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This whole thing with Charlie Rangel helps to reinforce to me the idea that our lawmaking body runs by a whole different set of laws than those they represent. I've been reading about how some people think the "punishment" was too harsh, especially for such a senior member of Congress. Last time I checked, you don't get a pass for breaking the law because you're 80 and "didn't mean to do it" - you can't get out of a parking ticket with that defense . Getting what appears to effectively be a wet newspaper across the nose from Nancy Pelosi doesn't seem terribly punishing for evading taxes. I'm not picking on Rangel himself, just how the process runs counter to the laws the rest of us follow.

Gee, wonder what would happen if any of us did that.....probably just a good talking to by a judge, right?

Agreed.

But, but, but what about his pride??? He had his feeeeewings hurt in front of EVERYONE!!!!!

Yup, next time you get pulled over by a police officer for speeding, just tell him you'll settle for censure as your punishment...even though you'll have to live with the shame and embarrassment from your fellow speeders.

ASUG8 wrote:This whole thing with Charlie Rangel helps to reinforce to me the idea that our lawmaking body runs by a whole different set of laws than those they represent. I've been reading about how some people think the "punishment" was too harsh, especially for such a senior member of Congress. Last time I checked, you don't get a pass for breaking the law because you're 80 and "didn't mean to do it" - you can't get out of a parking ticket with that defense . Getting what appears to effectively be a wet newspaper across the nose from Nancy Pelosi doesn't seem terribly punishing for evading taxes. I'm not picking on Rangel himself, just how the process runs counter to the laws the rest of us follow.

Gee, wonder what would happen if any of us did that.....probably just a good talking to by a judge, right?

I have no sympathy for him. He made a decision as an old, wise adult to break the rules. Now, he has to pay for those decisions. He would have probably avoided censure had he admitted his mistakes, apologized, and vowed to not make the same mistakes again. What an idiot?

Bad Charlie. Bad Charlie.

I know that was so mean of me to say that.

1. Congressional Censures are no joke. There hasn't been one since 1983...

2. The Ethics Committee is finally working again after not really doing anything from 95-05...

3. if you've ever had a dust up with the IRS over an issue... it's not like your ass goes to jail or you get fired by your employer - you pay it back (usually with fines and interest) and get on with your life...

4. while i think Rangel should have resigned - I don't think it's proper for him to be expelled from the House... a Censure is almost certainly the appropriate action here.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:1. Congressional Censures are no joke. There hasn't been one since 1983...

And what does that mean in practical terms? Why aren't they a joke? How has Rangel been damaged in this whole thing? Sure there hasn't been a censure in 25+ years, but really, who cares? I couldn't name you the last person who was censured. I'm not sure there was another penalty the House should've gone with, but let's not pretend that a censure will in anyway hurt Rangel and what he does as a Congressman because it doesn't.

It's a shame that Rangel has gone from war hero to Tax cheat.

If you and I didn't declare income for 17 years we'd be in jail

---

Ben Stein: Charlie Rangel Still a Hero to Me
CBS News ^ | November 28, 2010 | Ben Stein

...In unbelievably difficult service in the Korean War, his unit was swamped, cut off, overwhelmed by hordes of Red Chinese crossing into Korea. In the worst cold weather imaginable, under fire, starving, acting Sergeant Charles Rangel, in a black unit led mostly by white officers, took a large group of men, led them by example, lifted their morale, as they fought their way out to safety. Men were being shot, freezing, getting captured all around him, yet he got most of his men out...

(Excerpt) Read more at cbsnews.com ...

Just more proof that Congress is corrupt and out of touch. And the people that elect these same dipshits are to blame.

A Congressional censure of Rangel is about as effective as a CS.com censure of D1B.

Ivytalk wrote:A Congressional censure of Rangel is about as effective as a CS.com censure of D1B.

Dammit Ivy, you stole my material (substituting DB1 for my list)! Where's a copywright lawer when you need one!

Cluck U wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:A Congressional censure of Rangel is about as effective as a CS.com censure of D1B.

Dammit Ivy, you stole my material (substituting DB1 for my list)! Where's a copywright lawer when you need one!

Er, ah, my post beat yours by 8 minutes, Clucker!

SO GIMME MY ROYALTIES!!

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:1. Congressional Censures are no joke. There hasn't been one since 1983...

2. The Ethics Committee is finally working again after not really doing anything from 95-05...

3. if you've ever had a dust up with the IRS over an issue... it's not like your ass goes to jail or you get fired by your employer - you pay it back (usually with fines and interest) and get on with your life...

4. while i think Rangel should have resigned - I don't think it's proper for him to be expelled from the House... a Censure is almost certainly the appropriate action here.

Perhaps we should ask Wesley Snipes his opinion on this subject.

Ivytalk wrote:

Cluck U wrote:
Dammit Ivy, you stole my material (substituting DB1 for my list)! Where's a copywright lawer when you need one!

Er, ah, my post beat yours by 8 minutes, Clucker!

