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Rangel Gets Primary Challenger

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Other Politics
Posted on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:06:01 AM EST
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Leave Charlie Rangel Alone!!! Just kidding.

I actually think every pol should face a primary challenger, including my cult leader, Charlie Rangel:

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) will face a 2010 primary challenge from one of his own former campaign directors. Vince Morgan, a New York banker who once worked for Rangel as a special assistant and subsequently as a campaign director, announced Monday that he would challenge Rangel for reelection.

Kos and Co. should back the challenger. I promise I won't call them interlopers. I am for Rangel.

Speaking for me only

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    Rangel Gets Primary Challenger | 31 comments (31 topical)

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    An idea was floated last week (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:09:01 AM EST
    that Rangel might step aside for Paterson in a special election. Other than that, I kinda doubt Rangel is going anywhere.

    I think the Times endorsed his Republican opponent last year, which made me giggle.

    Did you know . . . (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:10:30 AM EST
    that the only committee in the Congress that provides for a nationwide robust public option is the one chaired by one Charles J. Rangel?

    Parent
    But he didn't report all of his houses!!!! (none / 0) (#3)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:17:49 AM EST
    Seriously, I'm no reflexive Rangel defender, and I think his behavior towards Cuomo has been unseemly this year, but I also think that the ethics brief against him is really uninteresting.

    Parent
    Paterson and Rangel (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:20:03 AM EST
    That's personal and will be done with quickly.

    He and Basil Paterson go way back.

    Parent

    Plus Mario Cuomo (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:20:41 AM EST
    f*cked Dinkins in 1993.

    Parent
    Sins of the father matter in politics, I guess (none / 0) (#7)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:25:34 AM EST


    Parent
    The son was the (none / 0) (#8)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:27:19 AM EST
    chief political advisor wshen the SI referendum was called.

    Parent
    OK (none / 0) (#9)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:33:11 AM EST
    Didn't know that.

    Parent
    What were you, 8? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:35:36 AM EST
    how could you remember?

    Me, I lived that night in 1993. Worst political night of my life.

    I remember Bill Lynch trudging in at the end, and you could see his body language, we were not going to win.

    Parent

    Yup, 8 (none / 0) (#11)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:39:29 AM EST
    I was enjoying dinosaurs and Jurassic Park.

    As for Lynch, his firm just had a good cycle. For all of the talk about the death of Harlem . . .

    Parent

    But (none / 0) (#12)
    by jbindc on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 09:15:00 AM EST
    but I also think that the ethics brief against him is really uninteresting.

    I guess the question is - would you feel the same way if tyou replace the name Charlie Rangel with Jeff Sessions or Michelle Bachmann?

    Not talking about you personally, but how many here (and in the liberal blogosphere) would be demanding investigations if a long-time member of Congress from the Republican party couldn't be bothered with getting his/her own affairs straight? Whether or not Rangel did something unethical or illegal is for someone else to sort out, but he's been fightiong this for a while now, and progressives have had the attitude of "Why are you picking on Charlie Rangel"?

    Parent

    I don't need new reasons to dislike those people (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by andgarden on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 09:25:01 AM EST


    Parent
    I always consider the timing of the (none / 0) (#16)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 10:22:37 AM EST
    "scandal". Does it coincide with the incident, or is it more easily attached to what is being worked on? I'm doubting there is anyone in congress who is free of a potential scandal...if there's nothing real, they just make it up. There may even be something Rangel can do to make it all disappear.

    I even chuckled this morning at the news the stock market is on the rise...an attempt to deflect the endless grim topics, or are they trying to ready themselves for the big year-end bonuses? This is how they get the average person to do what they want....create a crisis or claim the train will leave without them if they don't buy their ticket.


    Parent

    Timing of the (none / 0) (#26)
    by Wile ECoyote on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 02:02:17 PM EST
    Scandals.  They are ongoing.  One right after another.  He is as corrupt as they come, but he is liberal so he gets a pass.  Speaking for me only.

    Parent
    I have reached a point (none / 0) (#28)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 02:55:23 PM EST
    where I think our entire gov't is so corrupt it needs a major overhaul and 80% of them should be replaced at the next election.


    Parent
    Voting against every incumbent... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 09:43:08 PM EST
    in every election is the best start we could make I think, two three cycles even, till the kids cut the sh*t.

    Parent
    That idea was floated by Rahm (none / 0) (#4)
    by scribe on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 08:18:15 AM EST
    and the WH, after they ham-handedly tried to get Paterson to drop out of the 2010 governor's race to make way for Cuomo.

    To be sure, Rahm has had the knife out for Rangel for some time, if only because Rangel (as head of Ways and Means) decides what tax policy is and will be.  This supposed "ethics" flap has been brewing for at least 3 years.

    Parent

    And if you didn't report $75k in income (none / 0) (#14)
    by BobTinKY on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 10:15:23 AM EST
    what would happen?

    The man chairs the Ways & Means Committee and does not report huge (to people of average means) amounts of income.  Thta is a sick joke on the taxpaying public as is Tim Geithner.  They both need to go.

    I've always admired Charlie and appreciated his service both in Congress and in Korea, but this is obviously not just a political problem for Democrats, it pisses me off as someone who tries mightily to make my own tax filings audit proof despite the complexity of the tax code Charlie's own committee oversees.

    What would happen? (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Steve M on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 10:24:05 AM EST
    Probably not much, as long as you self-report.  If the IRS catches you first, that's a different story.

    Parent
    The primary challenger (none / 0) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 10:17:25 AM EST
    seems like the one you will support.

    I am for Rangel.

    Parent

    Charlie goes nowhere (none / 0) (#18)
    by vicndabx on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 10:52:56 AM EST
    He's an example for young minorities who want to see what a successful player in the game of politics looks like.

