Americans averted a dive off the “fiscal cliff,” but the philosophical battle is not over. Conservatives are still ardent to cut government spending drastically, except for the military budget. The programs they want to eliminate are those that benefit the middle class and the less affluent.
Massachusetts must field a full cadre of seasoned public officials when it is time for the campaign to begin. Unfortunately, when Sen. John Kerry leaves the Senate to serve as Secretary of State, the state’s new senior senator will be Elizabeth Warren, who was just elected to her first term. She will need the assistance of someone with extensive congressional experience.
Gov. Deval Patrick will undoubtedly appoint an interim senator to serve while the politicians fight it out to succeed Kerry. No one is better qualified than Barney Frank, who has served on the Hill since 1981. He has just retired from the House of Representatives, but he is willing to move across the hall until Kerry’s replacement has been elected. Frank’s congressional acumen is much needed now to represent Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate.
This is no time for an honorary but inexperienced placeholder.
