Free Republic

We’ve written extensively of late regarding the widening divide between fiscally conservative Republicans and the “neoconservative” fiscally liberal wing of the party – led by U.S. Senators John McCain, Lindsey Graham and John Cornyn. In fact according to the website Mississippi PEP, they’ve censured him. For those of you unfamiliar with this aging RINO, Cochran is one of several Southern “Republicans” who habitually caves to U.S. President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats (along with Graham, North Carolina’s Richard Burr, Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander and Georgia’s Johnny Isakson). “When any official continues to engage repeatedly in a course of conduct that violates...

Momentum appears to be building in South Carolina against Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who faces three challengers in next year’s June primary. On Monday evening, the Greenville County, SC GOP executive committee, an official arm of the state's Republican Party, passed a 29-point censure of Graham’s activities in Washington. “Initially a voice vote was taken and newly elected County Chair Chad Groover ruled that the nays won, at which point there were several calls for ‘division,’” The South Carolina Conservative’s Javan Browder wrote on Tuesday morning. “Groover recognized the call for division and a standing vote was taken, and the...

An openly gay Pennsylvania state lawmaker asked his legislative colleagues Thursday to censure an archconservative colleague who a day earlier had prevented him from making floor remarks about the Supreme Court’s gay marriage rulings. Rep. Brian Sims, D-Philadelphia, asked the chamber to reprimand Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, at the close of session because of an interview Metcalfe gave to explain why he exercised his right to prevent him from speaking on the topic during session. “His comments did not live up to the standards set by this body,” Sims said on the floor. …

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) is suing Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and six other lawmakers, charging that they mishandled the Ethics investigation that led to his public censure in late 2010. In a complaint filed Monday in federal court in Washington D.C., Rangel claims the Ethics Committee that investigated his alleged wrongdoing are guilty of "numerous flagrant, knowing and intentional violations" of his due process rights. House members who approved his censure were "knowingly deceived" by the committee leaders – including then-Chairman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) and ranking member Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) – into thinking that the probe "had been conducted in...

Awkward: House leaders to honor Rangel nine months after censureBy Russell Berman - 09/21/11 04:43 PM ET It may be one of the more awkward honorary ceremonies in recent memory. On Thursday, House leaders will pay tribute to Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), less than a year after the House formally censured the former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee. Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) will speak at a ceremony to unveil Rangel’s official portrait as chairman of the storied committee, which the longtime New York Democrat led from 2007 until March 2010, when party leaders pressured him to give up...

The International Whaling Commission's (IWC) annual meeting has closed after a tense final day when relations between opposing blocs came close to collapse. Latin American nations attempted to force a vote on a proposal to create a whale sanctuary in the South Atlantic. Pro-whaling countries walked out, but eventually it was decided to shelve any vote until next year's meeting. Earlier in the meeting, governments agreed new regulations designed to prevent "cash for votes" scandals that have plagued the IWC in the past, and passed a resolution censuring the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society for putting safety at risk during its...

US Representative Michael E. Capuano, who decried violent political rhetoric after last month’s fatal shooting rampage in Tucson, said today he regrets urging union workers at a rally in Boston on Tuesday to “get a little bloody.” “I strongly believe in standing up for worker rights and my passion for preserving those rights may have gotten the best of me yesterday in an unscripted speech,” the Somerville Democrat said in a statement released this afternoon. “I wish I had used different language to express my passion and I regret my choice of words." Capuano was referring to remarks he made...

The City of Honolulu and State of Hawaii, mired in debt from years of bowing to unions and paying attention to everything but their jobs, continue to 'inspire' their voters with an attempt to censure Rush Limbaugh over his comments on Chinese Dictator Hu Jintao.

Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel continues to represent the citizens of Harlem in Congress, despite his censure by the House for ethics violations. Rangel was found guilty of violating no less than 11 ethics rules by a House committee, including not paying taxes on a residence for, oh, about 17 years. Readers are cautioned to not try this at home—lest they wind up in jail. Rangel therefore carries on the proud tradition of representing the people of Harlem established by Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

In a historic action against one of its own, the House Thursday voted 333 to 79 to censure Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) on 11 charges of violating rules of the chamber -- a vote that overwhelming yet clearly wrenching for many of his colleagues. Following the vote, Rangel walked down to the well of the House to receive his public rebuke, alone and looking somber, as Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) read a list of the violations. When she concluded, Rangel responded, "I just want all of you to know that I know in all my heart that I will not...

