Sen. Chris Dodd will exit the U.S. Senate

Sen. Chris Dodd

Fairly or unfairly, Sen. Dodd's status with his constituents suffered when, given the timing of the disclosure during the financial meltdown, it became public that he was a member of the “Friends of Angelo” VIP program at Countrywide after his favorable loan was revealed.

But his goose was really cooked when his role surfaced in legislation that appeared to clear the way for bonuses to be paid to executives of AIG after the insurance firm had received a government bailout. Some things could be forgiven. This one was one of those that the more it was was discussed, explained or defended with voters, the angrier they became.

Personally, I have always been a fan of Sen. Dodd, but I did not like the leadership or lack thereof that he demonstrated in the details of the economic stimulus package that was passed only days after Obama's inauguration. As chairman of the Senate banking committee, Dodd had a central role in some of the crazy stuff in this bill that I continue to come across and be amazed at the pure pork in it and how this or that got in and conceivably be construed to be stimulative.

The New York Times reports that Demmocratic "party officials had been privately hoping he would step aside."