Bayh-Bayh, Evan

Pete and Patrick have already posted on Evan Bayh’s retirement from the Senate. Yet the responsibility falls on me to employ one of the most obvious and predictable puns of the season: Bayh-Bayh, Evan.

Furthermore, I predict that this pun will become painfully common over the next 24 to 48 hours. I may be the first to use it here because of my awful sense of humor, but I am confident that the blogosphere as a whole will stoop my level.

Speaking of confidence, Sen. Bayh had the chutzpah to declare,

“My decision was not motivated by political concern,” he added. “Even in the current challenging environment, I am confident in my prospects for re-election.”

Bayh had never lost an election, from his first win in 1986 as secretary of state, his wins for governor in 1988 and 1992 and his election to the U.S. Senate in 1998 and 2004.

Admittedly, the man has a winning record. But when you retire just weeks after Brown-vs.-Coakley, it doesn’t look like a sign of confidence.