That’s the word that’s going down on the street:
A Democratic official says Rep. Patrick Kennedy has decided not to seek re-election for his seat representing Rhode Island in the U.S. Congress.
The official spoke to The Associated Press only on the condition that his name not be used because he was not authorized to speak ahead of the official announcement.
[snip]
Patrick Kennedy has been in and out of treatment for substance abuse since crashing his car outside the U.S Capitol in 2006.
Interesting that the Kennedy name is no longer sufficient to protect its holders from premature leaks like this. Also interesting that this is happening; then again, his numbers were abysmal. They were so abysmal that GOP challenger John Loughlin might even be disappointed about this, although… no, I doubt it.
More here: apparently, Kennedy felt the need to take his life in a ‘different direction.’ I would be cruel about my suggestions of where that different direction might end up going – but I just noticed something about this video I did a while back:
The Democrats are starting to run out of sitting Congressmen featured in it who’ll still be sitting Congressmen, starting next January.
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Kenny Solomon (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 10:52PM EST (link)Patrick Kennedy (D, RI) cutting and running to the closest bar.
There.
Fixed it for you, Moe.
Shed no tears for any Kennedy
tiredude Thursday, February 11th at 10:56PM EST (link)but your video and Kennys comment is just what my bad day needed. A good laugh.
Ready to Puke
proudgop (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:03PM EST (link)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEbouh86DwY&feature=player_embedded
Serious, who spends their campaign money for an ad basically saying adios?
Gotta love his goodbye RI is in horrible shape but I was grand? Serious WTH?
At least he is wasting his money on preserving his own self pride such a Kennedy trait
:gobsmacked:
Moe Lane (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:12PM EST (link)That cannot be real.
That cannot.
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It's real. I even commented on that page.......
Kenny Solomon (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:27PM EST (link)…….in my usual tactful manner, of course,
“Whoa, a clean and sober? moment…… I’m actually impressed……. Really….. Finally admitting the “social justice” scam was the clincher for me though….. Y’all ain’t a-gonna be missed whatsoever….. We’ll keep our Constitution intact, thank you very much……. See ya, Sparky.”
Eunice Shriver Kennedy...
SoFiMil (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:57PM EST (link)lived an exemplary life. If only the rest of them would have learned from her.
www.suvstrategery.blogspot.com
Awe Moe. I was gonna post this. But my title would have been
mbecker908 (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 10:53PM EST (link)Drowning Camelot.
Thanks also...
rsjt Thursday, February 11th at 10:54PM EST (link)…to Howard Lawrence Carr
Good Riddance
proudgop (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 10:55PM EST (link)Good Riddance and he so waved white flag. Patrick always raised a lot for his campaigns just through his last name.
I will add that while RI is very Democrat and RI 01 is more Democrat of two districts it was represented by Republican prior to Patrick for long time.
The Democrats may be better off with new blood in some ways but their primary will be bloody and bitter. Could see some Dems drop out of Gov Race and jump in here.
John Loughlin is great candidate it is possible Fmr Mayor Cranston Steve Laffey might run ( Cranston is split not sure if his house is in this district or not though)
Fmr Gov Almond could run too though he has shown zero future elective office
That said whats Patrick going to do now? I mean he admitted he has never worked a day in his life!
The Republican b4 Kennedy
jfindl2 (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:06PM EST (link)was only in for 3 terms, not exactly a long time.
I think this is a situation like Dodd over in Connecticut, the Dems chances get better by a troubled incumbent retiring. Although, Kennedy was much less “damaged” compared to Dodd.
I’m a little retread, short and stout. I have no life, I reregister and pout.
on points
proudgop (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:12PM EST (link)Republicans won seat after Democrat retired
The Dems might be better off without him and his baggage but they will likely have a very bitter primary
This district is filled with a lot senior citizens who just remembered kennedy name but they are also not happy about Obamacare and the slashing of their Medicare
it can be won and Dems are favored but it will be interesting to see how bloody dem primary is
Oh yeah
jfindl2 (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:55PM EST (link)I was not trying to suggest that the seat is toast or unobtainable. The GOP will definitely have a shot at taking it, although it will be an uphill battle considering how it is heavily tilted in favor of the Democrats. However, with this election cycle, as shown by Scott Brown’s victory in Massachusetts, anything can happen for the Republicans.
I’m a little retread, short and stout. I have no life, I reregister and pout.
I agree with you
gemimail Friday, February 12th at 11:06AM EST (link)Getting rid of a scandal ridden Democrat incumbent can only help the Democrat party.
A congress w/ out a Kennedy
jfindl2 (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:02PM EST (link)Never thought I would see the day, oh happy day!
I’m a little retread, short and stout. I have no life, I reregister and pout.
Well...
tsquare (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:17PM EST (link)Bye…
Didn't Kennedy call Scott Brown's election a
throwback59 Thursday, February 11th at 11:22PM EST (link)“joke”?
