Again, Why Did Jo Ann Emerson Even Run for Reelection

Jo Ann Emerson can't wait to leave Congress. It was announced just a couple weeks after she won reelection that she would retire. It doesn't seem many in the press are asking the obvious question, "why did this carpetbagger even decide to run for reelection considering the timing of her departure announcement."

Now, she may be leaving even sooner than she first announced. Still weeks away from the start of her next term, Emerson is considering moving up her retirement date to February 8.

Bob Parker challenged Emerson in 2012. It may be a fact that Emerson and the GOP establishment knew Emerson was on her way out, but the GOP couldn't afford to have a Tea Party conservative like Parker benefit from announcing her retirement before the primary. Parker was a vocal critic of the GOP establishment types like Emerson and Roy Blunt that supported the bailouts.