The Scariest Guy in Town [Henry Waxmoth]

Time Magazine ^ | 11/27/2006 | Karen Tumulty

[oblomov]

In the altered landscape that is Washington, there's a new contender for the title of Scariest Guy in Town. He stands 5 ft. 5, speaks softly and has all the panache of your parents' dentist. But when it comes to putting powerful people on the hot seat, there's no one tougher and more tenacious than veteran California Congressman Henry Waxman. In the Democrats' wilderness years, Waxman fashioned himself as his party's chief inquisitor. Working with one of the most highly regarded staffs on Capitol Hill, he has spent the past eight years churning out some 2,000 headline-grabbing reports, blasting the Bush Administration and the Republican Congress on everything from faulty prewar intelligence and flaws in missile defense to the flu-vaccine shortage and arsenic in drinking water.

Come January, however, the man that the liberal Nation magazine once called the "Eliot Ness of the Democrats" can do even more, thanks to the two words that strike fear in the heart of every government official: subpoena power. As the new chairman of the House Government Reform Committee, Waxman will have free rein to investigate, as he puts it, "everything that the government is involved with." And the funny thing is, Waxman can thank the Republicans for the unique set of levers he will hold.

[beelzepug]

I made sure I read all the responses before I said anything; I was surprised no one got it. Kipling is without a doubt my all-time favorite poet and "The Mother Hive" is a political masterpiece. I hope some others take time to read it.

[California Patriot]

Great idea.

[California Patriot]

You don't know how dangerous Waxman is. He's a little Hitler.

We should tie him to Hollywood sex and violence like a ball and chain.

[OKIEDOC]

You forgot to mention that Waxmoth is a very small man in many ways, not just in stature.

He reminds me of that sniveling professor Elwell in an old Cary Grant movie.

[Citizen Soldier]

He stands 5 ft. 5

Little man syndrome, now I understand why he likes to investigate.

[liberallarry]

...better than all the others except limited government, that is.

It should be apparant to all by now that limited government - in the sense you mean - is a utopian idea, entirely inconsistant with modern realities. And even if it were not, limited power would always convey limited opportunities for theft and malfeasance, and would be punished when those in power were removed.

[Axeslinger]

[sinclair]

"As the article points out there are always Grand Inquisitors. When you lose power you better hope your guys weren't too crooked or arrogant. That's how our system works."

Wrong! When No Balls Bush and his testosterone challenged court came to power in January of 2001 there should have been a Grand Inquisition into the treasonous actions of the previous administration. Of-course there wasn't because of No Balls Bush and subsequently "Compassionate Conservatism" became the best friend of liberals and socialists and BIG government. It became indistinguishable from the opposition except for the War on Terror. Go ahead and gloat liberallarry you guys won the last 3 elections without a doubt.

[liberallarry]

there should have been a Grand Inquisition into the treasonous actions of the previous administration.

There was...while Clinton was still in power. Read the article again. That the results weren't to your satisfaction is too bad. That's the way democracy works.

Go ahead and gloat liberallarry you guys won the last 3 elections without a doubt.

I voted for Bush in 2004 and will vote for Giuliani in 2008 if I'm given the opportunity. I don't trust the Democrats on foreign policy and consider that the most important issue facing the country at this time...so I hold my nose and vote for people whose domestic and social positions I can't stand.