“I have decided next year I will not seek a fifth Congressional term. This decision was not impacted in any way by the recent inquiries into the activities of my former presidential campaign or my former presidential staff."

-- Michele Bachmann in a video on her campaign website, as reported in The New York Times.

My favorite line in the story comes not from Bachmann but from Times staffer Gerry Mullany:

Mrs. Bachmann is known for her strong anti-abortion stance and adherence to Tea Party values but her presidential campaign was marked by frequent stumbles and her candidacy failed to catch fire in a crowded field of candidates that included Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas and Herman Cain, who all eventually lost to Mitt Romney.

Failing to catch fire among those candidates is like a movie failing to catch fire in a crowded field of Rob Schneider and Wayans brothers comedies.

I also like this from author Rick Perlstein, who posted a link to the Bachmann's video on Facebook:

Fifty bucks to anyone who can listen through the whole thing. No email checking, not texting—no cheating.

She's leaving the House ... bye bye....