Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

End of the line for Patrick Kennedy R.I. congressman won’t run for re-election
Boston Herald ^ | February 12, 2010 | Hillary Chabot, Edward Mason and O’Ryan Johnson

Posted on 02/11/2010 11:39:50 PM PST by ninonitti

Bringing down the curtain - at least for now - on Camelot and one of the most storied political dynasties in the nation’s history, U.S. Rep. Patrick Kennedy, son of the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, says he is not running for re-election.

In a taped message intended for broadcast Sunday night and obtained by the Herald, the R.I. Democrat, looking haggard and speaking directly into the camera, said it was time to leave Congress after 16 years.

“Now having spent two decades in politics, my life is taking a new direction, and I will not be a candidate for re-election this year,” Kennedy said in the ad.

Kennedy’s bombshell comes as polls show the eight-term Democrat in an uphill fight against Republican John J. Loughlin II, a veteran state lawmaker and well-financed foe.

A WPRI-12 poll out just last month showed Kennedy with a staggering 56 percent unfavorable rating in his own district, swelling to 62 percent statewide. Moreover, just 35 percent in his district would vote for him again.

“It was not going to be a cakewalk,” said Joe Fleming, who conducted the poll.

Kennedy’s stunning bow-out also closely follows Republican Scott Brown winning the Massachusetts seat long held by the congressman’s iconic father for 47 years.

A longtime aide and confidant, though, said Kennedy, 42, had pondered the departure from public life for some time.

“It’s something he’s been thinking about for a while,” said Sean Richardson, Kennedy’s former chief of staff, who added that the decision has nothing to do with Kennedy’s most recent struggles with substance abuse.

“ After serving in elected office for half of his life, it was time to take his talents to a different arena,” Richardson said.

Kennedy will finish out his term but hasn’t indicated what he’d like to do once he leaves office, Richardson said.

However, in his video remarks, Kennedy said he would battle on behalf of sufferers of depression, addiction, autism and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Kennedy also hasn’t thrown his support behind any other candidates, Richardson said.

The sudden departure of Kennedy caught his Republican rival off guard.

“I am somewhat surprised,” Loughlin said in a phone interview. “I thought for certain he’d run for another term.”

“I wish the congressman well in what ever the future holds,” Loughlin said. “It doesn’t change our mesage to the voters of the First Congressional district - we’re still expecting we’re going to have to run a race.”


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Rhode Island
KEYWORDS: kennedy; loughlin
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last
The Brown Effect?
1 posted on 02/11/2010 11:39:50 PM PST by ninonitti
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Is this the last of the drunk clan in politics?


2 posted on 02/11/2010 11:43:05 PM PST by kik5150
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Heh... Another Democrat sees the light!


3 posted on 02/11/2010 11:43:48 PM PST by Deagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

More like the POA (Pi**ed Off Americans) effect.


4 posted on 02/11/2010 11:44:18 PM PST by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Thank God and good riddance!

I am so sick and tired of the Kennedy aristocracy I could puke.


5 posted on 02/11/2010 11:45:23 PM PST by Ronin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Good riddance to liberal rubbish..


6 posted on 02/11/2010 11:51:34 PM PST by sheik yerbouty ( Make America and the world a jihad free zone!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Isn’t that a big ol’ rug on his head in the video?


7 posted on 02/11/2010 11:53:06 PM PST by 9YearLurker
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Writing, meet wall...


8 posted on 02/11/2010 11:55:08 PM PST by GnuHere
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

What’s amazing is that these Kennedy’s, JFK aside, are all idiots.


9 posted on 02/11/2010 11:55:36 PM PST by byteback
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

well darn. I was looking forward to seeing him lose.


10 posted on 02/11/2010 11:58:00 PM PST by mockingbyrd (Sarah speaks for me!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kik5150
Is this the last of the drunk clan in politics?

Biden's still around for the time being.

11 posted on 02/11/2010 11:59:50 PM PST by SeeSharp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: mockingbyrd

Heh...yah know, I was wishing for the same! Not quite the same when he withdraws...


12 posted on 02/12/2010 12:00:45 AM PST by Deagle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: byteback

JFK was a big government idiot, too. He also had the morals of Bill Clinton.


13 posted on 02/12/2010 12:11:47 AM PST by donna (Sarah PAC has donated money to...(wait for it)...Lindsey Graham!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti
Camelot

"On second thought, let's not go to Camelot... It is a silly place."

14 posted on 02/12/2010 12:11:58 AM PST by Redcloak (Messin' up threads since 1998)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Free My People!


15 posted on 02/12/2010 12:31:31 AM PST by Berlin_Freeper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti
“Now having spent two decades in politics, my life is taking a new direction.....


16 posted on 02/12/2010 12:36:09 AM PST by kingattax (99 % of liberals give the rest a bad name)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Maybe his phony liberal politics and Kennedy legacy were the source of his self loathing that made him need to self medicate. Maybe with his father gone he can live a principled honest life and finally find contentment.

Or maybe he just wants to get drunk and drugged up all the time and his Congressional responsibilities were getting in the way.


17 posted on 02/12/2010 12:36:13 AM PST by detective
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Was it his Catholic bishop challenging Patrick on his abortion votes and views?

And Patrick whining about it that helped to contribute to this unopularity??????

Or perhaps its the “health care” issue in general.


18 posted on 02/12/2010 12:39:02 AM PST by Nextrush (Slocialist Republicans and Socialist Democrats must go)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Cause for hope... One more "real" scumbag hits the ground :)

Finally, What Sarah wants to do - short video part of "Part-3" below

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other videos: This is the 30 minute interview with Chris Wallace from Fox (2-7-10), in 3 parts:

Video Part 1 of 3

Video Part 2 of 3

Video Part 3 of 3

19 posted on 02/12/2010 12:39:40 AM PST by ElPatriota (The SILENCE of the Catholic Church (...Actually I'm hearing MORE from RCC now! ....) ** DEAFENING **)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: ninonitti

Quitter.


20 posted on 02/12/2010 12:43:12 AM PST by qwertypie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-43 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson