Barney Frank to retire

[TJ in Oregon]

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?

I suppose I can’t speak for the three of them, but I find Frank abrasive, arrogant, and rude when he speaks. Many of his views during the foreclosure crisis were controversial to say the least and many conservatives blame him in part for the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (a position I don’t necessarily share). He also paid a prostitute for sex in 1989, which is illegal in Massachusetts (and then proceeded to have the man live in his house while running a prostitution ring). Basically though, I remember him as an angry liberal.

[CatoMinor]

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^^^^^^^^^
This

[Bacon King]

Frank should cohost a MSNBC tv show with Armey.

Oh man. That would be some excellent TV.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

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?

Because they drop the 'r' and read the 'nk' as 'g'. Obviously.

Actually it would be because partisan and abrasive figures are generally only popular on their side of the line.

[Username MechaRFK]

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?

I suppose I can’t speak for the three of them, but I find Frank abrasive, arrogant, and rude when he speaks. Many of his views during the foreclosure crisis were controversial to say the least and many conservatives blame him in part for the failure of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (a position I don’t necessarily share). He also paid a prostitute for sex in 1989, which is illegal in Massachusetts (and then proceeded to have the man live in his house while running a prostitution ring). Basically though, I remember him as an angry liberal.

My opinion of him got even higher once I read the prostitute story. Farewell to Barney! Us liberal/progressives will miss having you in the house.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Looks like State Sen. Richard Ross may get in on the GOP side. State Rep. Dan Winslow said he won't run, though I presume he'd be the favorite for Ross's open seat.

For anyone who cares, the new district cuts Patrick's percentage from about 49% down to 45%. All the new towns added to the district are GOP strongholds (comparatively).

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

R+1.

...

[Stardust]

I like that Frank is willing to stand up to the Federal Reserve. He's one of a rare breed of left-wingers, along with Kucinich, who will do so. In that regard, his presence will be sorely missed.

On the other, Frank's views on the economy were basically corporatist to the hilt, despite the layer of "real socialism" he tried to veneer it with.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

R+1.

...

I don't think he was being serious. Even still, this area of the state actually has a solid GOP base, and there's no shortage of decent contenders on the GOP side. This should be about as competitive as MA-10 last year.

[Brittain33]

For anyone who cares, the new district cuts Patrick's percentage from about 49% down to 45%.

This was confusing and upsetting me until I looked up the race and saw Patrick only got 48.4%. I forgot about Cahill and somehow had Patrick in the low-to-mid 50s.

Anyway, I don't disagree with your assessment that this is a tough but real opportunity for Republicans if the macro environment allows it.

[fezzyfestoon]

That's a real shame, he was one of the few with his constituents truly at the forefront of his work. He's a good guy and a good Congressman. If only there were more people like him in Washington it wouldn't be so disappointing to see one with an extremely long tenure go. It's too bad we have to hang on to the few good ones for so long, but there's such a small chance anyone as respectable will take his place.

[© tweed]

For anyone who cares, the new district cuts Patrick's percentage from about 49% down to 45%. All the new towns added to the district are GOP strongholds (comparatively).

so it's not a total gimme

[nclib]

I would hope this CD, or at least another one in Mass., would be able to elect an unabashed liberal of the Frank mold. Massachusetts is pretty much one of the only states where a few CD's would elect one if a staunch liberal got through the primary.

[Username MechaRFK]

I would hope this CD, or at least another one in Mass., would be able to elect an unabashed liberal of the Frank mold. Massachusetts is pretty much one of the only states where a few CD's would elect one if a staunch liberal got through the primary.

Vermont, Left Coast, New York, and maybe Rhode Island would elect a Frank mold liberal to congress.

[nclib]

I would hope this CD, or at least another one in Mass., would be able to elect an unabashed liberal of the Frank mold. Massachusetts is pretty much one of the only states where a few CD's would elect one if a staunch liberal got through the primary.

Vermont, Left Coast, New York, and maybe Rhode Island would elect a Frank mold liberal to congress.

Yes, that's why I said "one of the only states". The thing about Mass. is that no matter how lines are drawn, there are several options. Even MA-3, conservative by Mass. standards, elects the quite liberal Jim McGovern.

[Username MechaRFK]

I would hope this CD, or at least another one in Mass., would be able to elect an unabashed liberal of the Frank mold. Massachusetts is pretty much one of the only states where a few CD's would elect one if a staunch liberal got through the primary.

Vermont, Left Coast, New York, and maybe Rhode Island would elect a Frank mold liberal to congress.

