the rewards. Must suck being a reopub these days, folks. What's GW's approval these days? 20% ? Sweet! Thanks GWB!

So now do the Republican spokespersons like Rush Limbo, etc. start rooting against the economy to bring down the next administration? Would that be the patriotic thing to do?

With Martinez gone, the Republican Congressional Caucus will have just three minority members – Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Mario Diaz-Balart and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, all Cuban-Americans representing south Florida districts in the House of Representatives. The GOP does not have a single Asian-American, African-American or Mexican-American in their caucus. Additionally, they have just one Jewish member – Eric Cantor of Virginia. Clearly, the Republican Party has ostracized itself from large segments of America. It is a completely white party.

When ever the press makes reference to immigration it uses terms such as "reform" and "issues". Why not call it what it is illegal immigration. I have a solution on how to stop more illegals from entering the country. We should implement the tactics that the Mexican government uses on its southern border for people coming in illegally. Do a google seach to see how they deal will illegals.

But the important thing this morning is that there will be no fillabuster proof Senate where the Dems would have finished the job the started by letting Fannie and Freddie run without supervision. Yes, despite pleadings from such wonderful people as Al "Chicken Little" Gore and Ludacris, Geaorgia voters were smarter the second time around. Now all we need is for Franken to stop being a sore loser crybaby and go back to whatever liberal stinkhole he crawled out of. That way we'll just have to stick it out for 2 more years, at which point Dems will have completely fubar'd the country, and the Republicans can gain back control and show those saps how to really save the country. And then 2 years after that we can send Barry packing so he can go to writing books for Oprah's book club.

Larry@8:32++++It will take more than two years for voters to forget what a rotten,terrible eight years Bush and the Republicans put us through.

GOP=party for whites ONLY. It's funni no one is willing to make that statement but just look at the GOP's gatherings the past 8+ years and it so CLEAR.

The Republican party has problems? They're not centrist enough? They have a problem attracting minorities?
This comes as a surprise to whom?

Hey Richard McDonald, I hope when this happens and we won't have anybody to pick produces and live in inhumane conditions and as a very patriotic american you will send your family to do it,

Only Republicans could lose tons of Senators and Congresspeople and still brag about it, as in: Well, at least now the Dems do not have complete control. The Republicans are having lots of problems right now.

The GOP hasn't step up to the 21st century and continue to run divisive campaigns. Palin sprewed out hate and divisiveness while campaigning which was ignorance due to lack of knowledge about issues that face our country. George W. Bush did a lot of name calling about enemies which did nothing to change our image and you would have thought the GOP would have stopped Palin when she did the same but no they sat by silently.

This shows how isolated the GOP truly is. For the past 75 years, they have consistently been the party of institutionalized exclusion. Under Gingrich and Bush, they had the audacity to claim to be the majority party, then they embark on economic policies which favor only big business and the rich, definitely a minority. Now even an Hispanic won't run again with their label. Today's Republicans are more out of touch and irrelevant than they've ever been, and their brand should be pulled off the shelf forever and thrown away like rancid meat!

Hard to pull off a centrist appeal when your not centrist GOP! Palin was a ploy and not your norm. Martinez didn't want to face several comments and actions he took during his tenure, from the Terry Shivo debacule to calling the Pres. Elect a communist. He voted for bush's policies 98% of the time! Bad politics in these times. He is in a decidedly Democratic area where the latino vote has swang to the Dem's. We were eagerly waiting for him this election but I guess we can't get at him. Sad!

Who listens to that ole lefty, Bill Schnider, he hopes, the Republicans will have a problem. Time to retire, Bill, same old, same old, always
critizing the Republicans, typical lefty

I'm glad Mel's leaving…and we'll try to do all we can to keep another Bush out of Washington. In 2010, we'll try to get rid of our horrible Governor as well, Charlie Crist. He has allowed FL to drop to #50 in educational funding. He needs to go w/Mel far, far away!

The usual CNN bias shows through again as it highlights this story and virtually ignores the Georgia Senate runoff where Chambliss retains his seat.

When Obama won with 53% nationwide, it was hailed by CNN as a significant victory, a mandate for change, a historic event, and so on. Chambliss' 58% win is just a footnote as it flies in the face of CNN's Democratic, Liberal bias even as it rules out the Democratic fantasy of a fillibuster proof majority in the Senate.

I am a Latino and I stand behind of many ideas in the republican party but is hard to follow them. The base of the party is so racist and hatefull. Even if you want smaller goverment you wont be please with republicans. If they continue in this path they are not getting my vote. If Democrats show me they can lead this country I am going to vote Democrat all my life. I vote for Bush in 2004 and what a mistake that was. I am happy that I voted for Barack

I am a latino voter and I can say with strong conviction that the policies of the Bush administration have been extremely damaging to me personally. I do not foresee voting for a Republican candidate again in my lifetime.

The GOP must evolve and grow, which it is not presently doing and haven't done for some time. As long as the GOP remains a relatively close-minded, extreme right, and divisive party, it will continue to die a very slow and painful death.

The GOP should listen to the message of it's forward thinking members and expand it's message. They can't win national elections with out Hispanics, African-Americans, women, and young people. They now have no House members in the northeast. Still, some are saying that they should become more conservative….. wrong.

Problem with immigration reform is the majority of the country is against it, looked what happened when it was tried. If your a politician in a largely Hispanic populated part of the country you better be for it but it's what the Majority of the country wants that counts.

What good does it do the U.S. public when all of our representatives are in the center? Doesn't this make both parties basically the same?

Like it or not, the Republican Party must reach out to qualified minority candidates. I say it this way because the perception is that the party only panders to the needs of minorities and, it IS difficult to argue otherwise.

The conservative zeal to protect the wealthy while only occasionally throwing a bone to those in more difficult circumstances is the main cause of this problem.

I still can't get former President Reagan's "trickle down" policy out of my political thoughts. The problem is, if you are not one of the "haves", one knows what is really "trickling down" one's back…

Come on over to the blue side, Mel, ah– wait a minute – that's already been done in reverse with Liberman and we see how well that worked out. Actually, it was luck that put Martinez in the first time with that narrow 1% margin. Latino voters in FL have wised up and are no longer falling for the slick repub *BS*. We FL Dems welcome our Latino brothers and sisters and with their help, we look forward to keeping FL blue for many years to come! Bye-Bye Mel.

In 2010 the Republicans will make huge gains,we have already seen the beginning of a backlash of the NO CHANGE Clinton administration return,last night in Georgia with a huge win for Saxby.People will get over the "ROCK STAR" of Obama,and realize trying to buy our way out of this by increasing the government is just going to drag it out.Common since will WIN out.

R.I.T. (rest in torment) GOP

It's tough to find a lifebaot after the ship has sunk.

Loser, maybe we can get somebody how can do a better job. Frankly I could care less what he does.

"Senator Mel Martinez's decision not to run for re-election in 2010 for his seat from Florida signifies the failure of the Republican Party's outreach to minorities, and it points to difficulties Republicans could face in the 2010 election."
_______________________________________________
Sen. Martinez is just now realizing who the GOP is working for? I don't understand, he's just now getting that? What a phoney you are Senator!!!

The Republican Party's problem is that a majority of Americans do not want what a majority of Republicans want.

America is an urban/suburban, multi-ethnic, multi-racial society, yet the GOP all but insists that "real America" can only be found in small towns and in landlocked states.They promote policies that are based on ideals and prejudices that many younger and non-white Americans can't relate to. Yet, the rejection of these ideas only makes them cling to them harder. (Perhaps they are bitter about something?)

You don't have to be a political guru to know that a party that is out of touch with the REAL American values is doomed to permanent minority status.

