Yay!!

Waxman now needs to get newly elected congressperson Dina Titus on that committee. She is extremely well versed in energy issues and could truly educate the rest of the committee.

When he took control of the committee he is in now after the dems got control two years ago, can anyone tell me one thing that came out of all the investigations he held for show where apparently results have been non existent? For 2 years he investigated everything and what has come out of it? Nothing!

Ken:

Please look at the time.
(whisper: you missed your meds)

If you haven't sold your oil company stocks yet, I think it is time before they become nationalized.

This is Great news.!

Congressman John Dingell, in his role as front man for the big three auto makers, has done more to harm America's air quaility, and the environment, than almost any other member of the House of Representatives.

For decades,as the FORMER chair of this powerful committee, Dingell's single handed opposition to reasonable increases in auto fuel efficiency standards has allowed the Big Three auto makers to ignore their gas guzzling product's contribution to the increase of global warming.

The false claim that jobs would be eliminated by the production of cleaner and more fuel efficient autos and trucks has now been debunked by the realities of today's market place. The opposite is proven true.

Goodbye and good riddance to John Dingell

@ Richard Rhode

One word: RACIST.

@ demwit

You obviously don't understand the economy and should not talk about it. Nothing is going to stop this recession, no matter who got elected. The best we can hope for is that Congress pull sits proverbial head out of its butt and works the bailout money in a proper fashion…punishing mercilessly companies like AIG and the Big 3 for traipsing around town spending whimsically…and that Obama (or whoever got elected) is able to set some policies in place that soften the impact it is UNAVOIDABLY going to have on Main Street.

Trust me Zenter…Exxon has already made record profits WHILE DEMAND WAS FALLING…or were you even awake for the past 8 months? If nobody sees a fundamental problem with the fact that prices went sky high, demand shrank substantially, yet Exxon still was able to post a record profit margin 2 quarters in a row, then there is NO HELP FOR YOU. That's not how it is "supposed" to work. When demand shrinks, the ideological response is to lower prices. This is precisely why all this blabber from Chicago School of Economics morons need to wake up and realize the ideological marketplace does not exist. The trickle-down policies of the past 50 years have set up a fundamental imbalance in the power demand-side and supply-side are capable of exerting over the economy. This is why there is no economic gravity: what goes up, don't come down.

Another nice "non-partisan" choice Hussein has made. This is the same bunch that produced Rostenkowski and Harold Ford Sr., William Jefferson and a whole lot more. The next four will be an awful lot of fun.

Now Perform Henry … and I don't just mean hold hearings where you pretend to be smarter than everyone else.

Accomplish some REAL WORK …

Prediction:

World economic powerhouse in 4 years: China
US inflation in 4 years: 14.5%
US unemployment in 4 years: 11%
Gasoline $/gallon in 4 years: $5.25
Bbl of oil: $325
Top income tax rate in 4 years: 55%
Adjusted gross annual income to reach top rate: $125,000 (single)
Percent of Americans without health insurance in 4 years: 48%

That is my prediction of the US after a Pelosi / Reid / Obama administration.

god help me he looks like batboy

Henry Waxman is an egotist and idiot. It won't be long and this country will be run by California and the far left. My only hope is that Charlie Rangel is next on Pelosi's hit list.

A step in the right direction. Dingell has always been to beholden to the auto industry and other big interests. He repeatedly stood in the way of higher fuel efficiancy and safety standards. He has also had a record of backing poorly thought out policies in other areas. Dingell is alright but, the time has come for the narrow interests of local constituencies and lobbies to end. Our country needs a plan that is broader than people like Dingell are able to effectively advocate. Waxman has shown time and again that he is more interested in doing the right thing instead of the politically expediant thing.

To Demwit and others-

For those that are deluded and think it's Obama's fault that the Dow has dropped so far- you could not be more wrong. It's so sad when people who are completely ignorant of economics and markets try to seem intelligent by making ridiculous statements

The market is reacting to increasingly bleak economic conditions, (brought to a fine point by the Fed outlook) due to the auto makers' collapse, the continuing credit crunch, the horrible housing market, the possibility of deflation, the worldwide slowdown, the precipitous consumer spending slowdown, etc etc etc. To blame Obama really is ignorant, and once again tries to deflect blame away from what caused the problem, and how to fix it.

You got that right Neo-Cons…the Liberals ARE taking over and on the verge of Super Majority.

Get use to it because you got a fat slice of humble pie in the election and the Neo-Con ideology is dying.

TO ALL THE FAR-RIGHT BLOGGERS:

Before you continue to throw stones at President-elect Obama, take a good look at the last EIGHT YEARS of a Republican presidency and tell us…. please…… how Bush/Cheney were a success??????????

Excellent news. Waxman is smart, honest, and progressive. We need more Congressmen like him.

