Brian Dickerson: How climate change felled the mighty John Dingell

[Bozita]

http://www.freep.com/article/20081121/COL04/811210324/1081/COL

How climate change felled the mighty John Dingell
BY BRIAN DICKERSON • FREE PRESS COLUMNIST • NOVEMBER 21, 2008


He dreamed of going out the way every politician dreams of going out -- gracefully, on his own terms, with the taste of victory fresh in his mouth.

As things turned out, John Dingell's fall from power looked more like King Kong's roaring tumble from the top of the Empire State Building.

And for those who like their political symbolism laid on with a trowel, it was fitting that Dingell's ouster as chairman of the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee capped a week in which lawmakers bearing torches and pitchforks all but chased the Detroit Three's CEOs up the runways of their Gulfstream jets.

Ironically, Dingell was probably as excited about the ascendency of Barack Obama as any Michigan Democrat (even if he did back Obama's rival, Hillary Clinton, in the primaries).

He sensed the tide was finally turning in his lifelong crusade for national health insurance, and imagined that he might end his storied career by spearheading passage of the universal heath care legislation his father first introduced in 1943.

Sorry about that, Mr. Chairman. I guess this just wasn't the week to be known as the congressman from General Motors.

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