John Tanner's departure alarms Democrats

With political observers predicting a bloodbath for Congressional Democrats in 2010, will incumbents bail out rather than face angry voters?

From POLITICO:

Tennessee Rep. John Tanner's decision to step down at the end of his term has Democrats worried that a trickle of retirements will turn into a flood.

Democrats won their majority in 2006 — and built on it in 2008 — in large part by running conservative Democrats in Republican-leaning districts. But with Rep. Dennis Moore (D-Kan.) and Tanner now heading for the exits, there's growing concern that the party's strategy may be unraveling just in time for 2010.

"It's the beginning of an avalanche on our side," one Democratic strategist said. "Morale is bad, and we're seeing guys in their 50s and 60s, who have some time left, who can make some money and have a phase two in their careers."

John Tanner's departure alarms Democrats - Patrick O'Connor and Josh Kraushaar - POLITICO.com