E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSJoe Kennedy III, grandson of Robert Kennedy, announced today that he is leaving his job at the Middlesex District Attorney's office to start an exploratory committee for a possible run for Rep. Barney Frank's Massachusetts Congressional seat.
Frank announced his intention to retire in November after he finishes his 16th term in the seat, citing redistricting as the reason.
Here's Kennedy's full statement:
I am announcing today my intention to explore a candidacy for the United States Congress in the Fourth District of Massachusetts.
I look forward to reaching out to the residents of the Fourth District over the coming weeks, and I will look back on my work as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County - and before then, in Barnstable County - with great appreciation for the dedication of my colleagues and their commitment to equal justice under law. I loved my work in the courts and will remember its lessons as I seek the counsel of the citizens of the Fourth District.
One lesson that will stick with me from my time in the courts is how hard police, prosecutors and judges work together to achieve fairness. Fairness, the foundation of America's social compact, seems to be in short supply these days. We wage war, pass skewed tax breaks, and expand benefits by spendthrift borrowing, saddling the next generation of Americans with unsustainable debt.
Then when it comes time to restoring fiscal sanity to our budget, we see the middle class and the poor take the hit while the wealthy get more tax breaks.
The lack of common sense and fairness in Washington is a byproduct of the partisan gridlock that has turned obstruction into victory. Americans are better than that. Each and every day, we work with people of different backgrounds and political views to achieve a common purpose. Washington can and should do the same.
My decision to look seriously at elected office is grounded in a deep commitment to public service and my experience - both my own and that of my family -- in finding just, practical, and bipartisan solutions to difficult challenges. It is a commitment instilled in me at a young age and one that inspired me to join the Peace Corps after college and to become a prosecutor after law school.
I have given my notice of resignation to the Middlesex District Attorney's office, and my work will wind down over the course of the next two weeks. I will then begin to reach out to the people of the Fourth District in order to hear directly from them about the challenges they are facing and their ideas on how we can restore fairness to our system. I will make a final decision about entering the race in the weeks thereafter.
I look forward to this new challenge, and to meeting people across the district in the weeks ahead.
Leave a Comment:
Yay!
I am sorry to see Barney Frank leave but, Joe Kennedy III would be a great replacment!
If this country is to survive, we need to elect every strong liberal voice we can find!
I like it!
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
Yay!
I am sorry to see Barney Frank leave but, Joe Kennedy III would be a great replacment!
I so agree GF he and Elizabeth Warren will be a powerful force for America.
Oh, and the Scott Brown can come out of act. He says he agrees with President Obama. The truth is he is tea bagger Koch sucker who will do anything to keep his seat.
Scott Brown begs for money from David Koch
http://www.salon.com/2011/03/07/scott_brown_koch/
You can here him sucking up on this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnkipn-gJK4&feature=player_embedded
If Joe Kennedy III runs for Congress, I'll move to Massachusetts to vote for him.
Go for it Mr. Kennedy.
Obama in 2012.
"If Joe Kennedy III runs for Congress, I'll move to Massachusetts to vote for him."
Tom, go ahead, join the massive exodus people leaving the state of California, ruined by progressive policies.
You will find in my native state of Moonbatachusett the same liberal corruption, overspending and welfare spending ruining society. Enjoy!
All we need now is for Hugo Chavez to run for Governor and the liberal paradise will be complete!
Sorry to disappoint but that district is going RED. Why do you think little Barney Warney decided to QUIT!
Bob if you ever need crack cocaine just come to Lynn Massachusetts. There's four different conveniece stores that you can go to with your EBT (welfare debit card) card. They ring you up for $100 and give you $50 worth of crack.
The abuse is absolutely amazing on these EBT cards up here. They use 'em to buy lottery ticket, booze, strip joints. Channel Five did an expose' on how they were getting used on cruises and in hawaii of all places.
And this knuckle head in the white house thinks everything will be solved by taxing the billionaires.
Bob, that would be the Massachusetts that ranks 7th in median income according to this http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/statemedian/ ?
Rob, is your statement about using EBT cards for crack based on personal experience? It WOULD explain a lot about the crap that you post! How did you come to know this? How widespread is the abuse exposed by Channel 5? Who the hell IS channel 5, by the way?
He probably, unlike you, read the news.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2011_1214pols_demand_overhaul_after_ebt_bust_da_cocaine_heroin_seized_at_lynn_stores/srvc=home&position=1
Joe Kennedy.....who is he?????? Oh he is a Kennedy so he is automatically entitled to a congressional seat.
Since he wears that name, we are supposed to get rattled.."there's a Kennedy running"...lol....
Liberals are always complaining about political dynasty's and lookey here. You don't even know this dude and some of you are jumping on the bandwagon like as if he is the second coming. I guess he will become the new Messiah......sorry Obama, new kid in town......
One particular convenience stop had over $560,000 worth of EBT charges for the year while the major supermarket down the street had just over $400,000 worth of charges for the same period of time.
The legislature after years of harassment is now considering a bill that would disallow the purchase of booze and lottery tickets. Attempts to have recipients pictures put on the cards have failed. You know that would be racist.
Oh, and channel five I beleive is CBS or ABC not a FOX affiliate if that is what you are getting at.
A Kennedy explores run for Barney Frank's seat? That paints an ugly picture.
God effing help up from the dumb masses like you!
Joe Kennedy.....who is he?????? Oh he is a Kennedy so he is automatically entitled to a congressional seat.
You hit the nail on the head. During one of the Scott Brown Marsha Coakley debates, Brown was asked by a prominent national 'journalist' why he thinks he deserves to win the "Kennedy Seat". Brown without hesitation snapped. "excuse me but it's the PEOPLE's seat".
That one line pretty much sealed the deal for Brown up here. Even in this liberal bashion people are sick of libbies and their entitlement attitude.
JAS1 and Rob,
Although very interesting and disturbing, the story regarding the EBT drug buying has nothing to do with either the politics of Mass. or the country. People break the law, lots of laws, every day in every state. We have police to deal with that truth, except in those places where they have been layed off due to a lack of revenue.
Also, Mr. Frank did not "QUIT" he will be retiring after serving this country and his constituents for 30 years.
due to a lack of revenue
very telling words....
with you libs it's always lack of revenue never the out of control spending or lack of stewardship of tax dollars.
Yeah - by all means let's talk about paying our fair share who cares if my fair share is going to crack heads maybe the cops will take care of it. Then again like you said maybe not. Screw it let's just tax them damn rich people.
So who set up the EBT program? Was it a private corporation, a set of individuals, the convenience stores in the Lynn area? No, none of them did. It was in fact the government of Massachusetts that set up the program. The policies of the state of Massachusetts somehow have allowed crack cocaine to be provided to the EBT card users in that state, paid for by the government, paid for by the taxpayers.
So vwterry, please make another attempt to defend this fraud of a government program. Maybe Auntie Fascist can help you in your defense.
It sure is funny how the pendulum swings once one of the most conservative states in the Union is considered a liberal bastion. Yes Rob your home state produced the Cabots and Silent Cal just to name a few.
once one of the most conservative states
you need to put a lot more emphasis on once
I have in no way attempted to defend the misuse of this program. And what does your story have to do with Mr. Kennedy?
You speak of the state of California being ruined by progressive policies. Please tell me who has been governor of California for the better part of 30 years? Let's see who was it . . . oh yeah the republicans. Since 1983 the republicans have held the governors office in California until 2011, with the exception of 1999 to 2003.
So Bob how do you explain that? Whos policies is it that ruined California?
Being from the Great State of Illinois, where corruption is nonexistent, I can't relate. However, I was in Boston all of last week visiting my brother - and he complained continually about the corruption in his state government.
Just saying... :-)
(show me the clown nose, fisty!)
Does Joe Jr come with the requisite *lisp* needed to be a Frank follower?