SO GIMME MY ROYALTIES!!

Crud. I was on another thread in the Lounge and I am a slow typist.

Hey, perhaps I can sue my 8th grade typing teacher. I got a C...one of my only bad grades. Damned manual typewriters...the "a" was always stuck...and we were paying for a private school education. The damned thing practically sprained my pinky each time I had to use it. Hmmm...maybe I need an ambulance chaser lawyer. I also seem to be psychologically scarred from the experience.

Back to your response. Here's my best offer for damages...I'll buy you a beer in the Coop tomorrow before the Lehigh game.

ASUG8 wrote:This whole thing with Charlie Rangel helps to reinforce to me the idea that our lawmaking body runs by a whole different set of laws than those they represent. I've been reading about how some people think the "punishment" was too harsh, especially for such a senior member of Congress. Last time I checked, you don't get a pass for breaking the law because you're 80 and "didn't mean to do it" - you can't get out of a parking ticket with that defense . Getting what appears to effectively be a wet newspaper across the nose from Nancy Pelosi doesn't seem terribly punishing for evading taxes. I'm not picking on Rangel himself, just how the process runs counter to the laws the rest of us follow.

Gee, wonder what would happen if any of us did that.....probably just a good talking to by a judge, right?

They should judge Charlie only on his intent!

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TwinTownBisonFan wrote:1. Congressional Censures are no joke. There hasn't been one since 1983...

2. The Ethics Committee is finally working again after not really doing anything from 95-05...

3. if you've ever had a dust up with the IRS over an issue... it's not like your ass goes to jail or you get fired by your employer - you pay it back (usually with fines and interest) and get on with your life...

4. while i think Rangel should have resigned - I don't think it's proper for him to be expelled from the House... a Censure is almost certainly the appropriate action here.

The political class is part of the problem, TTBF.

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:1. Congressional Censures are no joke. There hasn't been one since 1983...

Seriously? You're saying that with a straight face? It may not be a joke to the rest of the insular political class, but it's a joke given his position (in charge of the committtee responsible for writing our tax code, wasn't he?) & his crime. It's akin to a game warden poaching out of season...

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:2. The Ethics Committee is finally working again after not really doing anything from 95-05...

Didn't Pelosi say she was going to "drain the swamp" in 2006 when the dems won congress back? Why's it taking 4 years to get it "finally working again"? Especially since one party has controlled both house of congress & the executive branch or the past 24 mos?

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:3. if you've ever had a dust up with the IRS over an issue... it's not like your ass goes to jail or you get fired by your employer - you pay it back (usually with fines and interest) and get on with your life...

One minor difference in Rangels case....he was responsible for the committee writin the same laws he was breaking....kind of like a judge robbing a bank...

TwinTownBisonFan wrote:4. while i think Rangel should have resigned - I don't think it's proper for him to be expelled from the House... a Censure is almost certainly the appropriate action here.

His constituents should have done it, but he's one of theirs....we get the government we deserve....

Cluck U wrote:

Ivytalk wrote:
Er, ah, my post beat yours by 8 minutes, Clucker!

SO GIMME MY ROYALTIES!!

Crud. I was on another thread in the Lounge and I am a slow typist.

Hey, perhaps I can sue my 8th grade typing teacher. I got a C...one of my only bad grades. Damned manual typewriters...the "a" was always stuck...and we were paying for a private school education. The damned thing practically sprained my pinky each time I had to use it. Hmmm...maybe I need an ambulance chaser lawyer. I also seem to be psychologically scarred from the experience.

Back to your response. Here's my best offer for damages...I'll buy you a beer in the Coop tomorrow before the Lehigh game.

Cluck U, it was pure dumb luck. I never even took typing: I bailed out of an online typing course at about the third lesson! Let's get together for that beer at some point, anyway. I may even buy you one!

ASUMountaineer wrote:
I have no sympathy for him. He made a decision as an old, wise adult to break the rules. Now, he has to pay for those decisions. He would have probably avoided censure had he admitted his mistakes, apologized, and vowed to not make the same mistakes again. What an idiot?

There in lies the rub! He isn't paying for them. He's getting a censure which amounts to buttkiss in the real world. Cry me a fucking river over the damn censure. How about a little jail time for tax evasion? How about getting your cheating law breaking ass kicked to the curb? Shameful.

death dealer wrote:

ASUMountaineer wrote:
I have no sympathy for him. He made a decision as an old, wise adult to break the rules. Now, he has to pay for those decisions. He would have probably avoided censure had he admitted his mistakes, apologized, and vowed to not make the same mistakes again. What an idiot?

There in lies the rub! He isn't paying for them. He's getting a censure which amounts to buttkiss in the real world. Cry me a fucking river over the damn censure. How about a little jail time for tax evasion? How about getting your cheating law breaking ass kicked to the curb? Shameful.

Amen DD....no one should go to jail for tax evasion if a lawmaker isn't required to go to jail for tax evasion....