“I do not understand why ‘partisan’ has always been a bad word,” declared Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the iconoclastic chairman of the House Financial Services Committee on Monday.
Speaking at a National Press Club Luncheon, Frank opened by making his case that “political parties are necessary for democracy.” The parties “are not sides picked randomly for color war at camp. They are not 1s and 2s,” but rather groups of people who believe fundamentally different things.
Frank then dated himself by using a Lone Ranger reference in making a point about opponents of financial regulations. “They want to return to the thrilling days of yesteryear when the loan arrangers will ride again,” he joked. “And in this view, the loan arrangers will be accompanied by their faithful and submissive companion, government. And this is not going to happen.”
More Frank:
-On the Troubled Asset Relief Plan: “I long for the good old days when I thought that TARP was what you used to cover the infield when it was raining.”
-On becoming chairman: “I made a lot of new friends without getting any nicer.”
-On his retirement, when it finally arrives: “I will no longer have to spend my time learning about things that are very complicated and wholly boring.”
