‘DOES IT matter, in the case of Congressman Frank, what I would have preferred?” quipped Governor Patrick, after Barney Frank announced to the nation — on “Morning Joe,” no less — that he is seeking Patrick’s support for the four-month interim appointment to replace Senator John Kerry. Yes, Frank can be obnoxious, even to his friends. And as a retiring congressman who relishes the idea of never again going before the voters, he’s as unleashed as he ever has been. Washington, watch out.
But as Patrick acknowledged, Frank is an excellent candidate for interim senator. Choosing him would serve two important purposes. First, since he’s emphatically ruled out any future election, his selection would allow the voters to choose a permanent senator without having one of the candidates anointed by the governor. Second, he would be effective immediately as a senator, since he’s about as knowledgeable on federal budget issues as anyone in Congress. That’s crucial because budget cutting will be the prime agenda item for the next four months. And Frank, who’s toiled fruitlessly in the Republican-led House alongside GOP gadfly Ron Paul on a plan to trim the defense budget, would finally get to make his case in the Senate.
Comments
Seems like a no brainer to me. But I don"t work for a defense contractor.
I'd say that you have no brain if you support this. Frank is the one who sated that he was retiring because he had no interest in reaching out to meet new constituents. That if he had to work to keep his job, he wasn't interested. That anybody would support him for the senate is disgusting.
This comment has been removed.
Imagine a guy with this much expertise and having so earned a peaceful retirement wanting the job of dealing with today's Senate. We're going to hold frankness against Frank? Have the Republicans been behaving politely? Please. This is an easy call, Gov Patrick. Minimum blowback on this, I don't see any at all, but I am not a pol. Go for it, give Rep. Frank this post.
Don't confuse experience with expertise. Frank is not well liked even in what's left of the district he used to represent. He is not respected by the current members of the Senate and would do nothing but warm a seat and make snarky (that's the only word I can think of) remarks about those who disagree with him. He was a major contributor to the sub-prime mortgage bust yet walked away unscathed from it.
I would rather have the seat unfilled than to add more fuel to the machine that makes Massachusetts a great source of jokes to comedians and talk show hosts.
Anyone that the Globe recommends is the wrong candidate for the job.
Brilliant!
It's time for windbag Frank to retire to Maine. We are all sick and tired of him.
Maine? Why Maine? What do you have against Maine? If you hate Rep. Frank that much one would infer also you hate the place to which you would banish him.
When Judd Gregg retired he ran off to Goldman Sachs. You can bet that Barney Frank isn't headed there. If one is sick and tired of the Mitch McConnell pieties maybe we need a Thaddeus Stevens, theTommy Lee Jones character from the Lincoln film, to liven up the debate. For two years we had Scott Brown who usually waited to see which way the wind was blowing and checking with foks like the NRA before engaging in issues. Barney knows the issues, knows where he's coming from, and would be exqusitely free to state them squarely. Of course...that make's everyone nervous. So I'm not optimistic.
Let's try to be optimistic, nahantjim. Even though the Governor probably wasn't happy that Mr. Frank announced his willingness to serve as interim Senator, he and everyone else knows how effective Barney would be. We especially need his experience with and knowledge of the federal budget and how it affects and is affected by the US economy. If enough voters signal their preference for Mr. Frank as interim Senator, maybe we'll be heard.
Can Deval Patrick ward off the ol guard democrats that would surely not want any histrionics prior to the nomination of the anointed one Markey? This editorial makes perfect sense. Its time to think about what is best for the country and not what's best for Markey. In the upcoming senate race let the chips fall as they will.
You claim Barney Frank is "best for the country?" That is truly a dumb statement.
Barney Frank cannot get along with anyone, regardless of the committee, or the members.
Why is that _ you may ask_because he is a callous buffoon who refuses to listen to any opinions, other than his own. He is incapable of analysis or critical thinking.
Barney Frank failed to run for reelection because he knew it would be an uphill battle that he would loose. Massachusetts residents are sick & tired of his arrogant behaviors.
So budget cutting is going to the "priority" going forward and Frank is "expert" in this regard? Pray tell, what spending (other than defense) has Frank ever suggested (much less driven to enactment)? When the Bush administration TWICE tried to reign in Fnmae and Freddie Mac what was Mr. Frank's "expert" assessment? Did he not say he preferred to "roll the dice a little bit more in his situation"? Frank misunderstood one of the biggest financial debacles in history and blithely ignored the warnings of others because his political preferences were more important to him than acting even remotely financially responsible. Frank isn't just ill suited for (as the Globe admits) his vast arrogance but he's a proven financial incompetent of the highest order. For the Globe to endorse someone like Frank in one of the biggest periods of financial crisis in history is incomprehensible nonsense.
Globe on Frank Congress and the fiscal cliff: step back all you firemen we need to give the chief arsonist a little more time in the building...sort of to finish the job!!
Barney should be going to jail for his 15 years record of supporting Fannie and Freddie and the bad policies that became the foundation of the financial collapse. The taxpayers are about $150 billion down on these failed organizations, and the end in nowhere in sight.
Send Frank to the can!
This MUST be a joke...right?
This comment has been removed.
OMG _ this is written by either Editor Brian McGrory or Blogger NROSEN!