Well it appears to me that Dingell has presided over the committee on energy through all the energy shortages. The problems still exist.

Maybe we need someone who actually wants to solve the problems.

President Obama is getting his people in place!

Great! We need more focus on energy and the environment after eight years of trashing our country under the failed Bushy policies.

Amir – Newsflash: Democrats win majority in 2006 election….

The problem in this country is that the people keep electing the same useless, corrupt, selfish liars to Congress. Did any of you read the story? These two combined have been in Congress for 87 years. Neither of these two have been in the real world for more than 30 years!

We need term limits on ALL branches of government.

Hey Adam. Maybe you think Waxman's hearings resemble Stalin-style trials because of all the [R] fascists he brought up for public accountability. Of course your attempt to belittle Waxman shows you actually approved of the Bush and [R] culture of corruption, and didn't want anybody to stop them stealing the country blind. Like most rightwingers, in the end you don't have a drop of conservative blood in you. At the core people like you are just shrill partisan reactionaries.

By the way, can you think? Congress was at 9% before the election because of the [R]s, not the [D]s — this past election PROVED that. Again, you neo-dimwits should try to evaluate the evidence right in front of your nose instead of looking to FoxNews to hand you your rightwing, dogma driven view of the world.

And finally @ TJ Johnson: You have to be completely loopy to worry about how the [D]s MIGHT screw over the country, while it is an established fact that you [R]s have ALREADY screwed over this country. You are more willing to route for future failure in this country than to hold accountable the party that caused 8 years of established failure? Well, aren't you a true patriot. You must be one of those 'real Americans' that the vacuous Palin spoke of.

The underbelly of America is here for all to see on these blogs.

Guys, guys guys, particularly matt. Its because of the lack of environmental standards that GM is getting spanked by Honda and Toyota. They have to catch up if they have a chance of staying a viable and profitable company. I believe we should give them the bridge loan of 25 billion, review their board and separate the wheat from the chaff. I don't think it would hurt GM to simply try to restructure through bankruptcy, then recieve the bridge loan if they need it afterwards. At any rate they'll probably have to wait till Obama takes office to settle the matter of a bridge loan. As for gas prices….they are not going to 10 a gallon anytime soon (Texas Lady.) Gas can't be 10 a gallon soon because the demand is too low since people learned how to conserve from the previous highs on oil. Oil consumtion is likely to decrease as the world market starts creating cars that are less and less oil dependent. As demand decreses, so will the prices. The momentum is on with green energy and thouh the progress to it is slow, it is clearly the wave of the future.

Welcome back $4 gasoline..

DOW -164.63 -2.06%
7,832.65

Closing in on 2000 points down since Obama's election. American inverstors are really getting insipered now ain't they..

Progressive liberalism has now taken full control of the Democratic party.., the socialism of America is next.

Here comes the greenies, which are unneeded in this economy.

More "Change We Need"! I think this is a good thing.

Why was Hillary or Schumer given chairmanship of Homeland Security instead of the TRAITOR (NOT DEMOCRAT) Lieberman?

@Patrick Story: Bravo, Comrade, spoken like a true Communist! Nationalize everything – look how great Medicare and Social Security work!

Oops.

Well, I guess we'll all have to get new cars – even if we can't afford them. That is, unless you don't make enough money, then you'll be given a car and those with a good job and credit will be forced to pay for their own.

I remember scoffing at the thought of $5.00/gal. gas. Why do I suspect that we'll all be longing for the days when gas was only $10.00/gal?

And as for all those workers in the oil and gas industry, and the supporting industries – they'll get to see what it's like to be unemployed – because if the Dems get what they want (and there's no reason to believe that the farthest left agendas won't be pushed), no one will be able to afford to produce or support the oil and gas industry – except OPEC and Chavez.

All Heil the new administration choices.

Wow, no bailout for the Big 3 and a new Chairman who is going to whoop their butts with emissions standards and requirements that they meet alternative fuel benchmarks…no wonder the Republicans are reeling…Big Oil must be going out of its mind. Warning: Expect gas prices to go up very soon so Big Oil can subsidize the future "losses" it is going to suffer as we ween ourselves of their liquid crack.

TJ Johnson
November 20th, 2008 2:02 pm ET

The liberals are about to screw over this great country — reduce us to European-style
—————–I guess you did not get the bulletin…We were already SCREWED. Where have you been in Europe for the last 8 years.

As long as they are Dems, and they are working together and will enhance the new administration, I'm fine with it! Congrats!

That is great news for anyone who cares about the environment. Maybe now Detroit will be forced to build more hybrid cars and less gas guzzlers.

