Suitably Flip

Give Me Majority Or Give Me Retirement

Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) yesterday sought to rally voters (of which political stripe I'm not certain) by vowing to quit the U.S. Congress if Democrats don't retake the House.

Democrats consider the 2006 elections their best chance in a decade to recapture the House, with widespread unease over Iraq and with Republicans lagging in polls. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.), who would become chairman of the Ways and Means Committee if Democrats picked up the 15 seats needed to regain the majority, said in an interview yesterday that he will quit Congress if the party does not capitalize on an unparalleled opportunity.

Maybe Rangel is trying to keep his career stats up.  His first 24 years in Congress were spent in the majority.  Since 1994 though, his perfect record has dwindled, poised to hit .667 by the end of the season.

What a slap in the face to Rangel's Harlem-area constituents.  He's asking them to vote for him over his opponent (an energetic and dedicated candidate named Edward Daniels whom I've met a number of times), but declaring that, even if they honor him with the office, he's going to abdicate it unless his power is further bolstered by the results of elections elsewhere.

Sheesh.

Still, if the would-be Ways and Means Chairman wants to take his gavel and go home, I suppose that's his prerogative.  For posterity, the last time Rangel so notably waxed barmy was nearly a year ago, when he informed us that "George Bush is our Bull Connor".

Elsewhere:  Cam Edwards, Michelle Malkin, Betsy's Page, GOP Bloggers, Alarming News, Wizbang, 51st State

Comments

Give Me Majority Or Give Me Retirement

Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) yesterday sought to rally voters (of which political stripe I'm not certain) by vowing to quit the U.S. Congress if Democrats don't retake the House.

Democrats consider the 2006 elections their best chance in a decade to recapture the House, with widespread unease over Iraq and with Republicans lagging in polls. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (N.Y.), who would become chairman of the Ways and Means Committee if Democrats picked up the 15 seats needed to regain the majority, said in an interview yesterday that he will quit Congress if the party does not capitalize on an unparalleled opportunity.

Maybe Rangel is trying to keep his career stats up.  His first 24 years in Congress were spent in the majority.  Since 1994 though, his perfect record has dwindled, poised to hit .667 by the end of the season.

What a slap in the face to Rangel's Harlem-area constituents.  He's asking them to vote for him over his opponent (an energetic and dedicated candidate named Edward Daniels whom I've met a number of times), but declaring that, even if they honor him with the office, he's going to abdicate it unless his power is further bolstered by the results of elections elsewhere.

Sheesh.

Still, if the would-be Ways and Means Chairman wants to take his gavel and go home, I suppose that's his prerogative.  For posterity, the last time Rangel so notably waxed barmy was nearly a year ago, when he informed us that "George Bush is our Bull Connor".

Elsewhere:  Cam Edwards, Michelle Malkin, Betsy's Page, GOP Bloggers, Alarming News, Wizbang, 51st State