    ....and he brings in the goods for his district -- has been for years.

    Bringing home the goods (none / 0) (#19)
    by BobTinKY on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 11:24:15 AM EST
    that's what we in RI used to say about Congressman St. Germain when he headed the Banking Committee and came under a similar cloud of financial shenanigans.  He got the boot and the GOP soon regained control using both him and Rostenkowski as poster boys for Democratic corruption.  

    The optics of this are terible and will do more harm to progressive interests than Charlie can now do to advance those interests.

    Parent

    I love Charlie (none / 0) (#20)
    by NYShooter on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 11:27:39 AM EST
    He's one of those transcending people who, in my eyes, is untouchable. No, I won't debate the minutia of the complaints against him, I don't care; what he's accomplished, what he stands for, and who he is supersedes everything. Yes, it's personal; he's family, and no matter what, I stand with him.

    And, I don't think I'll be standing alone.

    With supporters like that... (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 11:42:03 AM EST
    who needs integrity?

    I agree as far as ethical lapses go its minor sh*t for the DC scene...but those rent-control apartments, c'mon Charlie, you're making decent bank on the square, no need to go there.

    And free Jerry Koosman:)

    Parent

    A handful of scum (none / 0) (#22)
    by NYShooter on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 11:59:42 AM EST
    in $3000 suits steal our country's treasure, and our country, and reward themselves with billions of taxpayer bonus-bucks, and you want to run after the shiny penny in Harlem. No thanks; maybe you'd lecture your father on integrity if he was arrested for some crap, it's not my way.

    Stood by dawg-man, Billie, when the mobs were dripping blood; will do no less for the NYC icon, Charlie Rangel.

    It's not personal; it's family.

    Parent

    No doubt... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 12:11:23 PM EST
    but I expect that sh*t from Brooks Brothers scum...I expect Charlie to leave rent-control apartments for poor & working poor people...supposedly the people he went to Washington to fight for.

    Maybe I'm wrong to expect better, he is a politician by trade.

    Parent

    I hear ya, brother, (none / 0) (#24)
    by NYShooter on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 01:32:06 PM EST
    I'm not talking logic, I'm talking, as in family. I'm talking loyal, as when he does bad; especially when he does bad.
    You protect your family first; recriminations come later.

    How I hated the mealy-mouthed, chicken-sh$t, democratic "friends" who "defended Bill Clinton against the deranged Republican mob! The question as to whether Clinton had done wrong was so redundant that that you had to ask, why was it necessary to repeat it over, and over, and over again........by his "friends?" The rabid derangement of the Republican thugs was so overwhelmingly more offensive than Clinton's "crime" that the Democrats should have just locked elbows, refused to acknowledge the phony outrage, and shouted from the rooftops, in one voice, loud and clear,  just who the real criminals were.

    But, nooo; one by one, every one of the sleaze-bag Democrats stood up, and just had to start every "defense" with," I know Bill Clinton did a terrible thing,but ......., or (I loved this one,) "Bill Clinton is a friend of mine, but......." And so on till there wasn't any puke left to vomit.

    And that's when you find out who your friends are. Did he do wrong? What a stupid question. Friends don't pile on, just to show their phony moral superiority.


    Parent

    If you consider the man family... (none / 0) (#25)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 01:45:17 PM EST
    then yeah, you stick with family thick and thin, done good or done bad.  Curious...do you seriously know the guy, or just consider the Charlie and/or the Democratic party as family?

    I don't think I could ever feel that closely to a politician or party. One thing for sure, Charlie is lucky to have die-hard supporters like you bro.  Clinton too.  I can't go there, not when they both seem to consider 3/4 of my literal family to be criminals...and we've never got a rent-control apt. on the sly...though we have dodged a tax or two here and there:)

    Parent

    I come from the Bronx, (none / 0) (#29)
    by NYShooter on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 09:40:02 PM EST
    Charlie, Harlem; Different boroughs, same "streets."

    I suppose I could explain my affinity for C.R. but it would take a really long time, and even then I might not be able to explain it so that you, or anybody else, would understand.

    You know how they called Bill Clinton the First Black President? It wasn't because he understood A.A's so well, or did so much for them. (Although he did) It was because they perceived him as having to fight the same kind of irrational hatred from so many people who didn't know anything about him. They hated him just because that's what they do; it made them feel good.
    A.A's live that feeling every minute of their lives. Imagine just walking out of your house, or apartment, and for no sane reason whatsoever, being hated by millions of people. People who don't know a dam_ thing about you take one look, then turn their eyes away, and say, or think, rotten things about you. What a great way to start each and every morning of your life. You start out each day ten feet underground, and then have to fight uphill all day just to get back to zero.

    You and I just get up, and go about our business, with nary a thought about the millions of our brothers and sisters who would give their eyes to be able to do that.

    Well, that's as far as I'm going to go (and I'm just getting started) but I think you get the drift, K-man.  


    Parent

    Say no more... (none / 0) (#31)
    by kdog on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 09:54:29 PM EST
    my friend, say no more.  

    You made me see it a different way.  Hate the game, not the player...I don't hate the guy, I've got quasi-irrational dislike issues with elected officials, to be sure...everybody has got a boogey-man to some degree.  

    Parent

    Charlie Rangel reminds me of (none / 0) (#27)
    by Gisleson on Tue Oct 13, 2009 at 02:40:46 PM EST
    Adam Clayton Powell. Maybe because the physical similarities seem so critical to the press taking notice of petty corruption.

    Seriously Big Tent, aren't you glad the netroots didn't recruit Vince Morgan? (At least not openly.)

    Rangel Gets Primary Challenger | 31 comments (31 topical)

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