@ Andie Since 1959 the governship has been half Republican and half Democrat. California has been going down hill for the last 50 years. I think it is equally shared.
Of course you can't defend it. There is no defense.
And my narrative has to do with the very liberal policies of the state of Massachusetts, polices that are similar to what the Kennedy family have advocated for many years. Here we have a state program designed to "Help people", a program that is hopelessly bogged down in corruption and providing drugs to the users of that program. What Joe Kennedy would advocate on a national level would be no different than what Ted Kennedy did for decades.
JAS1
"Maybe Auntie Fascist can help you in your defense."
Uh, decided to look for the article. It says "alleged" grifters and "alleged" payments for crack. Jump to conclusions much?
what about the political makeup of the legislature?
has it been more democrat or republican?
over the past 10 presidential elections, how many times have the electoral votes gone to the democrat and how many times to a republican.
Oh for pete sakes anyone that thinks Cali is a right leaning state has serious perception issues.
Rob in Mass Dammit and I thought Detroit was the only place you could buy Crack or Meth with a Welfare ebt card. Now whats the going rate.....here its 50 cents on the dollar.
Too funny. And too weak.
First you rant that there is no story, and when proven wrong, you deflect and divert.
I guess it will take convictions before you can form any opinion on the matter.
Carry on.
You speak of the state of California being ruined by progressive policies. Please tell me who has been governor of California for the better part of 30 years? Let's see who was it . . . oh yeah the republicans. Since 1983 the republicans have held the governors office in California until 2011, with the exception of 1999 to 2003.
So Bob how do you explain that? Whos policies is it that ruined California?
You speak of the state of California being ruined by progressive policies. Please tell me who has been governor of California for the better part of 30 years? Let's see who was it . . . oh yeah the republicans. Since 1983 the republicans have held the governors office in California until 2011, with the exception of 1999 to 2003.
So Bob how do you explain that? Whos policies is it that ruined California?
go for it Joe
Another member of the clan Kennedy part of the 1% rich and famous , too much alcohol in that dysfunctional family , the last young member of the clan Kennedy's, Patrick Kennedy elected representative in the lower chamber was catch driving in DC under the influence of alcohol after he crash his car, fortunately no dead this time..
"under the influence of alcohol"
In Massachusetts that refered to as a qualifying disability under SSI.
And speaking of car crashes and libs....
Read up on our honorable Lt. Governor who a month back or so was out in a state owned 40K crown victoria "surveying storm damage" at 5am in his jammies and flipped and totaled the car when he "hit black ice". After several weeks of a cover up by the state police they had to release the black box that showed he was driving 108mph just before the crash. They didn't even give the flunky a ticket until the release of info weeks later.
To bad they don't have a black box for those breathalizer machines as he "supposedly" blew sober. --- yeah right. We need Blago to teach political ethics classes up here.
Great news. Let's keep the seat for the Democrats.
JAS1,
"Of course you can't defend it. There is no defense."
I didn't say I couldn't defend it, I never tried to. Are you just so absolutely blinded by your hate and biases that you can't see the difference?
Every time I read your posts the definition of the term "false equivalence" comes to mind.
alwaysanother,
LOL....Never underestimate the power of the uniformed voter. They DID elect Mr. Obama with the same credentials after all.
Barney Frank isn't a U.S. senator, he's a congressman, and it doesn't sound like Joe Kennedy III "just got out of law school". Exagerrate much?
For Republicans, the only credentials needed are the right kind of haircut and special interest funding.
The political landscape in Massachusetts is getting interesting.
Elizabeth Warren and Joe Kennedy 3 are good for each other; each boosts turnout for the other.
Just when we thought we couldn't get anymore corruption and cronyism in DC , up pops another Kennedy.
My, my. Upset with the idea that someone is running for office using the premise of common sense, working together and not being partisan? Yes, that is a Progressive ideal, not one of the right.
yeah democrats wouldn't vote on ANY of the republicans bills
and never passed a budget in over 900 days! more BS liberal
progressive lies! can't you people ever stand the truth?
