Looks like Rangel is out as chairman. Pelosi and Dems pushing hard for exit

[Bitek]

Rep. Charles Rangel's turbulent reign as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee looked headed for an inglorious, embarrassing end on Tuesday night.
Rangel was bluntly told he doesn't have the votes to hang onto his powerful perch atop the tax-writing committee, and he will have to quit as chairman as soon as Wednesday, sources told the Daily News.
The New York Democrat - a Korean war hero and Harlem political legend - has fought bitterly for 18 months to cling to power after the House Ethics Committee launched ever-expanding probes of his ethical lapses.
Rangel's refusal to go down easy was on full display after he emerged from a testy evening huddle with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Asked if he was still chairman, Rangel barked, "You bet your life" to reporters.
Pelosi said, "No comment."
But Rangel told confidantes during the day that he knew time was running out.
"I don't think he's angry just as much as he's trying to do what's in the best interest of the [party]," a Democratic source said.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/pol...gel_told_he_has_no_support.html#ixzz0h5OH5kZc
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Pelosi has a pair of steel balls and is not shy to use them. Thought that Rangel might rangle his way out of the ethics violations, but looks like he's going down afterall. Good, a lot of this stuff is really just stupid (like dodging taxes) and should not be tolerated at all. Politics is so insanely corrupting, but actions such as those just show they are not even trying to walk the good side of the line anymore.

 

[glenn1]

Pelosi has a pair of steel balls and is not shy to use them. Thought that Rangel might rangle his way out of the ethics violations, but looks like he's going down afterall. Good, a lot of this stuff is really just stupid (like dodging taxes) and should not be tolerated at all. Politics is so insanely corrupting, but actions such as those just show they are not even trying to walk the good side of the line anymore.

Who would the likely replacement be?

 

[Bitek]

Who would the likely replacement be?

I have no idea, but lets hope they have their house in order. I'm sure they have someone in mind, this has been coming for a while.

 

[lothar]

Good riddance.

 

[werepossum]

Pelosi has a pair of steel balls and is not shy to use them. Thought that Rangel might rangle his way out of the ethics violations, but looks like he's going down afterall. Good, a lot of this stuff is really just stupid (like dodging taxes) and should not be tolerated at all. Politics is so insanely corrupting, but actions such as those just show they are not even trying to walk the good side of the line anymore.

True, look at Harry Reid. Buy a piece of land, sell it to a buddy, successfully lobby to have the Endangered Species Act set aside "on behalf of a constituent", then get half the huge profit on the now-developable land. Rangel is arguably among the worst, but many (perhaps most?) suffer from the same sickness.

 

[cubby1223]

Subject: Pelosi and Dems pushing hard for exit

Really?!!

6 months ago Pelosi and Dems were blaming the charges against Rangel on extremist partisan wing-nut idiots, or something to that effect. Well I don't think Pelosi specifically was publically blaming someone, rather she was more than happy to sweep all "issues" under the rug.

Balls of steel? Well, maybe. But only used to further her personal agenda, and right now Rangel is a burden on her agenda. It's got little to do with the actual corruption.

 

[Craig234]

Subject: Pelosi and Dems pushing hard for exit

Really?!!

6 months ago Pelosi and Dems were blaming the charges against Rangel on extremist partisan wing-nut idiots, or something to that effect. Well I don't think Pelosi specifically was publically blaming someone, rather she was more than happy to sweep all "issues" under the rug.

Balls of steel? Well, maybe. But only used to further her personal agenda, and right now Rangel is a burden on her agenda. It's got little to do with the actual corruption.

Needs more photoshopping of a Hitler mustache on Pelosi.

 

[Danube]

I was listening to John Batchelor tonight and he said Rangel is staying put. This should get interesting.

 

[Zebo]

True, look at Harry Reid. Buy a piece of land, sell it to a buddy, successfully lobby to have the Endangered Species Act set aside "on behalf of a constituent", then get half the huge profit on the now-developable land. Rangel is arguably among the worst, but many (perhaps most?) suffer from the same sickness.