Republicans playing the negative games like "this isn't change" with every single thing Obama has been doing is hypocritical (i.e., it isn't change to continue the nastiness that earned you your thumping on the 4th) and it is precisely why the republican Party's favorability rating continued to fall over the past month. If you think your blabber all over the internet and other public venues does not reflect on your party, think again. But hey, I say keep it up…I'd love to see the Republican Party basically Jim Jones themselves.

Wow, what a shame. Waxman is a bag of hot air, and Dingell is a true statesman. I'm very disappointed in the incoming Democratic congress.

TJ Johnson: "The liberals are about to screw over this great country — reduce us to European-style."…….SO…I guess the Bannana Republic style offered over the past 8 years is the way to go? Please what is the "european style"? or rather what do you THINK it is?

Waxman a disgrace? stalinist? the reason congress approval rating is so low is because most congressmen are more concerned about their own concerns or those of their parties, rather than those of the people. Its funny how republicans jump on the "communist" as soon as someone decides to do something for the good of the nation rather than themselves.

Henry Waxman = Brilliant

This is real change we can believe in.

Dingell's done dangling

To be honest Rep. Waxman from my district, is one of the few real voices of "change." Waxman 2016! I am happy that the democrats did this, it is a true sign that they really are concerned about the future of this nation, and not the future of themselves as with the republicans.

Regime change 08, Godzilla knocked off king kong. Waxman rocks.
Dingell is literally married to and in bed GM, there was no way he could push any meaningful environmental legislation.
Great year to be a progressive. Thanks Nancy Pelosi, you must be smiling behind the scenes.

I am glad to see Dingell lose the chair of this committee. Dingell was an obstructionist who was protecting Detroit to the detriment of America.

Now that the Democrats have gotten the moxie to blow up the seniority system, can Charlie Rangel be the next committee chair to go? Hopefully.

Waxman is OBSESSIVE. Not good news, at all.

Waxman is a disgrace. His Stalinist show trials are the reason why CONGRESS IS AT A 9% approval rating

Adios enabler – welcome change!

The liberals are about to screw over this great country — reduce us to European-style.

Any congress person who has the America public best interest at heart is one I wholeheartedly support. Congressman Waxman is one of those congress person, and I congratulate him, and look forward to his efforts to help the new administration bring about the much needed talked about change in the country.

What this committee really needs is someone who has no allegiance to the auto industry and its disdain for energy efficiency in autos.

Maybe Waxman can help drive increases in fuel efficiency standards.

Dingell has been standing in the way of progress for way too long, and he bears some of the responsibility for the coming collapse of the big three auto companies. Without his deadening hand at the head of the committee, the big three would have been forced to create better, more efficient cars years ago. I just hope Dingell's last act is not to push through a bailout of the companies. What is needed now is either bankruptcy or nationalization, preferably the latter.

Time for a change. Dingell doesn't look so good lately, anyway. Ever since he got the joint replacement, he looks and sounds like 'death warmed over.' Why do these politicians insist on serving for life? He and his wife are multi-millionares. Retire and enjoy the time you have left. Kind of arrogant of you to think the House can't do without you….

He must've just beat him by a nose!

What bothers me is that he's close to Pelosi, who totally ignores the wishes of the people to hold Bush accountable-we voted in the Dems two years ago to impeach Bush, and she and Waxman refuse. Dingell, at least, stands up for the working man.

This is awesome news. Rep. Waxman is one of the few truly proactive members of Congress and gets things done.

Congratulations to Waxman!
A better choice could not be made.
I wish him luck, and a positive policy towards CHANGE.
It may take years, but I remain hopeful the it can be done.

Mitch in CT.

We have our full confidence in you, Waxman!

we have your back covered!

Buh Bye Dingellberries!

Good move…Waxman has more integrity and less inclined to listen to the big $ influence-peddlers / lobbyists.

Dingell had been the immovable object standing in the way of any meaningful reforms or progress with the automakers. The Big 3 and their cronies just wanted to make money, be protected from the consequences of their own actions, have no one tell them what to do and Dingell always protected the status quo….good riddance!

Waxman vs Dingell…

Is this congress or some bad comedy? Oh wait, can someone tell me what the difference is?

Obama u fooled me……..

so much for new ideas/new people………

i wish i never voted for u Obama……………………..

CHange=============>> Clintons again
Obama==============>>Liar

The radical left is taking hold. Depression on its way.

Even the [R]-like [D]s are losing! Thank God! Let's take our environment back, along with our country!

With a nose like his; Waxman will defeat any body – all he has to do is take a deep breath and his competetors will be gasping for air. Little wonder why the man is effective at interrogating erring clowns that appear before his committee.

Congratulation Congressman Waxman; you have my support. But that nose… is to be revered.

It's about time for some changes! Congratulations to Waxman.

Go Waxman !!

