Thursday, April 30, 2026

Barney Frank embarks on a final act: Taking on the left

The former Massachusetts lawmaker says progressives in his party have "embraced an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable."

Posted by A_Friend at 03:03 PM | 26 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

snip ...

Former Rep. Barney Frank, a liberal icon who was a key architect of the landmark Wall Street regulations Democrats enacted in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, has entered hospice care at his home in Maine. And as one of his last acts, he is preparing to release a book repudiating his party's left flank.

A champion of liberal causes during his 32 years representing Massachusetts in the House, Frank says progressive Democrats have "embraced an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable."

#1 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 03:04 PM

See also: The Overton Window

See also: Powell Memorandum to the United States Chamber of Commerce

#2 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 03:07 PM

Time for this dinosaur to go extinct.

#3 | Posted by qcp at 2026-04-30 03:12 PM

#3 Ingratitude is a Cardinal sin, QPC.

#4 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 03:24 PM

He says he's "not arguing that anybody should stop his or her advocacy."

"But it's one thing to advocate something knowing that you're going beyond the current viewpoints, and another to make it a litmus test," he said.

#5 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 03:32 PM

"When I decided, finally, to come out in '87, it just struck me when I did that ... the American people are a lot less homophobic than they thought they were supposed to be," he said.

"More racist, unfortunately, but less homophobic."

"For a lot of my colleagues, the argument has been, well, we don't support defund the police or open borders, and we don't say we do,'" Frank said. "But my point is, no, it's not enough ... to be silent. We have to explicitly repudiate it."

He says he's "not arguing that anybody should stop his or her advocacy."

"But it's one thing to advocate something knowing that you're going beyond the current viewpoints, and another to make it a litmus test," he said.

"One of my regrets," he said, "is that I won't see the continued implosion of [President] Donald Trump."

;;

Sounds more like a complaint that Dems should be more aggressive. Um, OK!

#6 | Posted by Corky at 2026-04-30 03:36 PM

Thanks for your service, Barney, and goodbye.

#7 | Posted by Doc_Sarvis at 2026-04-30 03:39 PM

"For a lot of my colleagues, the argument has been, well, we don't support defund the police or open borders, and we don't say we do,'" Frank said. "But my point is, no, it's not enough ... to be silent. We have to explicitly repudiate it."
The repudiation of which he speaks is towards the defund the police or open borders crowd.

It is those ideas that Frank says should be repudiated.

And if by that you mean that Dems should be more aggressive in countering such ideas, then you are 100% correct.

#8 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 03:41 PM

"it's not enough ... to be silent. We have to explicitly repudiate it"

This would be from a former legislator talking about his former colleagues.

IOW, folks who sit at the adult's table.

But it's been declared that silence prohibits you from sitting there.

#9 | Posted by eberly at 2026-04-30 03:47 PM

Barney figured it out that moderate democrats are moderate because their base is moderate as well?

#10 | Posted by eberly at 2026-04-30 03:57 PM

What Barney Frank is saying isn't anything new.

He's advocating for progressives to vote for the Democratic nominee available instead of the candidate the DNC shut out because they're scaring the billionaires.

Unfortunately democratic voters have realized the Democratic Party is more interested in maintaining the status quo than fighting for Americans.

Wall Street and corporate America doing well means jack shit to minimum wage workers or people unable to find work that pays them a living wage.

This is what's costing democrats voters.

Billionaires own both parties and voters are looking for an alternative.

#11 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 05:02 PM

What Barney Frank is saying isn't anything new.
He's advocating for progressives to vote for the Democratic nominee available instead of the candidate the DNC shut out because they're scaring the billionaires.
Unfortunately democratic voters have realized the Democratic Party is more interested in maintaining the status quo than fighting for Americans.
Wall Street and corporate America doing well means jack shit to minimum wage workers or people unable to find work that pays them a living wage.
This is what's costing democrats voters.

Billionaires own both parties and voters are looking for an alternative.

Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 05:02 PM | Reply

Bears repeating in triplicate spades.

#12 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2026-04-30 05:04 PM

#12 Clown actually tries to twist Barney Frank's words into something they're not (and shame on you, Ms. Laura, for failing to recognize this)...

When Barney Frank said "For a lot of my colleagues, the argument has been, well, we don't support defund the police or open borders, and we don't say we do,'" Frank said. "But my point is, no, it's not enough ... to be silent. We have to explicitly repudiate it."

Nothing in there about the DNC.

