By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist
California's Henry Waxman unleashed a surprise attack Wednesday against fellow Democrat John Dingell of Michigan.
Each wants to lead the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee; Dingell is now chairman.
The panel will be extremely important in 2009, when President Barack Obama unveils his plans to dramatically alter America's energy strategy.
Obama correctly wants to push renewables, something dear to Waxman's heart.
Dingell, on the other hand, has been a longtime supporter of the Big 3 auto companies. He succeeded for years in fending off congressional attempts to require higher fuel efficiency from U.S. vehicles.
In Waxman's attack against Dingell, he said in part: "The issues we will confront are immensely difficult. We will need the very best leadership in Congress and our committees to succeed.
"Enacting comprehensive energy, climate, and health care reform will not be easy. But my record shows that I have the skill and ability to build consensus and deliver legislation that improves the lives of all Americans."
Jodi Seth, a Dingell spokeswoman, responded:
"Tearing a leadership apart is something the Republicans should be doing after their big loss. It shouldn't be the first order of business for the Democrats after a historic election."
Good luck to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in refereeing this dispute.
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David Obey. The Appropriations Chairman wants to slash defense spending as a money grab for more social programs and entitlements. Fellow spender Barney Frank recently added that a military budget cut of 25% was about right.
Chuck Schumer. The Senate Democrat and his friends are already threatening banks if they don't lend more money instantly under the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Other political masters want to use Tarp to nationalize large swaths of U.S. industry such as the Detroit auto makers or to bail out states like New York that are in debt.
George Miller. Some Democrats are starting to target the tax subsidies for 401(k)s and other private retirement options. Mr. Miller, who heads the House Education and Labor Committee, calls them "a big failure" and recently held a hearing to ponder alternatives, including nationalizing pensions and replacing them with special bonds administered by Social Security.
Henry Waxman. With President Bush soon to be out of office, the Californian's team of Inspector Clouseaus at House Oversight won't have any "scandals" left to pursue. The word in Washington is that Mr. Waxman is looking to unseat John Dingell as Chairman of Energy and Commerce, in order to shove aside a global warming moderate. That could pave the way for huge new energy taxes.
All of these feudal lords -- and many others -- also come with their own private armies. The American Civil Liberties Union, Human Rights Watch and others on the anti-antiterror left want Mr. Obama to limit the surveillance and other tools that have prevented another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. The Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Defense will insist on onerous caps -- that is, taxes -- on coal and other carbon energy. Those won't help Mr. Obama carry Ohio and Indiana again in four years.
It only took a day to contradict yourself again.
when President Barack Obama unveils his plans to dramatically alter America's energy strategy.
I wouldn't hold my breath on that happening, but knock yourself out, Yael, you've got a job to save.
Anyway, didn't you just say yesterday:
" Obama and his Demcocratic-controlled Congress are going to have a tough time delivering on his campaign promises."
ha ha ha
Now we will get to see who the villians really are... as pathetic as Bush was and is, he couldn't have done this all by himself.