On the House floor tonight, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) again asserted that he did not personally gain from the acts of which he is accused, notwithstanding the fact that he failed to report, or pay taxes on, rental income received from his Dominican Republic beach house. Rangel seems to believe that if you repeatedly say something, it becomes true, no matter how absurd. After we exposed this tax evasion, we took an even closer look at Rangel's finances and history. In September 2009, we filed a Complaint with the Ethics Committee alleging that Rangel hid more income from a six-unit...

Full House Votes On Rangel Censure TodayDecember 2, 2010 12:12 PM NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — The once powerful Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel lobbied colleagues against long odds Thursday in an effort to receive punishment milder than censure by the House for ethical misconduct. A half-dozen supporters spoke on Rangel’s behalf at a closed-door Democratic meeting hours before the House was to discipline the New York Democrat for financial and fundraising misconduct. But Rangel would need to overcome the 9-1 vote for censure from an ethics panel that has five members from each party. “I think it’s important for members on...

Rangel Censure Heads to House FloorUpdated: Monday, 29 Nov 2010, 9:15 PM EST (NewsCore) - The House ethics committee Monday night sent its censure resolution of Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) to the House floor. Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) confirmed the move to Fox News Channel. The resolution is "privileged," meaning it goes immediately to the front of the legislative line. The House either considers the resolution right away, or can wait no more than two days to debate it. Rangel told Fox he has not been informed when the resolution would come up. "It's up to the chairman," said...

Rep. Charles Rangel isabout make a last stand to attempt to save his reputation by explaining to the House that a censure should only be for crooked politicians. Then he's going to argue that he is not a crooked politician. (This is a rewording form the site.) Go to the source to get full information.

Rangel's supporters urge 'no' vote on censureBy KAREN MATTHEWS Associated Press Updated: Nov 21, 2010 11:14 PM EST NEW YORK (AP) - Supporters of Rep. Charles Rangel said Sunday that the Democratic lawmaker has been punished enough by the House ethics committee's two-year investigation and should not by censured by the full Congress. "Charlie Rangel is a giant," said former Mayor David Dinkins. "He's a man who has served not only the 15th Congressional District but this city. He's served this nation. .... There's nothing to be gained by seeking to further humiliate this great man." The House ethics committee...

Rangel censure specter draws sadness, scorn in NYBy Beth Fouhy, Associated Press – Fri Nov 19, 8:30 pm ET NEW YORK – The prospect of a public scolding in Washington for Rep. Charles Rangel over ethics violations has drawn both sadness and scorn in his Harlem neighborhood, where he was just re-elected with 81 percent of the vote and remains an icon to residents who say they'll be the ones to decide his political fate. "Charles Rangel has done so much for this community in the Congress, I think he should go out when he damn well pleases," said Rachel...

The House ethics committee has recommended censure for Representative Charles B. Rangel for ethics violations. It was the committee’s counsel, R. Blake Chisam, who acted as prosecutor in the case, who recommended that Mr. Rangel be censured, a stronger punishment than a reprimand but well short of expulsion. Shortly before the committee of five Democrats and five Republicans began deliberations, Mr. Rangel, his voice cracking, pleaded for his colleagues to keep in mind that whatever his misdeeds, he was not corrupt. Mr. Rangel, 80, a Democrat who has represented Harlem since 1970, was found guilty on Tuesday of 11 breaches...

The House ethics committee's chief counsel recommended Thursday that veteran Rep. Charles Rangel be censured for financial and fundraising misconduct as lawmakers neared closure on an embarrassing 2 1/2-year-long scandal. Chief counsel Blake Chisman called for the punishment despite the veteran New York congressman's plea, in a prepared statement in advance of the hearing, for "a drop of fairness and mercy." If Chisam's recommendation is carried out, it would be the most serious punishment short of expulsion that could be meted out by the House. Chisam and Rangel argued their positions at a public hearing on sanctions, where the 80-year-old...

The House ethics committee's chief counsel has recommended that Rep. Charles Rangel be censured in connection with a finding that he engaged in improper financial and fundraising conduct. Chief counsel Blake Chisman called for this punishment despite the New York Democrat's plea to his colleagues for "a drop of fairness and mercy." If Chisam's recommendation is carried out, this would be the most serious punishment, short of expulsion, which is highly unlikely. Chisam and Rangel argued their positions Thursday in a public hearing on sanctions held by the ethics committee.

