Waxman dethrones Dingell as chairman

The Politico ^

[Sub-Driver]

Waxman dethrones Dingell as chairman By: Patrick O'Connor November 20, 2008 10:58 AM EST

California Rep. Henry A. Waxman on Thursday officially dethroned longtime Energy and Commerce Chairman John Dingell, upending a seniority system that has governed Democratic politics in the House for decades.

In a secret ballot vote in the Cannon Caucus Room, House Democrats ratified an earlier decision by the Steering and Policy Committee to replace the 82-year-old Dingell with his 69-year-old rival. The vote was 137-122 in favor of Waxman.

The ascension of Waxman, a wily environmentalist, recasts a committee that Dingell has chaired since 1981 with an eye toward protecting the domestic auto industry in his native Michigan. The Energy and Commerce Committee has principal jurisdiction over many of President-elect Barack Obama's top legislative priorities, including energy, the environment and health care.

[Sub-Driver]

ugh....

no pictures please.........

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

All hail Nostril-damus!

[madison10]

THAT change will be the nail in the auto industries’ coffins.

[Enterprise]

"Waxman dethrones Dingell as chairman"

One Whack-A-Mole gets bonked, another one pops up. No change.

[freespirited]

Wow. How do you cast a vote between the two most obnoxious people in Congress?

[AU72]

Waxman beat dingle by a nose!

[mlocher]

This is not good news. Dingell, from MI, is at the very least empathetic to the auto industry and cheap oil. Waxman, from CA, on the other hand, is a greenie of the worst kind. Global warming theorists will be dictating energy policy for the foreseeable future.

[napscoordinator]

So this is bad? I am not up on the Democrats as I should be I suppose. I am still getting over that John Boehner still the Minority Leader of the House...lol.

[Mike Fieschko]

The ascension of Waxman, a wily environmentalist, recasts a committee that Dingell has chaired since 1981

He chaired it when the GOP controlled the House?

[Vaquero]

did Waxman expel a Dingell from his nose?

[mewzilla]

And Waxman’s former chief-of-staff is one of Barry’s recent hires. Looks like Barry’s putting the ‘Rats in Congress on notice.

[reagan_fanatic]

[conservativeharleyguy]

"...In a secret ballot vote in the Cannon Caucus Room, House Democrats ratified..."

So they get to vote in secret, but "union leaders are confident that Congress is about to enact" a law that eliminates secret ballots in union elections?

[Moleman]

This is terrible for Michigan and the auto indusrtry (as if it could get worse)

[pnh102]

And this changes thing how? They just replaced one commie with another.

[Loud Mime]

You have a good point. This is not Waxman v Dingell, it’s old Detroit vs. the Sierra Club....and the environmentalists won.

[mewzilla]

Phil Schiliro Takes on Key Congressional Liason Role in Obama Administration

[Dahoser]

The ascension of Waxman, a wily environmentalist, recasts a committee that Dingell has chaired since 1981 with an eye toward protecting the domestic auto industry in his native Michigan.

It's amazing how Dingell managed to chair a committee while his party was in the minority for 12 of those 27 years since 1981.

[mewzilla]

Note to the UAW: You can buy 'em, but that don't mean they'll stay bought....

Heh heh heh....

[edcoil]

“He chaired it when the GOP controlled the House?”

You really think the GOP ever controlled the House?