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Dems Dump Detroit’s Man on the HillPosted on Nov 20, 2008
House Democrats are serious about going green. To prove it, they just ousted auto hawk John Dingell from his perch as chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Rep. Henry Waxman, a California liberal and occasional Dingell foe, supplied the boot. Waxman campaigned for the job as a more natural ally of President-elect Barack Obama, whose ambitious agenda would almost certainly have run into a few Dingell roadblocks.
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By Louise, November 23, 2008 at 1:30 am #
Missing in the conversation—- Dingell’s long history of being a champion for privatization!
Report thisBy msgmi, November 21, 2008 at 3:29 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)
For a change the Hill Committee meetings with the big-3 auto execs had a bit of Main Street humor. When asked if either of the execs traveled aboard a commercial flight to DC, none responded. When asked if they planned to return to Detroit on a commercial flight, they remained mute. What else can the Main Street think of these CEOs, but greedy addicts.
Report thisBy troublesum, November 21, 2008 at 12:47 pm #
Yesterday in an article about this the ny times listed the five top donors to these two congressmen. For Dingell they were all international corporations. Waxman’s top donors were all unions except for the national association of hospitals. This is a clear indication of how donations do influence a congressperson’s work. Waxman is a reminder of what the democratic party used to be.
Report thisBy VillageElder, November 21, 2008 at 10:50 am #
Waxman’s appointment is certainly good news. There will be oversight rather than overlook. With the automakers looking for a bail out besides the call for a “plan” there should be condition requiring the auto industry actively participate in national energy and environmental policies and goals.
Report thisBy cyrena, November 21, 2008 at 2:07 am #
Now THIS is the kinda change we’re talkin’ ‘bout!! Yep. I ditto Barbara Boxer from the article: This is a long overdue sea change. It’s so long over due. But better late than not at all.
I can’t think of a better guy for the job than Harry Waxman. Now we just need to make sure that his replacement at the Oversight Committee is another progressive.
This change within the country as well as the Democratic Party is what we’ve been working on for at least 4 years now. Finally; we’re seeing some movement.
Thank whomever needs thanking for this.
Report thisBy samosamo, November 21, 2008 at 1:21 am #
You know, bailing out the big 3 american auto makers just cannot be the best move for our economy. I would say create a pro football, a pro basketball, a pro baseball and a pre hockey team in every american city of 100,000+ people. That way, they can create the ‘vendor’ economy for the little mom and pop stands that have been wiped off the face of america. I mean, if something can be too big to let it die, pro sports is IT. Of course it will break down eventually to one vendor buying out another until there are only 4 or 5 vendor conglomerates to control the whole shooting match and we return once again to that old milton friedman economy system of the ‘unfettered markets’ where healthy competion is NOT the way of business but crushing the competion will continue to be.
Report thisHere’s to ya.