time to dust off the term limits bumper stickers again

Well, I think the best term limits are elections. The problem is that laws like McCain-Feingold have turned campaign finance into a giant incumbent protection racket.

Challengers have a very difficult time raising money to face entrenched incumbents like Babs Mikulkski. Let's face it: in Maryland, the only way to get elected to the US Senate is if someone dies or retires. (Mikulski herself replaced Charlie Mathias, who had retired, who replace Danny Brewster, who had retired... and so on).

Cardin, of course, replaced Sarbanes (retired), who replaced Glen Beall through an actual election defeat.

Interesting fact: Sarbanes, Cardin, and Mikulski all came out of MD Congressional District 3. Who is the current Representative for MD-3? John Sarbanes, the son of the former Senator.