WASHINGTON -- One of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's top lieutenants demanded yesterday that Rep. Charles Rangel quickly settle the swirling ethics charges against him rather than face a trial tomorrow that could embarrass Democratic candidates across the country -- but the disgraced pol isn't going without a fight.
"I think it's best that he settle," Rep. George Miller, an influential California Democrat who helped engineer Pelosi's rise to power, told The Post.
"Because I just said so, that's why. That's my feeling," he added.
Amid mounting pressure on Rangel, Miller's blunt statement is the most direct message from any member of Pelosi's inner circle, and comes just a day after Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) -- another member of her leadership team -- met with Rangel to talk about the charges he's facing.
Van Hollen heads the campaign arm charged with getting enough House Democrats re-elected to keep their majority -- a task that grows harder as the Rangel affair draws voters' focus to scandal instead of the party's own agenda.
Sure, Mr. and Ms. Hot-Shot Donors, please contribute to the party of Chollie Rangel. You can be sure your investment will pay off!
For any plea bargain to be accepted by the bipartisan House Ethics Committee, which is bringing charges against the 80-year-old Rangel, he would have to swallow a bitter pill -- admitting to multiple, substantial ethics violations, sources said.
In the end it'll still be a 1:10 ratio of confessions to transgressions. At best.
Rangel confirmed yesterday that his high-priced team of lawyers is in talks with the committee's legal staff. "They are talking," Rangel told ABC News. "I hope people are doing what is in the best interest of justice, equity and fairness."
"I want what's the fair and right thing to do, and I have confidence in my lawyers and the lawyers of the Ethics Committee," Rangel said.
"It's lawyer to lawyer," a Rangel aide confirmed.
The chairwoman of the Ethics Committee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), said that in past plea bargains, the panel's members have always accepted the recommendations of their lawyers.
And the lawyers always accept the recommendations of the House leadership, if you know what I mean ...
"I think he's going to go through the [trial] process," one Democratic lawmaker, who is close to Rangel and has held private conversations with him about it, told The Post. "We're all entitled to our defense."
But, the lawmaker added, "I wouldn't want to be in his shoes."
Such negotiations are common during the culmination of an investigation, and often intensify as the deadline approaches.
Rangel also has been spotted talking this week with Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), the No. 3 House Democrat and a fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus, which is pushing for Rangel to get a fair process.
Chollie don't want fair, Chollie wants all this to go away ...
Even with a deal, the ethics panel would still have to make public the charges against Rangel along with a report on its investigation, which could contain embarrassing revelations. He's been probed for his corporate solicitations on behalf a center named after him at CCNY; having four rent-controlled apartments; failure to report $60,000 of income on required financial-disclosure reports; and skirting of income taxes on his villa in the Dominican Republic.
Don't count on the report being made public. They'll find a way to get Chollie off, and then they'll find a way to keep it all, or at least the worst of it, quiet. That's what the lawyers are discussing ...
But the exact sanctions with which Rangel might get slapped would be on the table in talks.
"I think he ought to have a chance to defend himself," said Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY). "I stand for that very strongly."
Posted by: Steve White ||
07/28/2010 07:52 ||
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The charges are petty. The Democrat 1960s radical leadership wants Charlie out because they do not want him to become chairman of Appropriations. Because if he does, that is the end of the Obama-Pelosi spending spree.
He is not part of their faction, so he is their enemy.
The House's second-ranking Democrat on Tuesday said Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will decide on his own whether to resign his seat or go forward with Thursday's ethics inquiry.
Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters he did not know what Rangel's decision would be. The Ethics Committee on Thursday is scheduled to convene publicly to spell out its charges against the New York Democrat.
Rangel is coming under growing pressure to resign.
Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) became the second House Democrat to say the veteran New Yorker should give up his seat in a report published Monday. Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), another vulnerable Democrat facing a difficult reelection contest, told The Hill that Rangel should resign on Friday. Or he can...cut a deal, get his peepee whacked, and everything will be hunky dory. Which will probably be what happens. Don't forget to act "contrite", Charlie. The rubes love that...
Posted by: Fred ||
07/28/2010 00:00 ||
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Top Dem: Rangel must decide alone whether to resign or face inquiry
Distance, distance, need more {huff, huff} distance!
#2
Or he can...cut a deal, get his peepee whacked, and everything will be hunky dory. Which will probably be what happens. Don't forget to act "contrite", Charlie. The rubes love that...
That might happen or the donks might have a "come to Jesus" meeting with Rangel, ask him to quietly disappear and quit mucking up the November elections.
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the Senate today unveiled renderings for its approximately $60 million site, which is expected to break ground in Dorchester this fall. The institute will be located next to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum on the University of Massachusetts-Boston campus. Pic at the link. No, it's not a pyramid...
The two-story, 44,000-square-foot institute was designed by New York-based architect Rafael Violy. We are extremely excited with the concept that Rafael Vinoly has laid out, said Peter Meade, institute president and CEO. Sen. Kennedy envisioned the institute as a living, breathing, constantly evolving bipartisan center that would reflect his passion for education, history and civic engagement. Speaking of his passions, will it have a bar?
