Waxman beats Dingell

Posted: Thursday, November 20, 2008 10:54 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Congress, Democrats

From NBC's Chuck Todd
According to House Democratic sources, Henry Waxman beat John Dingell in a 137-122 vote to be the next chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which Dingell currently chairs.

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Comments

Higher CAFE standards? YES WE CAN!!!

Cars for the 21st century? YES WE CAN!!!

Change we can belive in? YES WE CAN!!!

Dave in Omaha (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:02 AM)

Fantastic news. Waxman is so well-suited to this position.

Sarah, State College, PA (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:02 AM)

Amen!

Sara, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:04 AM)

A move away from Dingell is a move away from Detroit.

Should we be saluting as our economy slips underwater?

Thank God the bloated, greedy investment bankers will all have a nice Christmas in the Hamptons.

What middle class? (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:05 AM)

Henry Waxman is a progressive who hasn't been afraid to take on the Bush regime

He will take a dimmer view of Detriot's claim to be unable to improve gas mileage

------------------------------

In other news:
Al Franken is CLOSING IN on a Senate seat !!

'...By day's end, with about 18 percent of the vote recounted, Coleman continued to lead Franken -- but by only 174 votes, notably narrower than the unofficial gap of 215 votes at which the recount had begun. Franken's gain owed much to a swing of 23 votes in the Democratic stronghold of St. Louis County -- the result of faintly marked ballots and older optical scanners that failed to read the marks.

The figures represent a Star Tribune compilation of recount data reported to the secretary of state and gathered by the Star Tribune...'

Sorry, Norm BUY YOUR OWN CLOTHES rom now on...
(just like Sarah)

Try the Goodwill

MSierra, SF (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:08 AM)

Henry Waxman is terrific. I am so happy to hear that he has won the chairmanship. He'll do an excellent job on a committee that is going to be very important in this new era of green.

Oscar, Rio Vista CA (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:10 AM)

Waxman represents Hollywood. That is, he answers to movie stars, who are invariably clueless, but especially so about all tings “green.” As the Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Waxman will try to placate his Hollywood constituents by advancing laws that would condemn all Americans to energy poverty so as to reduce their carbon footprint. Of course, Waxman’s movie star backers are too rich to feel the pinch of expensive energy policies, but the rest of us will.

William Yeatman, Washingotn DC (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:10 AM)

this is good. dingell has been an obstacle to cafe standards on automobiles and global warming legislation for a long time. i think you all know why. it was time for a change. this will help centralize a coherent strategy going ahead legislatively in favor of the incoming administrations goals they hope to implement.

ace (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:11 AM)

Henry Waxman, one of the most honest and dedicated
represenatives in the U.S. house, if left to his devices our government would be corrupt free.
marty

marty,columbia,s.c. (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:12 AM)

Dingell is my representative, and I'm still glad that he got booted! In many ways he's been a great rep, but it's time that the auto companies became responsible not just for their own financial well-being, but for making cars that won't continue to pollute our air. Dingell has justified and defended these companies' refusal to raise mileage standards for far too long. He just needed to go!

Sue Dubya (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:17 AM)

Now the S#$T hits the GM fan!

R S, Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:19 AM)

Congratulations to Rep. Waxman- getting someone in there who actually pays attention to science is most welcome!

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:23 AM)

I like having Waxman on the Judiciary Committee and hope this doesn't mean he's off that one. He would be better at going after the criminals in the "Tyrant" Bush administration. However I know he'll do a great job on Energy!

Eric, Salinas, CA (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:23 AM)

Final nail in the coffin for auto industry bailout for now. Bet the Three Stooges REALLY wish they had taken commercial flights now!

Max, San Antonio, TX (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:26 AM)

Well done Henry...Score one for the Environmentalists. Now go make peace with Dingell.

Ron Indiana (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:28 AM)

Yay! This is a heartening sign from a Congress that's otherwise seemed mainly concerned with caution and continuity during the transition.

Chris Miller, Chicago, IL (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:30 AM)

Great news. It was time for Dingell to go.

han solo, vermont (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:31 AM)

Interesting, Waxman is aggressive and liberal. So, change can also occur in the House, eh? The old guard leadership in the house may loose some more ground.

It's about time that we got better representation from those in congress!

Ed, FW, TX (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:35 AM)

The Steering Committee vote was by 3.

Definitely didn't expect this outcome.

