Tork Takes A Bow

After two years as state party chair, Peter Torkildsen has looked around at the condition of the MassGOP and decided: My work here is done!

The former congressman seems to have decided that he cannot commit to two more years of this humiliating farce, and has thus announced that he will not seek re-election as party chair. From his press release:

I am optimistic that our Party will regain the Governor’s office and increase seats in the legislature in 2010, as long as we put recriminations behind us, and recruit, train and support our best possible candidates. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve, and I look forward to continuing to work to build two-party competition in Massachusetts.

By "two-party competition," I assume he means between the GOP and the Green Party. Because when you're being beaten 100%-0% in statewide offices; 100%-0% in US Senate and House seats; and 90%-10% in legislative seats -- that's not really a competition.

I don't mean to pick on Torkildsen, who has always struck me as a decent guy; besides, I'm hoping he runs for Senate if a seat opens, because I want all-out, multi-candidate scrums for both parties to keep me busy -- and lots of third party candidates too!

Jennifer Nassour of Boston has already declared herself a candidate to take over as chair, as PolitickerMA reported.  I'm sure some of the candidates who lost to Torkildsen two years ago will try again. Frankly, I don't know why anyone would want the job.