Rep. John Salazar appears to have taken himself out of consideration for a posting in Barack Obama's cabinet by accepting a position on the House Appropriations Committee. While Salazar might not be out of the mix for a cabinet posting, the committee assignment hardly suggests he is going to be around the House much longer. In fact, it suggests that House Demoracts might be worried about rumors of Salazar's intent to retire in 2010.

Republicans tried a similar tactic with Bob Beauprez in 2005. When word got around that Beauprez was vacating his seat to run for Governor, he was given a spot on the House Ways and Means Committee in a move viewed by some as an attempt to persuade him to stay in Congress.

Democrats would be in a nearly identical, if not worse, situation to the Republicans in 2006 if Salazar were to step aside. Expect the House Democrats to pull out all the stops over the next few months to try to convince John not to return to the private sector.