Former Ways and Means Chairman, Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D., NY) will be tried on serious charges of ethics violations after he rejected the findings of the Ethics Committee, including the alleged failure to declare up to $831,000 in assets and use of his office to raise money for a center named after himself.
In a separate case, Rangel was accused of accepting free trips from corporate interests and other violations.
Rangel, 80, appears set for trial — a process last used by Jim Traficant (D-Ohio) before he went to federal prison. He has spent more than $2 million of his campaign funds on his legal team.
The trial is probably a greater concern for the Democrats than Rangel who is at the end of his career and is fighting for his legacy. For Democrats, it could not come at a worse moment with polls showing Congress at an all-time low of eleven percent. If Rangel wanted to simply continue in office, he probably could have accepted the allegations and weathered the storm in a safe district. However, he wants his day in court (though this can only be loosely analogized to a court proceeding).
Source: Washington Post
Was there not a White Collar episode recently about something like this?
Luke Russert vs. Charlie Rangel Over Ethics Violations (VIDEO)
AY:If not there will soon be one after this.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/23/luke-russert-vs-charlie-r_n_656869.html
Let the process take its course – if he is found guilty, toss him to the curb. If he is not, so be it.
It’s too bad he’s not a Republican – they don’t seem to resign or get prosecuted for ethical violations (Ensign, Vitter, Sanford…). I hope they can find him guilty, convince him to resign or prove his innocence (which I doubt is possible) before the election…
Of course, I doubt a Republican could win his district even if he’s indicted…
Slartibartfast,
I believe there is an Ethics investigation ongoing of Ensign and he’s the subject of an FBI investigation so I don’t think we’ve heard the last about that Senator from Nevada.
As to Rangel, he’s been in office since ’71. I don’t know if you remember Jim Traficant but he hung on and in so doing did some very real and lasting damage to the Democratic Party here in Ohio (he was just recently released from prison). Perhaps Rangel needs to look at the Traficant situation and learn.
Blouise,
I lived in Ohio for a while in the 90s so I remember Jim Traficant – hopefully Rangel will resign and spare the party, but I don’t have much faith in that happening.
Democrat. Republican. Who cares as long as the weasels are thrown out of the hen house?
Sorry, Charlie!
Blouise
[Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Ohio, who was released from prison four months ago after serving a sentence for racketeering, tax evasion and bribery, is planning another run for Congress in 2010.
Business Journal Daily reports that Traficant told a business networking group in Youngstown, Ohio yesterday that "I'm going to run for Congress." He said he isn't sure which district he will seek or whether he will run as a Democrat, Republican, independent or something else.
...
Traficant also said a far-right group called the American Free Press wants him to run for president as an independent. He is planning to speak to the group in February, if he is allowed to travel under the terms of his parole. ]
http://minx.cc/?post=297825
Buddha, You might like the heading on this site.
Remember Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. who was reelected after he was excluded from the house. And Charley Rangel took his seat in 1970.
That Harlem constituency really like their guys.
Time for Charlie to go. Corporations don’t pay money unless something is given in return. $830,000.00 for simple access. I am not buying into that.
This arrogant tax cheat and crook was chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. He deserves to spend the few years he has left in 8 x 8 cell with a cot to sleep on. I hope he gets what he deserves.
As many predicted, we have a fourth branch of government which we unwittingly created. Corporate money now threatens to swamp both Congress and the Presidency preying on each institution’s incessant need for campaign contributions to stay elected. Democracy suffers from legalized graft and the courts sit idly by waxing poetic about corporate person-hood and the first amendment rights of mythical beings to “influence” the process. One wonders when their “influence” equates to “overwhelms.” The suicide pact seems almost complete unless the only branch of government capable of doing something about it does do something about it. Why the courts feel obligated to enable this bribery astonishes me, but then again I don’t have just my government pension to fall back on at retirement, and have no desire to sit on some corporate board collecting my stipend of several hundred thousand dollars. We do still prosecute whores, don’t we?
Buckeye,
Thanks. I was trying to remember the dudes name that Rangel took the seat from.
buckeye
Blouise
[Former U.S. Rep. James A. Traficant Jr. of Ohio, who was released from prison four months ago after serving a sentence for racketeering, tax evasion and bribery, is planning another run for Congress in 2010.
