Examiner.com

      Sorry, I had to grab your attention with that headline.
      While walking down the hallowed halls of the capital today (Not really, but I thought it sounded much better from that viewpoint.) I had to dodge the media horde dashing about in their mad frenzy between The Charlie Rangel corruption hearing and the Elena Kagan Supreme Court vote tally.
      "The sea was angry that day my friend, like an old man trying to return some soup!"(Thank you George Costanza yet again.)
      Fox news reported (You know they were absolutely salivating over this story!) that Rep. Charles Rangel reportedly had struck a deal with the congressional panel investigating alleged ethics violations. (I always find it amusing when Congress investigates itself on ethics issues, kind of like an organization of Pimps policing themselves.)
      The CBS affiliate in New York reported the deal was in the works -- though any arrangement would have to be approved by the subcommittee hearing the case, the full ethics committee and potentially the full House of Representatives. (The Tri-Lambs had no say in the matter, though Booger was quite perturbed!)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/07/29/rangel-prepares-hearing-alleged-ethics-violations/
      The report came as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood by her pledge to "drain the swamp" in the House. But, she was backing down from her other pledges to "plug the dam" and "plow the sea" since they made less sense with the matter at hand.
      If there is an arrangement, it could be discussed at the ethics hearing set for Thursday afternoon. Pelosi said Thursday that the chips will "fall where they may" in the case (Perhaps a gambling reference was not entirely appropriate at this particular time.), as Rangel prepared to face the panel over a string of tax violation allegations that have embroiled not only him but the entire House Democratic delegation.
      Pelosi said the hearing and investigation are a "top priority" and that she had no idea what the committee would recommend (She's only the woman in charge after all). She made no mention of a deal (Yeah right!).
      Meanwhile on the other side of the rainbow, Sen. Olympia Snowe said she would vote to confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, making her the fourth Republican to come out in support of President Obama's nominee to the high court and the fourth Republican to also be put on the Tea Party's Death list. ("You made the list now Winger! - Take it easy Francis, uh psycho!" Thank you Harold Ramis for jumping in right there.) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0083131/
      Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina; Susan Collins, R-Maine; and Richard Lugar (Dick Lugar is still one of the most bad ass names in the history of names!), R-Indiana, had also said they would vote for Kagan. No Democrats have expressed opposition to Kagan. (Well, duh!)
      The current solicitor general and former Harvard Law School dean (Not to mention still reigning sit-up champion of the greater Boston area.) is expected to easily win confirmation, but likely with less Republican support than the nine GOP votes Justice Sonia Sotomayor garnered a year ago.
As reported by CNN: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/28/snowe-becomes-fourth-republican-to-endorse-kagans-confirmation/?fbid=XOkv4tKW2lV&hpt=Sbin
      Said Senator Snowe, "After a careful and considered review of Elena Kagan's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, her overall record, and my personal meeting with her, I have concluded that General Kagan should be confirmed," She also add with a twinkle in her eye, "Plus, Elena came over to my place last night to discuss the issues, make brownies and do our nails. She was like WAY awesome!"
      The Maine Senator continued, "It also is significant that, for her work as Solicitor General, Ms. Kagan has won the support of all ten Solicitors General who have served since 1985 (I have all of their cards, including the rare but coveted Seth P. Waxman 1997 rookie card!), including five Republican appointees, and she has also earned the support of over fifty deputy and assistant solicitors general who have served over the last forty-two years. (Quick! Name them all in alphabetical order! I dare ya!) Indeed by all accounts - including those from conservative former Solicitors General Ken Starr and Ted Olson, and Assistant Solicitor General Miguel Estrada - General Kagan has a clear reputation for a sound judicial temperament.
      Wow! She received the support of Ken Starr?!?! That's like Dick Cheney getting a ringing endorsement from GreenPeace! Vote her in already!
      In the middle of all this, myself and the before mentioned media horde got bored and ran back over to the Rangel rigmarole.
      Eight House lawmakers (Plus two pages to be named later) had been tasked with determining the former Ways and Means chairman's guilt or innocence. A number of Democrats considering calls for the Democrat to resign got their first look at the allegations.
      Rangel and his counsel were not required to speak at the hearing and so far had not asked to make a statement. (But they did consider asking a lot of silly questions and making obscene gestures.) Though the allegations would be detailed in the afternoon, an outcome was not expected Thursday. If a deal was not approved, a trial-like forum (Not to be confused with Penthouse Forum. Thank you Bob Guccione, you magnificent bastard!) probably would not begin until September -- dangerously close to Election Day for Democrats. (Kind of like doing a hand stand over a hot plate!)
      In the end, the House only recognizes three forms of discipline -- reprimand, censure and expulsion, though the House occasionally sanctions members with letters of admonishment. (Back in 1984, they did away with the tickle torture form of discipline when Tip O'Neill nearly wet his pants.)
      "I think everyone is looking forward to getting all the facts out in the open and people will have to react once we know what we're dealing with," said Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill. (Somehow, no one quite believed this statement.)
      And then the media horde took off in search of the next great scandal. What's Tom "Da Hammer!" Delay been up to lately?