SAYING GOODBYE TO THE SINKING SHIP? Barney Frank Won’t Seek Re-Election. “In 2010, Frank faced an unusually tough re-election campaign against Republican Sean Bielat, a former Marine and already, Republican Elizabeth Childs of Brookline, a state mental health commissioner under former Gov. Mitt Romney, had announced her intention to challenge Frank in next year’s race.” If an entrenched incumbent like Barney Frank can’t win in Massachusetts, the Dems are in real trouble. Or maybe he’s just trying to lower his profile to avoid indictment or something . . . .

UPDATE: “Corrupt creature of Washington who helped usher in the Great Recession.”

ANOTHER UPDATE: Ouch:

His tenure in Congress in a nutshell:

“These two entities — Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — are not facing any kind of financial crisis,” said Representative Barney Frank of Massachusetts, the ranking Democrat on the Financial Services Committee. ”The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing.”

Note that the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress wanted to have more oversight of Fannie & Freddy.

Frank and the Democrats fought it at every turn.

He will not be missed. Plus this: “Looking at the MA Congressional Delegation – Frank, Kerry, Bill Delahunt, and Ed Markey, I’m left wondering why the people of that state hate the rest of the country so much…”

MORE: “Guess which Democrat now becomes the ranking member on the financial services committee? That’s right, none other than our favorite batty aunt, Maxine Waters.” The country’s in the very best of hands.