Rangel not the First to be Censured, Monday November 22nd

I have been following the "Charlie Rangel" sandal and have had an ongoing discussion about it with one of my friends. It finally looks as if Charlie Rangel may soon become the 23rd member of Congress to be censured for his various ethical indiscretions. Being censured is about as hard a punishment as he is likely to get, something that doe not seem quite fair. After all, if a regular citizen like you or me were to be convicted of tax evasion, we would be facing far more serious consequences. Anyway, it is good to remember Rangel is hardly the first, or the worst, offender -- some were actually reprimanded for violent crimes. Here's a list of the other 22 representatives who have been censured.

• In 1832, National Republican William Stanbery was censured for insulting the Speaker of the House.
• In 1842, Whig Party member Joshua Giddings Introduced anti-slavery resolution deemed to be incendiary.
• In 1856, Democrat Laurence Keitt was censured for assisting in the assault of Sen. Charles Sumner.
• In 1864, Democrats Benjamin Harris and Alexander Long were censured for making statements supporting the Confederacy.
• In 1866, Democrat John Chanler was censured for Insulting the House with a resolution containing unparliamentary language.
• Also in 1866, Lovell Rousseau was censured for assaulting Rep. Josiah Grinnell.
• In 1867, Democrat John Hunter was censured for unparliamentary language, as was Democrat Fernando Wood in 1868 and Democrat Edward Holbrook in 1869.
• In 1870, Republicans Benjamin Whittemore, John Deweese and Roderick Butler were censured for selling military academy appointments.
• In 1873, Republican Oakes Ames and Democrat James Brooks were censured for their involvement in the Crédit Mobilier of America scandal .
• In 1875, Democrat John Brown was censured for unparliamentary language, as was Democrat William Bynum in 1890 and Democrat Thomas Blanton in 1921.
• In 1979, Democrat Charles Diggs was censured for mail and payroll fraud.
• In 1980, Democrat Charles Wilson was censured for improper use of campaign funds.
• In 1983, Democrat Gerry Studds was censured for sexual misconduct with a House page.
• Also in 1983, Republican Daniel Crane was censured for sexual misconduct with his House page.

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An Iowa City man accused of giving vodka to a puppy and nearly killing it has been sentenced to 90 days in jail for animal abuse. Jared Colony agreed to plea guilty in exchange for a 90-day jail sentence. He also agreed to pay a $625 fine and nearly $2,500 to the dog's owner. According to police, Colony was watching the 4-month-old puppy for a friend in October 2009. Police said he poured vodka into a bowl encouraged the puppy to drink it. When the owner returned about 30 minutes later, the dog was unresponsive and barely breathing. The puppy was treated for alcohol poisoning at a veterinary hospital and survived.

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On this day in history in 1924 England orders Egyptians out of Sudan in 1935 China Clipper (flying boat) took off from Alameda, CA, carrying 100,000 pieces of mail on 1st trans-Pacific airmail flight and in 1943 FDR, Churchill & Chiang Kai-shek meet to discuss ways to defeat Japan

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Here is one of my gandfathers favorite toasts:

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Live Long and Prosper.....