I am as glad as anyone about this, but as a former Michigander (Well, as a person who still considers themselves a Michigander) I would urge you guys not to completely trash talk Dingell. He did NOT do well in this seat; his environmental record and auto industry record is horrid, but otherwise, he's a solid progressive. Let's not forget that. He's one of our better Reps. in the house, so maybe he's not in the right spot, but he's still a good man.
HereinDC
· 1 year ago
"Besides the shooting, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?"
Sorry Andy, you're not a solid progressive when you have to make MAJOR exceptions.
heathwood
· 1 year ago
This is another blow to the auto industry or more precisely the UAW. This whole auto thing is nothing but an attempt to bust that union.
ProgressiveTroll
· 1 year ago
Exactly, what little there is left of it, that is.
tlsintx
· 1 year ago
i wish they'd bail out the auto industry to the extent necessary to retrofit it for cars that run on something besides fossil fuels...maybe it's better to just start over from scratch, not sure...but there should be new, greener jobs coming...hope it's soon.
HereinDC
· 1 year ago
Wanna bet Dingell and the CEO's of the auto makers were the reason Detroit doesn't have a subway/metro system.
Can you imagine.....A major metropolitian city and no subway system.
cowboyneok
· 1 year ago
Stevens gives last speech on Senate floor while staffers openly weep:
Who wept for Senator Max Cleland when he lost his re-election bid? You know Max Cleland? The Georgia Senator who left three limbs in Viet Nam who was beaten by that Republican gas bag, Saxby Chambliss. Saxby, of course, ran commercials that compared Cleland to Osama bin Laden because he is such a "patriotic Republican." G-d, I hope that man, Saxby Chambliss, gets beaten by Martin in Georgia!
ProgressiveTroll
· 1 year ago
Can't watch the Senate today. People weeping and in sorrow for a convicted felon that raped and pillaged probably his entire time in office. Glad I've got a trash can nearby, I'll probably be needing it in short order.
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
Crimea river. Crooked bastard. Overstayed anyway. Loved that power and who knows how many other "favors" were shuttled his way for legislation no one knows about. A little harder to do in DC, maybe, but not Alaska where obviously he thought no one would ever find out or object to. Like Palin's house.
I agree with you about Cleland. Shows how little integrity those bastards have. Bill C. is campaigning for Martin; I'd like to see Chambliss go to hell.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
I think the staffers were weeping because they were thinking about the employment opportunities for GOP staffers.
to go from overpaid staffer to Wendy's drive-through host would probably make me cry too.
I can't believe the tears were for stevens.
MNUSA
· 1 year ago
I'd be weeping, too, if I had to find a job in the current Repub job market. (Actually I've been looking for 2 years unsuccessfully, too, so I know what they're facing.)
ProgressiveTroll
· 1 year ago
I wish someone would stand up and say, and maybe they have and I missed it, but someone needs to say we need universal health insurance and we need it now. In fact it should be part a bailout package in my opinion. Everytime one of those idiot Republicans that are insisting on blocking this run their mouths, universal healthcare should be brought up. Everytime one of these lying idiots say that auto workers make 70 something per hour which is a lie, it should be thrown in their ugly faces. Don't believe that $70 per hour, it's $28 plus health care and pension and that doesn't add up to anywhere near $70 per hour, but no one questions where that number came from. Our totally inept and bought and paid for leader of the UAW, Gettelfinger, we call him Middlefinger, should have brought this up himself, but he just sat there like an idiot thru most of it.
MNUSA
· 1 year ago
Ditto, ditto and ditto!
ProgressiveTroll
· 1 year ago
Thank you! I'm just so amazed that no one is bringing this up, it's a golden opportunity.
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
Now, hopefully Pelosi is next. And in the Senate, Reid. Can't wait to see what the 111th will do next year. : )
(But inquiring minds want to know: Will Mrs. Dingell keep her job with GM?)
HelenaMontana
· 1 year ago
Sure Mrs. Dingell will keep her job--he's still in the Congress, after all.
I actually disagree. Dingell supported the auto industry because that is who employs whis contituents -- the hundreds and hudreds of thousands of auto workers. If the auto industry goes down, 3 million people will be out of a job. Auto workers in factories in Michigan and elsewhere shouldn't be held responsible for the greed of a corporate board. He protected the jobs of his constituents and I salue him for that. Blue collar workers in Michigan benefitted from Dingell.
henrythefifth
· 1 year ago
I don't think most people want to see Detroit go down. I think they want to see Detroit start doing things in their long term interest. And Waxman will help do that. The auto industry was done a short term benefit by Dingell, but a long term disservice. They've proven they need adult supervision. They may not like Waxman's approach, but it will likely benefit them in the long term b/c they are going to have to focus more on new technology, and will become more competitive because of that. They've resisted change for far too long.
nogo postal
· 1 year ago
Great news! Waxman has been the spine the last 2 years. Also something I over looked concerning new Chairs. A friend pointed out some good news on the sub-committee chair Joe L lost . Environment and Public Works? Now goes to Bernie. This is a crucial part of Obama's plan for a Green Economy.
