Need another reason to vote Republican this year?
Then this should do it.
Rep. Charles Rangel, a senior Democrat in Congress and the dean of New York's congressional delegation, said Wednesday he'll retire if the Democrats don't retake control of the House this year.(Quick addon because of the original quote I had added from this post onto RCP.)
"I'm a poker player and I've had good hands all night long. This is all in," Rangel said in an interview. "I would not put everything on the table if I thought for one minute we would lose."
Rangel, ranking Democrat on the House Ways & Means Committee, is 76 years old and has spent 35 years in Congress. The Democrats need to gain 15 seats in the 2006 midterm election to retake control of the House _ a victory that would return Rangel to the chairmanship of the powerful committee.
"Hell, if we don't take back the House, then the Democrats would go down in history, saying that there's no group in the world that can grab defeat from the jaws of victory," Rangel said in an interview Wednesday. "It just seems like America is so frustrated and fed up like I am and if she's not, then I may have to say maybe it's me."
Charles Rangel also made reference to his retiring to blackamericanweb.com.
U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, a senior black Democrat in Congress, said Wednesday that he would consider retiring from the House of Representatives if the Democrats don't retake control of the House after the midterm congressional and Senate elections in November.
"If the American people support the Bush gang and reject what is sane, moral and just, then I would consider some educational opportunities where I could still fight for my principles without being on the losing side of the U.S. Congress," Rangel told BlackAmericaWeb.com.
Well hell, that in and of itself is reason enough!!!!!
Wonder if he will keep his word? Because it looks like Burns in Montana and Negron in Florida are gaining and have a good chance. The Democratic lead has cut in half over the last two weeks and as I said in one of my earlier posts,not only might we not lose the house and senate, we may not even lose one of them.
Might just be an early Christmas for us. Not counting my chickens, but I am hopeful and getting more optimistic by the hour.
If you need more though, how about the fact that Charlie Rangel actually introduced a bill to reinstate the draft back in 2003, then again in February of 2006.
H.R. 163 Universal national Service Act of 2003, Introduced by Charles B. Rangel.
The House defeated the bill 402 - 2, in a vote derided as a political maneuver.
Insulting our troops isn't just something John Kerry is prone to do, Charlie Rangel, another Democrat also does it.
Charlie Rangel says:
”Our military is more like a mercenary force than a citizen militia. It is dominated by men and women who need an economic leg-up. Bonuses of up to $40,000 and a promise of college tuition look very good to someone from an economically depressed urban or rural community.
Then again, what do you expect from a man that believes the Castro Regime of Cuba deserves respect.
Mr. Rangel said he voted against the Cuba resolution because of American politicians' attitudes toward the regime in Havana. They "refuse to give the government the respect that it deserves."
Remember folks, this is the man that would be chairman of the ways and means committee should the Demorats win enough seats.
Another embittered Democrat, like so many I see these days. When they cannot debate an issue, they resort to name calling, like Rangel calling Dick Cheney a "Son of a Bitch."
I guess when you have no ideas or issues to stand for, you have to resort to something.
Here is his voting record.
My Related post: Rangels Ridiculous Rantings.
Others discussing Rangel:
Right Wing News.
Bullwinkle Blog.
Texas Rainmaker.