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Old 11-15-2010, 12:17 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Rangel Walks

From the NYT-

Quote:
Members of the House ethics committee began deliberating charges Monday that Representative Charles B. Rangel violated Congressional rules, after an unusual public hearing that was abbreviated by the longtime congressman’s dramatic exit from the proceedings.
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Mr. Rangel, who appeared at the inquiry alone, stunned the packed hearing room by walking out after complaining that he had no lawyer because he could not afford the millions of dollars in legal fees he had racked up during the two-year investigation.

After declaring that “I respectfully withdraw from these proceedings,” Mr. Rangel shook hands with the lawyers for the ethics committee who were preparing to lay out the case against him and strode steadily out of the room. But after meeting privately, committee members resumed the proceedings without Mr. Rangel, a Democrat who has represented Harlem for four decades.
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?
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Old 11-15-2010, 12:24 PM   #2 (permalink)
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He probably figured he won't get many more chances to go out for a walk so he took advantage of the nice weather...
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Old 11-15-2010, 04:31 PM   #3 (permalink)
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He probably did not want to talk about improper use of the PAC money to pay for his last lawyer.

Quote:
The New York Post reported on Sunday that Rangel also improperly used political-action committee money to pay for his defense, taking $293,000 from his National Leadership PAC this year, and another $100,000 in 2009 to pay his attorneys.
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Old 11-15-2010, 05:00 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Palm meet face.

Gez, this guy's starting to make Nixon look good.
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Old 11-15-2010, 06:31 PM   #5 (permalink)
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I dunno...I kinda liked it. Seemed...ballsy.

No idea if he's guilty or not, though. Probably is. Most people are.
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Old 11-15-2010, 07:15 PM   #6 (permalink)
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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?
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Old 11-15-2010, 11:40 PM   #7 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 02:42 AM   #8 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cynthetiq View Post
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?
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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 03:26 AM   #9 (permalink)
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Originally Posted by Tully Mars View Post
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.?
That was a primary election

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

Quote:
Embattled veteran Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel turned aside a primary challenge Tuesday from state Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV in a closely watched grudge match between two legendary names in New York and Harlem politics.
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Old 11-16-2010, 05:17 AM   #10 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 05:47 AM   #11 (permalink)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Xazy View Post
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?
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Old 11-16-2010, 05:59 AM   #12 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 07:27 AM   #13 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 09:37 AM   #14 (permalink)
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Wait until he just gets a rebuke or censor and remains in office, for you to really scream about it.
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Old 11-16-2010, 11:15 AM   #15 (permalink)
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He was found guilty on 11 of 13 counts
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Old 11-16-2010, 11:44 AM   #16 (permalink)
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Yep, but looks like they'll only slap his wrist and welcome him back-

From the NYT-

Quote:
While the committee has the power to recommend expulsion, that is highly unlikely. Ethics experts and committee members have said that Mr. Rangel, 80, is more likely to face a letter of reprimand or a formal censure.
Completelt article
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Old 11-16-2010, 12:16 PM   #17 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 12:37 PM   #18 (permalink)
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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).
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Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
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Old 11-16-2010, 12:45 PM   #19 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 12:54 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Ever hear of Marion Barry, Sharp James? No their constituents do not care and some idealize these people.
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Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
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Old 11-16-2010, 01:06 PM   #21 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-16-2010, 01:11 PM   #22 (permalink)
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Ever hear of Marion Barry, Sharp James? No their constituents do not care and some idealize these people.
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.
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Old 11-19-2010, 05:57 AM   #23 (permalink)
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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.
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Now, a clever man would put the poison into his own goblet, because he would know that only a great fool would reach for what he was given. I am not a great fool, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of you. But you must have known I was not a great fool, you would have counted on it, so I can clearly not choose the wine in front of me.
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Old 11-19-2010, 06:02 AM   #24 (permalink)
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Almost laugh? I do laugh.
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Old 11-19-2010, 07:18 AM   #25 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-19-2010, 09:08 AM   #26 (permalink)
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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.
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Old 11-19-2010, 10:00 AM   #27 (permalink)
 
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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.
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