Business Journal Daily reports that Traficant told a business networking group in Youngstown, Ohio yesterday that "I'm going to run for Congress." He said he isn't sure which district he will seek or whether he will run as a Democrat, Republican, independent or something else.
...
Traficant also said a far-right group called the American Free Press wants him to run for president as an independent. He is planning to speak to the group in February, if he is allowed to travel under the terms of his parole. ]
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In my opinion ol’ Traficant is just another out of control ego maniac … who loves houseboats.
I think Rangel’s going to take a “wide stance” on this one.
A.Y.
Rangel succeeded Adam Clayton Powell, who was thrown out due to ethics violations. Rangel ran on a reform platform. Ironically, one of Rangel’s challengers today is Adam Clayton Powell III. Poor Harlem. It deserves better representation.
How could anyone forget James Traficant? He’s the only man in America with a worse hairstyle than Donald Trump. I always thought Traficant looked like he was wearing a toupee made from road-kill.
Elaine,
That’s a terrible thing to say about roadkill.
Jus wanted ya’ll to see my new release that I’m workin on.
For best effect it’s best to listen to the original song to get it stuck in your head then sing along with the lyrics below.
All them democrats are goin away
Said they’re all movin to L.A.
There’s not a soul I know around
all of them are leavin’ town
Some got caught and put away
All that sunshine now is rain
They said were all ah waste of time
I guess they’re right, they wasted mine
Some gotta win, some gotta lose,
Charlie Rangels got the blues
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Ya know my heart keeps tellin’ me
there’s got ta be more than jus the 13 he’s gonna plea
Play around in the Dominican Republic you’ll lose your wife
don’t pay your taxes you lose your life
I got my pills to ease the pain
cain’t do nothin but laugh and watch it rain
can’t let any of it get ya down
cause all them democrats are leavin town
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Charlie Rangels got the blues
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Some gotta win, some gotta lose
Good time Charlie Rangels got the blues
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Good time Charlie’s got the blues
Bdaman,
Good to see you back, nod, nod wink, wink…
So is the National release date to coincide with your actual release date. I hear tell you can learn to play the guitar in Prison. Was it Club Fed or the lonely place in Southern Louisiana? Did the Light shine on you?
Yea, I’m still around, good to see you are too. There was a moment when you fell of the wagon that had everyone concerned. Way to get back in the saddle to ride again.
“I hear tell you can learn to play the guitar in Prison.”
Ask Johhny
Bdaman,
Wagon? What wagon are you referring to? If you are asking if I experienced an episodic period of depression, well yeah. Do you need more details, just ask. I’ll probably tell you how dark and bleak it became and what I did. What sparked it and what agony I went through before I put that Gun to my goddamned head. It would probably make you ashamed that you even asked, as I will spare no detail as to what I recall.
come on smartass ask some more stupid.
bdaman – winning friends and influencing people since . . . never.
How’s that foot taste, sport? Would you like some “Christ Killer” to go with that?
buckeye,
I missed your earlier message to me about that blog heading. And all I’ve got to say is “Arrrgh, matey!” lol
Ay I just went through an episode myself approximately 2 years ago.
High School friend name Buddy Horn rode his bike 5 miles to a place along the river we use to hang out at and did it. I think the seed was planted then. Then another good friends wife jumped off the Dames Point Bridge.
I went and spoke with the pastor at a church and he asked what was going on and I told him. He began reading passages from the bible, he would stop, then look at me and smile. He did this for 15 minutes and it was then I realized that it had been so long since I smiled and that I was severely depressed. I would lie in bed at night repeating over and over.
“Satan you shall not come upon me to rob steal nor kill.”
and
” Lord god, lamb of god, you take away the sins of the world have mercy on us, Lord god, lamb of god you take away the sins of the world grant me peace.
That lasted for at least 6 months of no sleep repeating it over and over.
I understand what you went through as I went through it myself.
I say that with completion and so should you. Done with it and be gone.
I’m still not a 100% but I’m better.
