Related: Slow Saturday Special: The End of a Political Dynasty
"A Kennedy considers running for House seat" by Frank Phillips and Susan Milligan, Globe Staff | February 27, 2010
With speculation mounting that US Representative William D. Delahunt will not seek reelection, Joseph P. Kennedy III, son of the former congressman and great-grandson of the Kennedy family patriarch, is eyeing a run to succeed him in the 10th Congressional District, senior Democratic sources say.
The sources say that Kennedy, a 29-year-old assistant district attorney on the Cape considered by many to be the most promising member of his generation to extend the family’s political legacy, is not close to making any decisions and will not speak publicly until Delahunt announces whether he will seek another term. The discussions are taking place very privately among Kennedy family confidants.
As Delahunt ponders his future and Democratic hopefuls eye a bid for his seat, Kennedy’s potential candidacy is weighing heavily on the field that is starting to take shape.
“If he runs, he is immediately the front-runner,’’ said state Senator Robert O’Leary, Democrat of Barnstable, who said he would run for the seat if Delahunt retires. “From my perspective if Kennedy enters the race, it obviously changes the dynamic and makes it more difficult. But it would not change my decision.’’
One potential hurdle, however, is the political climate in the state, and especially in that district, which went heavily for Republican Scott Brown in last month’s Senate election. If Kennedy were to run and win his party’s nomination, he could risk become a lightning rod for the newly energized conservatives from around the country who poured millions of dollars into Brown’s coffers. With no member of the family ever losing an election in Massachusetts, he would be putting the Kennedy legacy on the line.
Another major consideration facing Kennedy is whether he should remain in his job as an assistant district attorney in Barnstable County and build a stronger resume as a prosecutor before seeking political office. One source who has talked to him came away with the impression he may put his political aspirations on hold and remain in District Attorney Michael D. O’Keefe’s office, where he has worked for eight months.
But others close to him say that Kennedy, a Harvard Law School graduate and former Peace Corps volunteer, may not be able to resist the possibility of a rare opening in a Massachusetts congressional seat. He has been active in state Democratic politics circles and attending local party events since he emerged on the scene in 2006....
Delahunt, by publicly ruminating about whether he would seek reelection, has led many in the political world to believe he will not run for an eighth term.
A senior Democratic source said Delahunt had decided two years ago not to run for another term, but Edward Kennedy persuaded him to remain in Congress.--more--"
Also see: Joseph Kennedy III won’t run for Congress
Nice to have all that print space tied up over speculation and politics, 'eh, readers?
We call it "news" in a "newspaper" here in AmeriKa.
And then the kid that is leaving finally finds his voice?
"Patrick Kennedy rips media for ignoring Afghanistan
WASHINGTON — US Representative Patrick Kennedy blasted the news media yesterday as despicable, saying they ignored the war in Afghanistan even as troops continue to die there.
The Rhode Island Democrat was very animated during a speech on the House floor. He chastised the media for focusing on former Representative Eric Massa of New York, who resigned from Congress amid sexual harassment allegations, at a time when lawmakers were debating the future of the war.
Also see: Massa of the House
He counted two members of the media present for the discussion on Afghanistan and said a lack of attention was feeding cynicism about government.--more--"
Oh, he wasn't arguing against the actual war, just the lack of MSM press attention.
Actually, during the two minutes I watched CNN the other day Rick Sanchez seemed to take umbrage. He said media guys are now watching C-Span from their cubicles.
That's what I love about the MSM; they really think they are doing a great job.
