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Bwaney Frank’s 4th congressional district went overwhelmingly for Scott Brown; just five of the 24 cities and towns voted for Coakley. Frank acknowledges that it may be a tougher race than he’s used to. “But, if I want to get re-elected it’s my job to talk about the issues and my record, and that’s the nature of democracy,” he said.........fierce competition or not, Frank said he will “definitely” seek re-election this November.

NOT HIS DECISION TO MAKE What this self-absorbed Lipless Wonder fails to fathom is that his constituients (including those townhallers he sneered at) will decide whether he is fit to run for reelection. Now Frank wants to talk about his "record?" Fine. Here it is.

Let The Inquisition Start With Barney Frank
Investor's Business Daily | 3/6/09
FR Posted on 03/08/2009 by FreeManN

Congressman Barney Frank says he wants some of those responsible for our current financial meltdown to be prosecuted. And we couldn't agree more. First up in the court dock: Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. Even by the extraordinarily loose standards of Congress, it takes some chutzpah for someone such as Frank to suggest that he'll seek prosecutions for those behind the housing and financial crunch and for what he called "a strongly empowered systemic risk regulator." Frank: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's point man in Washington.

For Frank, perhaps more than any single individual in private or public life, is responsible for both the housing market mess and subsequent bank disaster. And no, this isn't partisan hyperbole or historical exaggeration. But first, a little trip down memory lane. (Excerpt) Read more at ibdeditorial.com ...

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THE WORM TURNS The Poor Should Rent, Not Own (Barney Frank admits disastrous mistake)
The Atlantic | 02/01/10 | Daniel Indiviglio
FR Posted 02/02/2010 by TigerLikesRooster

In its final installment of the "What Went Wrong" Series on the financial crisis, Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA) spoke up. Much of it was predictable: Frank ralked like anyone closely following the financial regulation push in Congress already knew. But there was one fascinating gem in his discussing where Fannie and Freddie went wrong. Frank says urging the poor to own homes was mistake, and now believes they should rent instead.

Frank's take on how Fannie and Freddie could be structured to avoid moral hazard and a too cozy relationship with regulators: After stating that we should separate the liquidity creation function from the subsidy objective ( which we already knew he supported), he said: "I think you separate out the function of providing the equity in general for the mortgage market and doing some subsidy and, in my judgment, the subsidy again, as I said before, should be focused on affordable rental housing, not in pushing low income people into owning homes that they can't afford." (Excerpt) Read more at business.theatlantic.com ...