“Charlie!!!”: Could Today Mark Rangel’s Retirement

Seeking his 22nd term in Congress, the ethics-embattled Charlie Rangel faces a major hurdle today as New Yorkers go to the polls. There is a distinct possibility, despite Nanacy Pelosi’s “last minute” endorsement that Rangel could lose to his primary challenge today.

Should make for interesting evening entertainment.

How JAMES sees the Outcome of some of the Nov. 2nd Races

     The November 2nd General Election is just more than a week away, and early voting is underway in many states. There are some races that are clearly in one camp or the other, but there are also many that are “nail-biters”, and could be surprising in the outcome.

      So, we at JAMES have spent some time discussing the races, and this is how we see the outcome on a handful:

       MARCO RUBIO will be the next Senator from Florida, causing an embarassing defeat to the incumbent Governor, who declared himself an independent when the polls showed Rubio would defeat him in the GOP Primary. Rubio went from being behind Crist by 30 points, to being ahead in the 3 way race with Crist and Meeks, by 14 points.

       RAND PAUL will take the Senate seat in Kentucky by a small margin. Jack Conway’s most recent ad atttacking religious views of Dr. Paul will backfire on him at the polls. While the polls have narrowed, many are voicing concern over Conway’s “crossing the line” with regard to Dr. Paul’s faith.

      CHARLIE RANGEL is confident that he will be elected again to his seat in Congress, but there have been no national polls done to show where he stands against his GOP challenger, MICHAEL FAULKNER. I have this feeling that Mr. Rangel might be spending the winter at his home in the Caribbean!

       SHARRON ANGLE was cast as a “wacko”, but was able to show herself a worthy opponent of Senate Majority Leader HARRY REID, and the polls have this race extremely close. In the end, we think that Angle will be lauded with national recognition as the Tea Party movement candidate who unseated the most powerful man in Washington.

      Senator Russ Feingold will be looking for a new job.

      Rep. John Dingell, will lose his seat to Dr. Rob Steele.

      The Senate race in Pennsylvania is a tough one. Pat Toomey has held a lead up until this week, and now Rep. Joe Sestak has taken a small lead, but within the margin of error for the polls. On Election night, Toomey will take claim to Arlen Specter’s office.

      Lt. Col. Allen West will unseat Pelosi-puppet Ron Klein in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.

Your thoughts and predictions??

Restoring Honor 8-28 vs. One Nation 10-2

http://www.hapblog.com/2010/10/glenn-beck-828-rally-vs-one-nation-102.html

10-2 “One Nation” Rally Did not Leave the National Mall in the Same Manner that the 8-28 “Restoring Honor” Did:

After the 8-28 “Restoring Honor” Rally, the area at the National Mall was left nearly spotless, and many drew comparisons to the mountains of garbage left behind after the Inauguration of Barack Obama.

Today, the liberal base of the Democrats, including SEIU, NEA, AFL-CIO, The Socialist Party, the Young Communists, and others, gathered for their answer to Restoring Honor—- 10-2 One Nation.

Based on what they left behind, we can see what “honor” these groups have for our Great Country:

Rev. Sharpton and Ed Schultz should be embarrassed!

Related: http://weaselzippers.us/2010/10/02/figures-eco-hypocrites-leave-dc-trashed-after-one-nation-rally/

 

Rangel, now Waters: Ethics Issues Loom for Pelosi and the Swamp

     Let’s be clear: there have been ethical issues on both sides of the aisle.

     In 2006, as she took the gavel as Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi vowed to “drain the swamp” and have the most ethical and transparent Congress (Note: Pelosi and Obama use the same dictionary for “Transparency”.) Yet, for more than 18 months, the Speaker has carefully protected the 4th ranking member of Congress, Rep. Charlie Rangel.

     Rangel, a decorated war hero, turns 80 soon, and there are now calls from his colleagues for him to resign instead of going through a Congressional trial to answer the 13 ethics charges, which include tax violations, fundraising issues, and other key ethical violations.

      Politico.Com is now reporting that a source within the Congressional Ethics subcommittee that has been investigating Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Ca) is saying that Rep. Waters will elect to go through a trial just like “Charlie” to answer ethics charges. Waters charges will undoubtedly relate to the use of her position for bank funds for a bank that her husband sat on the board of, without her revealing the conflict (Of course, Maxine is one of the members of Congress who use their maiden name, like Rep. Jan Schakowsky….. at least Mrs. Boxer uses her married name!)

      With midterm elections a mere three months away, can Pelosi convince BOTH Rangel and Waters to resign?