The Republican PArty needs to rethink a lot of things. If they become more centrist in their views,more cooperatuve across the aisle, and more concerned about improving America's image boh at home and abroad, they will be even more overtaken by a party that truly appears to represent the best interests of America. Start with PAlin. They immediately started talking about her as thier candidate. That tells you everything. She's a christian fundamentalist, isn't too brtight, is a hawk, and fights dirty, These are traits that America will not embrace. PAlin would be a female clone of George W. Bush. Why can't the Republican party produce great candidates. I think its due to problems within the party that may be so ingrained that resolution could take 30 years.

With Sarah Palin apparently the new "face" of the Republican Party and Rush Lamebrain and Billo the Clown the "voice", I'm not surprised that even the Congressional members of the Party are now abandoning ship. Too bad Mr. Martinez and the rest of us who have become disenchanted with the intransigence of the Republican Party and have seen their influence replaced by the bigoted right-wing Christian conservatives, are now forced to find another path. My hope is, that like myself and others, Mr. Martinez can find a voice in the party of inclusion as it sets forth, over the next eight years, to heal our country internally and return us to the position of the respected leaders of the free world we held for so many years.

When a business is failing and no one wants to shop at it any more,
most business owners would try to figure out why. I fail to understand why the GOPs answers to their failing party is: Let us get even more conservative and do more of the same? I mean, over the last four years they have been losing senators and congresspeople. Most businesses after a four year failure rate would be at least attempting to listen to ALL the people. It is like the GOP is just listening to this one small group of customers and ignoring the rest and expecting to stay in business. I do not think so.

Schneider–stop being a Republican basher. We shall see if you are so smart after a couple years of Pelosi, Reid, Obama, Frank and company. You may have to change your tune.

We'll cross the 2010 bridge in 2010.

2 years is a millenium in politics, like 2 minutes in football.

Obama is going to be my new president in 2009 and I intend on insuring that he does a good job for me.

He works for me and not the other way around, just like a CEO is beholden to the stockholder…and I don't give any bailouts, I expect results, not excuses.

Congratulations to Saxby Chambliss and the good people of Georgia for preventing a super-majority with a real double-digit landslide (59% to 41%).

The 'Fairness Doctrine' and 'Card Check' are now DOA,.

President-elect Obama, will accomplish many wonderful things that will leave voters no other choice but to re-elect him. The people chosen to fill seats within his cabinet thus far, is an example of his desire to fight for the needs of the Ameican people. And with
God on his side, I have faith that he will do everything witihin his power to bring about effective change for this country. His cabinet is very diversed and I pray that we will be more united, as a country, by the end of his first term.

The Mexicans, Cubans, and off the coast of Florida people need to go back to where they came from. This country needs to kick all of these free loaders out of the country Jim Hall Kansas City Missouri.

Obstructionists. Especially the one from Georgia. What a joke the GOP has become.

The Republican days are dwindling. When the road gets tough, well you know the old saying.

There just doesn't seem to be a place in the ideologically inflexible Republican Party for decent, reasonable sorts.
Perfect timing for Jeb Bush to run for Senator of Florida and for Governor Sarah Palin to campaign for him.
Hope the Democrats find a really strong candidate to end the Bush family's control of Florida and the national GOP.
If we had an effective Constitution like Thailand's, Jeb Bush's theft of Florida's votes in the 2000 election benefitting his brother would have dissolved the GOP as a political party and barred the Bushes from politics.

I hate to say it, but the only answer is to send the illegal immigrants (and those whose visas expire) home and have a moritorium of 10 years on any new immigration, especially the "chain immigration" that has brought large families into the country. We are overpopulated with respect to our resources, particularly energy and food (which are related: agriculture is simply a way to turn oil into food). These "intellectually challenged" politicians need to wake up.

You think the GOP has got problems? You should look at the problems the nation has. American's problems are that Congress has so many people with so many different ideas and none of them is willing to work with each other to solve them. They dicker, bicker and filibuster and while they do all these things we, the tax payers, are going down the tube.

He always voted party line and never stepped out on his own, He should go and do something else, Good decision MEL!