Rangel Walks
 

From the NYT-

Complete Story

I think it take a lot of gall to walk out of your own hearing. After a two year investigation he wants a delay... on the day the hearing starts? BS. I think this is nothing but a stalling tactic and I honestly can't believe he was recently re-elected.

Thoughts?

He probably figured he won't get many more chances to go out for a walk so he took advantage of the nice weather...

He probably did not want to talk about improper use of the PAC money to pay for his last lawyer.

Palm meet face.

Gez, this guy's starting to make Nixon look good.

I dunno...I kinda liked it. Seemed...ballsy.

No idea if he's guilty or not, though. Probably is. Most people are.

Damn. Really? He said he wanted to have his day to be able to explain his side of things and he up and leaves?

Really? I don't even know did he get re-elected?

I'm glad they just went ahead without him like it was no big thing. C'mon, throwing what essentially amounts to a court room hissy fit in front of the entire US isn't going to go over well no matter how he tries to spin it. From a PR stance this looks pretty bad and he may have just sealed his own fate, guilty or not, unless something major surfaces in his favor this may well be the end of Charlie Rangel in Washington.

Was it supposed to be a protest? A sympathy ploy? Did he just give up and say fuck it?

Strange.

Ever article I've found talks about him being re-elected, beat out someone named Adam Clayton Powell IV, back in Sept. Does NY usually hold such elections in Sept.?

AC360 had a segment on him last night. Apparently Rangel's not even claiming he didn't do these things, just that he did them by accident. Like having three rent controlled apartments all at the same time was a paperwork error.

I know "jack" about NY but that sounds unethical as hell.

That was a primary election

Rangel, Powell Take Gloves off in Harlem Congressional Primary Race - ABC News

In NYC, being a republican is a waste, your vote does not count at all. The true election is Primary day, and you have to be a registered Democrat. I am a registered Democrat, and my wife will not agree to this philosophy and remains as a Republican. If you win the primary you win the election, that is the truth.

The saddest part about the hearings to me, is that Rangel is only facing ethics charges, which means he is not going to lose his job just get called out in public and have a finger wagged at him and said bad rangel bad.

I read that this morning and that he was offered a plea deal which he turned down.

WTF is this guy thinking?

I can think of several things, it is highly unlikely he will be voted to be removed from office, it is in all probability a censure coming. Here he plays the martyr, if he gets the case pushed until the Republicans are in office he can hide behind them saying well look who was running the house.

The only travesty in this fiasco is the length of time it is taking. Big surprise, there is a crook in Congress. It's the rest of the crooks that let him continue to govern while they "investigate" for years and years and years - that's the problem. Aristocracy.

Wait until he just gets a rebuke or censor and remains in office, for you to really scream about it.

He was found guilty on 11 of 13 counts

Yep, but looks like they'll only slap his wrist and welcome him back-

From the NYT-

Completelt article

Of course it will only be a slap on the wrist, the same people trying him are probably just as corrupt as he is. They certainly can't do something stupid like setting precedents about being tough on corruption in Washington because half of them would probably be out of a job too. Its no wonder people don't vote, hold any faith in their own government or even have an ounce of respect for it, the whole thing is a joke.

Oh well, hopefully his constituency isn't as irresponsible the next time he comes around asking for votes.

The sad truth is that he would win again today, right after being found guilty right now. Even with this case looming over him he trounced his competition in the Primary (I say Primary since no Republican would ever have a chance to oust him in NYC election unless the Democrat came out as an insane racist, homephoebic, anti-abortion, or something along those lines).

So essentially nobody really cares? The voters don't give a damn and the powers that be don't either. I guess if I were in Washington I'd take advantage of that too, if neither the voters or my peers really care I might as well line my pockets like everybody else since apparently there isn't anything wrong with doing it.

Ever hear of Marion Barry, Sharp James? No their constituents do not care and some idealize these people.

no doubt. they exist all over the country. eddie berniece johnson, busted for doling out hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to family and friends instead of her constituents, re-elected. alcee hastings, an impeached federal judge, ran for congress and has been re-elected numerous times. john murtha, disparaged his own constituency as redneck racists, re-elected.

Yeah, it was really just rhetorical venting. I do wonder what would happen if an average joe like myself was accused of some of the things mentioned above...I somehow doubt it would just be a slap on the wrist.

And yep, he walks with a censure. It is sad when you consider how many millions was spent on this, just for that. What is sadder is that his constituents do not care about his violations. It is why I almost laugh when politicians talk about corruption in other businesses yet refuse to seriously deal with their own internal issues.

Almost laugh? I do laugh.

Yep, it's a complete joke and look for the process to repeat itself repeatedly. Up next Maxine Waters. Maybe they'll make her sit in the corner for 20 mins.

They should be ashamed of their actions and we should be ashamed of who we keep electing.

as I said in the Pelosi thread, these ethics investigations should be conducted by an independent commission. the idea that one's peers are going to fairly rule in these hearings is laughable, as partisanship and back scratching will get everyone off with a slap on the wrist.

An independent commission could perhaps conduct investigations....much like the quasi-independent Office of Congressional Ethics has done since its inception.

But the Constitution leaves the punishment of members to each respective House of Congress....and it also requires a 2/3 vote for expulsion because the framers recognized that it should very difficult to overturn the will of the voters.

Article I, Section 5: Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

The creation of the OCE has been the strongest ethics investigation tool to date...and its a shame that it is likely to be gutted by Boehner.