| Newton MA News and Politics BlogWith John Kerry’s nomination to become Secretary of Defense, we’ve returned to silly season, chock full of ridiculous speculation  about who will run to fill Kerry’s Senate seat.

Ben Affleck? (Good for TMZ, but Massachusetts?) Joe Kennedy III? (I head that one on WGBH  yesterday!) Setti Warren? (Not happening.)

But the notion that Gov. Deval Patrick could turn to Newton’s Barney Frank as an interim appointment isn’t silly at all. And if you want someone who knows the issues, knows the city, won’t be shy about speaking up for us and could get a staff in place on day one, it certainly makes more sense than Vicky Kennedy or Mike Dukakis.

Plus it will annoy Joe Battenfeld!