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Subscribe to RSSLongtime U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., will hold a news conference Monday to announce his retirement. NBC's Luke Russert reports.
Massachuetts Rep. Barney Frank (D) will announce Monday that he won't seek re-election in 2012, sources told NBC News.
The longtime lawmaker from the Bay State's 4th congressional district was expected announce his retirement after 16 terms in the House at an afternoon press conference.
The ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee, Frank helped author the financial regulatory reform bill that passed through Congress in 2010, when Frank served as the panel's chairman. California Rep. Maxine Waters (D) is next in line to become ranking member of the committee.
Frank has long been a lightning rod in Washington, known for his characteristically blunt commentary on any and all current events. That's made him a favorite target of conservative Republicans, most recently former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who suggested in his campaigning for president that Frank be jailed for his role in crafting policies that, Gingrich claims, led to the housing crisis.
Frank is one of only three openly gay members of Congress.
A source close to the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation tells NBC News that they believe Frank's decision is due to the Congressman simply being tired and ready for a less hectic schedule.
***UPDATE*** More from NBC's Luke Russert: The source speculated that Frank realized that winning the House back in 2012 would be a big lift for Dems, that the earliest he could again be Chairman of the House Financial Services Comt would be Jan of 2015. Frank would then be 75 years old. The source also speculated that Frank's longtime boyfriend Jim Ready was tired of being a political spouse.
In 2010, Ready got into a shouting match on an airplane with a fellow passenger about Frank. The story got a ton of blog pick-up. During Frank's last election, Ready was caught on video heckling Frank's opponent Sean Bielat after a campaign rally.
Frank ended up winning comfortably against Bielat 54%-43%.
Frank was also redistricted, however since MA is such a Democratic state, his district remained largely safe.
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After all the devastation Barney Frank has single-handedly caused, all I can say is "Good Riddance - destroyer of America!!" You have been a disgrace to this country and have hurt more people than you ever dreamed of helping aka Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. Oh yeah, one more thing, please take Obama with you!
i here it over and over, don't tax the rich, make everyone pay. Did you realize if you tax the bottom 50%, @ 100% of their earnings, it would only add up to about a 3% increase in taxes for the top 2%. You tell me what makes more sense.
no one ever said tax lower 50 % @ 100%...but i have heard tax top 90% ? how about the bottom pay somthing?? right now they pay nothing!
They pay everything but federal income tax. If they paid that, they couldn't support themselves.
really 500 a year? anything?i use to pay something when i worked for 2.65 an hour..
now ...people get back more then they pay in? whats up with that?
I guess he finally made enough off the taxpayers so he and his "lover" can live in luxury the rest of their lives.
some of the best news I could have heard other than introducing our next president NEWT in 2012
Please, please, please let there be no sex scandal tape or photos.
For the love of "almighty gawd" lets hope no sex tape shows up. Gag, puke, bleeuch.
THANK GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, his ineptness is unprecented. He should have been kicked out long time ago
MP
all these liberals on here can only point out other people doing wrong(like a child would do), stay on topic and act like an adult, if you cant, i will speak to you on your level, here it goes, if newt jumped off a cliff, would you? Sounds silly but thats how your acting, idiots.
*can't*
*that's*
*you're*
...and exchange some of your commas for periods, please. Please.
This is good news for America but bad news for Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. AP is reporting that 16 other dems will not seek re-election next year.
I particularly liked the usual "vine gang" jumping to the defense of this piece of human debris. Defending the un-defensable, undefendable, scumbag, whatever, I'm glad to see him gone. But his replacement isn't any better.
I like Barney because he is smart. I love to see O'Reilly lose his cool when he interviews him
I get agitated and lose my cool too when people flat out lie to my face and try to cover up or deny involvement in improprieties, especially when I know they're guilty.
So you watch Fox News huh?
O'Reilly probably hates being spit upon during debates.
This is the best news for our country I've heard in quite a long time!
Now let's see which of the huge international banks he made super-rich puts him on the board.
Only the people of Massachusettes would have re-elected this guy so many times. Even if he retires, I feel he should still be investigated and possibhly do jail time for the great harm he has done to our country.
