Congressman (Pombo) Faces Fight Over Species Act

[ProSense]

Congressman Faces Fight Over Species Act

By ERICA WERNER, Associated Press Writer
10 minutes ago

TRACY, Calif. - Rep. Richard Pombo (news, bio, voting record) has never gotten over being outfoxed by the endangered San Joaquin kit fox. The rancher and chairman of the House Resources Committee is closer than ever to his goal of rewriting the Endangered Species Act to expand property rights — his mission ever since the obscure fox species blocked development of a neighboring town 25 years ago.

The prospect of long-fought success has made Pombo a target in the November election. The conservative Republican has abandoned the cowboy hat in his official congressional photo and is looking a little more worldly as he confronts a changing electorate in his district.

Seeking his 12th term, Pombo, 45, faces a primary challenge on June 6 from a moderate Republican who helped write the landmark species protections. Democrats see a glimmer of hope of capturing the seat; environmentalists say his defeat would be the best thing that could happen in November.

On top of all that, Pombo is facing ethical questions arising from his ties with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his own unconventional financial arrangements.

more...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060325/ap_on_el_ho/cowboy_congressman_2

http://www.dccc.org/pombo/contestvote

[mdmc]

1. he is 45 and served 11 terms?

WTF?

[Freedom_from_Chains]

2. Got started in politics young, real young. EOM

[JohnKleeb]

3. Its a typo actually

He's been in Congress since 1993, and represents California's 11th district. I checked out vote-smart.

[mdmc]

4. thanks kleeb...I was gonna say

CA elects some young folk....

[JohnKleeb]

5. If he was 11 term and 45

he would have bene elected illegally, since the age requirement to run fo congress is 25. Reminds me I am getting old, I'll be eligible in 6 years but thats something I won't do. Government work perhaps yes but in Congress god no.

[mdmc]

7. i would run at 25 if i were you...really...you should think about it...

you already have status here at DU.

Dude, you could be big! McHuge!!!:)

[JohnKleeb]

8. I can't even give a speech on

implementing Lyme Disease awareness, how would I run for Congress without stammering? I think there are at least two people I know personally that could make it good in the Democratic Party if they do the right things and they unlike me have the charisma to do it. Besides I dont even think I'll be in Va at 25, I'll probably be in grad school somewhere.

[mdmc]

9. Charisma is an interesting phenomenon

Entergy, the energy company, trains it's employees in propaganda. When a community has a forum on entergy related subjects, these employees attend to talk up nuclear power.
Indian Point / Entergy's best employee is a guy with a stuttering problem. It is very painful to listen to him, but through his pain, Entergy's message of "safe, secure, vital" rang through. There were plenty of better speakers, but none of them could sway the crowd like the guy with a speaking problem.

RFKjr. has a problem with public speaking. Sometimes I think he is going to cry. It is painful, and powerful.

[JohnKleeb]

10. I have heard that about RFK Jr

I wish I could have better public speaking skills but honestly even if I did have the skills, I wouldn't want to be a politican because too much scrunity and despite being a rabid partisan I can also be very objective which is why I think I am going to best off entering a field like labor arbiration because I feel I have the skills to see things form all points of view which I guess is a valuable skill in politics but it can also be a damning one since people I think see the world too much in black and white, I am a shades of gray guy, theres not two sides to every coin but rather several sides.

[mdmc]

11. I'm into mediation myself

[espera17]

13. impossible

if he served 11 two year terms that means he would have become a Rep at age 23 which is unconstitutional

[ProSense]

6. Pombo is running for his eighth term, per his website. n/t

[espera17]

12. district 50 race

i believe http://electionpredictions.blogspot.com has info on the race against Pombo.