Yes, that's why I said "one of the only states". The thing about Mass. is that no matter how lines are drawn, there are several options. Even MA-3, conservative by Mass. standards, elects the quite liberal Jim McGovern.

Most of my family in Massachusetts are very conservative and they live mostly in MA-3 and MA-4 which is represented by Barney Frank.  You can find some of the most anti-minority Democrats around this area and Southie with more conservative views on taxes, guns, illegals, patriotism, and welfare. We Dems can elect some very liberal Democrats in states such as Ohio but more often then not this idealist solution won't be what the state actually wants due to their conservative polices with vice versa to liberal states electing conservatives.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Glad this hypocritical POS wouldn't be around for another term.

You can disagree with his politics, you can hate his politics, but if you're calling him a hypocrite, then you should sit down for a moment with your dictionary before embarrassing yourself again on the internet, kiddo.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Glad this hypocritical POS wouldn't be around for another term.

You can disagree with his politics, you can hate his politics, but if you're calling him a hypocrite, then you should sit down for a moment with your dictionary before embarrassing yourself again on the internet, kiddo.

Anyone who got anywhere in politics is a hypocrite on one level or another. There's nothing special about Frank in that regard.

[RogueBeaver]

Now they want Joe Kennedy III to run, though like the Chelsea rumors it was quickly shot down. This cycle's only uber-dynast is Connie Mack.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

This retirement here creates a tough choice for Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson (R), who is rumored to be interest in running for congress in 2012. He doesn't technically live in the district -- he lives in the part of the county given to Keating's 9th. But there's better overlap between Bristol and the 4th.

He says he's leaning towards challenging Keating but considering this race as well, so take that FWIW. We could have three absolutely fantastic House races in Massachusetts next year, something last seen in 1996.

[Brittain33]

A Joe Arpaio-style Republican would do even worse than usual for his party at the northern end of the district, though.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

A Joe Arpaio-style Republican would do even worse than usual for his party at the northern end of the district, though.

I'd surmise that the GOP has a much better shot of holding the seat by playing to the middle of the district, not the two pieces of the district that Patrick won. Brookline and Newton are not where this election will be won and lost. It'll be won and lost in places like Taunton.

[Brittain33]

A Joe Arpaio-style Republican would do even worse than usual for his party at the northern end of the district, though.

I'd surmise that the GOP has a much better shot of holding the seat by playing to the middle of the district, not the two pieces of the district that Patrick won. Brookline and Newton are not where this election will be won and lost. It'll be won and lost in places like Taunton.

Would we agree that you need a decent Republican environment for a Republican to win, with some comfortable upper middle class people turning their backs on the Dems? If so, that means lots of wealthy moderates in Needham, Newton, and Brookline who otherwise vote Democratic, voting for a Republican they consider safe. The Republican doesn't have to win that part of the district or come close, but he needs a) to get some votes there and, more importantly, b) not anger people so much that they come out in force against him.

You need a Mitt Romney or a Scott Brown, not someone who unabashedly plays wedge issues.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

Would we agree that you need a decent Republican environment for a Republican to win, with some comfortable upper middle class people turning their backs on the Dems? If so, that means lots of wealthy moderates in Needham, Newton, and Brookline who otherwise vote Democratic, voting for a Republican they consider safe. The Republican doesn't have to win that part of the district or come close, but he needs a) to get some votes there and, more importantly, b) not anger people so much that they come out in force against him.

You need a Mitt Romney or a Scott Brown, not someone who unabashedly plays wedge issues.

Obviously, for the GOP to pick up the seat, they need someone who can win over Democrats. But in Massachusetts, the Democrats who do turn their backs and vote for Republicans are not the wealthy moderates in Brookline you're describing. They're solid, urban Democrats. Largely immovable.

When I've looked at in-depth polling as part of Mass GOP campaigns, the only lean-Dem voters that the GOP has a shot of moving are the more conservative, blue collar ones in towns like Taunton. Picking Richard Ross over Hodgson might get the GOP an extra 5,000 votes total in Brookline, Newton, and Wellesley. At the same time, though, I'd expect Hodgson to be able to make those 5,000 votes up in Bristol.

By the numbers, I really do think Hodgson v. Pacheco is a better shot for the GOP than Ross v. Pacheco, even if Ross performs better north of Bristol.

[krazen1211]

Maxine Waters to take ranking slot on Financial Services

http://www.rollcall.com/news/carolyn_maloney_wont_take_on_maxine_waters_for_financial_services_slot-210708-1.html?pos=hln


And Slotted to be chairwoman if the Democrats get a House majority. The CBC has threatened Armageddon if Maloney takes the slot. Lol.