John Shadegg Retiring: Arizona Republican Leaving House

John Shadegg, a Republican from Arizona, is retiring from the House of Representatives.

In a statement, Shadegg said that he wants to "pursue my commitment to fight for freedom in a different venue."

"Representing the people of Arizona in the House has been one of the greatest privileges of my life," he said. "And, while it would be difficult to leave this position at any time, it is particularly hard to do so now with the challenges we face as a nation, but it is necessary for me to do so ... In the last year, I have been able to fight the massive government takeover of our nation's health care system advanced by President Obama and Speaker Pelosi. I will continue to do so with every ounce of energy I can summon."

First elected in 1994, Shadegg wanted to retire in 2008 but was persuaded not to by top Republicans. He was widely expected to run for Senate if John McCain were to win the presidency.

He said he was not worried about his seat. "As the Obama administration and Speaker (Nancy) Pelosi grow further and further out of touch with average Americans, evidence continues to build that 2010 will be a record year for Republicans running for Congress. And, I am extremely confident that the people of the Third District of Arizona will elect a solid conservative." Shadegg is the fourteenth House Republican to announce his retirement this year.

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Comments

[Childwall18]

03:46 PM on 01/15/2010

Good- Now maybe this will be the start of getting rid of republicans in Arizona. They have/are running AZ into the ground

[Budokan]

03:33 PM on 01/15/2010

Naturally, this isn't news. It's only news when a Democrat retires.

[Americanium]

06:08 PM on 01/15/2010

Nope ...it doesn't reflect badly on President Obama so HP plays it down.....nothing to see ..move along..No flies around here..

[marynemo]

03:29 PM on 01/15/2010

Shadegg probably landed a gig as Warden at one of Arizona's privatized prisons.

[Icantbelieveher]

02:29 PM on 01/15/2010

He's saying what democrat voters have all been thinking -- and the democrats need to stand up and listen!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/1/14/825082/-Democrats:youve-been-warned

Some democrats (especially Rahm) are so arrogant that they think that registered democrats will turn out for them (not to mention the independents that voted for change) after they've given a huge gift to the banks and the health insurance companies have got another thing coming! They arrogantly think that they can run on change, change very little in that they are the same corporatists that republicans will vocally tell you they are, and think they can fool us into thinking it's for our own good!

I would hope the Massachusetts senate race would be a wake-up call to all of them! It's not what the media is spinning. People aren't rejecting the Obama agenda! They want the Obama agenda that he promised the people! NOT THE BAIT AND SWITCH WE GOT!

[Dbos]

10:10 AM on 01/15/2010

The Repugs in Ariz. are anti federal government,the state could not exist without help from the federal government. The dams and aqueducts did not just appear naturally not to mention all the federal facilities such as military bases.Shandeg will be replaced by another mope.

[BlueMist602]

09:19 AM on 01/15/2010

Glad to see this loser go...But I'm sure the Republicans in this undereducated state will pick another to take his place!

[Horus45]

11:30 AM on 01/15/2010

As a resident of Arizona I have to say you are spot on about the education status of this state.
It boggles my mind how stupid the conservatives in this state are.

[pginflag]

12:38 PM on 01/15/2010

You said it! We're not 49th in Education and 1st in Prisoners for nothin'!

[msgirlintn]

04:45 AM on 01/15/2010

If he were a Dem, the Repubs would be saying that a Dem is afraid of not getting elected because of Obama and his policies. Since he is a Repub, maybe he thinks he can't get elected because all Repubs do is say no. Oh wait, a Repub is never going to believe they can't get elected.

[kgb999]

03:30 AM on 01/15/2010

The democrats are dropping like flies!

[WakingLife]

05:05 AM on 01/15/2010

Lol.

[larmarch5]

04:48 PM on 01/15/2010

"In the House, 14 GOP incumbents have decided not to seek re-election, while 10 Democratic incumbents have made the same announcement. Does this mean Republicans are "dropping like flies"?

In the Senate, six Republican incumbents have decided not to seek re-election, while two Democratic incumbents have made the same announcement. Is this evidence of a mass Democratic exodus?"

[LMPE]

02:43 AM on 01/15/2010

Goody good good! Another one down!

Now, if only the other Arizonan - John McCain - would follow suit.

[Mark Twaine]

12:47 AM on 01/15/2010

One thing is for sure, where ever he goes, whatever he does: he has not told his last lie!

[escribacat]

12:05 AM on 01/15/2010

Where's the giant red headline that says "Republicans are dropping like flies?"

[Cunningham]

06:44 AM on 01/15/2010

You won't see it here at HuffPo.

[insidious]

11:57 PM on 01/14/2010

There is a march this Saturday against Arpaio! Check out this link for more information...

http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/01/08/big-march-in-phoenix-aimed-at-removing-sheriff-joe-arpaio/

[UpFromLiberalism]

05:19 AM on 01/15/2010

all together now

hey hey ho ho

down with the sheriff who upholds the laws

down with the sheriff who upholds the laws

down with the sheriff who upholds the laws

[UpFromLiberalism]

05:22 AM on 01/15/2010

we need "immigration reform"

The end of the Bush imperialist, oppressive regime means that we are now free. We are free to labor for nothing under the great Socialist regime of our dear Leader Obama.

NOW..we Americans can be ONE with the WORLD. We too can be taxed unmercifully. We too can be part of the world and know the wonders of complete multiculturalism because now illegal invaders from everywhere will enter our land.

We can be one with the world and know the tranquility of want and abuse. We can now eat one meal a day. We can live in tree-houses with no electricity and be touted as "green" and 'native lovers of the land'.

We can join the world and live in squalor and watch our children scavenge in dumps. We can know the joys of being one with the world by being stripped of our rights and abused beyond belief. We will have the warm feeling of knowing that our dear leader and those he appoints are living in luxury.

What wonders of Socialism lay before us.....???

Thank you Obama...for replacing the relative safety of the Bush years...with unbridled spending, fear, the taking away of freedoms.... and all that Socialism affords. At least we are all equal ...now..equal with the world.

Long live Socialism.

[yankee in coweta]

07:43 AM on 01/15/2010

Do you really believe all of this. Tell me one thing this administration has done to take away your freedoms. I bet you cant. I bet you cant show me one socialist country where children are digging in trash pits. I bet I can show you a bunch that are religiously run countries or have "limited government".

This is how I feel.... bring on the immigrants let them work hard and save our industries and our agriculture system that no young people want to go into let them come and show all the southern whites what real americans look like.

[istvan13]

09:20 AM on 01/15/2010

Since you live on a flat earth, I understand how difficult it is to see the truth.

First post the definition of socialism. Then using the definition of socialism give factual and demonstrable examples of anything President Obama has done that fits the definition.

Here's a little help; socialism is not the same as fascism nor is it the same as communism.

[insidious]

11:53 PM on 01/14/2010

I can't wait for him to go:) Democrats need to get mobilized about advertising their candidate NOW...the more name recognition the better. The State of Arizona (Arizona Dept. of Admin.) just fired 22 more people on top of the 280 that was fired last year. There are only two people to oversee ALL the public lands in Arizona! The government is leasing back it's own properties. Arizona is sooo messed up right now. All the Republican Legislature keeps talking about is tax cuts to businesses and tax hikes on food. What a bunch of arses!

[MyrtleJune]

11:23 PM on 01/14/2010

Just to be clear: He did NOT represent "the people of Arizona". Ever. He is a looooon.

[Democrat in the South]

11:10 PM on 01/14/2010

Do ya think they're all getting out because they know the s... is about to hit the fan.