Barney Frank to retire

[Meeker]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/11/28/frank_will_not_run_again.html

Yup.

[Jayhawker]

Well at least something good will come from this election cycle.

[krazen1211]

Didn't some western Massachusetts guy want to preserve the Olver district so he can run it in?

Whoops.

[Sibboleth]

He's over 70 and has been a congresscritter for three decades, so, you know.

[Senator Clarence]

Disagreed with him about everything but always respected his willingness to step into the ring and fight for his beliefs

[Gravis Marketing]

Didn't some western Massachusetts guy want to preserve the Olver district so he can run it in?

Whoops.

There was no way to preserve two districts west of Worcester with current population trends, with or without Olver. Stanley Rosenberg acknowledged that when they unveiled the map.

[memphis]

Sort of the Jesse Jackson of gay people. Done a lot of good. Didn't always set a good example though. All in all, FF. Prolly time for somebody new anyway. Or maybe they can just magically fix the lines and not get anybody new. Whatev.

[So the Heroes Fall]

Goodbye to a true FF.

[MilesC56]

Hmmm, good guy but I was expecting him to be a Congressman-for-life.

[Former Moderate]

Congressman Mark Pacheco, I guess?

[cinyc]

Didn't some western Massachusetts guy want to preserve the Olver district so he can run it in?

Whoops.

There was no way to preserve two districts west of Worcester with current population trends, with or without Olver. Stanley Rosenberg acknowledged that when they unveiled the map.

Is that map final or can they redraw the Boston-area seats to make more geographic sense and give New Bedford and Fall River their own district without almost stretching to Boston?

[Gravis Marketing]

Is that map final or can they redraw the Boston-area seats to make more geographic sense and give New Bedford and Fall River their own district without almost stretching to Boston?

The map is final. New Bedford was put in with the Cape and Islands in the current configuration, which makes sense, even if the 4th as otherwise conceived is still off.

[FloridaRepublican]

Good riddance.

[Governor Scott]

Farewell, Congressman.

My favorite memory of him.

[nclib]

Barney Frank has been great. One of the best in Congress. I am sorry to see him leave, but I wish him the best in retirement.

[President Marokai]

Goodbye to a true FF.

[Joe Republic]

On the GOP caucus in the House:  "It consists half of people who think like Michele Bachmann and half of people who are afraid of losing a primary to people who think like Michele Bachmann."

FF

[shua]

Did he really think he couldn't win?

[Kevin]

Glad this hypocritical POS wouldn't be around for another term. The House and Washington politics overall will be a better place without him.

[Bacon King]

In honor of Barney Frank, let me type up a few paragraphs about him from a book I'm currently reading (The Promise by Johnathan Alter). This exchange happened on September 25, 2008, immediately after the impromptu "summit" that McCain had requested, when Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson approached the Democrats and begged them not to oppose the deal.

Barney Frank muscled his way past Harry Reid and started yelling. "F-ck you, Hank! F-ck you! Blow up this deal? We didn't blow up this deal! Your guys blew up this deal! You better tell Bachus and the rest of them to get their sh-t together!" When Paulson tried to equivocate, Frank threw in another "F-ck you, Hank!" - his third of the day.

Everyone knew Frank had a temper, but no one had seen anything like this. For a moment it struck Robert Gibbs and Jim Manley that this little scene really could get physical: the pudgy congressman versus the gawky treasury secretary, right here in the White House. As a former Dartmouth football player, Paulson was the favorite, but maybe Frank had a shot.

The only person standing between Frank and Paulson was Barack Obama, who bent his arms and spread his palms to keep the two men apart. "Okay, guys," Obama said, like a teacher preventing a playground brawl.

But Frank wasn't about to back down. "Your problem is with the Republicans who want to torpedo this, not us!" he yelled. You go back and tell the president his problem is with his own f-cking party!"

Love him or hate him, that guy had some balls of steel.

[redcommander]

R+1.

[smoltchanov]

Farewell, excellent congressman! I would like to see more original and brainy people like him instead of "loyal party soldiers" (despite the fact that Frank was always a very liberal Democrat - he always came to his conclusions independent of what other had to say)

[Sibboleth]

Barney Frank muscled his way past Harry Reid and started yelling. "F-ck you, Hank! F-ck you! Blow up this deal? We didn't blow up this deal! Your guys blew up this deal! You better tell Bachus and the rest of them to get their sh-t together!" When Paulson tried to equivocate, Frank threw in another "F-ck you, Hank!" - his third of the day.

Everyone knew Frank had a temper, but no one had seen anything like this. For a moment it struck Robert Gibbs and Jim Manley that this little scene really could get physical: the pudgy congressman versus the gawky treasury secretary, right here in the White House. As a former Dartmouth football player, Paulson was the favorite, but maybe Frank had a shot.

The only person standing between Frank and Paulson was Barack Obama, who bent his arms and spread his palms to keep the two men apart. "Okay, guys," Obama said, like a teacher preventing a playground brawl.

But Frank wasn't about to back down. "Your problem is with the Republicans who want to torpedo this, not us!" he yelled. You go back and tell the president his problem is with his own f-cking party!"

Appropriate surname, no?

[nkpatel1279]

Frank should cohost a MSNBC tv show with Armey.

[Badger]

Well at least something good will come from this election cycle.

Good riddance.

Glad this hypocritical POS wouldn't be around for another term. The House and Washington politics overall will be a better place without him.

Any particular reason, gentlemen?