Patrick, again

Surprise:

Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy will return to Congress Tuesday after an absence of about four weeks to undergo treatment for addiction, his office said Monday.

This just the last in a long list of repeated bouts with substance abuse and generally erratic behavior. I hold no ill will towards Kennedy, but its obvious his lifetime will be spent struggling with a full array of problems. Unfortunately, he simply can't devote his full attention and effort to doing the job he was elected to do. That is a disservice to his constituents, whether he or they want to admit it or not. It's too bad someone won't take him aside and convince him to get out of politics for his own good. And if he won't listen, then someone should run against him in the Democrat primary.

Heck, they sure seem willing to line up to take on his colleague in the 2nd District:

RIFUTURE has heard from multiple sources that State Representative Betsy Dennigan (D-E. Providence) is possibly going to announce a run for US Congress against incumbent Democrat Jim Langevin. Dennigan was named a possible candidate for the office of Lt. Governor but now that Elizabeth Roberts has decided to run for re-election that option has closed.

Smart map readers may point out that Dennigan may not live in the 2nd Congressional District but living in the districts is not a requirement for Congressional seats.

Setting ideology aside, I would think it would serve Rhode Island Democrats much better if Dennigan would simply stay in-district and run against Kennedy. The realistic chances of successfully toppling an incumbent in the primary are about the same, so why not at least challenge the truly, ahhh, challenged one? Heck, Dennigan may have a much better chance taking on Kennedy on her home turf instead of carpet-bagging into the 2nd District.