Posted on 11/29/2011 2:45:56 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BOSTON (AP) -- 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.
"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."
Frank has long been a liberal lightning rod and is the highest-profile member of the state's all-Democratic House delegation. His announcement follows the decision of another Massachusetts representative, John Olver, a member of the House Appropriations panel, not to seek re-election.
Add to those impending departures the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy in 2009 and the state's loss of a House seat in the most recent redistricting process, and some Democrats in Massachusetts are wondering whether the glory days are behind them.
...
Part of the decline is due to inexorable demographic changes that are working against the relatively small Northeastern state.
While Southern and Southwestern states have experienced population booms, Massachusetts has seen anemic growth, leading to the loss of one of its 10 seats in Congress.
The prospect of running in a newly redrawn district with 325,000 new constituents, ..
"One of the advantages to me of not running for office is that I don't even have to pretend to be nice to people I don't like," the famously acerbic Frank said.
There was a time not so long ago when Massachusetts Democrats held outsized political sway in Washington.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
and
While Southern and Southwestern states have experienced population booms, Massachusetts has seen anemic growth, leading to the loss of one of its 10 seats in Congress.
Gee, ya think there might be a connection?
They still have John “Do you know I served in Vietnam” Kerry.
“Instead, some of the state’s best-known political figures are now Republicans, among them Sen. Scott Brown and presidential candidate Mitt Romney.”
RINOs, more like, but that’s the best you’re going to do in The People’s Republic of Taxachusetts.
I heard on WLS-AM that now that he’s leaving, his seat is wide open and that he’s been hit in the face by more balls than a major league baseball player.
He’s not really going anywhere. He’ll still be screwing us without the coverage of the media as a lobbyist.
Don’t you know that John Kerry was a war hero? He served with valor at the Battle of Chu Mai Dong which was just south of Kum Quat Yam on the Mugu Gai Pan River.
Maybe psychotic, Progressive Democrats will not be returning to Congress in large numbers.
(One can only hope they move to Cuba.)
IMHO
The future's fantastic I thought. Nancy Pelosi has said she expects to get her speaker's gavel back in January 2013. She knows what she's talking about, doesn't she?
He was never that.
Ed Markey's probably going to get Frank's airtime, if he's up for it.
Or Venezuela.
Their 'rat Utopia is already in practice in multiple countries 'round the world (e.g. ZIMBABWE). You'd think they would get a one way ticket to get to their objective.
Maybe, the people of Massachusetts are finally starting to grow up. Baby steps, baby steps....
We can only hope!!
'Don't think so.
Bunches of 'em have moved to NH to f'nKerry it up too.
Firm progressives are lined up to become the next member to fill his seat.
Bielat. Tom Wesley. 2 GOPers in the district.
any DEM names come up yet? Expect a nasty DEM primary?
I don’t know what everyone else is saying, but Rush said with Barney leaving, it leaves Frank’s seat wide open.
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