Wednesday, November 22, 2006

The Most Ethical Congress in History




“Last week, in a stunning display of democracy, the American people voted for change,” said [new Speaker of the House Nancy] Pelosi. “Today, House Democrats have elected the leaders who will help take our nation in a New Direction. We will work together to lead the House of Representatives with a commitment to integrity, to civility, and to fiscal responsibility. This leadership team will create the most honest, most open, and most ethical Congress in history.”

Against this backdrop, Pelosi nominated Alcee Hastings (D-Fl) to be the new chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. This is a crucial post with oversight of the national security apparatus - i.e. FBI, CIA, Homeland Security. In a time of war, it is obviously that much more important.

Ready for a little tidbit that you might not know? Alcee Hastings was a federal judge back in the 1980's who was only the 10th federal judge in U.S. history to be impeached and the 6th to actually be removed from the federal judiciary. He was accused of bribery and acquitted at trial, but impeached by a Democratic Congress on the recommendation of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals. See here and here for further detail.

As if this wasn't damning enough for the most ethical Congress in history, listen to a list of the prominent Democrats who voted for his impeachment in 1988:
  • Nancy Pelosi - future Speaker of the House
  • Steny Hoyer - future Majority Leader of the House
  • John Conyers - future Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee
  • Charles Rangel - future Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee
  • Barney Frank - future Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
  • Henry Waxman - future Chairman of the House Government Reform Committee
  • John Dingell - future Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee
  • George Miller - future Chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee
  • David Obey - future Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee
  • Ike Skelton - future Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
  • John Spratt - future Chairman of the House Budget Committee
  • Howard Berman - future Chairman of the House Ethics Committee
  • Tom Lantos - future Chairman of the House International Relations Committee
  • Louise Slaughter - future Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee
  • John Lewis
  • Barbaro Boxer
  • Charles Schumer
  • Richard Durbin
  • Ed Markey
  • Ron Dellums
  • Julian Dixon
  • Richard Gephardt

posted by JM @ 12:25 PM