I wonder how much influence Rep. Dingell's close ties tp Gm influenced this turn of power. Change ia all around us. Lets hope that this is the first in a long line of reorganization that we will see in the coming weeks and years. Beyond that it's unfortunate, almost underhanded, that henry Waxman decided to mount his power struggle at a time when Rep. Dingell must be focused on his health and his family.

Regarding Steven:

Hang em high.

Regarding Huckabee:

This man should have never been governor. He should have only been a mayor. He's folksy and not funny, he's allergic to minorities and he will run the country by the bible, not the Constitution.

In my opinion he is the male Sarah Palin–who is a boil on the butt of America.

Good going Waxman is the right one for this .
He has worked hard on behalf of the American People on these issues.

Nostrilis is the ugliest man in congress.

If Waxman can be as effective in his new post as he was making Roger Clemens look bad,hey,this might be a good move.

Waxman is an incompetent fool. Similiar to Pelosi, it's the bong heads in the bay area that elect door knobs like Waxman.

I though the Democrats wanted to bring about positive change, not an idiot like Waxman.

The Republicans can forget it for at least the next 16 years. HaHa! Mitt Romney thinks he can get it on fading good looks and no charisma? Fat chance. Besides, if Prez Elect Obama does a great job these next four years, guaranteed he'll do four more. I see the posturing has already begun. Would be interesting to see Mitt debate Sarah Palin though. Goerge Bush destroyed the Republican Party single handedly. Enough said.

Waxman beat DIngell because Waxman's super powers are derived from the royal jelly of the bees which provide him his "Wax," whereas Dingell's limited powers are derived solely from large amounts of roughage.

Bet you didn't know that!

Finally! With a Dem in control of the Energy and Commerce Committee, we'll actually start to make progress on alternative and renewable energy sources that will drive our country by the end of this century.

Republicans say that government doesn't work, then they get elected and prove it! I can't wait to see what a competent administration can do for our nation!

Hey gop supporters! Do you know your history of the Democrats well did you know it was those damm liberals who brought you social security, medicare, medicaid, family leave act and those programs that help us, you the common folk, or are you super wealthy and getting all the perks from the crooks your own repub leaders. I imagine you're really just ignorant, sitting on your sofa with fox news running 24/ 7. Hey anyone would be screwed up if they were fed lies continually. Jeez what a sorry bunch of losers!

Your GOP blog was only 23 minutes long–that's a real ticker. Before I could "cross all t's and dot all i's" it was too late to submit. Generally these blogs are about one hour long aren't they?

Dingell obviously wasn't doing a good job because we are still dependent on Oil. I hope congress understands we the people are no longer going to let them keep their jobs if they don't perform to the standards we expect. American's are tired of the drama and games; its way past time to get to work and make progress. We expect it of President Obama, congress and the supreme court. The next four years must be about progression not degression.

We need a clean sweep of all of those that have not produced any real reform or legislation.

Congress wil cripple Obama!

When you think about this in terms of geography and habits, it makes a lot more sense to have an Energy Chairman from California, a state trying to be green, as opposed to a Michigan Senator tied to the Big 3.

First elected in 1955!!?? That means Dingell has been in Congress for almost 1/4 of the entire history of the US.

Say hello to CAPS and good-bye to the Coal Industry in America.

Colin Powel, John kerry for secretary of state.!!!!! Clinton? No!!!

I don't want to hear any Democrats crying crocodile tears when the Big Three auto companies go out of business and the UAW looks around for someone to blame.

Waxman and Pelosi will make the US completely uncompetitive worldwide, because China couldn't care less about air quality. They are building something like 2,500 new coal burning plants per year.

Gods speed young man……Been there done that.

Shake things up a little more – this is getting to be more and more fun – as poor as we are, we do enjoy some entertainment every now and then.

An excellent move on the part of the Democratic Party leadership to enable President elect Obama to keep his promise to American voters to change the way Washington does business.

Henry Waxman is the perfect fit for this chairmanship. He is relentless and I admire his leadership ability.

And the March to the Left Begins!

Don't miss a Step Comrade or you won't be considered "Left" enough!

America is not ready for this, most of us are from the middle, and we don't want to become a Marxist Nation!

God Bless us All!

Now, THAT'S change this progressive Democrat can believe in! Go, Henry, the "PitBull" of Congress!

lieberman gets to keep his post and someone else has to pay?

what a world.!!!!!

I was actually thinking they would do worse! : ) i guess they have hope to.

We understand that The democrats are not perfect, and either are the republican, but i Must admit the republicans basic views are getting old! Its not the name of the party that is dying, but soon the people of the party will to, They have yet to bring new and younger people to their party! Because Americans are getting smarter and we understand that thier views have not worked, are not working, and will not work. AND THAT alone will make them fade away into the dark!

Personal advice!
You need to rethink your policies, because if your Presidential Nominee Almost had to sell out your core Values to get a VOte!!! Then that is pretty BAD!!!