Barney Frank (D-MA)Seeks Second Stimulus – Spending Till The Chickens Come Home to Roost – 2010 Re-election Strategy Unhinged

Barney Frank, Chair of House Finance Committee, Up for Re-election 2010 - image bilerico

The Boston Globe’s, report on one of their favorite political sons, the 4th Districts, Barney Frank speaks to the need for a second stimulus in order to “create jobs and avoid a double dip recession”. Frank, who is the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, brought out economists to speak on behalf of the necessity for a second stimulus, one from a dot.com company, Moody’s, suggested that the first stimulus did not go far enough.

Frank, understanding that he is up for re-election, has not proposed any legislation, rather used his time to lay out a case for a second stimulus, bash the Republican Party, and talk about job creation. The fact of the matter is that the first stimulus, saved public sector jobs, and created public sector jobs, however, little evidence exists that the Stimulus has created private sector jobs, which are vital for economic recovery. One reason, CBS News 2-18-09) only 23% of the first stimulus will be spent through 2010, with much of the monies targeted for projects that will not be in place for years. Therefore, a second stimulus seems hardly wise in this instance, but it does pull at the heartstrings of those voters who are living in the hard-hit 4th District.

Frank must have missed the Jobs Bill that was agreed to move forward yesterday, in the Senate. Should the Senate vote today to pass the bill, which would add an additional 13 billion to the already top-heavy budget. One can bet the house that Frank will be behind the President’s Health Care Reform package that the CB0 can’t even begin to calculate costs. (New York Times) Should the Senate push this version of Health Care through with a “simple majority”, no one knows how big the final price tag will be for the continually suffering public.

Frank, who has seen multiple contenders come out of the woodwork in recent weeks, including members of his own party, will have his hands busy the next few months, defending his positions on a variety of issues. The populist front runner, Republican Earl Sholley, (website) had run against Frank once before, in 2008. In that election, Sholley had entered the race late, a virtual unknown, who managed to receive 70,000 plus votes. It should be stated that there are not 70,000 Republican’s in the 4th district. Giving those observers a clue that Frank did not, at the time, did not have complete trust from the electorate. Times have changed and the economy, under Frank’s watch (literally), has turned for the worse. Key cities in the District have higher than average unemployment rates, (The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed a 13.1% unemployment rate for that city in year end 2009) and suggesting a second stimulus when a first has hardly touched the district (private sector), may not be enough to save Frank’s job in 2010.

Sholley, at first glance, does not appear to be the “perfect candidate”, however, he is a staunch fiscal conservative and strict constructionist who makes no excuses and shoots from the hip.

Sholley faces a primary challenge from several newcomers to the race. Those that entered when it was apparent that the 4th district could, indeed, be won by a Republican, include Sean Bielat (website here), recently of Brookline. Bielat, gained some national recognition when interviewed by Huffington Post during his visit to CPAC. The Boston Globe did a piece on Bielat and the fact that he was a “newcomer” who had entered the race against Frank. The Globe used the article in an effort to downplay Sholley’s candidacy, noting that he had run several times without a win. (History Lesson: Several of our most revered Presidents and office holders ran multiple times unsuccessfully before being elected, among them, Abraham Lincoln) The article, using language that speaks to the inadequacy of the challengers paints Frank in a very capable and sympathetic light.

Of course, for a Conservative, running in Massachusetts, regardless of which Democrat one runs against, receiving press of any type is unusual and positive press is non-existent. The Globe, the weekend preceding the special senate election, was still publishing articles praising Martha Coakley and touting her impending win over Scott Brown. Even independent radio talking head, Howie Carr dismissed Brown’s ability to win, until the 9th hour. Carr recently wrote a piece on the 4th district candidates, which sounded alarmingly similar to the Globe’s point of view.

In the final analysis, regardless of which candidates end up running, from Green Party, to Republican, Barney Frank will not have an easy road to re-election, and it is probable that he will be retired in 2010.