Earlier today, the AP published a helpful list of the members of their House caucus that would assume control of the various committees if the Democrats win control of the lower chamber in the mid-term elections. While the list reflects the current ranking members of the existing panels, at least one comes as a surprise.

Jane Harman has served as the ranking member of the House Select Committee on Intelligence since 2002. Upon gaining control of the House, one would expect Harman to ascend to the chair of this panel. However, she has lost favor with Nancy Pelosi for her support of the war in Iraq and other aspects of the overall war on terror. Harman also was one of the Congressional contingent that received briefings on the two NSA programs that caused such an uproar the past couple of months, until the Democrats found out that the American electorate strongly supported them.

Harman, however, is not listed as the member that will assume the chair if the Democrats win control this fall. Instead, the Democrats have apparently selected Alcee Hastings. Hastings has entered a lot of flowery language about his career on his official member page, but the most telling is his nickname: "Judge". That's because Alcee Hastings used to be Judge Alcee Hastings, until his impeachment by Congress in 1988 in response to allegations of bribery and perjury. The Democrat-controlled House impeached him and the Democrat-controlled Senate removed him from office on these two counts in 1989.

So instead of having the existing ranking member ascend normally to the chair, the Democrats instead will promote a Representative that their own party helped impeach and convict of bribery and perjury. Despite Harman's long experience in leadership of the committee, she will not chair Intelligence or any other panel. It demonstrates the value system under which Congress will operate if the GOP loses the midterms this November -- and provides yet another reason for conservatives to re-engage.

Addendum: Here is the list of assignments published by the AP, along with the Republicans they would replace.

Agriculture: Collin Peterson, Minn.; Bob Goodlatte, Va.

Appropriations: David Obey, Wis.; Jerry Lewis, Calif.

Armed Services: Ike Skelton, Mo.; Duncan Hunter, Calif.

Budget: John Spratt, S.C.; Jim Nussle, Iowa.

Education and the Workforce: George Miller, Calif.; Howard McKeon, Calif.

Energy and Commerce: John Dingell, Mich.; Joe Barton, Texas.

Financial Services: Barney Frank, Mass.; Mike Oxley, Ohio.

Government Reform: Henry Waxman, Calif.; Tom Davis, Va.

Homeland Security: Bennie Thompson, Miss.; Peter King, N.Y.

House Administration: Juanita Millender-McDonald, Calif.; Vernon Ehlers, Mich.

Intelligence: Alcee Hastings, Fla.; Peter Hoekstra, Mich.

International Relations: Tom Lantos, Calif.; Henry Hyde, Ill.

Judiciary: John Conyers, Mich.; James Sensenbrenner, Wis.

Resources: Nick Rahall, W.Va.; Richard Pombo, Calif.

Rules: Louise Slaughter, N.Y.; David Dreier, Calif.

Science: Bart Gordon, Tenn.; Sherwood Boehlert, N.Y.

Small Business: Nydia Velazquez, N.Y.; Donald Manzullo, Ill.

Ethics: Howard Berman, Calif., or Alan Mollohan, W.Va.; Doc Hastings, Wash.

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I couldn't help but be struck by the list of potential committee chairs in the House of Representatives if the Democrats win the House this fall. It is generally a list of liberal hacks who will work to drag the... [Read More]

Tracked on June 4, 2006 11:31 AM

» More Democrat Culture Of Corruption from Rhymes With Right
I couldn't help but be struck by the list of potential committee chairs in the House of Representatives if the Democrats win the House this fall. It is generally a list of liberal hacks who will work to drag the... [Read More]

Tracked on June 4, 2006 5:22 PM