From Alexander K. McClure at Polipundit:
2006 Rhode Island Senate Race
In what is getting to be a comedy, Representative Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island has decided not to run against incumbent Senator Lincoln Chafee.
Of course the other Congressman, James Langevin, has also dropped out of the race. The only remaining candidate is Secretary of State Matt Brown, and a recent poll showed Chafee crushing Brown.
So the weakest of the weak Republican senators avoids the guy most likely to unseat him, Congressman Jim Lagevin (full on quadraplegic and a hell of a nice guy!), and then by the merest of luck, the only other guy with a legitimate shot at him, Congressman Patrick Kennedy, decides the time is not right to be a junior senator.
Kennedy's mom must really be in a bad way, this is the best opportunity he has had to move up to the upper house. He is also the savviest of the Kennedy's since JFK and Bobby. He clearly sees that it is far better to be an entrenched member of the House Appropriations committee than it is to be a junior senator in the minority party while the "other" party controls the White House. Kennedy is one to watch. He's much closer to main stream Democrats than his father. He's hawkish even when no one is looking and this decision shows he has patience. Six term Congressman and he's what 36? Ten years from now we will be hearing alot about this Kennedy.
See what happens when you pigeon hole people? You thought I was a die-hard far right Republican who could see no good on the other side of the aisle. Well, actually I am a die-hard way to the right of center Republican, but I have a soft spot for Kennedy (probably in my head!). Don't anyone tell my Dad!!!
But I think I saw him on FOXnews before the election telling everyone that all Republicans chop down ancient redwoods in their spare time, when they're not taking sling-shots at endangered Condors. Unless that was another Kennedy?
Posted by: ninme | 05 April 2005 at 04:11 PM