The institute hopes to raise $125 million to cover the building expenses and start an endowment, Meade said. And if they can't? I think you know who they'll come looking for... Federal earmarks worth $38.6 million have already been signed into law for the institute. U.S. Sen. John F. Kerry and U.S. Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Malden) sought an additional $20 million in the next budget. When it's not ours, money is no object!
Kennedys widow, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, told the Herald in May she will reject any additional earmarks beyond the $20 million being sought. ...and not a penny more then 58.6 million! Thanks, Vicky!
Plans for the institute include an exhibit hall, Senate Chamber representation, replica of Kennedys office, classrooms, digital library and oral history archives and exhibit hall. How about a huge aquarium? With a '67 Olds Delmont as a centerpiece?
The digitized archive will eventually cover every action taken by the U.S. Senate, including votes on legislation and resolutions, confirmation nominations and ratifications of treaties. The archives? Yes, sir. Just look for Senator Byrd's Exalted Cyclops robe and take a right...
Kennedys papers will be kept at the JFK Library. However, the institute will maintain digitized copies of those documents. So why build another Kennedy shrine?
The institute will also house the Edward M. Kennedy Oral History Project, which is billed as the largest ever oral history of an American politician. "...and when I returned, Mary Jo and the car were gone."
That project, which was done with the Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia, includes interviews with 200 people and more than 60 hours of taped interviews with Kennedy. "Senator Dodd continued..."and then we had another bottle and sandwiched the waitress. What a helluva guy Ted was, I tell ya."
The institute is designed to serve middle and high school groups, college students and faculty, new senators, government officials and tourists.
But you throw your own money around like a manhole cover, right, Barney? Oh, wait...maybe I shouldn't have said "manhole cover".
Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank caused a scene when he demanded a $1 senior discount on his ferry fare to Fire Island's popular gay haunt, The Pines, last Friday. Frank was turned down by ticket clerks at the dock in Sayville because he didn't have the required Suffolk County Senior Citizens ID. I wonder if, "DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM!" got dropped in the conversation?
Ha. Why do I even ask?
A witness reports, "Frank made such a drama over the senior rate that I contemplated offering him the dollar to cool down the situation." Smart move that you didn't. He'd probably grab your wallet. It's the only way he knows...
Frank made news last year when he was spotted looking uncomfortable around a bevy of topless, well-built men at the Pines Annual Ascension Beach Party. Ewww...there's a disturbing image.
Frank's spokesperson confirmed to Page Six that his partner, James Ready, asked the ticket office for a regular ticket for himself and a senior ticket for Frank, "but was turned down because Frank didn't have a resident ID." Maybe next time, Kerry can give him a ride over on his famous new boat. I'd even bet that Jawnny gives him the senior discount.
It can't be that bad for this guy. No way. Looks like Bawney is trying to make a point for those voters looking for an excuse to swallow so they can vote for him.
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Frank made news last year when he was spotted looking uncomfortable around a bevy of topless, well-built men at the Pines Annual Ascension Beach Party.
Typical reaction of a canine as well, when given too many chew toys.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday noted that it was Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), not him, who promised to "drain the swamp" of corruption in Washington. "Really, I'm perfectly comfy in the swamp." ...in fact, I'd like to see it restocked in November."
Pelosi famously vowed in 2006 to "drain the swamp" that ensnared Republican members and their leaders during the George W. Bush administration. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...
During his weekly press conference on Tuesday, Hoyer clarified that he has never used that phrase. "Nope. Nope. Wudn't me."
"I didn't use that term," Hoyer said when asked if he thinks Democrats have "drained the swamp." "I'm really quite fond of mangroves..."
"What I believed and continue to believe is that we have made the ethics process work, and we have made it work in a meaningful way." "You can see it working every day..." Thanks, congressman. Nice evasive answer.
You're very welcome.
Hoyer's office pushed back against reports that his clarification was indicative of any kind of split between him and other Democratic leaders, including the Speaker, saying it was only in response to a question about whether Democrats have been able to "drain the swamp" as they promised to do. "I do so like alligators..."
Still, after a year of working seamlessly to pass a difficult agenda through a very ideologically diverse House, ... that they control with an iron fist...
Hoyer and Pelosi have recently begun to show signs of divergence. Hoyer earlier this month said policymakers should consider raising the retirement age. He reiterated that position on Tuesday, even though Pelosi last week and again over the weekend clearly indicated she was opposed to the idea.
Posted by: Fred ||
07/28/2010 00:00 ||
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Swampdwellers are a major constituency. Don't want to alienate them.
Posted by: Formerly Dan ||
07/28/2010 0:06 Comments ||
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Hoyer earlier this month said policymakers should consider raising the retirement age.
Splendid idea! Make it 79 and retroactive to 1957. Let's collect some REAL death taxes.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
The House's second-ranking Democrat on Tuesday said Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will decide on his own whether to resign his seat or go forward with Thursday's ethics inquiry.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday noted that it was Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), not him, who promised to "drain the swamp" of corruption in Washington. 