AIKEN -- The Aiken County Republican Party has approved a formal censure of U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. The party's executive committee took the action Thursday, joining a handful of other county parties, including Greenville's GOP. Committee member Pete Seaha, who also is the Aiken County Tea Party chairman, wrote the resolution and introduced it at the meeting. The resolution states in part that Graham won't be invited to any party meetings or events. "I don't believe the senator is sticking to conservative Republican principles," said Seaha. "In my mind, the senator has disrespected his constituents. He has said publicly...

BIDEN: "I think Americans will recognize that there aren’t body counts . . .that they got 95,000 people home." Vice President Joe, Joey Buttafuoco, "Bite-me", Biden says there are no body counts from the Iraq war! We all know he's an idiot, but this one perhaps takes the cake. WTH is he talking about? Remember all the Bush Death Counts the left kept when it was Bush's war?... Hey Joey, there are indeed body counts. There are thousands of lives that have been lost, and many more that have been changed forever due to the sacrifices those in our military...

Vice-President Joe Biden at Kopp’s Frozen Custard in the Milwaukee area, where he was appearing with Democrat Sen. Russ Feingold. The two were eating custard there, and when Biden approached the manager with some money and asked, “What do I owe you,” the manager just responded, “Lower our taxes and we’ll call it even.”Biden later jokingly called the manager a “smart-ass,” telling him, “Why don’t you say something nice?”Biden was clearly not expecting that! Great response!

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) – Iran may escape censure at a meeting of the 189 signatories of a global anti-nuclear arms pact, despite growing concerns that Tehran might be developing atomic weapons, according to a draft declaration. The United States and other countries say Iran is in breach of its obligations under the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a landmark arms-control pact that has been the focus of a month-long conference and review wrapping up this week. A draft declaration prepared by conference president Libran Cabactulan of the Philippines fails to mention Iran or its nuclear program, though it names India,...

The Obama administration would consider allowing the United Nations Security Council to censure Israel over its activity in West Bank settlements in order to encourage the Palestinians to participate in peace talks, a Palestinian source told The Guardian on Friday. According to the source, U.S. special Mideast envoy George Mitchell's deputy, David Hale, told Abbas that the Obama administration views Israeli construction in East Jerusalem as "provocative."

Former Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) has been under investigation for allegations that he groped multiple male staffers working in his office, according to three sources familiar with the probe. The allegations surrounding the former lawmaker date back at least a year, and involve "a pattern of behavior and physical harassment," according to one source. The new claims of alleged groping contradict statements by Massa, who resigned his office on Monday after it became public that he was the subject of a House ethics committee investigation for possible harassment. Massa had said that the allegations were limited to his use of...

Have you seen this article For the Black Caucus, New Power and an Urgency in Using It? Seems to me like that's exactly what the WaPo came dangerously close to admitting to.

This afternoon our Comcast digital cable box switched to C-span by itself while Democrats were trashing Rep. Wilson. The box would not allow us to watch any other station for approximately 15 minutes. When I called to complain Comcast technical support said that they were performing a "test of the emergency broadcast system" that switched all digital boxes in Western Washington to C-span and would not allow subscribers to watch anything else. They said that the programming taking place on C-span was merely a coincidence.

Rep. Joe Wilson said Sunday that he will not apologize on the House floor for his outburst during President Obama's health care address, even though Democratic leaders have threatened to formally discipline him if he does not. Wilson noted that he already apologized directly to the White House after shouting, "You lie," to the president during his Wednesday address to a joint session of Congress. The outburst triggered a political firestorm, but Wilson told "FOX News Sunday" that Democrats are just "playing politics" by trying to drag out the issue and force another apology. "I've apologized one time. The apology was accepted...

On the House floor where President Obama spoke just a half-day earlier, two words shouted by a Republican congressman reverberated louder than the finer points of the health care debate.

Democrats must drop efforts to censure a GOP representative who shouted "You lie" during President Obama's speech, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday. Democratic leaders Thursday were looking into what formal action the House could take against Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., whose outburst during Obama's address on healthcare reform to a joint session of Congress the night before, shocked the chamber, The Hill reported. "It's time for us to talk about healthcare, not Joe Wilson," said Pelosi, D-Calif. One option Democrats considered was censure. Pelosi nixed censure, as well as a call for Wilson to apologize on the floor. "I'm...