99.99% of the corruption is easy to hide in plain site. Like where their kids work (check out Harry) where their wife works, where they go to work after office (see Dick Cheney) you have to be an idiot to do stuff like Rangle/Cunningham et al. I think it speaks to the culture of laws don't apply to us infecting politics.

Interesting additional tidbit on Harrys land deal is that his buddy from the 1950's sold him the land, land owned by a pension fund Harry's buddy controlled and was trustee of, for a measly 5 cents on the dollar. Way to look out for the working man and his pension, hey Harry.

 

[Double Trouble]

This clown (Rangel) had no business being in the position he was in to begin with. He's always been scum. We'll see who ends up replacing him at some point, but I'm not holding out much hope that it's going to be anyone better since the vast majority in congress appear to be just as scummy.

 

[werepossum]

99.99% of the corruption is easy to hide in plain site. Like where their kids work (check out Harry) where their wife works, where they go to work after office (see Dick Cheney) you have to be an idiot to do stuff like Rangle/Cunningham et al. I think it speaks to the culture of laws don't apply to us infecting politics.

Interesting additional tidbit on Harrys land deal is that his buddy from the 1950's sold him the land, land owned by a pension fund Harry's buddy controlled and was trustee of, for a measly 5 cents on the dollar. Way to look out for the working man and his pension, hey Harry.

Yeah, this is very widespread, but sometimes like Rangel they forget to even put the lipstick on the pig.

Personally I don't think Pelosi has the ovaries to kick out Rangel.

 

[QuantumPion]

What Rangel did was bad but is still peanuts compared to some other crooks, e.g. Diane Feinstein - multi-billion dollar defense contracts for her husband's company.

 

[werepossum]

Rangel has decided to step down - temporarily. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35678683/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

 

[PokerGuy]

Now lets see what socialist will get the position.

 

[Fear No Evil]

At least the Republicans just screw other men.. Democrats screw the country.

 

[MotF Bane]

At least the Republicans just screw other men.. Democrats screw the country.

Oh come on.

 

[EXman]

Good riddance.

This guy is a terrorist to the middle class. Seriously super douchey.

On the other hand I always kinda laugh when I see video of him in his "I have more money than you" suits. He deserves a life sentence wearing clothes from the dollar store along with a zipper for his mouth.

 

[Fear No Evil]

Oh come on.

What? Republicans tap their feet in bathrooms. Democrats tap the American public for every penny.

 

[Doc Savage Fan]

I imagine this thread would be a hell of a lot longer by now if Charlie Rangel had an (R) behind his name. Damn the luck!

 

[waggy]

Rangel has decided to step down - temporarily. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35678683/ns/politics-capitol_hill/

exactly. he is NOT out he is just taking a break until this blows over.

 

[bfdd]

Now if we could just get rid of Pelosi and all the other California reps and senators that are pieces of shit. I hate that they represent my state.

 

[Chunkee]

too late. he has reaped way too much and i doubt anything will happen to him. i love how the media shows pics of him with a saddened face...he is only sad, because he got caught...now if ethics committee starting going after more political thieves earlier on, then perhaps a new slew of regime changes could be the replacements...ah, but i can only dream.

 

[marincounty]

Now if we could just get rid of Pelosi and all the other California reps and senators that are pieces of shit. I hate that they represent my state.

Elections have consequences, bitch. Maybe you prefer Republicans like Duke Cunningham?
Now serving 8 years in prison.
And you hate Barbara Boxer? She had the sense to vote against the Iraq war and Bush's irresponsible tax cuts-both terrible ideas that have screwed the country.

 

[Moonbeam]

What? Republicans tap their feet in bathrooms. Democrats tap the American public for every penny.

The voice of experience.

 

[bfdd]

Elections have consequences, bitch. Maybe you prefer Republicans like Duke Cunningham?
Now serving 8 years in prison.
And you hate Barbara Boxer? She had the sense to vote against the Iraq war and Bush's irresponsible tax cuts-both terrible ideas that have screwed the country.

Where in my post have I indicated I support or prefer Republicans like Duke Cunningham? No where. Unlike you and MANY other posters on this forum everything isn't Red and Blue to me. I have no party affiliation nor do I support either party.