Posted on 11/28/2010 4:54:49 PM PST by EveningStar
...In unbelievably difficult service in the Korean War, his unit was swamped, cut off, overwhelmed by hordes of Red Chinese crossing into Korea. In the worst cold weather imaginable, under fire, starving, acting Sergeant Charles Rangel, in a black unit led mostly by white officers, took a large group of men, led them by example, lifted their morale, as they fought their way out to safety. Men were being shot, freezing, getting captured all around him, yet he got most of his men out...
(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...
I appreciate his service...but he’s still Boss Hogg with a tan.
Hitler was a courageous war hero also. You can be corrupt and evil and still have good qualities. Evil is spoiled goodness. Even street gang members can be courageous, loyal, devoted, and willing to sacrifice for their bros.
...and some people still adore OJ Simpson.
This story reminds me of a portion of the piece I wrote about John McCain. How few remember they are supposed to be citizen legislators.
“John McCain has succumbed to the terrible addiction of political power. The same addiction expressed itself differently in fellow Navy officer Randy Cunningham, who was the Navy’s first Vietnam ace. Over the decades the honor and moral authority of both were gradually traded away for influence in the political arena. There is a vast, immeasurable gulf separating John McCain from the genuine people who dealt with the issues sponsoring the Geneva Conventions and our Constitution. He much more equates with the parasites now feeding upon the prosperity and security so painfully forged for their benefit. We now suffer imposters like him with such extraordinary mental athletic prowess as to scale unheard of heights of arrogance and studied ignorance and achieve unparalleled duplicity.
To me McCain is like a cadaver prepared for viewing. The removal of blood and organs equates to the trading away of honor and moral authority. The reputation that remains is like the cosmetics applied for viewing a corpse at the funeral. It is easy for anyone to get onto the same sort of gently downward sloping path. The final result is tragic, but we should not suffer such pathetic and contemptible modern day Macbeths or Hamlets as Republicans in the Senate or any other public office. I am amazed that people can be so easily duped by such obvious illusions.”
Same thing as Duke Cunningham...the seduction of power and money is just too much for some people.
Hitler won five medals including the prestigious Iron Cross during the First World War. His commanding officer wrote: "As a dispatch-runner, he has shown cold-blooded courage and exemplary boldness. Under conditions of great peril, when all the communication lines were cut, the untiring and fearless activity of Hitler made it possible for important messages to go through".
That, of course, excuses any thing he did thereafter.
John Dingell 54 years in Congress, John Conyers 44 years in Congress, David Obey 40 years in Congress. People who re-elect politicians for decade after decade are too lazy or stupid to throw them out.
Ben Stein is correct here. No one should forget for a moment that Charlie Rangel is a genuine war hero. He deserves the nation’s thanks for that.
And no one should forget for a moment that Charlie Rangel is a corrupt politician.
One does not lessen or cancel out the other.
As it is in so many things in life, it is more important how you finish, than how you start.
Two words ... “John Glenn”.
Charlie Rangel is still a turd to me
Benedict Arnold was a hero at one time, too.
Until, years later, when he threw that all away by preventing the Senate from holding Bill Clinton accountable for his crimes. From that moment onward, John Glenn was reduced to being just another corrupt, partisan political hack.
Sorry, Charlie, but you threw it all away too...
The draft is slavery.
Lets put those draftee’s in the most high-tech jobs! From High School to piloting a F-18 in a few weeks!
Charlie has been rewarded for his heroism with 40 years of sucking off the Government tit, while amassing homes in the Dominican republic and New York City.
Being a hero does not entitle you to commit criminal acts , nor does it entitle you to not pay taxes.
Charlie could have been a contender. Instead he is just an ordinary run of the mill crooked politician.
“God bless Charlie for his service.”
Yes, agreed. He should have taken the deal on this months ago. I honestly think he thinks he did nothing wrong. To him all this was just “honest mistakes”. It’s really a shame.
Now, as term limits requires an amendment to the constitution I propose ending any pensions for elected officials, at all levels, but why not start with congress? It will be a natural discouragement from decades of service and it will also save money. Of course, let them have a 401(k) or something, but no matching funds or anything. And no lifetime healthcare either, that will save a bundle.
I think congress critters should be limited to 3 consecutive terms, followed by 2 mandatory out-of-office. I think senators out to be selected by their state legislatures, like the constitution specified.
I think that supreme court justices should be able to be recalled by national ballot - perhaps with a required number of signatures to get on the ballot. (That’s an incomplete thought - just something I thought up on the spur of the moment.)
I believe that Presidents ought to have to prove they are eligible, in accordance with the rules specified in the constitution.
I believe liberals should be subjected to electric shock therapy, and that liberal pols should receive high-voltage treatments.
I believe I’ll have another beer. ;-P
I prefer Duke Cunningham’s Congressional voting record to Rangel’s, but excusing none of what Rangel did, his misconduct hardly compares to Cunningham’s, who took millions of dollars in bribes and went to prison for it.
Here is a link of Republican Rep. Peter King defending Charlie Rangel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OtwkcPT9DA
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.