The undertow for U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards and other Democrats swimming against an anti-government tide got stiffer earlier today when David Obey, one of the most powerful members of the House, announced he would not run again, 41 years after he first took office.

The Dallas Morning News said Obey's decision to step down rather than face his first serious challenge in years will be seen as the Democratic Party's lack of confidence in itself heading into November. Obey told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he was too weary for another re-election campaign.

"There is a time to stay and a time to go. And this is my time to go," he said. "I hate to do it. There is so much that needs to be done. But frankly I am bone tired."

Obey will be stepping down as the third-ranking member of the House and chairman of its powerful Appropriations Committee. Edwards, D-Waco, currently serves as a subcommittee chairman on Appropriations. He is facing Republican businessman Bill Flores of Bryan in the race to serve House District 17.

Contact Mark Lisheron at 512-299-2318 or mark@texaswatchdog.org.