Posted on 08/02/2006 9:35:37 AM PDT by presidio9
Rep. Charles Rangel, a powerful senior Democrat in Congress and the dean of New York's congressional delegation, said Wednesday that he'll quit Congress if the Democrats don't retake control of the House this year.
"I'm a poker player and I've had good hands all night long. This is all in," Rangel said in an interview. "I would not put everything on the table if I thought for one minute we would lose."
Rangel, the ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee, is 76 years old and has spent 35 years in Congress. The Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the 2006 midterm election _ a victory that would return Rangel to the chairmanship of the powerful committee.
"Hell, if we don't take back the House, then the Democrats would go down in history, saying that there's no group in the world that can grab defeat from the jaws of victory," Rangel said. "It just seems like America is so frustrated and fed up like I am and if she's not then I may have to say maybe it's me."
The congressman, known for a wicked wit and cheshire cat smile, said the U.S. war in Iraq has soured him on the Republican leadership and voters who keep electing them.
Since the war began three years ago, Rangel has called for Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld to resign or be fired, and engaged in an acid-tongued war of words with Vice President Dick Cheney.
-snip-
If the Democrats do win, he said, "It would be great to see the face of Vice President Cheney when he finds out. I'd like to be in the room when they told him. I think that would give me an additional 30 years of life."
(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...
Another Reason to Vote Republican!
A powerful motivation for the Republican base, if ever there was one.
WOOOOOO HOOOOO YIPPPEEEE I CAN'T WAIT!!!
Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, we in the GOP need you to keep sending voters our way.
I'm sending money ASAP to some (R)s. Oh, too see Charlie's face when the democrats lose.
I need no more incentive to vote for Republicans than knowing Charlie Rangel will retire ... I just wonder if he will move to France?
"76 years old and has spent 35 years in Congress"
There is just something so wrong about this.
GEt him to put it writing. Of course we've heard this crap before. Seems like Alec Baldwin was going to leave the country if Bush won, and I see where the low life is still here and for all I know unemployed...
If this is not our clarion call to vote, I don't know what is.
Bump for replay after the election.
WARNING: This is an Alec Baldwin promise.
And if we are REALLY LUCKY he will take some of his scummy ilk with him. Put your wishing hats on!!!
He's bluffing.
I hope somebody's got it on video, because there's no way the Charlie will do it.
Promises, promises, promises. Yeah I heard Alec Baldwin was going to move to France if Bush got elected. Why can't Dem's keep their promises???
I want the video of the VP handing Rangels his walking papers....... ;)
WARNING: This is an Alec Baldwin promise.
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Yeah, you are probably right -- this maggot could not get a REAL job, if he had to.
Rangel sounds like a bitter man, and that is sad. This is not a condition known only in the Democratic Party. Politics can do that to someone if you don't watch out. I myself was bitter for awhile when Clinton was President.
Don't get too excited. The Libs never keep their promises. If they did, half of them would be living outside the country after the last Presidential election. Libs are big on talk and small on action.
But at least Alec Baldwin isn't a "no-talent, former-construction-worker hack"... -sarc
He's lying.....
Talk about motivation to bring out the vote!
Two things:
#1 - Is he an idiot? IS he trying to encourage Repub. voters to turn out? Hehehe...
#2 - Just as every Dem/Lib out there - promises mean absolutely nothing. Remember all the Hollyweird celebs who promised to leave the US if Bush was elected.... We are still waiting on that one...
Liar. He won't quit. More Lib tripe.
He's not a poker player. He's an a**hole. There. That's better!
They never keep their word, you know.
Has BABS or any other lib who said they'd move to FrogLand actually followed through?
Nope, Zero, Zip, Nada.
Democrats lie! They can't help it. And they don't keep promises - never.
Honesty + integrity don't equal Democrats these days.
I'd figure that he would want to quit if the Democrats win, too, because that would give him more years to enjoy his retirement.
Honesty + integrity don't equal Democrats these days.
Exactly, his first response if they lose will be "It is now more important than ever that I stay and fight the evil corruption that has stolen the last election.......
We'll hold you to that Rangle.
Of course, we all already know that you are full of sh..
Headline: mean spirited Republicans seek Rangel early retirement
"he'll quit Congress if the Democrats don't retake control of the House this year."
They forgot to add that if democrats win only one(1) seat then Rangel will probably proclaim, "I was right, and we are moving in the right direction so I'll be here for at least another term."
Can you say 'transparent'?
I knew that you could.
I agree it's a Baldwin thing, but it'll be interesting how he gets out of his promise.
"I was going to quit, but God came to me in a dream and said, 'Your work here is not done...'"
Don't expect him to resign in November.
Hell yeah he'll go all in. It's not his money!
I am gonna hold him to this..............
It's just no fun being in the Minority, is it Chuckie?
Hahahahaha...
Believe anything a politician says?
Talk about win-win.
I will do my part. My Republican Rep is pretty much has a lock on his office, being in Texas in the most conservative county and district.
Heheh, 39 posts in under 10 minutes. I'll bet none of them are begging him not to do it. Get out and vote...EVERY ONE.
This is one all freepers need to remember. I'm still waiting for the likes of the uglies Alec Baldwin, Barbra Streisand, Gabriel Byrne, etc to remove their despicable presence from this country. Further, that idiot Janene Garafalo has yet to crawl in glass. Why or why are idiots permitted to occupy space and be an onerous burden on society? (rhetorical)
Rangel: I'll quit Congress if Democrats lose
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Promise or ploy?
He's lying, plain and simple. He needs his position in congress like the rest of us need to breathe.
A great reason for conservatives to get active. I hope he'll keep his word.
Does the governor get to appoint his replacement? If that's the case, NO WAY does he step down.
Democrats are liars, they lie to everyone but only after they lie to themselves first.
That's a mature thing to do.
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