SACRAMENTO — In keeping with the California Republican Party's theme of railing against taxes and those who support them, convention delegates on Sunday approved a symbolic measure reprimanding six GOP lawmakers who voted for the largest tax increase in state history. The measure, which denies the six party funding for the 2010 election, was approved swiftly and without debate Sunday as the party's twice-annual convention wrapped up in Sacramento. An earlier version of the measure contained stronger language, calling for a censure. Three lawmakers each from the Senate and Assembly broke ranks last week to give Democrats and Gov. Arnold...

Attorney General Holder has called America "a nation of cowards" when it comes to "things racial." According to Holder, "average Americans" are afraid to "talk enough with each other about race." By using the word "cowards," Holder has gotten himself some attention, at least for today. That's ironic because his (long-winded speech) is 99 percent content free. To add to the irony, in the one place where Holder introduces a little content, he demonstrates that he has no interest in genuine dialogue, and reveals himself to be a "coward" on "things racial." Here is Holder on the crucial issue of...

CNSNews.com Murtha Maintains He Was Right to Say Marines ‘Killed Innocent Civilians in Cold Blood’ Thursday, December 11, 2008 By Nicholas Ballasy (CNSNews.com) - Although all of the charges have been dropped against all of the Marines – except for one – involved in the killing of Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005, Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) said he stands by his May 2006 remarks that the soldiers involved “killed innocent civilians in cold blood.” “Yes, I think it was,” the right thing to say, Murtha told CNSNews.com on Wednesday. “That’s my job. My job is due. Listen, the NCIS...

The Oklahoma Legislature's only doctor says U.S. senators should thank Sen. Tom Coburn for delivering babies for free, instead of trying to censure him under ethics rules. State Rep. Doug Cox called the situation "ridiculous," referring to recent reports of an escalation in a long-running fight between Coburn and the Senate Ethics Committee.

House Tables Resolution To Censure Rep. RangelBy Christopher Lee Washington Post Staff Writer Friday, August 1, 2008; A15 Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) had a tough July, and yesterday he had to scramble to keep it from ending on another down note. Rangel and his fellow Democrats beat back a resolution by House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) that would have publicly censured the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee over his rental of four New York City apartments -- including one he used as a campaign office -- at below-market rates. The measure branded the apartment deal...

I sent email and letters out to Durbin, Obama, Clinton, and Reid blasting them over their abuse of the Senate to censure Rush Limabugh. This is what I got back from Obama. I don't know if its a form letter or not, has anyone else received the same or similar reply? Regardless, it will take me a little time to respond, but when I do I will blast him even more. Any good ideas will be appreciated. Regards, Below is the text of 'Bamas reply.

The Seante voted (75-25) to condemn MoveOn.Org for its despicable advertisement in the new York Times. The measure garnered 75 votes which means that at least 26 Democrats voted for it. Hopefully, Democrats are beginning to feel the heat for their anti-war stance.

Democrats have introduced resolutions in the House and Senate that would censure President Bush, Vice President Cheney and Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., introduced the censure resolutions in the Senate on Aug. 4; New York Democrat Maurice D. Hinchey introduced them in the House a day later. One resolution (S Res 302, H Res. 625), would censure Bush and Cheney for “misleading the American people” about the need to invade and occupy Iraq, as well as for poor planning and conduct of the war. The other measure (S Res 303, H Res. 626) would censure Bush and...

REESEVILLE, WI -- Sen. Russ Feingold began holding listening sessions in every Wisconsin county 14 years ago in order to ensure that he was responsive to the needs of his constituents. The more time the Democratic U.S. senator spends in Washington, the more he appreciates another fringe benefit of his visits home. "I come home every weekend and I do these meetings, and I talk to people and I go to the store, to the health club, and I get the feeling that I'm NOT completely crazy," Feingold said. "Unless we ALL are."And I don't think we are." Rebuked by...

Okay, enough is enough. Senator Charles Schumer is now saying that the Senate should not confirm another Supreme Court nominee under President “except in extraordinary circumstances.� While most of us have been fairly pleased with a number of decent rulings by the Supreme Court recently, Democrats are furious that they've lost some hold on the only branch of government they have left to impose their agenda. A White House spokeswoman, Dana Perino, said Schumer's comments show "a tremendous disrespect for the Constitution" by suggesting that the Senate not confirm nominees. "This is the kind of blind obstruction that people have...

