Posted on 11/22/2008 1:05:11 AM PST by bruinbirdman
By a vote of 137-22 among Democrats in the House of Representatives Thursday, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., ousted Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., as the chairman of the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee.
Waxman's victory is a seismic event on Capitol Hill, as he has unseated one of the most powerful members of Congress, who since 1981 has been the top Democrat on the influential Energy and Commerce Committee. But it was not entirely unexpected. Wednesday, the party's panel that votes on committee chairmanships gave Waxman the nod by a 25-22 vote.
However, it's also a signal that Democrats are looking for a slate of leaders that is less likely to clash with President-elect Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., on energy and climate issues.
"A Waxman win changes the character of House Democrats' views toward coal and cars, the two principal sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. economy," says Kevin Book, an energy analyst with FBR Capital Markets (nasdaq: FBCM).
No word yet from Detroit, but the Big Three can't be thrilled. During the debate over last year's energy bill, which modified fuel economy standards, Pelosi was forced to work out a compromise with Dingell to pass the bill. Dingell's critics have often claimed that if he weren't the committee's chairman, fuel economy standards would have been raised long ago, though it should be noted that Republicans could have done the same thing when they controlled the committee from 1994 to 2006.
GM and Ford were also among Dingell's top seven contributors, each providing the Michigan Democrat with $13,000 during the 2008 election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
On the environmental issues, Waxman, by contrast, has favored strict cuts on greenhouse gas emissions.
(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...
You have a more positive view of voters than I. We do not have Obama because of a well informed electorate.
Sometimes I think we are all the victims of some cosmic psychology experiment designed to show that sufficient advertising can persuade people to do anything, even if it is not in their best interests. I am continually flabbergasted by the level of stupidity of the general public. Not just in voting, but in everything.
That means beer, bands and food.
Maybe it also means we can’t run a candidate in his 70’s.
I think we need to find someone younger and more appealing to the younger voters. The older, wiser contingent can fill his/her cabinet and give advice. (You don’t really think Obama makes any of his own decisions, do you?)
If the young people ever get this figured out, they'll stop voting Democrat.
Once my grandson called to tell me he just voted Democrat (he didn't). I then thanked him for volunteering to take care of me.
Most of my grandkids are die-hard conservatives. They see through it. Unfortunately, I have one who doesn't.
say goodbye to offshore drilling
By a vote of 137-22 among Democrats in the House of Representatives to send in the clowns.
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