![[Waxman, Henry]](http://s.wsj.net/public/resources/images/HC-GI824_Waxman_BV_20081105162509.gif)
Henry Waxman
Posted on 11/06/2008 8:18:32 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman made a bold power play Wednesday by signaling that he will challenge Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, the dean of the House of Representatives, for chairmanship of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee.
In challenging Rep. Dingell, Rep. Waxman is seeking to upend a long Democratic Party tradition of assigning chairmanships based on seniority. Rep. Dingell joined the House in 1955 and is the second-longest-serving member in the chamber's history.
Henry Waxman
The move could become part of a broader realignment of the party's leadership in Washington, as the country begins the transition to a Democratic administration. Wednesday, President-elect Barack Obama drew from Capitol Hill as he began to build his White House team, asking Rep. Rahm Emanuel -- a fellow Illinois Democrat -- to serve as his White House chief of staff.
Congressional aides said Rep. Waxman -- who is close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, another Californian -- called Mr. Dingell Wednesday morning to notify him of his decision to pursue the chairmanship. Rep. Waxman is the second-ranking member of the panel.
Dennis Fitzgibbons, a longtime Dingell aide and staff director for the committee, said Rep. Dingell is focused on preparing his agenda for next year, which includes policies to address climate change, food safety and health care. "His focus is on accomplishments and the agenda," Mr. Fitzgibbons said.
Mr. Waxman issued a statement Wednesday that, while not referencing Mr. Dingell, said, "We will need the very best leadership in Congress and our committees to succeed." He faces two hurdles to ousting Mr. Dingell: a majority vote by the 50-member Democratic Steering Committee, and then its ratification by the full Democratic Caucus.
(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...
I would prefer to look at Stony Hoyer from MD than Pelosi...
Maybe McCain seemed so upbeat at the end of his campaign because he knew he was going to lose.
Guess it's some of that Change.
Well the IQ level of the Senate leadership would go up...course I think she prefers a seat on the Supreme Court.
Hey,...Baseball Season is over and this is a fun spectator sport.
That number means nothing when 90+% of the get reelected every two years. People say they hate Congress but they continue to vote the same bums back into office. Dingle and Waxman are perfect examples.
Excuse me for my ignorance. I am not familiar with these two individuals. Regarding energy, which of the two is more clueless?
LOL..it looks like the mask of an ugly man on top of a picture of a hideous man!
The hard leftists in the Dem party think this is their victory and now they want all the spoils. BTW, implementing Obama’s idiotic energy/global warming policies will drive gasoline prices to ten dollars a gallon. Let’s see how the stupid American voters like their change and hope then.
See the thread linked at post #10 for heavy discussion on the two...apparently Dingell is responding to Waxman on the air Waves....ROFL!
Dingell has been trying for several years to "pass" a bill that would bust everyone right in the chops with carbon taxes. Everytime he introduces it, most Democrats scatter like he has the plague.
He's smart enough to know that massive carbon taxes would crush the auto industry, and his millions of union buddys. When some Democrats see the cost of this bill - in lost taxes, in lost wages, in layoffs, in lost union support - they look the other way, and he can't get it out of committee. Even some Democrats look at the pain this would cause, and flinch.
Which is exactly the point Dingell is making. There are VERY REAL costs associated with this war on carbon, and my district will bear them as much as anywhere.
Nancy hates him for exposing this. The bill has never made it out of committee. I would bet on Dingell to keep his chairmanship, except that...
1. It's actually Dingell vs. Waxman AND Pelosi.
2. Dingell is old - mid '80's, like He isn't likely to live through the Obama tenure in the White House.
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Oh, that will make them even more popular. An economy in recession, a nation at war, and the Congress goes off on a Soviet style witch hunt against the previous office holders. Do the Dems not realize that Obama being elected doesn't change their 9% approval rating any?
The next couple of years will be spent having massive Stalin-style show trials for members of the outgoing administration.
Heh... that’s a keeper.
There is not enough lipstick on this earth....
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