Putting Barney in prison would be like putting a kid in a candy store with a credit card. Better to send him to the John Birch Museum so he can be a living display of what is wrong with the U.S.
''kid in candy store with credit card'' i thought that was obama
Duphas - sources please.
K - Clinton passed the bill in his second term, in 1999. The Reps controlled congress at this point in time, not so? And the bubble burst in 2007?
Where was GWB and the other Reps, and the banks, and the mortgage companies, etc, etc. They could have taken this to the Supreme Court if this was such a bad piece of legislation. Makes me think that they where complicit, mmm?
Wonderful news that another crooked thug is on his way out of office. But, there are so very many more to go though, starting with #1.
It's probably quite clear that Massachusetts' redistricting weighs heavily on Barney Frank's decision to resign. I would say he most likely realizes he can't win next November. And, I wouldn't be surprised if some of his Dem "colleagues" haven't pressured him to resign as they know he is toast. That's the way it works in Washington. If you are of no use to the so-called cause anymore, you get the boot. Just one good example.....does Dodd ring a bell?
................................................................................................................................................................ NEWT SOLD FANNIE-MAE FOR YEARS
............................................................................................................................
PIMP DADDY NEWT GOTS PAID 1.2 MILLION DOLLARS FOR SOME GREAT PIMPIN
........................................................................................................................
HE CAN SELL ANYTHING
........................................................................................................................
LETS PUT PIMP DADDY IN DAAAA HOOOOOOOOOWSSSSSSSSSSSS (white dat is!)
.......................................................................................................................
wah,wah,wah. Bush did this and newt did that. You sound like a 4 year old bringing up other people to justify poor behavior. You converse like a child you liberals so i will talk to you like one, if newt jumped off a cliff, would you? Grow up and talk like an adult and try to stay on topic without attacking the messenger or namecalling if you possibly can.
Watchutalkinbout Kirkis??!!
We spos foget bout dat Newt??
Are yo a t-tard mofo?
Why do evrybodies put down dat gay dude bout Freddy's fannie and nobodies
want to talks bout da pimp daddy newter mofo?
KIRK: I wouldn't necessarily do anything that Newster does. However, I would gladly assist in pushing that fat assed, pompous, pontificating windbag over the cliff.
I'll stay on topic. As evidenced by this blog, the right-wing is totally homophobic.
To disagree with a lifestyle is pretty common, i am not homophobic because i dont embrace gays. We all have differant morals, you just call names when someone disagrees with yours
Tsk, tsk.
Yo kirkis,
yo t-tards be haten on da black man too.
I no a brotha who also be gay and he be sh!ttin so hard he neva be leavin da howse!
he be too afraid of yo crazy t-tard mofos carryin guns allround da place.
And, the left wing seems to blame everything that doesn't go their way as racism. I thought at one time the Dems "vanished" racism......hmmm, questionable isn't it? I feel quite sure there is far more racism than homosexuality taking place in Washington politics. Frankly, I condemn both.
George, im sorry but i dont understand your point nor do i know what a t-tard is, i hope its not slang for retarded because that would be sad for you to throw around a word that breaks some peoples hearts. please explain what on earth your talking about.
Here is the poster BOY for why Washington is void and vacant of ANY leadership. Corrupt bumbling idiot criminals...this guy and the morons that elected him is a clear illustration of why politics in this country are an on going horror show. Good riddance...He can't be gone some enough! And to all you partisan defenders of this guy because he's a "Dem" Wake the Hell up! It doesn't matter which party has a destructive bum like "Barn", but it matters that you understand the depth of his vast Incompetence! BYE BARN!
George? Hello? Embarrassed of your post? Calling people retarded? can you not explain what you wrote? Where did you go? Thats what i thought.
HOORAY!!!
Only just under 600 to go. Empty DC.
This old crone was a cornerstone in our problems. It's about time!
Every once in a while I used to feel good about Congress. That happened every time you voted or spoke. Thank you.
Every once in a while I used to feel good about Congress. That happened every time you voted or spoke. Thanks.