Collin E., Madison, Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:37 AM)

It really looks like the rust belt is losing big time...no bailouts or powerful legislators for you

Rick, NC (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:41 AM)

I wonder what the Detroit press is saying about this?!

Larry, Roseville CA (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:47 AM)

I hope this is the beginning of more accountability in Detroit. This nation needs more fuel efficiency and the "big three" have been giving us lip service while continuing to produce gas guzzling SUV's Congratulations to Waxman!

Al in Dallas (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:01 PM)

Talk amongst yourselves. I'll give you a topic:

The House chose public policy over seniority. The Senate chose collegiality over loyalty.

Discuss.

Joe Don, Topeka, KS (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:12 PM)

for you folks that think this means the end of the big three because dingell loss. you couldn't be more wrong.

this win by waxman enhances the chance that gm will be saved because they no longer have a yes man in d.c.

the need to change management strategy, change research and development concepts, become more futuristic in design and implement plans that will be more eco friendly will become a priority now.

this will make more plausible the american auto manfacturing is likely to change.

mr. obama, mr. biden, ms. pelosi, mr. reid and the democratic caucus are strong supporters of the big three. they also recognize that the big three need a strong push in the back to change. they will get this from the new leadership.

this is a good thing for the rust belt and the rest of america (jobs). the republicans are the ones that want to walk away from the big three and the millions of jobs that would be lost if they don't get help.

go figure that one out america when 2010 and 2012 gets here.

the dem's and moderate republicans will support and bring back american manufacturing throughout america.

ace (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:22 PM)

This is great news for moving our nation forward. Waxman is a forward looking individual who wants things done right. His record on many issues makes this very clear! This might confuse the GOP/RNC even more than they already are. So please! Keep up! Waxman has no problem letting everyone know what he wants to accomplish politically, economically, and ethically for our nation. Let's keep moving forward America!!

Rock,Janesville,Wisconsin (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:23 PM)

Henry Waxman had done an impressive job chairing other C-Span broadcast House sessions on our recent financial debacle. He is incisive, deliberate, well informed and aware of the needs of all people. I have often been amused while he, as Chairman, calmly contains the rantings and bluster of ideologically challenged members of the House. It is refreshing to see how the changing of the guard (inevitable) has brought him into prominence on earth issues which have no boundaries. Welcome change, indeed.

Sharon in So Fla (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:28 PM)

You watching the Washington self serving paper hangers destroy our infrastructure. For decades we have pumped trillions off shore, wasted the lives of our armed forces and now you dumb lambs stand by and let these paper hangers destroy another element of our industry.

Billions Pissed off to two wars and they continue to pump ten billion dollars a month into Iraq, where is the return,,""NONE""! Lets mention the continued Washington self serving paper hanger and their pork barrel, their wages, their vacation package, their position of being totally derailed, their daily waste of over loaded benefits. This list of pointing a finger is fact! The residing of convicted criminals to continue their position ""Whats that can of garbage about""??? Waxman , is and has been blowing millions on witch hunts for decades, he is a hatchet man and nothing more than Self serving!!!

This is not change ,but the power struggle of the self serving paper hanger to gain more power!!!

Such a waste of the American moral being ""Controlled by a hand full !!!!!

FACT (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:36 PM)

Every day I read the hateful, snide remarks posted against Obama. For the most part, I share my opinion and I don’t really react-Clara in KC
-----------------------------------------------
Don't really react? See Clara, this is your problem. You can't handle anyone saying anything negative about The One, but you deem yourself fit to criticize people for things you don't have the slightest clue about. You criticize people for what they read (how do you know?) You criticize people for what they listen to (how do you know?) You criticize people you think are Bush supporters (believe it or not, some people don't support Bush OR Obama). Get off your high horse.

Elizabeth in Bernie, MO (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:37 PM)

Waxman , The Demo's hatchet man. This is pure Washington self serving paper hanging power tactic's. Thus the man on the street will bare the punishment of their Idiot manner to destroy instead to build for the people!

FACT (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 12:39 PM)

Good riddance to bad rubbish. Dingell is a dinosaur from a by-gone era. If the big 3 have any brains left, they will now realize that their last protector is now gone. Either they restructure and sell a product that we want or they die.

Chowdaman - Boston, MA (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 1:21 PM)

When it comes to integrity, honesty and perseverance no one stands out more than Henry. He has been the Lion in the Winter long enough. We are ready for the change. Go HAW!

Shai, Jerusalem, Israel (Sent Thursday, November 20, 2008 1:36 PM)

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