To..Ervin""""
What was in those republican bills ....beside more tax cuts and more deregulation ...
Truth is a liberal bias the cons have never been able to adopt
and the dumbacraps are the best at conning people.
Sorry pp,
But there has NEVER been a Kennedy that was EVER accused of being any of those things.
That family in renowned for their partisanship, cronyism and shall we say, questionable dealings.
Wow, SOTB, I guess Ted Kennedy working across the aisle with different members of the GOP was just an illusion.
You bet it was. He ALWAYS had partisan interests at heart.
Young Joe Kennedy, can you live up to the legacy of your predecessor?
Can you run a prostitution service out of your apartment..and in your spare time , single handedly espouse policies that were the direct cause of the biggest mortgage meltdown in history?
Go for it !
I will credit Joe K for being able to identify weed if he saw it though - unlike baawny
Don't forget Grandpa Joe made the Kennedy fortune from running alcohol in the Prohibition. Later when he was ambassador to Great Britain he was kicked out for dealing in the black market. What an example for his kids and grand-kids. Kennedy's should be blacklisted from ever holding office.
I was going to say----cue the Kennedy bashing in three....two....one..... but proudamericanveteran beat me to it!
Steeler Fan,
Just say the name Kennedy and stand back - GOP heads start exploding.
hi phiney -- quite similar to what the left will do when jeb bush runs for another office don't you think?
james,
I hope not. Exploding heads are messy to clean up! (FYI, I am keeping to our agreement on the names)
i am trying as well. are you a clemson fan?
Actually a Gator fan. If I was a Clemson fan, after last night I would be designing a paper bag for my head. That was pitiful.
James, Jeb Bush is just the brother of the worst president this country has ever had. The thought of another Bush any where near Washington is scary. The thought of another Bush being president, well that will never, never happen. We got a first hand view of the brother Bush during the 2000 election. He is just as much the skeemer and big brother George.
Joe Kennedy may be a very powerful off set to the useless leaders in Washington. Joe and Elizabeth Warren on the same team will be an inspiration across the country and not just Massachusetts.
It's fitting for American politics. The Patriarch of the Kennedy's disfunctional family was a Bootlegger. And now one his descendants is running for a Gay "Banking Queen's" vacant office. A Sad sign of the times.
I take it you are not a believer in the sins of the father not being handed down to the son? Tsk, tsk. Bet you claim to be a Christian, too.
#7.1 Your comment is way, way out of line. You think this kid should be assassinated like his Grandfather, Robert Kennedy? Shoot because he carries the name of Kennedy?
If you are trying to imply that you are a Christian in any way, shape or form, you are not only delusional but ignorant beyond words.
You and the rest of the basher's are simple minded losers. This crap of tearing people apart is simply politics is ridiculous. It shows the ugliness and disrespect members of our society have but still consider themselves above all others and the only true Christians to walk the earth.
If you are referring to me, I never even HINTED at such a thing. I favor young Joseph in his run. Had you even BOTHERED to read the comments, I was going at the original post of blaming young Joseph for the Senior Joseph's bootlegging.
Talk about losers - get a grip. And FYI, the only person to judge me is my God, not someone like you. Maybe you need a few classes in reading and comprehension
awww.... pp got her panties in a bunch!
LOL!
btw... you better be careful... if some of your friends on this vine find out that you have a god they might not like you so much!
phine, I do believe the double negative in your response to Alan confused JBurns
SOTB you are a SOB
ideology,
I think I am better off in ancient Egypt! Things are getting a mite confusing around here. LOL
Ah, well. What can one expect?
And SOTB, my faith is just that, MINE. How I believe or don't, who approves or doesn't isn't your concern
Stick with the dead phine, the Living Dead are out in force today.
Must admit, the dead are quite a bit friendlier (except for you dear friend)
How sad... once again pp does not understand my statement... Let me slowly spell it out for you little one...
my comment was about the 'others' on this vine that bash those who believe in a higher power... not about you. (how conceited you are)
And as usual... the liberal collapse-hounds jumped all over my comment to you. (anyone wanna bet that the 'moderator' doesn't 'restore' it?)
