Congress’s Intelligence Problem
Congress has a problem. Intelligence. Yep. Specifically, finding someone to chair the House Intelligence Committee.
You see, California Congresswoman Jane Harman was the ranking Democrat, so one would expect her, with the Democrat takeover, to be the new chairperson. Plus, she’s a woman, which is equal to being a man, only better. And she’s even from California like Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
But Pelosi, um, (how do I put this?) [Sound of cats clawing and screeching] . . . doesn’t like Harman.
Next in line was Alcee Hastings of Florida. But Hastings came to Congress after being impeached as a judge for soliciting a bribe. Hastings’ past corruption wouldn’t make for good PR.
So, Pelosi instead chose Silvestre Reyes of Texas to serve as the new chairman. Reyes is not off to an auspicious start. Jeff Stein, a reporter with Congressional Quarterly, asked him some pretty basic questions about Al Qaeda and terrorism. Reyes didn’t have the answers.
Reeling, Reyes said, “Why do you ask me these questions at five o’clock? Can I answer in Spanish? Do you speak Spanish?”
“Poquito,”? Stein replied‚ ?meaning “a little.”
But Reyes didn’t know the answers in Spanish, either. And if you think this is a gotcha against the Democrats, Stein points out that several Republicans on the committee lack pretty basic knowledge of the subject matter.
Congress’s Intelligence problem would be funny, if it weren’t dangerous.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
