He's not leaving

I'm guessing there will be a mixed reaction from conservatives on this:

SOUTH BEND — Republican Sen. Richard Lugar said Wednesday that he plans on seeking a seventh term in 2012 in a bid that would extend his run as the longest-serving U.S. senator in Indiana history.

After speaking about world affairs and taking questions during a luncheon at The Summit Club, a private dining club in South Bend, the 78-year-old Lugar said he will run again, though he has not formally announced his candidacy.

"I suppose there will be a place and a time to do that, to rally the forces, to get the fundraisers going and all of that type of thing. But that's my intent day by day," he said. "Most people in the Senate know I will be around, therefore they have to deal with me on that basis."

Lugar sometimes seems far too accommodationist to the other side, such as when he votes for Elena Kagan's Supreme Court nomination and when he says stuff like "We've had such gridlock . . . almost to a mindless degree." On the other hand, he is still rated as quite conservative by the groups that monitor such things. And he and 6th District Rep. Mike Pence were the only two Hoosiers to make this year's list of best legislators by the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste. Pence was one of just seven House "Taxpayer Super Heroes," those who scored 100 percent on 120 key votes the group monitored. And Lugar was one 29 Senate "Taxpayer Heroes" who had a score of 80 percent or above on 74 key votes. (There were only two Senate super heroes.