Most people forget about li'l ol' New York State, with its shrinking violet politicians and its Aw Shucksy down-home folkiness. But Rep. Charlie Rangel's recent improprieties have sort of dragged New York kicking and screaming back into the limelight. And, since it's already here, we might as well use this opportunity to examine it through a Colbert-approved politiscope. 'Cause who knows when we'll be hearing from it again…

Eliot Spitzer: Spitzer Sandwich

The Colbert Report airs Monday through Thursday at 11:30pm / 10:30c.

Read more »

Always the classiest of classy gents, New York Rep. Charlie Rangel has magnanimously deigned to temporarily relinquish the chairmanship of the congressional Ways and Means Committee for reasons not entirely un-related to the 900 ethics issues currently piling up behind him…

Rangel says he's stepping aside only temporarily, but he officially resigned the post in a letter submitted to the House Wednesday morning…

Rangel chose to step down, he said, because the matter "is bringing so much attention to the press and [I want]… to avoid my colleagues having to defend me during their elections."

Who do you think they should get to play Rangel in the movie adaptation of this gloriously uplifting tearjerker of a story?

I'm thinking Niecy Nash.

It's definitely been a tough week for New York Democrats with both Governor David Paterson and longtime Congressman Charles Rangel in deep ethical hot-water. Fortunately, the Empire State looks poised to turn things around with the impending announcement that Paterson and Rangel will be replaced by Bernie Madoff and the ghost of Boss Tweed, respectively.

The Daily Show airs Monday through Thursday at 11pm / 10c.

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) — who is no stranger to financial scandals and questionable ethics — is suddenly embroiled in a financial scandal of questionable ethics. Who could have guessed?

The House Ethics Committee today formally released a public admonishment of New York Rep. Charles Rangel for accepting corporation-funded trips to the Caribbean in violation of House gift rules…

Although the committee found no evidence that Rangel himself knew of the corporate funding, it said he is responsible for the actions of his staff, a notion Rangel disputes.

"Because they were my staff members who knew, one of whom has been discharged, [the committee has decided] that I should have known," Rangel told reporters Thursday night. "Common sense dictates that members of Congress should not be held responsible for what could be the wrongdoing, or mistakes or errors of staff."

Nice job, Rep. Rangel. It is always so comforting to watch an elected official — with whom we have entrusted our well-being and livihoods — accept responsibility for his mistakes, and then turn right around and hand that responsibility to a couple of minimum wage staffers and college interns.

I can assure you that I will not be voting for that guy who answers phones in Rangels office. That guy is totally not worth his $7.25 an hour.

Rep. Charlie Rangel is totally calling Caroline Kennedy a dude…

RAFAEL PI ROMAN: Lastly, I know you talked to Governor Paterson about the replacement for Senator Clinton, I was wondering if you have any favorites among the candidates that are being discussed?

CONGESSMAN RANGEL: Well the governor has already made up his mind and he shared it with me, and I support that he's going to select the best possible candidate that he can.

RAFAEL PI ROMAN: When are we going to find that out?

CONGESSMAN RANGEL: When he selects him.

Oh, snap! I totally went there.

It's true that Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is in hot water over unpaid back-taxes and a shady rent control deal in Harlem. But does that mean he's a public enemy in rural Wisconsin?

He is if you ask the Republican National Congressional Committee…

House Republicans have launched an ad attacking a freshman Wisconsin Democrat over his ties to embattled Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel…

The ad — the first from the National Republican Congressional Committee — hits Rep. Steve Kagen (Wis.) as having "found a friend in corrupt New York City Congressman Charlie Rangel." The evidence? The $16,000 in donations that Kagen took from Rangel, and the alleged quid pro quo that led Kagen to support a $2 million earmark for a "personal office and library" for Rangel.

Considering that no one has accused Kagen himself of breaking any laws, this guilt-by-association charge seems dubious. Not to mention that most people in Kagen's congressional district — which includes Green Bay and a whole lot of farmland — have no clue whatsoever who Rangel is.

In fact, given the news from this past weekend, the RNCC would do far greater damage to Kagen by linking him to triumphant Tampa Bay Bucs' coach Jon Gruden.