This week's retirement by Wisconsin Democrat David Obey spells more trouble for the Dems this fall.  First, it's yet another open seat that they will have to defend, and it's not a "solid blue" seat by any means.  Second, it says something about how Democrat leaders are reading the November tea leaves if a major committee chairman retires, (Obey chairs the powerful House Appropriations Committee).  It says that either he thinks he'll have trouble winning another term, or he's pretty sure that the GOP will take back the House and he'll no longer be a major committee chairman...or both.

In any event, it's getting interesting.

Here's a Google map put together by Michael Barone at the Washington Examiner which details each major congressional retirement so far.

View Democrats exiting the sinking ship? 2010 in a larger map