Pelosi picks fellow Californian(Pete Stark) to take gavel after Rangel bows out

[kpete]

Source: The Hill

Pelosi picks fellow Californian to take gavel after Rangel bows out
By Michael O'Brien and Jared Allen - 03/03/10 11:45 AM ET

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has picked liberal firebrand Rep. Pete Stark to replace ousted Chairman Charles Rangel on the tax-writing committee, according to a House leadership aide.

The decision was made during a Wednesday morning leadership meeting following Rangel's announcement that he would temporarily step aside as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, the aide said.

Rangel (N.Y.) had come under growing pressure in the wake of several ethics investigations, and he faced a vote Wednesday on a GOP-backed privileged resolution to force his ouster.

GOP lawmakers said they still intended to go forward with the resolution, saying Rangel’s “temporary” withdrawal as chairman was not good enough.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/84677-rangel-to-give-up-ways-and-means-gavel-while-ethics-investigation-continues

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Completely awesome anecdote about Pete Stark, new House Ways and Means chair
by: Chris Bowers
Wed Mar 03, 2010 at 13:01

Two years ago, a source on Capitol Hill who used to work in Representative Pete Stark's office told me a great anecdote about Representative Stark.

One day, a lobbyist from a large energy company entered the lobby of Representative Stark's office. When he heard who was in the lobby, Representative Stark yelled from another room "get the f*ck out of here!" When the lobbyist laughed a bit and didn't leave, Representative Stark came into the lobby and yelled again "no, get the f*ck out of here!" The lobbyist then left.

http://www.openleft.com/diary/17662/completely-awesome-anecdote-about-pete-stark-new-house-ways-and-means-chair

[avaistheone1]

1. Great

He is my Congress critter. I love him to bits. Stark is a good progressive Democrat.

[frylock]

3. lucky..

pete stark is awesome!

[mariawr]

2. Any one that the rethugs hate is fine w/me. nt

[KansDem]

4. To paraphrase that old adage: "The enemy of the GOP is..."

"...doing something right!"

[philly_bob]

5. Excellent choice. A real I'm-a-Democrat-and-proud-of-it guy. /nt

[No Elephants]

6. Republicans already trying to smear Stark as the "one of the most liberal and partisan in

Congress."

To which I say: "I hope he is one of the most effective, too."

Meanwhile, I've really enjoyed Rangel, but why did he have to say that he was stepping down temporarily, so his colleagues would not have to deal with defending him as they campaign for re-election, and therefore he's taking a leave as chair until the Ethics Committee finishes its investigation?

Couldn't he think of anything that sounded less cynical?


How about simply, "While I continue to maintain my innocence (and always will), I am stepping down as Chair until the Ethics Committee finishes its investigation so that Congress can better focus on the important matters before it. without further distraction by this matter?"

[bemildred]

7. Awesome. nt

[and-justice-for-all]

8. "no, get the f*ck out of here!" LOVE IT!!! nt

:yourock:

[librechik]

9. UPDATE:: NOT PETE AFTER ALL

Sander Levin has been named instead
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-levin-pelosi5-2010mar05,0,7232163.story

too bad

[senseandsensibility]

10. Oh no!

Thanks for the update, but I'm disappointed.

[No Elephants]

11. That has to set a few records.

One, the shortest Chair ever in the House.

Two, the fasted cave in.


"But Stark's politics -- he's an unapologetic liberal -- and his volatility, with a history of making controversial and provocative statements, concerned other members of the committee as well as the Democratic leadership."



What the fuck do liberals have to apologize for again? Controversial and provoative statements? Is that how we're describing "unapologetic liberal" comments these days?

"In that sense, Levin could make for a better fit. He's an expert on trade issues and is considered to be much more moderate than Stark."

Welcome to the one party-system Enjoy watching the nation go further and further right.

Idiots.

[Demeter]

12. Levin is a Sell Out

and I wish he'd retire already. He is a disgrace to the Party

[No Elephants]

13. A Democrat who's a sell out supplanting a Democrat who is a Democrat.

A metaphor?