Judging by the sheer volume of commentary on the subject over at Memeorandum…

…I’m guessing that this new retirement – Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) – is a big deal.

That another long-time Democrat incumbent is choosing to hang up the liberal chutzpah right now, in a year likely to be owned by people who dump tea into the ocean in their spare time, I get that. Why this particular Democrat’s “I’m outta here” is such a big deal, I dunno.

It’s even bigger than Patrick Kennedy’s announcement, fer cry-eye, judging by all the aggra-punditizing going on. I’d'a never figured that.

Here’s your obligatory Memeorandum link. Let’s sample. Ah, here’s a good one. Ruby Slippers. Nice point in her last paragraph, there. The picture is apropos, too.

Over at Hot Air, Ed notes that Bayh would have lost anyway. Oh, and look: now Democrats only have until Friday to find them a candidate.

Best headline goes to Snark and Boobs: “Buh-Bayh! Evan Bayh Will NOT Seek Re-election.” Looks like a few others went the “bye Bayh” route, but Lori’s the only one who went the extra mile and toddlerized the word “bye.”