Cong. Boehlert is retiring

One of the few non-theocratic GOP members of Congress is calling it quits:

Boehlert, 69, leads a small moderate GOP faction in Congress that has clashed with President Bush over such issues as global warming and spending for social programs.

In recent years, that faction won some hard-fought legislative victories, but those battles have not endeared Boehlert to some powerful House Republicans.

Boehlert has also defended scientists when their professional opinions have drawn heat from administration policy-makers.

His seat should be a Democratic pick-up.