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40489.html

Law to Require White House and Congressional Staffers to Pay Up on their Taxes or Face Termination is Yanked

“Legislation that would force government and Hill staffers to pay back taxes or lose their jobs was pulled from House committee markup today after Democrats hit the brakes.”

 

“Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee that oversees government workers, told POLITICO he was concerned that the legislation would kick workers to the curb before it could be determined if the IRS had erred.”

For full article: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0310/33933.html

ObamaCare is now a Math Problem for Nancy Pelosi

     While the eyes of the country focus on the special election in Massachusetts, with Scott Brown campaigning to cast the 41st vote against ObamaCare, Rep. Charlie Rangel was commenting that with the legislation back in the House, “We have serious problems”. Here is Nancy’s dilemna:

This is why Mrs. Pelosi (still) has a math challenge. Of her three-yes-vote margin, Democrat Robert Wexler has resigned; his seat remains unfilled until April. Republican Joseph Cao won’t be the final vote for a Democratic bill. As for the 39 Dems who initially voted against the legislation, a vote flip now would be an invitation to be singled out—a la Blanche Lincoln—as the individual who brought the nation ObamaCare.

The potential for flips the other way is big. Michigan pro-lifer Bart Stupak is still vowing that he and up to 10 other Democrats will bolt without his abortion language. Some 190 members have signed a letter demanding the end of the tax on high-value health plans—which President Obama needs to fund the bill. Liberals are still vowing revenge for the death of the public option (though the Award for Most Empty Threats in One Debate still goes to this crew.)

House Republicans smell at least a whiff of blood, enough to launch a campaign targeting 37 Democrats who may have a case of yes-vote regrets. These include members like Oregon freshman Kurt Schrader; 49% of his seniors are enrolled in Medicare Advantage, which will be gutted under the legislation. Also up for special attention are Democrats hailing from flat-broke states that will nonetheless be saddled with huge new Medicaid costs under the bill.

For the full article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704281204575003381136694098.html

Rangel to Face 1st Primary Challenge in YEARS

     In November 1970, Charlie Rangel was elected to represent New York’s 15th Congressional District. The embattled Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee will again seek election again in 2010. FORTY YEARS. However, for the first time in many years, the Democrat will face a Democratic Primary opponent, who, ironically, is a one-time staff member of Rangel:

Powerful but embattled longtime Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York will face his first primary challenge in years.

Vincent Morgan, a community banker, announced yesterday on his campaign Web site that he is running in 2010 for the seat long held by Rangel. The two men have a history: Morgan notes that he was on Rangel’s staff and in 2002 “was appointed campaign director for the Congressman’s successful re-election.”

“After 40 years, we are ready for new leadership and a new direction,” Morgan says on his site.

For full article: http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/10/13/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5382208.shtml

The “Ethically Challenged”

     Ethics probes in Washington DC, in any political environment, are not unusual. Power breeds greed, for more power, for more money. It becomes a viscious cycle.

     The illustrious Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, moved into her office in 2006, promising to clean out the garbage of unethical Congressmen roaming the halls of the US Capitol. What she didn’t realize was that one of the most highly influential and visible members of her cadre would also be one of the most unethical. Yet, Rep. Charlie Rangel continues to chair the committee that writes the tax legislation that Rep. Rangel then ignores.

     The list of “Ethically Challenged” members of Congress include:

                           Charlie Rangel

                           Maxine Waters

                            Laura Richardson

                            Jane Harman

                            Carolyn Kirkpatrick

                           Bennie Thompson

                           Donald Payne

                           Donna Christensen

                            Chris Dodd

                            John Murtha

                           Jim Moran

                           Pete Visclosky

                           Alan Mollahan

     Some of these names were leaked last week by the Ethics Committee. Others, like Rangel, have been under investigation for awhile.

For related article, see how the Congressional Black Caucus feels there is a racial disparity:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29055.html

Rep. Seek Resolution to Remove Charlie Rangel from Ways and Means

Democratic support for embattled Rangel will get another test this week. Republicans will introduce a resolution calling for the Harlem Democrat to step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee until ethics probes — which keep on growing — are complete.

“These are all violations of the rules of the House,” Rep. John Carter (R-Texas) told CBS 2 HD. “Some of them seem to be violations of the rules of the IRS and I don’t think the top tax guy ought to be having those kinds of problems.”

Carter, author of the “dump Rangel” resolution, said keeping Rangel in his position will be a headache for Democrats and will infuriate voters in next year’s midterm elections.

Full article: http://wcbstv.com/politics/charles.rangel.david.2.1229137.html