Rob Mule
· 1 year ago
OT but semi dinosaur related is a great Brit newspaper story about an American endeavor mostly ignored by our pampered science-phobic celebrity journalists...cloning woolly mammoths. As I said, a terrific story but, I was amazed to learn the Penn State DNA researchers got their mammoth hair samples from Ebay!!! http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/no...
ObamaLover
· 1 year ago
Wasn't Dingell's father or grandfather a big proponent of interning the Japanese during WWII? That whole family is a disgrace. They shame the (D).
MNUSA
· 1 year ago
Because someone is labeled "Democrat" doesn't mean they are progressive and always act in the best interests of taxpayers.
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
two words ocme to mind... 'nancy pelosi'?
scottinsf
· 1 year ago
Great news!
Indigo
· 1 year ago
It's getting interesting. Just as a by-the-way vetting quesition, what connection, if any, does Californian Henry Waxman have to the SLC Mormons?
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
slightly OT... been going through my 'if I won the lottery' fantasies again...
I was just reading up on Electric Vehicle conversions (another Jeep Wranlger fantasy of mine, convert it from jacked up off-road gashog to all electric?).
Interesting... California, being tough on emissions and supposedly 'green friendly', makes it almost impossible to change a currently registered vehicle to all electric power... And after its done, because of the loss of fuel taxes and smog fees, you're assessed a yearly tax based on weight.
Because they only have narrow classes for EV's in California, they put everyone in the 'commercial EV' category... Which is dominated by large vehicles (over 6000lbs., think 'large forklift'). So, if you converted, say, a Miata; you'd still be taxed for a 6,000lb vehicle, every year. Not exacly encouraging going 'green'.
One other thing to ponder, Arnie rolled back the laws requiring 10% of vehicles sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles by 2020 (technology hasn't caught up to the law's demand for change yet)... And NOW California only allows 580 new EV's to be registered per year (EV's, not hybrids).
So, if you really wanted that Tesla roadster (http://www.teslamotors.com/), were willing and able to pay the $100,000 to own one, and were willing to wait two years for delivery... You might never get it registered for road use.
Sometimes California doesn't really seem all that progressive.
henrythefifth
· 1 year ago
Waxman will likely give Detroit some strong medicine they don't want to take, but that will undoubtedly benefit them in the long term. This is long overdue and great news for America.
All Comments
Sorry Andy, you're not a solid progressive when you have to make MAJOR exceptions.
Can you imagine.....A major metropolitian city and no subway system.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081120/ap_on_go_co...
Who wept for Senator Max Cleland when he lost his re-election bid? You know Max Cleland? The Georgia Senator who left three limbs in Viet Nam who was beaten by that Republican gas bag, Saxby Chambliss. Saxby, of course, ran commercials that compared Cleland to Osama bin Laden because he is such a "patriotic Republican." G-d, I hope that man, Saxby Chambliss, gets beaten by Martin in Georgia!
I agree with you about Cleland. Shows how little integrity those bastards have. Bill C. is campaigning for Martin; I'd like to see Chambliss go to hell.
to go from overpaid staffer to Wendy's drive-through host would probably make me cry too.
I can't believe the tears were for stevens.
(But inquiring minds want to know: Will Mrs. Dingell keep her job with GM?)
Dingle helped them kill the EV1
Also something I over looked concerning new Chairs.
A friend pointed out some good news on the sub-committee chair Joe L lost .
Environment and Public Works? Now goes to Bernie.
This is a crucial part of Obama's plan for a Green Economy.
As I said, a terrific story but, I was amazed to learn the Penn State DNA researchers got their mammoth hair samples from Ebay!!!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/no...
Just as a by-the-way vetting quesition, what connection, if any, does Californian Henry Waxman have to the SLC Mormons?
I was just reading up on Electric Vehicle conversions (another Jeep Wranlger fantasy of mine, convert it from jacked up off-road gashog to all electric?).
Interesting... California, being tough on emissions and supposedly 'green friendly', makes it almost impossible to change a currently registered vehicle to all electric power... And after its done, because of the loss of fuel taxes and smog fees, you're assessed a yearly tax based on weight.
Because they only have narrow classes for EV's in California, they put everyone in the 'commercial EV' category... Which is dominated by large vehicles (over 6000lbs., think 'large forklift'). So, if you converted, say, a Miata; you'd still be taxed for a 6,000lb vehicle, every year. Not exacly encouraging going 'green'.
One other thing to ponder, Arnie rolled back the laws requiring 10% of vehicles sold in California to be zero-emission vehicles by 2020 (technology hasn't caught up to the law's demand for change yet)... And NOW California only allows 580 new EV's to be registered per year (EV's, not hybrids).
So, if you really wanted that Tesla roadster (http://www.teslamotors.com/), were willing and able to pay the $100,000 to own one, and were willing to wait two years for delivery... You might never get it registered for road use.
Sometimes California doesn't really seem all that progressive.