Delahunt Bowing Out?

Could Bill Delahunt be the next Democrat from Massachusetts to be replaced by a Republican?

US Representative William Delahunt said yesterday that he is considering retiring from his congressional seat representing the South Shore and Cape Cod, although he portrayed his deliberations as routine and said they are not related to challenges from Republicans who are energized by Scott Brown’s upset victory in last month’s special Senate election.

“Every election cycle, I take my time, I think it through, and I think, not about whether I can win or lose, but: ‘Am I in a position to make a difference?’ ’’ Delahunt, a Quincy Dem ocrat, said in a telephone interview. “Can I achieve what I want to achieve outside of public life?’’

Delahunt, who has not faced a serious challenge since he was elected in 1996, has a campaign war chest of more than $600,000 but has not been aggressively raising money this year, according to federal records. He said he will announce in March whether he will seek reelection.

If he departs, it would signal a continued shift in New England’s political landscape after the Republican Brown stunned Democrats when he won the seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy. Kennedy’s son, Patrick, said yesterday that he will be quitting his US House seat in Rhode Island.

“I have held elected office for almost 40 years,’’ said Delahunt, a former prosecutor. “I understand that there is always an ebb and flow. Today you are up and tomorrow you are down. That is the rhythm of political life.’’

Delahunt has held office so long that Democratic strategists said it is not clear who in his party might seek the seat if he were to retire. Some have floated the name of Therese Murray, president of the Massachusetts State Senate, who is from Plymouth. But she has recently indicated that she believes Delahunt will run and win.

Still, several Republicans see a chance to recapture one of the state’s conservative districts, where Brown received some of his highest margins of victory on Jan. 19. And they have seized on an unlikely issue: Venezuela. Or, more specifically, Delahunt’s good relations with Hugo Chávez, president of Venezuela, who once called President Bush “the devil’’ in a speech at the United Nations.

One of those Republicans is State Rep. Jeff Perry, who recently announced his candidacy. Obviously, the dynamics of this years elections changed  when Scott Brown won his election. Every seat is in play now. If Delahunt does retire this offers even more hope for the Republican Party since taking an open seat is easier than defeating an incumbent. In a district handily won by Scott Brown, it is safe to say that the Democrats’ one-party stranglehold on the state is weakening.

Tierney Buckles, Delahunt and Lynch Stick Up For Taxpayer

Representative John Tierney, my former representative, has changed his vote on the bailout bill. Previously voting “no” on a $500 billion bailout, he has now voted “yes” on $700 billion.

Congressman John Tierney has changed his mind and will vote for the Senate-passed $700 billion financial bailout bill.

Tierney tells The Associated Press he reluctantly is supporting the bill because it is the best among a bunch of bad alternatives and something needs to be done to ease panic in the financial markets.

Tierney, William Delahunt and Stephen Lynch were the only House members from Massachusetts who bucked their Democratic leadership and voted against the bailout plan narrowly rejected Monday. That bill did not include tax cuts and other sweeteners that are in the new version of the bill.

Delahunt and Lynch both said they wouldn’t switch their votes because the burden still sits on the taxpayers for the woes of Wall Street.

Thank you, Rep. Delahunt and Rep. Lynch for sticking up for the taxpayer. Rep. Tierney… go screw.

Bailout Roll Call

How did your representative vote on the $700 billion bailout?

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, Michael Capuano, Ed Markey, John Olver, Richard Neal, Jim McGovern and Niki Tsongas voted for the massive $700 billion plan that ultimately failed on a 228-205 vote.

Congressmen Stephen Lynch, William Delahunt and John Tierney bucked leadership by voting against the legislation.

All 10 of Massachusetts’ House members are Democrats.

The overall party breakdown on the bill was:

140 Democrats and 65 Republicans in favor.

95 Democrats and 133 Republicans against.

Rep. William Delahunt: Terrorist Sympathizer?

This video (featuring the 10th Congressional District’s own Rep. William Delahunt questioning Vice President Cheney’s chief of staff David Addington) is appalling. If you haven’t seen it yet, it is very telling about the Democrats’ general view on fighting terrorism:

You got that? Addington said he couldn’t discuss what kinds of techniques are being used to interrogate captured terrorists because to do so publicly would give al Qaeda inside knowledge. This point is not contested by Delahunt, but he seems pleased by the idea.

Boston Maggie, one of Delahunt’s constituents, is calling for his censure, and also has other updates to this story.

An Interesting Suggestion…

…fom MRFT:

Though we admire former Governor Mitt Romney for his spirit and articulation of the issues that so many of us champion, it is time for him to exit this race and focus his determination and wallet on the Massachusetts Senate seat presently held by John F. Kerry.

Such a decision would also free up current senate candidates Jeff Beatty and Jim Ogonowski to challenge Democrats William Delahunt and Niki Tsongas in rematches for their congressional seats.

A bold move like this would make Romney a GOP Party hero as he would quickly unite the divide the commentator Rush Limbaugh frequently talks about while also tying up the Democratic campaign machines of Kerry, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the entire Massachusetts congressional delegation from supporting their Party’s nominee against McCain in the November General Election.

It certainly is an intriguing idea. If Mitt Romney isn’t nominated, going against John Kerry may not be a bad idea. For starters, Kerry is vulnerable, and, unlike Beatty and Ogonowski, Romney has the wealth to compete against John Kerry’s campaign coffers. And, Romney would destroy Kerry in any debate.

I remember when Mitt ran against Ted Kennedy for his seat. I was so excited by his candidacy back then. Considering the disaster that has been Deval Patrick’s governorship, and Kerry’s poor numbers, running for the U.S. Senate might be something Mitt should consider if he doesn’t get the GOP nomination.