Kerry on Rep. Barney Frank’s Announcement

[Mass]

http://kerry.senate.gov/press/release/?id=e77eb38e-e51f-44ca-b22f-82c51f0f100c

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, November 28, 2011
BOSTON – Senator John Kerry today released a statement following Congressman Barney Frank’s announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2012:

“No one’s ever doubted for a minute what Barney Frank thinks or where he stands, and if you weren’t sure, trust me, he’d tell you. That’s the special quality that has made Barney not just beloved and quotable, but unbelievably effective as an advocate and a legislator. He’s brave, he’s bold, and he’s ridiculously smart. People have marveled for years about what a quick and witty debater Barney can be, but many overlooked his secret: he has a core. He’s the same advocate I met in the 1970s stumping for Father Drinan, only he’s taken that fight and that same sense of fundamental fairness to battles over equality, affordable housing, and fishing in New Bedford. Barney is who he is, no matter the issue. His voice will be deeply missed in the Congress and in our delegation, but true to his word he’ll be taking his perspective to a new arena where his impact will continue to be felt just as deeply.”

[karynnj]

1. I love this statement-as it seems right fromthe heart andreally captures Frank

Thank you for posting this.

[Mass]

2. The Boston Globe strikes again.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/11/29/barney-frank-will-not-run-again/wRKhutQxYURSnbe0mWLUML/story.html

Frank’s announcement prompted statements from a range of political figures, including President Obama, Governor Deval Patrick, and US Senator Scott Brown, a Republican, as well as leading political gay and lesbian advocacy groups.

Frank’s lowest point in his public career came in the 1980s, when he hired Steve Gobie, a male prostitute, out of his personal funds to work as a housekeeper and driver. He kicked him out of his Washington home after he found Gobie was running an escort service there. The House Ethics Committee found no evidence of wrongdoing, but the full House reprimanded Frank for his office’s help in fixing 33 traffic tickets for Gobie and providing some misstatements.

In this article about Frank's retirement, first, they skip the entire MA delegation with the exception of Scott Brown, then they follow by this old story about Frank. (Note: I just noticed they talk about this story not once, but twice).

If you want to see a great moment of TV, find the TV interview of Frank by Savannah Guthrie this morning on the Today Show. About as inane as this article, but Frank was able to answer and to tell her what he thought of her.

[karynnj]

3. You are completely correct. What a weird article!

Even if the entire delegation, other than Brown, had not made a comment,why quote the comments of people like Johnson and Payne, and NOT quote Obama, Patrick and Brown? It might be that Kerry and the Congressmen waited until his actual press conference, but they still should have been added to the article as people they are the people who have worked the close with him - other than his own staff.

[Inuca]

4. An incredibly wonderful statement

I could not stop smiling all the way through it. Frank's voice will indeed be deeply missed, but it's his life and I hope he enjoys the next chapter in it, he definitelyu deserves it. And whatever he will so, I am sure that indeed he will not be neither a lobbyist nor a historian (priceless :-)).

[MBS]

5. wonderful statement n/t

[ObamaKerryDem]

6. Beautiful, heartfelt statement from Senator Kerry..

..though I would've expected nothing less! My favorite part was this:

“No one’s ever doubted for a minute what Barney Frank thinks or where he stands, and if you weren’t sure, trust me, he’d tell you"


That's Barney for you-LOL! :D He will indeed be missed! I am still so bummed out by this news! :( Am I the only one that was/is shocked? I didn't live in his district when I was in Mass, but I had contributed to his 2010 campaign and shortly afterward (I think it was in January sometime as I remember the letter waiting for me in my mail when I returned from spending holiday break in AZ), I received a fund raising letter from his campaign, talking about "Here we go again" for the next (2012) cycle. Yeah, I know that's no guarantee and is pretty standard in the political arena, but he seemed so adamant. I didn't get a chance to see his press conference from yesterday yet, but I've heard he talked about redistricting in his district as a central factor to his decision. I have to admit I feel somewhat let down by this (he was/is one of my other favorite "Congress critters" as it were! lol :)), though I know I probably don't have a right to be as I was not one of his constituents and he's already served so well, for so many years and as has already been pointed out here in this thread, it's his life. But still, his voice will be missed in Congress (though he will be sticking around until after 2012, thankfully!)...will be interesting to see which Dem will be introduced to run as his replacement.. as though he could ever be replaced!

I know every run comes to an end eventually and Barney had a great one--but still..sad day for progressives and for Mass! JK said it so well (again, no surprise there!).

[Mass]

7. Seems that Frank will have the same fate as Kennedy. The world cannot exist with him.

We're all doomed (In MA). Said with all due respect for these extraordinary people.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501704_162-57333255/with-frank-leaving-mass-dems-ponder-bleak-future/

With Frank leaving, Mass. Dems ponder bleak future
...

Rep. Barney Frank's decision to step down at the end of his term is the latest jolt to the bruised ego of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, which once counted Kennedys, House speakers and a president among its ranks.

Instead, some of the state's best-known political figures are now Republicans, among them Sen. Scott Brown and presidential candidate Mitt Romney. Really? Renenber Devak Patrick, John Kerry. Ed markey, Capuano, ....)


"For a long time, Massachusetts Democrats have felt they played a special role in the national Democratic Party," said Tufts University political science professor Jeffrey Berry. "I think that has gone at this point. There is no one in Congress from Massachusetts who has that stature now."
I suspect this guy is a Republican

While the state's senior senator, John Kerry, has a powerful perch as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and often serves as a troubleshooter across the globe for the Obama administration, there's been plenty of speculation that if Obama wins re-election, Kerry could be tapped to succeed Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
...
Despite Frank's departure, the state still boasts some powerful Democrats with seniority and political muscle.

The dean of the delegation, Rep. Edward Markey of Malden, who was elected in 1976, heads the Natural Resources Committee and has been a leading party voice on climate change, nuclear safety, consumer issues and environmental matters.

Rep. Michael Capuano is a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Capuano, a close ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has emerged as a strong inside player on Capitol Hill.

Rep. Richard Neal of Springfield, a senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Committee, is seen as a potential chairman of that powerful tax-writing panel. Rep. Jim McGovern of Worcester, meanwhile, is seen as a possible chairman of the House Rules Committee down the road.

At least, we make progress if they cannot deny Kerry is important, but they also have to acknowledge that the MA delegation is fairly powerful, which makes this article fairly pointless. I love this article. So, the POV of a GOP leaning Tuft professor is truth, now.

This said, there is no question we need new blood.

[MBS]

8. ridiculous statement by Berry

:grr: