Shed no tears for corruptocrat Charlie Rangel; Update: Deal reportedly struck…or not?; Dems stall for Rangel; 13 charges announced
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Much more coming today as the House ethics committee prepares to release its treasure trove of charges against corruptocrat Charlie Rangel, but I had to call your attention immediately to this maudlin, sycophantic paean to Rangel from WaPo’s Dana Milbank. It’s titled “Charlie Rangel: Fallling with Grace.” (“Grace?!” Guess he missed this and this.)
Get out your airsickness bag:
The moment Charlie Rangel walked into the ballroom for a luncheon with the National Urban League on Wednesday, he was surrounded by reporters and cameras.
Politely, as ever, Rangel declined to answer questions, until Devlin Barrett of the Wall Street Journal asked, “How are you feeling, sir?”
The embattled lawmaker flashed a million-dollar smile and tucked his thumbs in his lapels. “How do I look?” he replied.
Rangel looked great: The 80-year-old Democratic congressman from New York had a rose-colored handkerchief in his pocket and a pink necktie over a gold collar bar and a textured two-tone shirt, all brought together by a black pinstriped suit that accented his silver hair and mustache. But beneath that dapper exterior was a man in turmoil, a politician who had mere hours to choose between two grim options.
Let’s skip to the ending:
An aide put a hand on Rangel’s back and tried to lead him away, but the mob followed him down the convention-hall stairs, some calling out questions and a few stumbling on the steps. Outside, his staffers tried frantically to locate Rangel’s driver, while the congressman pulled out a cellphone and pleaded, “I have to make a couple of calls, and at some point it would be very nice if I could say, ‘Thank you, see you later.’ ” Finally, a silver PT Cruiser pulled up with New York plates saying “NYREP15″ and Rangel climbed in.
“Excuse me, who was that?” a young woman on the sidewalk asked the reporters.
That was Charlie Rangel, who took 36 years to climb to the top, only to lose it all in an instant.
“[O]nly to lose it all in an instant?” Spare us. Rangel didn’t take “an instant” to abuse his office, exploit his entrenched incumbency, escape accountability, flout the rules, and thumb his nose at taxpayers.
His long ride down has taken years — stretched out far too long thanks to the indulgence and protectionism of his corruption-enabling colleagues on the Hill.
Stay tuned for more caterwauling, MSM apologias, and the inevitable race-card refrains.
All together now: Boo-freaking-hoo.
***
Previous Charlie Rangel posts.
***
The Rangel subcommittee hearing begins at 1pm Eastern. C-SPAN 3 will be televising.
Cue the world’s smallest violin. ABC News previews Rangel’s “Bad Day:”
Embattled New York Rep. Charles Rangel says he hasn’t had a bad day in 60 years. But “today I have to reassess that statement,” he told reporters on Capitol Hill.
Congressman Charles Rangel talks to press about ethics meeting today.The 40-year House veteran and former Ways and Means Committee chairman, accused of a slew of ethics violations, faces a panel of his peers this afternoon when the details of the charges will be revealed.
Rangel and his lawyers have been negotiating with the Ethics Committee to avoid a public trial but have yet to reach a deal. Many observers say Rangel, 80, would likely have to admit at least some culpability.
***
Update 1:10pm Eastern: Wheeling and dealing and CYA…
Rep. Charles Rangel reportedly has struck a deal with the congressional panel investigating alleged ethics violations as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood by her pledge to “drain the swamp” in the House and said she would let Rangel’s chips “fall where they may.”
The CBS affiliate in New York reported the deal was in the works — though any arrangement would have to be approved by the subcommittee hearing the case, the full ethics committee and potentially the full House of Representatives.
If there is an arrangement, it could be discussed at the ethics hearing set for Thursday afternoon.
AP reporting that Rangel says he’s not aware if there is a deal.
Nan Pelosi is the world’s worst cleaning lady.
Update 1:30pm Eastern: Tick, tick, tick. Hearing is 30 minutes overdue. Wrangle, tangle, wheel & deal…
A Hill source says the Democrats called an hour-long series of votes to give him time to accept the deal.
***
2:32pm Eastern update Subcommittee hearing adjourned. The 13 charges contained in the statement of alleged violations are here and more here via Jamie Dupree.
More:
A House ethics panel met briefly Tuesday on possible charges against New York Rep. Charles Rangel as the longtime lawmaker said he’s done nothing wrong to warrant an adjudicatory subcommittee’s review of 13 allegations of misconduct.
But Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking member on the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct , said Rangel was given an opportunity to settle charges during the investigative process, and that time has passed.
“Let me be clear that Mr. Rangel under these rules was given opportunities to negotiate a settlement during the investigation. Let me be clear that I did not participate in any attempts to cut a back room deal behind closed doors,” McCaul said at the start of a hearing on possible corruption charges.
Rangel clings to delusion:
Despite the meeting, Rangel said there is “no inference of corruption” in his dealings, a contention that flies in the face of the meeting taking place by the adjudicatory subcommittee, which was asked to “prove” the allegations.
“The good thing is that no matter how this thing ends, corruption and dishonesty have never been on the table,” he said.
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Nope. It took 35 years too long to loose it.
It’s been said before, but it is amazing that the people who like raising taxes don’t pay theirs.
Rangel, Geithner, dodd, Kerry.
It is amazing that America’s credit is still good. These are the guys who are spending our money.
I wouldn’t mind paying more taxes if I didn’t have to give my money to the government idiots like Rangel who I know is going to waste it.
If they can’t make ends meet with 2 T, they won’t be able to make ends meet with 4T or 10T. More taxes isn’t the answer. We need to get these guys to stop spending other people’s money.
See ya’, Charlie.
I don’t know what’s worse; Charles Rangel or the people who have kept him in Congress for 40 years.
How’s that Great Society and War on Poverty working out for you up there in his district?
No one will prosecute him. What is that? Our system is so corrupt it defies reality.
“We don’t pay taxes. Only the little people pay taxes…,”
Leona HelmsleyCharlie Rangel
Hey Charlie…
Don’t let the “DR” hit you on the ass on your way out!
Charlie Rangel has put the Dems in quite a pickle. His stubborn refusal to bow out gracefully for the good of his party, leaves them with having to hold hearings to air his corruption. Not good optics with November in sight. I might just break out the caramel popcorn for this.
Harlem’s doing quite well, actually.
Politely…!??!
AS EVER…?!?!?!
He can be oily, as he coos a lie, but that ain’t POLITE…
On the other hand, he can be anything BUT…
I feel the right loses over and over again. Arizona law….loss. Blago will walk. Rangel will walk. New Black Panthers walked. Tancredo traitor. Crist traitor. McCain will win primary. Racist declared heroine while non-racist declared racist. It doesn’t stop and it is depressing. We need a win badly. I fear November 2 and beyond as much as I look forward to it.
Slap on the wrist and a new chairmanship, I’m tellin’ ya!
On July 29th, 2010 at 10:31 am, mytake said:
Pollyanna…!!!!
Com’on…keep your head up. The Arizona deal is a BIG win politically, and it will be a win legally, too…
You heard it here
first800thRangel and the other criminals like him are essentially immune from prosecution. He is one of the worst and it took long strings of egregious crimes over many decades for him to be brought to heel. This tediously absurd process does not bode well for Joe Taxpayer and any honest members of Congress who seek justice for America.
When he leaves I’m sure his tendrils will remain thoroughly entwined with the other congressional mafiosi.
Buh bye Charlie. Take a few down as you go.
Nancy, It’s TIME to `Clean the House.’
… and that includes the Trent Lotts of the world as well.
Guys, Google “Rangel anger”.
The Dems are MAD at him, and telling him, “TIMAGO”.
That is a good sign for America.
Mind your own dam business. hehe
#10 Chapoutier:
Harlem’s doing well because of the gentrification that took place starting in the late 80′s and early 90′s. By the way, I wonder if Al Sharpton thinks Bill Clinton is a white interloper.
Tried to link to this. Check it out
http://www.runawayslavemovie.com/
Rangel will skip away unscathed for the most part. He knows where too many political skeletons are located. He will have more cover than you can imagine.
Rags, I’m not a praying man, but I hope you are right. These people don’t give up and they have the courts on their side, thanks to Clinton and a timid Bush. Bush knew he was within his rights to get rid of these judges and he was intimidated into slowing the weeding out process.
Sorry to go off-topic, especially since I haven’t been contributing much lately (sick again, pneumonia for the third time this year!! Yuk!!). Anyway, please everyone, go to this FOX site and vote in the poll about whether to BAN THE FLAG IN SCHOOLS! Apparenly, there is an effort to jam this poll with votes Yes to ban the flag. We have to fight this.
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010/05/06/american-flag-banned-america/
Watched “runaway slave” teaser. It gives me hope.
Like a laser, Michelle.
J.J., How, exactly are you defining gentrification? By your “white interloper” comment I assume you take it to mean race.
In 1970 , whites made up 34.44% of Harlem. It dropped precipitously in the 1980s and 1990s to 10%, but as of 2006, it was only up to about 14%. A whopping 4% higher and still 20% off its high. That is hardly evidence of widespread gentrification.
He deserves the ultimate gov employee retirement plan – incarceration!
Death is the great equalizer, and Charlie is in his 80′s. Not that I would ever wish anyone dead, but just stating a fact.
Ditto! And just look at the free ride he has gotten over the years – and at tax payer expense! Nearly every dollar he wiggled out of paying to the IRS had to be made up for somewhere, at the rate this government burns through cash, and that “somewhere” cost all of us.
Charlie has benefited from a media willing to cover for him, a Party that has no standards and doesn’t demand accountability, and a congressional district that hasn’t had anything but black criminals as representatives in generations. So, Where’s the mystry in Charlie’s long “illustrious” political career, and What, exactly, do you expect to come out of this particular episode?
#27
My “white interloper” comment was merely a swipe at Sharpton re: the Freddie’s Fashion Mart debacle.
I don’t have statistically valid numbers to go by, but I’ve yet to meet anyone with a collar bar that didn’t end up trying to take advantage of me in some way.
Thanks for your service in Korea, Charlie. Maybe you can get some tips on getting your dignity back from Randy Cunningham.
One thing I have noticed is that none of these people in Congress seem to have a conscience. Totally oblivious and surprised when confronted with their crimes. “What, me? I’m just a harmless little fuzzball.”
Is that not a characteristic of sociopaths and psychopaths?
Heard about the Universal National Service Act, H.R. 5741 that Charlie Rangel put out on 7/15?? It provides a national service obligation, either military or civilian, for every citizen between 18 and 42 during a time of war or if the president calls a national emergency… Ah Charlie — the gift to America
Randy Cunningham was a real hero. And I view his crimes as far less egregious than Rangel’s, especially considering the variety and time span. But like the Jake Spoon character in Lonesome Dove, he crossed the line. You ride with outlaws, you die with outlaws.
He left in a PT Cruiser? What’s up with that. Seems to be a bit beneath such a dandy.
I was very disappointed that Charlie Rangel never made good on his promise to “defund” the Iraq war IF democrats won control of the House in 2006.
I was even more disappointed that the liberal media didn’t hold him to that promise.
It’s called PR, dude.
His outfit cost more than the Cruiser…
Charlie Rangel always reminded me of a Chicago mobster rather than a politician….but wait… I guess there is no difference between the 2 these days.
Maybe JJ’s timeline is off, but you seriously aren’t claiming that Harlem hasn’t experienced material gentrification (as commonly defined) during the last 10 to 15 years, right?
Sure seemed like Chaps was hinting that ONLY white (peach) people can “gentrify”.
That would be the Collectivist meme…
Got to make everything about race.
Rangel is another reason for term limits…along with being a perfect example of what’s wrong in America today, the guilty don’t pay for their crimes in the manner they should. Wonder how he’d look in rose colored jump suites?
From Wikipedia:
New York’s revival in the late 20th century has led to renewal in Harlem as well. By 1995, Harlem was experiencing social and economic gentrification. Though the percentage of residents who are black peaked in 1950, the area remains predominantly black.
And Gentrification from Wiki:
Gentrification and urban gentrification denote the socio-cultural changes in an area resulting from wealthier people buying housing property in a less prosperous community.[1] Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size decreases in the community, which may result in the informal economic eviction of the lower-income residents, because of increased rents, house prices, and property taxes. This type of population change reduces industrial land use when it is redeveloped for commerce and housing. In addition, new businesses, catering to a more affluent base of consumers, tend to move into formerly blighted areas, further increasing the appeal to more affluent migrants and decreasing the accessibility to less wealthy natives.
Unless, like Rangel, you live in rent-controlled housing.
Rent-control is a way for the wealthy to enjoy subsidized housing, with the subsidy provided by those less fortunate.
Perfect example of the perversion of the Collective’s BIG GOVERNMENT.
I know, OT, but LOL
They don’t make the LeBaron anymore.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/11/nyregion/11rangel.html
Thug.
Like I said…a conclusive argument for term limits.
An instant? I do believe this took a bit of planning on ole Charlie’s part.
So where is the oil? Quite a disappearing act for an oil spill that is supposed to have dwarfed the Exxon Valdez in impact.
O/T but similar
Isn’t he supposed to be driving a Government Motors vehicle? The PT must be a rental so he’ll look like regular folk.
