But there's more to the story of why Foley stood for re-election this year.  Yesterday, a source close to Foley explained to THE NEW REPUBLIC that in early 2006 the congressman had all but decided to retire from the House and set up shop on K Street.  "Mark's a friend of mine," says this source.  "He told me, 'I'm thinking about getting out of it and becoming a lobbyist.'"

But when Foley's friend saw the Congressman again this spring, something had changed.  To the source's surprise, Foley told him he would indeed be standing for re-election.  What happened?  Karl Rove intervened.

According to the source, Foley said he was being pressured by "the White House and Rove gang," who insisted that Foley run.  If he didn't, Foley was told, it might impact his lobbying career.

"He said, 'The White House made it very clear I have to run,'" explains Foley's friend, adding that Foley told him that the White House promised that if Foley served for two more years it would "enhance his success" as a lobbyist.  "I said, 'I thought you wanted out of this?'  And he said, 'I do, but they're scared of losing the House and the thought of two years of Congressional hearings, so I have two more years of duty.'"


Wow.  The question I have is, how many other elected officials stay in office longer than they want to for the same reasons?