Let's hear it for freedom of speech!
Today is the Radical Right official bitch day. They know that President Obama is going to win re-election and it is driving them nuts.
and we thought Barney Frank was BAD! another KENNEDY? another family
politican with money who pushes progressive socialist agenda to spend his
life doing nothing but making money in politics even though he doesn't need it
and ends of helping NOBODY! when are people going to stop voting and buying
into this BS from democrats that they are the caring help the poor politicans?
To..Erin ""
What because you said so ...what a hoot ...
Ervin dear, you wouldn't know a socialist if one bit you on the behind.
Gee!
The NO-bbsy twins, Rob & Bob, along with their other set of twins ervin & alan sure sound awfully disgruntled on this thread; or awfully SCARED one (maybe both)
But here is a shocker bob: I, too, am interested in whether Joe III "can live up to the legacy"
... the one his grand-daddy established.
Hopefully so!!
Bob I know Lynn, I know the combat zone or knew, I know Brockton and ok you are correct drugs flow in Lynn. Now to the story, if elected Kennedy will not represent Lynn. And I only say if elected as a matter of being PC. Barney Frank did more for his constituency than any 2 Conservatives you can name. End of story and no room for arguement.
ray -- did barney frank do this with earmarks or some other way? i know who he is but little else about him.
Barney Frank did more for his constituency than any 2 Conservatives you can name.
Being a Brockton resident Frank does not represent me as for his constituency you are correct I can think of no conservatives who were responsible for the highest foreclosure rates in their area like Frank is.
you got me there.
So a member of America's Royal Family wants a run at Congress. We dont need any more Monarchist in Congress, we were supposed to get rid of them back in 1776.
Kurt,
Then I take it you do not favor Jeb Bush running for president. After all, we have had a father/son team there. Another son might have the appearance of a "Royal Family"
They can't get it phine...
...too set in their disgusting republican double standards - you know, class warfare that they try to blame on the opposition.
Just a few thoughts from an Independent M@!$%#:
Bob and Rob (and the election of Senator Scott Brown) prove that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (aka, The Democratic People's Republic Of Massachusetts) is not full of only liberal elites, despite the rantings of conservative politicians and pundits. If my memory is accurate, in 2004 more people in my area of the state voted for Bush, than voted for Kerry. (I don't recall the Obama-McCain split.)
We have had several Republican Governors--all of them moderates--so we have no problem with representatives of either major party holding elected office. (Yes, mad dog conservatives, Romney is a moderate, despite what he claims to the contrary.)
The legislature here is heavily Democrat, and there have been a series of scandals involving successive House Speakers, which is disillusioning.
I suppose we could say that there is a cult of the Kennedy's, and extreme fascination with the family, but there are no guarantees that another Kennedy will get elected to any seat. Having said that, there is also nothing to say that another Kennedy wouldn't be good--it is the individual, not the name, that matters most. I am sure the Democrat "machine" in the state will work hard for another Kennedy, but it couldn't deliver Teddy K's seat to Martha Coakley. So, it will be wait and see.
Scott Brown will have to work extra hard to retain his seat, even though he has occasionally not voted the party line. It will be disgust with Republican Party actions at the national level, as much as anything else, which will help Elizabeth Warren win the Senate seat.
...oh, by the way..GO PATS!
PATS ALL THE WAY....
Kennedy not so much.....
He's going to have a tough time explaining pocketing millions of dollars in Venezuelan oil money that he skimmed from the top before playing hero to the needy. This is why Coakley and not Joe ran for Teddy's seat.
Ha! I was beginning to think you had no clue, but this post proves it. You should at least know who's who before attempting to denegrate them. Even Howie Carr wouldn't make that mistake!
Rick - Joe Kennedy gets close to $400,000 a year from Citizen's Enterprises Corporation, a for profit holding company of Citizen's Energy Corporation. if you think Joe K's personal ties with Chavez (our 'friends' in Venezuala as Joe calls them), a strong ally to two (cuba and iran) state sponsors of terrorism won't come up in his election you are tapped.