Politics: Sen. Russ Feingold wants to "censure" President Bush for unconstitutional acts. But since the Constitution gives Congress no such powers, censuring the president would be the real unconstitutional act. In its genius, the U.S. Constitution clearly and simply describes how Congress may act against a sitting president accused of misdeeds. The House of Representatives "shall have the sole power of impeachment," it states, and the Senate "shall have the sole power to try all impeachments." Congress can and has censured its own lawbreaking or unethical members. But when it comes to the president, it's either impeachment or nothing. In...

[A]s if we don’t know that what this tactic really amounts to is Democrats once again showing disdain for anything that they don’t like.

AP Posted: 2007-07-23 06:09:53 Filed Under: Nation, Politics WASHINGTON (July 22) - Liberal Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold said Sunday he wants Congress to censure President Bush for his management of the Iraq war and his "assault" against the Constitution. But Feingold's own party leader in the Senate showed little interest in the idea. An attempt in 2006 by Feingold to censure Bush over the warrantless spying program attracted only three co-sponsors. Feingold, a prominent war critic, said he soon plans to offer two censure resolutions - measures that would amount to a formal condemnation of the Republican president. The first...

It's customary for stories about Washington D.C. written in the final hours before Congress takes its August break to make some comparison to the city's sweltering steamy heat. This has been a rather cool and dry summer as a matter of fact, but if Congress can't wait to get out of here, most of us are so steamed at its behavior that we can't wait for these pampered, self-serving clowns to beat it out of town. Our military pulls the laboring oar to complete the mission in Iraq, and the troops seem to be doing quite a job of it...

Without acknowledging his comments yesterday when he said the "war is lost," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said President Bush and his allies "attacked those of us with courage to ask the tough questions and tell the truth about Iraq." He described their criticism of him and other Democrats as "an effort to shift attention from this Administration's failed policies" in Iraq. In a remarks on the Senate floor after Bush's speech today, Reid did not repeat the "war is lost" comments. Instead, he said that "the longer we continue down the president's path the further we will be from...

Michael Yon has provided some of the best reporting on the ground in Iraq. He embeds with the troops, reporting honestly on the ups and downs of our efforts there. He has proven himself courageous under fire and keeps returning to give Americans a clear view of the status of our mission. Now, however, Yon may find himself booted out of Iraq: A general emailed in the past 24 hours threatening to kick me out. The first time the Army threatened to kick me out was in late 2005, just after I published a dispatch called “Gates of Fire.” Some...

A judicial discipline council has voted overwhelmingly to impose sanctions on a veteran Los Angeles federal judge who improperly seized control of a bankruptcy case to protect a probationer he was supervising. --snip-- On Nov. 16, the council ordered that U.S. District Judge Manuel L. Real, 82, be publicly reprimanded for his intervention in the bankruptcy almost seven years ago, permitting Deborah M. Canter to live rent-free for three years in a Hancock Park house, costing her creditors $35,000 in rent and thousands more in legal costs, according to court documents. Real's misconduct "warrants the corrective action of 'censuring or...

Hopefully, I can finish writing this column today before it is OTBE. That's slang for the phrase "Over Taken By Events" On Wednesday, I had cranked out a piece for Sunday on two topics: Reaction to the Amish school murders and the nasty Mark Foley flap that has gripped the halls of power. The first part expressed outrage because members of the Westboro Baptist Church had announced they planned to protest at the funerals of the Amish girls killed Monday in Lancaster County, PA. In case you don't remember them, they're the bunch out of Kansas that pickets the funerals...

Jim Leahy announced the campaign to censure Richard Durbin last night on my radio show. By the time he got home, his web-site www.censuredurbin.org showed 170 signatures. By the end of business Monday he had more than 500. He figures that he’s tote up ast least 5,000 signatures a week. He wants to get at least 250,000 to present to the Senate. Do you realize that there is no other sitting U. S. Senator who can draw that much of an early response than Durbin? Russ Feingold doesn’t have the drawing power despite all the effort he has made to...

[As the founder of the Republican Assembly of Illinois, a grassroots organization not tied to Combine Republicans, I feel this project launched by Jim Leahy, its executive director, is very important. In this the first of several articles, let me tell you why. This Blog now installs www.censuredurbin as a permanent link. ] As one who has studied the role of Congress as Congressional staffer, member of the executive branch, a foreign service officer and as a John F. Kennedy Fellow at Harvard, I have long been engrossed in the question of what limits of debate should be applied during...