Posted on 11/12/2008 9:15:39 AM PST by thetru
Rivalry breaks out over Congress' top energy spot
WASHINGTON -- In the first big post-election clash on Capitol Hill, two House heavyweights are battling to lead an influential committee that will have jurisdiction over global warming in the new Congress.
The fight pits California Democratic Rep. Henry Waxman, a key ally of environmentalists, against Democratic Rep. John Dingell of Michigan, who has ties to the auto industry. Waxman is trying to oust Dingell as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
While Waxman supporters say they think they've got enough votes to prevail, Dingell is fighting hard to keep the position.
In an interview with WJR radio, he called Waxman an "anti-manufacturing left-wing Democrat" and said it would be a mistake to have him in charge, particularly with the auto industry struggling.
If Waxman is successful in his attempted coup, it means that two Californians would take leading roles in the contentious debate over global warming. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer is the head of the Senate's environmental committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue.
The 82-year-old Dingell, the most senior member of the House, has long resisted higher fuel standards and tighter limits on greenhouse gases.
A vote is expected next week, when House Democrats elect their leaders for the new Congress, which will convene in January. It will be the first major test of whether the party's liberal wing, represented by Waxman, has more clout than the party's moderate wing.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California is thought to be closer to Waxman, 69. She has clashed with Dingell in the past, but she's remaining neutral in this fight, at least publicly.
The committee is expected to be highly visible next year, with President-elect Barack Obama promising to make energy issues a top priority.
I predicted last week this was going to happen, that is, the Dems would lose no time beginning to fight among themselves, and got poo-pooed all over the place. But it is starting, sure enough. Pass the popcorn.
So, which will prevail, Big Auto or Big Tofu?
The Best Global Warming Videos on the Internet |
Unions vs. hippies
My money's on the Big Union. Libs all drive Honda's and Toyotas but they get plenty money from the UAW.
Wow. I thought the Dems were all about environmentalism and global warming.
This will be fun!
Popcorn time.
Also going to need some adult beverages to numb the ensuing pain.
Trouble in Paradise!
It won't be fun if Waxman prevails!
Dittos to that. Waxman is a POS to put it mildly.
From the first sentence of the article “global warming”...Hello McFly...there is no such thing as man made global warming! The libtards have sucessfully gotten that term out there and because we do not call ‘em on the falsehood of it, it has now become fact to The Sheeple. The earth cools and warms continuously, and we puny humans have no control over it. It is just a created issue so they can tax us more and control us more. Duh! Libtards!!! ARRRGGHHHH!!!
The ultimate question to be asked here is this:
How many jobs (and therefore votes) can the environmentalists claim to represent?
Dingell can point to Detroit and a LOT of jobs.
Waxman... not so much.
If Pelosi is a fool, she’ll let Waxman run the show - and the DNC will lose control of Congress pretty quickly as a result.
I’m not saying that Pelosi won’t make the wrong choice. She’s certainly a dim enough bulb to do really stupid things.
Waxman and Dingell. What a pair. You have to put a mirror up to their mouth just to check to see if they are still breathing.
The state Supreme Court last month, in a 4-3 decision, ruled that preventing gay and lesbian couples from marrying violates the state constitution.Who donates more money? Who operates the GOTV drives?
Waxman... not so much.Waxman can point to all the pool cleaners, waiters, shoeshiners, and cashiers who work in Beverly Hills.
Democrats make very strange bedfellows.
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