Therefore, that has absolutely nothing to do with "He's advocating for progressives to vote for the Democratic nominee available instead of the candidate the DNC shut out..."

That's just...


'Tis almost like you (and Ms. Laura) never bothered to read the actual article.

#13 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 06:34 PM

Clown actually tries to twist Barney Frank's words into something they're not

Well, don't keep us waiting, what does Mr Frank mean when he says, progressives in his party have "embraced an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable."

What exactly is this "agenda that's beyond what's politically acceptable"?

You know what's interesting is the lack of voices saying, "Republicans have embrace an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable."

we don't support defund the police or open borders

Poor old man Frank, blindly repeating Republican propaganda.

Democrats never suggested to defund the police. The argument was the bloated budget given to law enforcement agencies was being spent on tanks and weapons of mass destruction, when instead some of the money could be used differently to benefit society and prevent scenarios where the police would be necessary.

As far as open borders, better hurry up and start building Trump's wall!

#14 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 06:46 PM

"...what does Mr Frank mean when he says, progressives in his party have "embraced an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable."

Get back to me when you understand ...

The Overton Window and,

Powell Memorandum to the United States Chamber of Commerce

Understand those, Clown, and you will understand what Barney Frank was saying when he said "progressives in his party have "embraced an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable."

Gosh.

beyond what's politically acceptable = it turns voters off.

Is that what you're advocating, Clown?

Shoving down the throats of American voters an agenda that goes beyond what's politically acceptable

Now that's a winning argument all across America. Right? /s

#15 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 06:59 PM

#14 Gosh. After claiming Barney Frank meant something he didn't really mean (in Clown's #11, seconded (stupidly) by Ms. Laura)...

...now you're claiming that Barney Frank is "Poor old man Frank, blindly repeating Republican propaganda."

Which is it, Clown?

#16 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 07:03 PM

Jesus Christ.

Just say you haven't a clue and save us both the time of reading your nonsense.

#17 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 07:03 PM

When are you going to donate to Trump's wall?

#18 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 07:03 PM

#18 Why are you defending a policy that turns off many Americans (open borders), Clown?

#19 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 07:05 PM

I actually read the article and understood what Barney Frank said.

Did you?

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 07:07 PM

#17 Just say you haven't a clue and save us both the time of reading your nonsense, Clown.

After claiming Barney Frank meant something he didn't really mean (in your #11, seconded (stupidly) by Ms. Laura)...

...now you're claiming that Barney Frank is "Poor old man Frank, blindly repeating Republican propaganda."

Which is it, Clown?

#21 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 07:07 PM

Why are you defending a policy that turns off many Americans (open borders), Clown?

Why aren't you at the border, building a wall, Friend?

If you're unable to, at least donate to Trump's campaign so he can build the wall he promised.

Open Borders are destroying America!

Chop chop!

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 07:09 PM

After claiming Barney Frank meant something he didn't really mean

Here's your second opportunity to tell us all what Poor Old Barney Frank meant.

Let's see what happens.

I bet you post a lot of nonsense.

#23 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 07:11 PM

#20 You just said, Clown, that you "...actually read the article and understood what Barney Frank said..."

Oh, you also said:

"What Barney Frank is saying isn't anything new.

"He's advocating for progressives to vote for the Democratic nominee available instead of the candidate the DNC shut out because they're scaring the billionaires. ...This is what's costing democrats voters."

#11 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 05:02 PM

But then, curiously, you make a 180 turn and then claim that Barney Frank...
"Poor old man Frank, blindly repeating Republican propaganda."

#14 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 06:46 PM

So, which is it, Clown?

Your turn.

#24 | Posted by A_Friend at 2026-04-30 07:17 PM

You yet again squander your opportunity to tell us what you think Barney Frank meant.

You have however displayed an absolutely abysmal lack of comprehension of what you're reading.

Perhaps more HTML?

Have you meat SHRIMPdick? He seems more like an appropriate person for you to converse with.

You guys can destroy an entire thread with your posts.

#25 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-04-30 07:26 PM


Wall Street and corporate America doing well means jack shit to minimum wage workers or people unable to find work that pays them a living wage.
This is what's costing democrats voters.

You still haven't made the connection of 9Million new unskilled labor immigrants would have on min wage workers.


When are you going to donate to Trump's wall?
#18 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

Classic Clown, anything opposed to what Biden did to the US is having to literally participate in building Trumps wall.

Truly lives up to his alias.

#26 | Posted by oneironaut at 2026-04-30 07:26 PM

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