Robbie dear, you still have no clue. First of all, you need to get your information from something other than a right-wing "publication". That a person receives a salary from a for-profit corporation is hardly startling. Venezuela is not an "enemy" of the United States, it is not a sponsor of terrorism, nor is Cuba. But more importantly, you are talking about Joseph Kennedy II. This story is about Middlesex County Assistant District Attorney Joseph Kennedy III. Different people. Now, go away.
I stand corrected on mixing up the joes. But my assersion that joe II couldn't get elected to any office even in MA due to his relationship with venezuela still stands.
And if sean bielat runs my money would be on him.
Yahoo!! Barney was beloved - but Joe Kennedy III will spark the flames of hope again!! Then maybe onto the Senate! And then....
Santorum connects to the
people, Romney doesn't, that’s why after years of campaigning organization and
money, still at 25 percent
Gingrich
attack ads on Romney will help Santorum.
Eventually,
voters will realize that Santorum is the only true republican conservative
Santorum connected so well in Pennsylvania that he only lost his last election by 18 percentage points. I believe that this is the biggest beatdown of an incumbent senator in history.
I think Rob in ma must be one of the five Republicans living in Massachusetts. Joe Kennedy III would be a good choice.
He isn't the first and certainly won't be the last guy to explore Barney Frank's seat.
No problem...just write a check...any position in D.C. is for sale to the highest bidder, including the White House.
wk- Have you listened to Santorum? He is Homophobe who doesn't even believe in birthcontol. Was a champian of earmarks, leader of K street. Believes that welfare is bad and only used by Blacks, when the facts don't back him up on that. Has he even been vetted? No, because he has NO chance of getting the nomination!
@ Inthemiddle TX,
Your statements aren't making any type of valid points. Whether Joe Kennedy runs or not....your Party, by their own actions, have destroyed any chance of becoming elected in Mass.............
This being the case, Republicans have destroyed any chance of winning the Presidency in 2012 because of consistent siding with the 1% (Grover Norquist) against the 99%.
I don't think the good people of Massachucetts will want to replace trash with just more trash.
It is really time for some righteous changes in both Massachucetts, and the whole country.
Amazing that that freak Frank stayed in office for so long.
here here
That is wonderful! I will be more than glad to send money to help you!!
Obama 2012
Kennedy 2012
7.1, I understood your post. The sins of the father (grandfather) should not be handed down to the son.
happens all the time,ever filled a job application and realized you were being shafted.they give you a form a foot long and all you can fill out is the personal information at the top.it pretty much said white guys need not apply unless in a wheelchair.
Another Kennedy going into politics? There must be an after Christmas sale on politicians that I didn't hear about.
Another phony, plastic, SLIMY, cheating, philandering, Lying, drunken Kennedy running for office, pandering to the poor, ACTING as if he were an "honorable Catholic", while screwing everything that moves when his wife isn't looking?
One of those Kennedys?
In the case of Joseph Number 3, his "drug and alcohol induced life" make his the PWERFECT candidate to fill Bwawney Fwanks seat in the Congwess.
The people in Massachusetts kept on electing Fat Drunken Teddie and Bwaney, and they still keep on electing Swiftboat Johnnie... so there is no reason to doubt their ability to elect ANOTHER useless piece of trash like little Joey the 3rd.
Exactly what my opinion is of your post...
jist sayin'
John Kerry is still holding out hope for Obama to bounce Biden from VP for hillary and he can jump into the Secretary of State job. He's know's the voters have had it with him. First, they couldn't get Ted's seat back, then delahunt and frank take the cowards way out. They are starting to drop like flies up here.
The only problem with Kerry's plan is that Romney will be deciding who the secretary of state will be next year.
Sounds like a lot of libs have run after Barneys butt, I mean seat.
Sounds more like a lot of scared RWNJ's to me Common.