Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Mollie Hemingway, Ed. ·
November 28, 2011 at 4:55pm
OK, the Massachusetts Democrat simply said he's retiring. But that's what retirement means for elected officials: it's time to cash out. Make bank.
A few thoughts on the departure of the man who orchestrated so much of our housing crisis.
This means Rep. Maxine Waters is in line to be top Democrat on House banking. They share the same political philosophy but whereas Frank was one of the smartest and wittiest members of Congress, Waters is one of the most shockingly stupid. Which one will do more damage?
The district he represents was just actually made more Democratic in redistricting.
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Jun '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
The smart ones are always the most dangerous. Maxine has no shame, but is clueless about her cluelessness.
Nov '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Cashing out... that's so appropriate.
Perhaps I have seen this ride too many times, but I personally can't wait to see the scandal behind this decision.
Jun '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
I'm thinking there's a cellphone camera involved somehow in this decision. I hope it's not a health problem. What else does Barney know besides political wheeling and dealing? Well, good luck to him. He'll be at home, where he can't destroy America anymore.
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
This Globe article says that while the district is more Democratic, it's also more conservative now. It played a major role in his decision.
Jan '11
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Two possibilities:
I'm guessing it's #1, but #2 would be fun as well.
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Mollie, you beat me to the post (I heard the news on the drive into work this morning).
Barney Frank: "My work here is done."
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Incidentally, Frank's retirement means 16 House Democrats aren't running for re-election in 2012 to just 6 Republicans.
Mar '11
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Heh. That large sign was in the corner of my eye on the main page as a contributor feed highlight. And here I thought it was a bank ad!
May '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
KC - Barney Frank as a "decoration?"
Mollie - As for Frank's district being more conservative, doesn't that jive with the piece in this morning's NYT that says that the Democrats have officially abandoned working-class whites?
“It’s certainly true that if you compare how things were in the early ’90s to the way they are now, there has been a significant shift in the role of the working class. You see it across all advanced industrial countries,” (Ruy) Teixeira, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, said in an interview.
In the United States, Teixeira noted, “the Republican Party has become the party of the white working class,” while in Europe, many working-class voters who had been the core of Social Democratic parties have moved over to far right parties, especially those with anti-immigration platforms.
Aug '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
I've often said that I much prefer my politicians to be honest and incompetent rather than dishonest and brilliant.
The former will fail at doing the right thing, while the latter will succeed at doing the wrong thing.
So how about a politician that is dishonest and incompetent? Will that politician fail at doing the wrong thing?
Certainly not. They'll simply be easily tricked into doing even worse things, and even more easily convinced of the rightness of their wrongness.
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
I'd rather have seen him go much, much sooner, and I'd rather have seen him removed by a Republican, not permitted to retire on his own terms. Still. Short of Nancy Pelosi herself--and maybe not even short of her--no other member of Congress contributed so much to the present disaster, and now we know that in a matter of weeks he'll be gone.
This isn't justice.
But it's progress.
May '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
@Peter
Why do you say "weeks?" Isn't he going to finish his term? Or do you mean weeks as in 56 or so?
Oct '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
@Peter
Good riddance to Barney from the senate, but he will probably be appointed by the O to run Fannie May of Freddie Mac... and the cash machine keeps on flowing from the taxpayer to the Democrat party.
Speaking of the cash machine, what are Chris Dodd's plans?
And the image of Maxine Waters speaking as an authoritative member of the senate is one of those blood curdling embarrassments that will overwhelm our nation's sense of shame.
Jan '11
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
You may have a point there. In the Twilight Zone, perhaps.
Apr '11
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
I was wondering if Barney is retiring to avoid an investigation and possible punishment by the House. Nah, who am I kidding the current Republican leadership doesn't have the stones to punish one of the biggest culprits in the housing/economic collapse. They would be attacked in the Post!
Sep '11
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Hopefully everyone there that would have voted for him stays home, and hurts Warren's senate run.
Aug '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Worked great for Newt...
May '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Actually it gives Barney time to get that long-awaited Mr. Magoo musical onto the Broadway stage...
Oh, Barney! You've done it again!
Nov '10
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
I read what I could of the article. I have a problem with my eyes... I can't see myself reading The New York Times either.
I find myself at a loss here. What does it mean to be more Democratic and also more conservative? This makes it sound to me as if Mass is now in a state of chaos and populated by extremists.
Apr '11
Re: Barney Frank Announces Plans To Cash Out
Sorry, I have a hard time believing that someone is highly intelligent when they can't even pronounce words correctly. Do you think someone who pronounces words like Elmer Fudd is smart?
Goodbye and good widdance Bawney Fwank.