House Democrats face a dilemma with Rangel trial.

The Washington Post ^ | July 27, 2010 | Paul Kane

[no dems]

House Democrats continued to struggle with how to handle the pending ethics trial of Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.), returning to the Capitol on Monday as unclear on the matter as when they left last week.

"People will wait and see how that plays out," Pelosi said. "The committee has made its announcement and [outlined] its timetable, and I think that we just have to wait to see how that plays out.Because none of us, not any of us except those on the committee, has any knowledge of" what the charges are.

The indecision over how to handle the matter comes as some party strategists are privately hoping that Rangel will reach a settlement or announce his resignation before Thursday, to avoid public scrutiny of a messy trial: It would resume in mid-September, just weeks before the November midterm elections. Aides were bracing to see whether more Democrats in vulnerable districts would call for his resignation, as Rep. Betty Sutton (Ohio) did Friday night.

Rangel could reach a settlement before Thursday's preliminary hearing, but his legal team's efforts at such a deal broke down last week and led to the committee's scheduling of the trial. His only other option for avoiding a trial is to resign.

[no dems]

If he doesn't resign, and there is a trial, I hope the Pubbies, on the Committee, keep the trial going right up until Mid-Term Elections, November 2.

[From The Deer Stand]

It’s gonna be fun to watch the Dems sweep this under the rug. They’ll figure out a way and the weenie Pubbies will let them get away with it.

[NormsRevenge]

Where’s muh hanky??

[Candor7]

Rangel needs to be run the same gammit that Tom DeLay had to.

Let it be done, except Rangel actually did do wrong, DeLay did not.

[for-q-clinton]

They are screwed in a number of ways. If they have a trial it shows they aren’t giving special favors, but then it will blast a huge spotlight on the corruption they have been living with for years. That’s one of the reasons the Republicans got thrown out of office so now the electorate will take their turn on the rats.

If they don’t have a trial then it’s the good ol’ boy network and the corruption can easily be campaigned on now that they have actually brought charges. What deal could they cut that would satisfied Americans that are out of work while Rangle stole from them? I’m sure people want to see jail for him and there’s no way he will agree to that.

[TexasNative2000]

Note that the focus of the story isn't about Rangel and his criminal activity - it's about how to limit the damage it will cause Democrats in November.

Washington Post at its best.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

The only strategy the dems would never consider would be to just do the right thing, whatever the right thing is. Every calculation they make is political.

[RC2]

If they have the trial and he’s found guilty, he should lose all retirement benefits......everything.

[no dems]

Your Post #6 is a good observation.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Tehy will do like they always do. A show trial with a minimal slap on the wrist if he resigns.

[ZOOKER]

Hope he is found guilty and forced to resign in disgrace a week before the elections.

I want to see how many braindead idiots vote for him anyway...

[VeniVidiVici]

Pelosi, Reid and the most unethical congress in history.

[no dems]

But, Nancy Pelosi said, in 2006, that her Democrat-controlled Congress will be the most ethical in our nation’s history.

[no dems]

I want to see how many braindead idiots vote for him anyway
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
In Harlem?? 80 percent.

[DBrow]

Simple solution: pretend he’s a Republican, then try him.

[Cheetahcat]

“It’s gonna be fun to watch the Dems sweep this under the rug. They’ll figure out a way and the weenie Pubbies will let them get away with it.”

You mean the eunuchs?

[GOPJ]

Popcorn... we need lots and lots of popcorn.

[DBrow]

Biggest problem: He’s been part of the inner cabal and knows where the bodies are buried, and who used which shovel to do it.

[Hoodat]

I prefer a real trial in Federal Court.

[barkeep]

Reality, Rangel (who is pristine compared to Adam Clayton Powell) can hope for Delay’s fate. Has Tom Delay been to court yet? Has he asked for continuences or otherwise delayed the process? Has the Austin DA moved the case?

May I note for the record the answer to all of the above is NO!

Delay resigned his leadership posts due to a Republican Party Rule (A rule the Dems do not have) requiring resignation on indictment, not trial and conviction. The now departed Ronnie Earle got an indictment on his THIRD Grand Jury. Earle is gone, years have passed and Delay is still waiting for his day in court.