AY in the last six months in my community there have been many suicides. One guy took his 14 and 17 year old children out before himself while his wife was in the shower getting ready for work.
Stay Strong and remember there’s always a reason to live.
http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/032807/met_8899630.shtml
http://www.mikestrong.com/dames/
Well, off to see Cats and Dogs in 3D.
Have fun everybody, talk to you soon.
Ya’ll take care now, ya hear!!!!!!
P.S. no need to leave the light on for me, already seen it.
Bdaman,
Come on I will tell you right now I cannot as I have some places to be. One is to the bank, I am unsure if I should rob em or use a ATM card. Either way they are robbing me so I figure turn about would be fair play.
But I will say this if it had not been for someone finding out where I was as I still don’t have a clue how I got there. They figured it out because of the GPS on the cellphone, fully disabled now. The trigger would have been pulled. You wanna know what set it off, this will have to wait for later.
Anonymously Yours,
“You wanna know what set it off, this will have to wait for later.”
I don’t care what Bdaman wants … I wanna know so you’d better come back later!
AY,
Yeah, I’ve got to second Blouise on this one. Screw that troll and what he wants. All he’s done is further illustrate exactly what kind of person he is: crappy and, in the end, totally self-absorbed.
Bdaman is clearly out to inflict damage on the regulars on this blog. He is not a “compassionate conservative”. You can’t let your enemies get you down. Keep on keeping on.
fuck suicide, it complicates the lives of those left behind.
live and resolve to be happy. Life is short enough as it is to waste it and to injure those who love you for the rest of their lives.
I agree with you Byron. I had a relative that committed suicide, and damage was inflicted on the survivors. Help is available to those that want it.
Buddha Is Laughing
1, July 30, 2010 at 12:22 pm
AY,
Yeah, I’ve got to second Blouise on this one. Screw that troll and what he wants. All he’s done is further illustrate exactly what kind of person he is: crappy and, in the end, totally self-absorbed.
===============================================================
Agreed but … he takes his kids to some great movies … I wonder if he’d let us tag along … I want to see Cats and Dogs 3D … see how I keep inviting us places!
You know what Buddha, you sure do got a pretty mouth.
Landscapes just bout right aint it.
nair nair nair nair nair nair nair YE HAAAA!!!!!!!!
…I know AY would love to go … slobber heaven
Swarthmore mom
1, July 30, 2010 at 12:38 pm
I agree with you Byron. I had a relative that committed suicide, and damage was inflicted on the survivors. Help is available to those that want it.
===========================================================
I was a preschooler when my uncle (family lived down the street from us) attempted suicide behind his garage. He succeeded in paralyzing himself. The memory of a dark night, parents whispering as they rushed around, aunt sobbing at the kitchen table, police, and finally, as night lightened into morning, the ambulance coming, is more vivid 60 years later. My cousins never really recovered for the ripple goes on and on …
bdatroll,
Did you take extra “douche bag” pills this morning or are you just practicing for that opening Breitbart is about have in his troll stable? That’s also rhetorical.
You’ve already proven you’re an expert douche bag.
Blouise,
I’ve noticed that. I just keep hoping you’ll invite us to a place where Rachel will be.
Buddha,
I’ll work on it … I have some contacts in that field (modestly, she wrote) … BUT … the woman is married and you are a lawyer and … well, as long as it doesn’t take place in Mississippi …..
Ok where’s the fool? You here, ready to insult me or my intelligence? It is readily apparent I lack some element of intelligence as I continue to communicate with you. Or maybe it is the feeling that I need to surround myself with fools such as yourself so that I feel comfortable in my own skin.
Your apathetic apologist attitudinal dysfunction is not lost on the even the abysmally aware.
AY:
Main Entry: abys·mal
Pronunciation: \ə-ˈbiz-məl, a-\
Function: adjective
Date: circa 1656
1 a : having immense or fathomless extension downward, backward, or inward b : immeasurably great : profound c : immeasurably low or wretched
2 : abyssal 2
— abys·mal·ly \-mə-lē\ adverb
I assume you mean 1 c?
Bryon,
The one it is directed at may infer any meaning. That is why I chose that word because of its inference of many meaning and it is usually associated with negative connotations.