Barney Frank

The Globe reports Frank won't be seeking re-election next year.

The Herald declares "experts stunned" that Barney Frank announced he's running for re-election in 2012, then fails to actually quote any experts expressing their shocked amazement (because they all fainted at the news and hit their heads on the floor?). Sean Bielat, however, managed to steady himself by grabbing onto the newel post, at least long enough to express his shock.

The Herald does have one quote from one expert, but only about the general implications for the redistricting the legislature will have to do because we're losing a congressional seat. The paper fails to note what happened the last time the legislature had to do that (Frank ran against another sitting member of congress and beat her).

Via the Outraged Liberal.

Barney Frank spent much of his victory speech last night complaining about Republicans, added: "Massachusetts has reaffirmed the complete political irrelevance of the Boston Herald." A Republican operative who writes a column for the Herald retorts: I'm irrelevant? You're irrelevant!

WBUR sums up the blue wave that swept Massachusetts. At Blue Mass. Group, David sees in the Massachusetts vote an answer to the Tea Party wave:

Video of a debate between Frank and his oppponent in the Sept. 14 primary, Rachel Brown. Brown opened by saying she wants to get rid of Obama, bring back Glass-Steagall and spend trillions on a project to move water from the mountains of Alaska and Canada to the deserts. Frank retorted that colonizing Mars is not the best use of federal funds.