Maybe he can write and explain how under his tenure in the government the debt has ballooned to over 15 Trillion dollars and the housing market has collapsed and unemployment is the worse we have seen since the great depression.
I wasn't aware Barney Frank ran the government.
Obama wasted a lot of taxpayer dollars by his recent visits to Virginia.
Virginia Republicans added seven new seats to their majority in the House of Delegates, giving them two-thirds of that chamber's votes—the party's largest margin in history. The GOP also took over the Virginia Senate in results that were especially notable, given that Virginia Democrats this spring crafted an aggressive redistricting plan that had only one aim: providing a firewall against a Republican takeover of that chamber. Even that extreme gerrymander didn't work.
Every Republican incumbent—52 in the House, 15 in the Senate—won. The state GOP is looking at unified control over government for only the second time since the Civil War. This is after winning all three top statewide offices—including the election of Gov. Bob McDonnell—in 2009, and picking off three U.S. House Democrats in last year's midterms.
Topline figures aside, what ought to really concern the White House was the nature of the campaign, and the breakout of Tuesday's election data. Mr. Obama may have big plans for Virginia, but the question is increasingly: him and what army?
GOLD: How about we discuss how your boy Dubya added to the deficit. Were you bitching then about being fiscally conservative??? In case you've forgotten, there were TWO UNFUNDED WARS as well as a huge drug bill, of course, also UNFUNDED. Not to mention his massive tax breaks to the uber rich. Why don't you jokes keep cutting taxes for corporate America and the wealthy and let's see how much higher we can run up the deficit.
I take it you accept no responsibility for the current economic climate. You really gonna make me list all the stats that occurred on Bush's watch??? And as for the Great Depression, that was another huge debacle brought to us courtesy of the GOP. 3 Consecutive Republican administrations resulting in the worst disaster fiscally of the 20th Century. And then your crowd had the gaul to bitch about FDR and how he was not cleaning up your mess quickly enought.
Lastly, I was unaware that you were keeping track of Obama's travel plans and expenses. FYI buddy, EVERY president does this on the taxpayer's dime, it's one of the perks that goes with the office. I detested Bush but I was never so petty as to begrudge him the trappings of the Presidency.
According to the AP-GfK poll, Obama's party has lost the faith of the public on handling the economy. In the new poll, only 38 percent said they trust Democrats to do a better job than Republicans in handling the economy, the first time Democrats have fallen below 40 percent in the poll. Some 43 percent trust the Republicans more. Are you better off today then when BO came into office?
Think life is not as good as it used to be, at least in terms of your wallet? You'd be right about that. The standard of living for Americans has fallen longer and more steeply over the past three years than at any time since the US government began recording it five decades ago.
Below is a great opportunity for all Americans to put politics aside and act together:
On Feb. 1, 2009, newly elected President Obama told Matt Lauer of the Today Show that:
“Look, I’m at the start of my administration. One nice thing about the situation I find myself in is that I will be held accountable.”
Obama went on to say:
“If I don’t have this done in three years, then there’s going to be a one-term proposition.”
Join together Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Tea Party, put politics aside, rally behind Obama’s words, vote Obama out in 2012.
GOLD RUSH: You suffering from PTS & short term memory loss. Call me crazy but I was under the impression that the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression occured on Bush's watch. Guess you and your party just ain't man enough to own up to your responsibilitys.
Go back and check the economy on the day Bush took office and then on the day he left. You folks really have some never to try and pin this debacle on Obama. He walked into the biggest mess since FDR assumed office back in 1932.
Oh no, you mean you'll have to WORK and convince people to vote for you?
Now that the game isn't rigged and the deck isn't stacked in your favor, you're calling it quits??
Typical liberal.
Working for what you want is too hard.
And in true liberal fashion, he couldn't make a simple speech about himself and why he's quitting without getting in a few jabs at Republicans.
Like we need to be reminded liberals have no class.
LANDORAN: You're accusing Barney Frank of being lazy? He's only served in offic for 30 years, that's all. And he has been known as one of the most energetic and dynamic people in Congress. You can hate his politics by don't go making stuff up.