Who’s laughing now? I find this abdication much funnier.
Wherever he goes from here...
ChicaGOP (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:28PM EST (link)… I hope he takes a cab.
The modern liberal is defined as one whose sense of guilt has exceeded his capacity for restitution – making it not only forgivable, but morally superior to raid someone else’s larder to pay his bottomless debt.
Wonder if he's going to move to Massachusetts
Teresa in Fort Worth, TX (Diary) Thursday, February 11th at 11:50PM EST (link)and run for Daddy’s seat?
Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride…..
Looking good!
swamphermit (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 12:07AM EST (link)Glad to see him go…and ‘That Trail’ can now be followed in the dark!
Never fear, Democrats...
Third Street (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 12:48AM EST (link)…the Kennedy name will live on in Congress. In 2014 we here in La. will get Treasurer John Kennedy to take over for Mary Landrieu, who will suddenly realize she’d love to stick around but simply must be going.
Oh, there are just a few things: he’s a Republican, he’s a conservative, he isn’t a Kennedy Kennedy, and he’s never beaten, raped, or drowned anybody. Sorry, libs, but you can’t always have everything, right?
“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” –Wilkins Micawber, “David Copperfield”
I wonder what tricks Mary Landrieu has then
Richard Mullins (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 12:58AM EST (link)Really, from the little I was of ads on that race(when I went to NO in Oct. 2008), her ads against him were mean.
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Joe Biden is like a Decrepit Park owner with a Meth lab that happens to not only be a dealer but a user.
Let’s Bankrupt the Democratic paty. Make spend all the money to defend thier candidates.
Amen
nivlem (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 3:32AM EST (link)…
Here comes Buddy...
briann (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 6:55AM EST (link)Any truth to the rumor that Buddy will run for Patches seat? That would explain this more than any rehab visit.
-Bri
He won't win
proudgop (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 7:54AM EST (link)Buddy is an Independent first and his time in slammer for RICO convictions doesn’t play well in whole district
he would take more votes away from dems ( italian Americans)
If Mayor Ciciline ( Providence) runs for Dems Cianci wouldn’t get a lot Providence votes either ( which is too an extent his base)
I doubt he runs
How about the former Mayor of Cranston who ran
mbecker908 (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 7:57AM EST (link)against Chafee?
Laffey
proudgop (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 8:09AM EST (link)I thought of him last night
Cranston is split between RI 01 and RI 02 not sure where his home is on the line in city
He just ruled out run for Governor when Republicans pleaded for him to run and he said he wasn’t running because what needed to be done to fix the state won’t make him able to win office
Not a lot Republicans in district but the republican running now looks like good fit
Fmr Gov Almond only other Republican I can think of in district
I like Buddy
mbecker908 (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 8:15AM EST (link)just for the entertainment value.
not really new dirt
proudgop (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 8:25AM EST (link)not really a lot new dirt they can throw at him
in jail for having people pay your campaign committee to get into police, fire, school dept and to get a promotion check
u want to tow a vehicle in city pay Friends of Buddy Cianci check
put his cig on guys forehead who was sleeping wit his then wife check
Your last note was always my favorite.
mbecker908 (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 12:28PM EST (link)I lived in RI ’86-’89. Never a dull moment.
Kennedy is a drunk and wants to be left alone.
archer52 Friday, February 12th at 9:15AM EST (link)Let’s do that. He has way too many demons to ignore them. Let him go and sink into a life of drugs and alcohol. It is the level his water is seeking and we should not stand in the way. Just because he is a Kennedy means nothing. The bright light time for the Kennedys died in ’63 and ’68. Ted was just another drunk living off the name. At least Patrick knows who he is and wants to stop pretending.
Kudos.
You're probably right. We have regular posters here
Brian Hibbert (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 9:26AM EST (link)who could help him with his problem, but he has to want to solve the problem for it to work. I suspect he’s going to get out of the public light so he can REALLY wallow in his addictions.
It’s sad to see anyone self destruct using drugs and alcohol. Especially when they had the resources to be something better.
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Why yCan't Republicans Get Rid Of Dead Weight Like This?
crosley (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 12:11PM EST (link)I was really looking forward to seeing a Kennedy getting stomped.
Rhode Island is an incredibly Democrat state, it routinely goes blue by around 20-30 points every Presidential election. Obama got nearly TWICE as many votes as John McCain.
Kennedy was our best shot at picking this seat off, it’s now going to be an uphill climb for a Republican to win. On one hand, it’s encouraging to see these “retirements”, but on the other hand, it makes some of these likely pickup seats a lot more difficult for us.
Its still Kennedy
proudgop (Diary) Friday, February 12th at 1:54PM EST (link)He won that race first time in 1994 a great year for Republicans nationwide only because of his name
With all crap he has done he still kept on getting re-elected
Republican have better shot without him in race believe it or not
Update: AG Patrick Lynch not running
I think the next frontrunner is Mayor Ciciline of Providence now