Posted on 11/05/2006 7:48:49 PM PST by Jet Jaguar
Nov. 2, 2006
What would the Democrats do if they take control of Congress? Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., offered his predictions to Sam Donaldson and Mark Halperin on ABC News Now's "Politics Live."
Rangel is currently the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee. If Democrats pick up six seats in next week's crucial midterm elections and gain the majority, Rangel would become chairman of the committee.
Donaldson suggested that Democrats seem to be all over the lot on how to handle the war in Iraq. Rangel countered, "The Democrats believe we should withdraw. … This election is a referendum on the president, a referendum on the war. Once the pubic says that there is no place for a military victory, we have to find some way to take our young men and women out of harm's way."
If Democrats regain control, Rangel said the Pentagon, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Vice President Dick Cheney, and the president will have to work with the Congress and the American people to "make certain that we get the heck on out of Iraq."
Rangel was careful when pressed on what the Democrats would do about taxes if they regain the leadership.
Some Republicans believe Rangel and the committee would undo the Bush administration's tax cuts that are set to expire in 2010. "It doesn't make sense to be increasing people's taxes unless it's part of a bigger package," Rangel said, while refusing to pledge he would not raise taxes.
Instead, the possible future chairman of House Ways and Means diplomatically emphasized, "I will not be the powerful chairman. For us to succeed, it's going to take Democrats, Republicans and the administration has to be cooperative."
Rangel reiterated his feeling that the military draft should be reinstated. "I truly believe that if we had a draft system, we would never have our men and women in Iraq. Everyone wants to fight with someone else's children."
Rangel insisted that a new draft should be fair, with people from every part of society coming to a national public service.
"Once the pubic says that there is no place for a military victory, we have to find some way to take our young men and women out of harm's way."
Once the "pubic" says??? Okay, who's sending this to Leno for "Headlines"? And how idiotic and defeatist is this clown? Since when does the public decide whether or not a military victory is possible???
"I truly believe that if we had a draft system, we would never have our men and women in Iraq. Everyone wants to fight with someone else's children."
I am so sick of Dems calling our servicemen and women "children". Last time I checked, they were all adults. Adults who CHOSE to serve this nation through the armed forces. I realize that most democrats can't grasp that concept; they assume our military personnel must be poor and ignorant with no other options. And Rangel's suggestion to reinstate the draft speaks volumes about his desire for the U.S. to fail. Send over people who are already demoralized and see how quickly they are defeated. I guess if you're Charlie Rangel, that's fine with you. And the idea that we'll not enter into other conflicts if we're using the draft just shows that he has no desire for us ever to step up again. I guess he wants us to be the new France. We look out for ourselves and ourselves only. Nice. I don't know if Rangel has any sort of security detail, but if so maybe it will be the first crew of government employees to take the neutral approach.
"It doesn't make sense to be increasing people's taxes unless it's part of a bigger package," Rangel said, while refusing to pledge he would not raise taxes."
Wow! How many ways can a Dem say they won't raise taxes while meaning that they will raise taxes? He must be taking lessons from ol Flip Flop Kerry...'I was for the taxes until I was against the taxes." HAHAHA
It's called the "negative margin of victory manifesto." If Republicans get 55% while Democrats get just 45%, then the Democrats win the election by a margin of negative ten percentage-points.
Sorry, Rangel, but that only applies in the Senate--at least until your ugly partisans ratchet up the post-election legal campaign to impose your definition of victory upon us all. Heck, even I support a Democratic victory defined hence: Nancy Pelosi comes within twelve percentage-points of retaining her House seat, and no Democrat does better than she. That Republican blowout unfortunately still won't happen; we certainly need some reservation for the insane, and San Francisco clearly illustrates the culture of death, enslavement, and pursuit of misery at its finest.
That's how I see my Army and Navy!
I know that this is probably not a popular sentiment here, but I agree with Charlie on this one. I have felt for years that while we have a great military we have military that is alien to much of America. I realize I don't know everyone, but I honestly do not know or do I know anyone who personally knows someone serving in the military, and my guess is I am not unusual. That is not a good situation.
We can handle it.
My email to ABC news:
Please pass this on to SUNLEN MILLER. Thank you.Dear Sir/Madam:
Some factual errors in your article, "What Would the Democrats Do?"
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/print?id=2624565- You wrote, "Rangel is currently the ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee."
Last I knew, Mr. Rangel was a Democrat. Therefore he is the ranking MINORITY member. Although I'm sure he appreciates your dropping the word minority.
- You wrote, "If Democrats pick up six seats in next week's crucial midterm elections and gain the majority, Rangel would become chairman of the committee."
Mr. Rangel serves in the House of Representatives which is currently lead by the Republicans. If the Democrats pick up six seats in the House on Tues, Nov 7, Mr. Rangel's position will not change as the Republicans will still lead the House. Perhaps you are confusing the House of Representatives with the Senate where a six seat pickup will make a difference.
Thanks for your attention.
BS&W. The upper classes will never allow their children to be drafted. The contempt that John Kerry showed for the common soldier is typcial of them. What he is saying is the military option is now off the table.
Charlies was in the service. What he won't admit is that Warren Buffet's kin will never put on a uniform. I doubt that a baker's dozen Ivy League graduates were killed in Vietnam.
Well, hells bells. If Rangle wants to reinstate the draft, that ought to get a whole bunch of liberals riled up. I have one relative who is a far-left liberal who would come unglued if she thought her son could be drafted. She's one of those who says she supports the military, but not their missions, and has said that she would NEVER ALLOW her children to join our military.
I don't think he's calling for it because of "50 USC"
This is the first prolonged war we've ever fought with three years of tax cuts without full mobilization of American industry and without a draft.
And the college campuses always ask me about a draft. "Are you for a draft?" I say, "Yes, there's only two of us who voted for it, so you don't have to worry too much about it."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/17/AR2005111700982.html
The above is from a news conference on 11/17/05 where he referred to a draft but he's whistling in the wind. He's never officially called for a draft that I know of.
Murtha
Then the weak will flee to Canada or some other haven, and it will be like separating the wheat from the chaff. Good riddence!
I know it seems like it is fading, but I'm not so pessimistic. If you have any time to mentor, or be involved with young people, here's an opportunity to turn that around. There is a saying, "If not me, who? If not now, when?"
The current uniform doesn't come with a hat size sufficiently large to enclose the massive egos of congressmen.
I wonder if the fact that 2 monnths after I turned 17, I enlisted in the Navy, and in 1970, BEFORE I turned 18, I was in Vietnam, might have had someting to do with it? Hmmmmmmmm?!?!?!?!?
My sentiments exactly. Very well put.
And IIRC, the casualties in Iraq are disproportionately white males.
If the draft ever comes back it wont be only her son tht is drafted. Women get equality now. Think about that. Would you want Charlie Rangel drafting your daughter?
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