Hoyer brokering EXTRA term for Dingell? Ouch! Act now!!

     You couldn’t make it up. See Politico, Hoyer steps in Waxman-Dingell fight,

     …Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has made it clear to all parties that she is not involving herself in this fight, leaving Hoyer as the lead negotiator in this dispute. The speaker even told Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), her closest ally in the House, not to use her name in his efforts to help Waxman, several Democratic sources said. …
     This lawmaker suggested there are “a number of scenarios that people are throwing out there” to avoid a full-blown vote on the chairmanship. According to aides and outside lobbyists one idea being floated would be an agreement by Dingell to step aside after one more term atop the panel. …

     “One more term”, said the wily old fox. And how, pray tell, would this “gentlemen’s agreement” be enforced? Especially if Obama and Pelosi are weakened by a natural shift to some more House Repub seats in the 2010 midterms? (strengthening the Dingell argument that he’s necessary to “broker things with the conservatives”) and if, after GM/Detroit loot bailout funds with little oversight for the next two years, the auto companies seem temporarily “recovered” in their finances (without having made real changes toward fuel economy/green practices), and Dingell takes credit for that and either serves longer as Energy chair or endorses a deputy little better than he is?
     Would we like that? And who is stupid enough to think that the “”one more term”" could even be enforced?

     The auto industry is a toxic waste dump, or close, dragging us and the melting polar ice caps down. New leadership is needed NOW on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
     I don’t know if calling Hoyer will help (and I don’t even see a phone number on the House Majority Leader site), so maybe a call to Miller will help–showing your support for Waxman.

     Sample script, adaptable for phone or e-mail:

     Hi, I’m [you] and I’m calling [writing] to tell Congressman Miller about my full support for Henry Waxman to replace John Dingell as Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman immediately. One more term of Dingell could be disastrous for our economy and environment. Thank you!

     Miller mail form: http://georgemiller.house.gov/contactus/2007/08/post_1.html
     Miller phone: 202-225-2095.

     Or use the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121, if desired.

     …Actually, feel free to call Waxman himself, telling him not to compromise! at (202) 225-3976.
     And feel free to call your own Congressperson, or other Democratic congresspeople.
     And have your friends and family call, too, before it’s too late.

     Miller can let Pelosi, Hoyer, Waxman, and others know about the support numbers he’s getting, which should help. And not just the numbers, but also the “no compromise, clean out the mess NOW” message.

     If you’re still on the fence, don’t forget Dingell’s recent ridiculous rantage,

     …In an interview with WJR Radio’s Frank Beckmann on Thursday, Dingell called Waxman an “anti-manufacturing left-wing Democrat” who “doesn’t understand and doesn’t care about industrial manufacturing in the United States, especially the auto industry.” …
Karen Lightfoot, a spokeswoman for Waxman, declined immediate comment on Dingell’s remarks. …

     Do you want one committee to muck up Obama’s green plans and continue decades of failed auto policies? That’s up to you. If you want hope and change, the contact info is above.

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