If the Ethics Committee doesn’t get rid of corrupt Rep.Charlie Rangel then the people must do it by voting Rangel out of office!
Michel Faulkner, a Pastor and former Football Player for the New York Jets is the Republican candidate running against Charlie Rangel.
You can check out Michel Faulkner’s website here:
http://www.faulknerforcongress.com/
You can also watch this video to hear Michel Faulkner’s describe the surprising statistics for New York’s 15th district. Did you know this district is now 50% Hispanic?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnPiSNj3lhs&feature=player_embedded
The New York Primary is on Sept. 14. A surprisingly strong showing for Michel Faulkner in the Primary would really help him to build momentum for a victory in November.
I don’t believe Michel Faulkner has any opposition in the Republican Primary (let me know if I am wrong). There are 4 Democrats running against Charlie Rangel in the Democrat Primary.
Let’s make sure those Democrats don’t dominate the headlines on Primary Day, by making a huge number of votes for Michel Faulkner the headline.
opps, wrong key…
Recall how Shirley Sherrod collected $13 million in the Pigford case settlement a few days before Tom Vilsack hired here last year? The average settlement was about $63k per plaintiff. The case originally settled by Clinton’s DoJ (yes, Eric Holder was there) in 1999 and was estimated to cost $200 million to pay 3,000 plaintiffs. To date the payout is right at $1 billion paid to 16,000 plaintiffs.
When Obama got into office he got Eric Holder to approve reopening the settlement terms and allow another 70,230 plaintiffs to join in and then he seeded the settlement fund with $1.25 billion that congress has yet to approve. They are going for it hard now.
http://www.chron.com/disp/discuss.mpl/ap/top/all/7130236.html
down there near the bottom is this little tidbit:
“Democrats also wanted to add an amendment to settle long-running class-action lawsuits brought by black farmers and American Indians.”
Reparations baby! Google Rural Development Leadership Network and get yourself up to speed. She’s Vice Chairman.
the only broom she gets near is the one she uses for transportation.
A deal… Does that mean he’s rolling over on the other crooks in Congress or that he will keep silent if he gets a light punishment? The old skeleton-in-the-closet theory. If this Democrat can’t be nailed, none of them can.
Reparations nothing. That is just an olive at the Thanksgiving Day supper. The main course is yet to come. Sharpen dat carving knife.
Does he get a rent subsidized jail cell yet?
Rambler;
Put me down for $5.00 per year to house ol’ Caaalie
Rumors he made a deal. Told Ya!
If he admits wrongdoing will someone then prosecute him?
My guess is that the deal will be immunity form any penalties or prosectuion if he offers his resignation. This way he keeps his pension and avoids any jail time, while Pelosi and Co. can claim they “drained the swamp”.
No, I am not. Which is why I asked him how he was defining “gentrification.” The “white interloper” comment led me to reasonably believe he was defining it on a basis of white population, which certainly is not an uncommon proxy in some people’s mind.
He says he wasn’t. I believe him. Now I’m moving on.
Rags, I’d like to send him down to Joe’s tent city in AZ. I figure Charlie would look sooooo good sporting the pink undies.
He could bring his own lotion, too…
Yes, the dem leadership was hoping to strongarm him out of office so that they could use him as an example of how ethical and transparent they are.
Charlie how ever in his arrogance and selfishness is refusing to play the game.
There will be no falling on the sword, they will have to air all the dirty laundry. LOL
Arrogance and corruption go hand in hand. Wrangle is one of the worst and there is a hell of a lot more of them up there. Is it any wonder that Americans are fed up with the “wink and a nod” Democrats and their unswerving path to socialism and their tax and spend policies. These are the same people who ruined the House Bank and the House Post Office and stiffed the House restaurant. Charlie Wrangle is only the latest example of the putrefaction in Washington. I can’t wait to get to the voting booth in November.
One must remember that liberals like Rangel redefine terms like “corruption” and “ethics” to fit their template.
Charlie Rangel and his ilk as well as Repubs that do not represent us are all on the frying pan as far as I am concerned. Every state in the Union should have a choise of re-call as their inhabitants right. You do not want to represent the people that voted for you – then out you go and elect someone else. If they can’t, then out they go till these professional politicians finally get the message.
Actually, Charlie drives a Cadillac, as revealed last year or the year before in an expose revealing the cars politicians drive and the cost to their constituents for that car.
When asked about his very expensive car and its upkeep, Charlie quite arrogantly responded that the people of his district expect him to drive such a car.
I guess they also expected him to live high on the hog at their expense since they kept reelecting him at every opportunity.
Heck, everybody, old Charlie is not a bad fella. He’s just a typical, old-school, corrupt, urban pol. And to be completely blunt about it, these types tend to be even more blatantly corrupt when the district is largely African-American. Not that big cities don’t have plenty of corrupt white and Hispanic pols, as well. I think, though, what is a little more prevalent among blacks is the malignant sense of grievance which makes “stealing from the man” — whether it happens in a Harlem grocery store or in fine, paneled offices — not really a crime.
From an article posted on Drudge regarding a possible deal with the ethics commission.
Leave it to a Democrat to spin his transgressions as him just being too stupid to understand the rules he had a hand in writing!
Tim Geitner made “honest mistakes” too. LOL
When “We the People” allowed political correctness to override the established laws and common sense, all we can expect is more corruption. And until the voters of this country wake the hell up, nothing will change. Charlie has been a candidate for jail for over 30 years and our elected representives in Washington have all been looking the other way. This is the year, throw them all out of office!
No deal? How about a no deal-deal. Since you won’t say you are guilty of anything we will lessen the charges. A win-win for the Dems. I think they think he can still win his seat, so they don’t want to dump him until the seat is secure. What a crooked web they can weave to catch the trusting(gullible) public. I still think he walks and keeps his seat, at least, until after he wins re-election.
Beating these suckers will take a monumental force. Still hoping we can mount such a force.
We have to win so many seats that it scares the crap out of all of them, so they don’t finish us off in the lame duck session.
Yeah….it’s always been under the table!!
I heard a comment on the news last night that Rangel claimed that a trail would exonerate him. My reaction to Mrs. Indy was “well, then why is he trying to cut a deal??”
We also have to focus on races for governor, since 2011 begins the redistricting for congressional seats.
I completely agree, mytake!
That is why, in addition to exposing corrupt incumbents, we need to let everybody know who the candidates are who are running against them.
Checking the http://www.FEC.gov website is one of the easiest ways to find out who the candidates are in a particular district.
An informed voter has incredible power!
Michel Faulkner is the Republican candidate who is running against Rep. Rangel.
http://www.faulknerforcongress.com/
It would be nice to discover ethics violations for those in the senate who are not up for reelection till 2012 or 2014. If Nancy and Harry can’t clean the swamp, then it is up to the public.
Absolutely, rambler!
And we also have to make sure we elect an honest Secretary of State in each state since they enforce the election laws and they will be hugely important during the 2012 Presidential election and the redistricting discussions.
And of course we need to elect honest candidates for state and local offices too to dig us out of our local financial messes!
We have a ton of work to do!
We need to be working hard NOW in order to earn our victory celebrations in November!
Beat me…!!!
But, hey, this could be good…
Sunshine, and all that…
>>And we also have to make sure we elect an honest Secretary of State in each state since they enforce the election laws…
That’d be nice, but there is no way to prevent any Dems from winning the SofS job.
Well, it would appear the GOP is finally growing a spine.
Let no one accuse John Bohner of being a RINO.
Rangel Goes to Trial
Errah, I hope CNN can interview him at Chelsea’s wedding . . . .
11% and falling…
Dishonorable discharge. The puke has earned it, and should be made to walk out of the building in a pink bunny suit.
Next!
I hope this drags itself all the way to election day.
I want to see how many democrats are willing to stick out their necks and careers for Rangel to tow the party line.
With any luck, maybe some in the Senate will too.
Didn’t you see Charlies slicked back hair?
Man… don’t go bringing up Chelsea yet. Doug is still lurking around here somewhere.
I had to laugh at that mental picture! A PT Cruiser? Why not a freaking Neon?
Of course, the car’s resemblance to a small hearse may be apropos for the death of his career.
Let’s not be singing hymns over Mr. Rangel’s career just yet.
It ain’t over till it’s over and the fat lady sings.
Let’s wait till the ethics proceedings are all said and done for before making pronouncements.
Remember, we’re dealing with the most opaque, devious and unethical Congress in the history of the country.
Keeping both parties honest…
More than likely, the deal was immediately made when Rangel said that if they exposed all of his corruption and wrong-doing, he would expose theirs.
Poor Dems; what a tangled wed they weave.
This fop is a festering sore on our Great Nation.
O/T, but… Putin’s puppet just signed a law allowing up to 15 days detention for anti-government protestors.
Coming soon to a Tea Party near you?
Tears?
I would laugh my ass off if he went to jail. Maybe toast the event.