One step forward, two steps back:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-Calif.) decision to tap Rep. Pete Stark (D-Calif.) to take the gavel of the Ways and Means Committee surprised some on Capitol Hill. Many expected Pelosi to appoint mild-mannered Sandy Levin (D-Mich.), who ranks behind Stark in seniority on the Ways and Means panel, to replace Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).
Stark was involved in a recent confrontation with the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), a quasi-independent body Democrats created in 2008 to help burnish the ethics committee’s reputation.
AdvertisementThe OCE initiated in investigation into Stark and several other members after press reports began scrutinizing the lawmakers’ claim of homestead tax deductions for residences they own in the D.C. area.
Stark faced scrutiny for claiming a $3,770 tax break in Maryland because he was registered to vote in Fremont, Calif., and rented a house there.
Throughout his interview with investigators, the OCE report said Stark was “extremely belligerent and frequently insulted OCE staff members interviewing him.”
They also noted that Stark had tried to surreptitiously videotape the interview.
Say what you will, but Rangel was likable, charming, and sometimes wickedly entertaining.
Pete Stark is just a bully — a crass, tasteless, and stupid bully.
In case you’d forgotten, here’s the bully in action.
Thanks, Madam Speaker, for reminding us what the Temporary Democratic Majority is all about.
Good-Time Charlie’s lookin’mightygood by comparison ’bout now.
But maybe this will redound to the Shining City’s favor as folks get an unvarnished gander at what the left is peddling without the charming Rangel veneer?
I enjoy the question “Do you have a doctorate in economics?” coming from a guy who has a BSc in engineering and an MBA. He seems like the kind of prick who thinks that just because you write laws on an issue means that you understand it.
Stark is a real jerk, especially at the end. (I’d have used a stronger word if there weren’t a caution against profanity in the comments guidelines.)
But Helfield comes across as not much better — he didn’t allow Stark to answer his questions. That makes it seem like he’s using Stark as a foil to make a speech, which isn’t the purpose of an interview.
Fortney has always been a little fruitcake.
Mama Stark made a mistake decades ago…should have named him Richard.
That being said I don’t think I would mind having dinner with him, some of his phrases are awfully familiar. Of course we’d probably have the place to ourselves 5 minutes after he trotted out the “more in debt you are the richer you are” line.
Ah, the glory days of mere 5-trillion-dollar debts! Those were good times, good times.
Good Lord. This guy is going to be comedy gold. In addition, he’s crazy wrong.
What in the world is a “surplus expenditure?” Not sure this guy should be tossing around “doctorate in economics” like he had one or something. But this is actually (sadly) good politics, if taken to an ineffective extreme. Act like you’re an expert on something, and 90% of people will go along with it, because they’re not experts themselves and don’t want to look like a fool on the off chance you really know what you’re talking about.
I love how debt measures a country’s wealth, and Republicans are going to increase the debt by cutting taxes, and this is nevertheless stupid.