As regards "Class" you sure you want to go there??? How about I list some prominent Liberal celebrities of the last 50 years and then tell me we have no class.
Burt Lancaster
Gregory Peck
Paul Newman
Lee Marvin
Kirk & Michael Douglas
Senator John Glen (first American to orbit the earth)
Senator Bob Kerrey Medal of Honor recipient
Senator Daniel Inouye Medal of Honor recipient
I could go on and on but this is just a small taste of all those "classless Liberals"
You have no class.
And you're an idiot.
Celebrities?? Really??
You're so moronic, you make me laugh.
The only way Republicans are working hard at getting elected is by working very hard at voter suppression. Scott Walker made a DMV photo license obligatory to vote and then closed 10 DMVs in Democratic territories and extended the hours in Republican territories while, mysteriously, exempting gun owners.
I guess that's what you call working hard for what you want.
LANDORAN: That's the best you've got, name calling???
You said Liberals have no class, precisely what that means, I don't know.
So, I named some promient Liberals both involved in politics as well as celebrities. You find that amusing? Good. Now why don't you name me some Repubclans you think possess so much "class". But no, all you've got is a snotty comment because you can't challenge my point with facts.
I can think of few people who had more class than Paul Newman. Superb Actor, accomplished race car driver and world class humanitarian. He gave away over 300 million and his charity is still very much up and running, still helping people.
Ozzie....when you need money go see them, they have plenty of it! Read what he said......
"I was planning to run again, and then the congressional redistricting came," he said at a press conference in Massachusetts.
Frank said that he wasn't particularly interested in the rigors of waging a full-fledged campaign -- particularly fundraising -- in a district that was mostly half new to him.
What part of that dont you get? I get .....It wasnt a sure thing (normal in his old district) and he wanted to go out on top! No pun intended!
Boy this economy is sucking wind... Federal debt ended at around 10 Trillion ending with Bush and accumulated from ALL the other previous presidents put together. Today the National Debt clock hit 15 Trillion and heading for 20 under Obama and we have 9% unemployment rate and housing in a depression. Thanks Obama.... and democrats for all the out of control spending.
GOLD: Still puking up your distortions I see.
Why don't you mention the budget surplus Bush inherited and the disaster he handed off to Obama when he assumed the Presidency.
Ozzie, the budgetary deficit is minuscule compared to the problems with spending in the off budget items. Keep in mind, Clinton still added nearly $2 trillion to the national debt during his administration. Had Bush's tax cut been repealed this year, it would have garnered $80 to $90 billion more in revenue. Obama's budget deficit alone was $129 billion. Ooops, you mean repealed Bush cuts wouldn't have covered the budget this year? No, sorry to break the news.
Where in the discussion is the $1.3 trillion dollar debt accumulated this year alone. I know, I know, it's the two wars... sorry, again, the combined cost just reached $1 trillion after 10 years. Maybe the $1.3 trillion added to the debt is a spending problem, perhaps?
You guys need to stop reading the Daily Kos and Media matters for your news sources (talking points). It's nothing more than faux information.
Ozzie:
The point is Barney are Baroke are very similar, one is the pimp the other is the pimped!
The only difference between Baroke Omamba is that the 9% unemployment doesn't include the 10% that can no longer receive the benefits since they have been out of work for so long. Bush presidency averaged about 5.6% unemployment over 8 years.
"Federal debt ended at around 10 Trillion ending with Bush and accumulated from ALL the other previous presidents put together. Today the National Debt clock hit 15 Trillion and heading for 20 under Obama"
Nope. Federal debt was 11.9T at the end of 2009 (Bush's last budget) and at the end of FY 2011 was 14.8T. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/govt/reports/pd/histdebt/histdebt_histo5.htm
"Bush presidency averaged about 5.6% unemployment over 8 years."
Yeah, except it started at 4.2% in January 2001 and ended in January 2009 at 7.8%. It's now 9.0%. So under which president did the big increase come? http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet?request_action=wh&graph_name=LN_cpsbref3
Thank-God for big favors!!!