Hollings Set to Retire, Swipes at Bush

This AP story was removed from most US newspapers I checked.

Democratic Sen. Ernest "Fritz'' Hollings of South Carolina used his retirement announcement to lash out at President Bush, calling him "a good fraternity brother'' and the weakest president he's seen in his half century of public service.

"I say 'weak president' in that the poor boy campaigns all the time and pays no attention to what's going on in Congress,'' Hollings said. "Karl Rove tells him to do this or do that or whatever it is. But he's out campaigning.''

The retirement of Hollings has Republicans jumping at the chance to take over the seat in the increasingly GOP-leaning state.

The announcement was carried live and debated by callers on CSPAN.