Before the November election.

Last April, I wrote an open letter to my congressman, Democrat Jay Inslee, asking him, politely, to explain why he thought Nancy Pelosi was qualified to be Speaker (and second in line to be President.)  After three weeks, I received a stock reply, which included Inslee's recent "accomplishments", but not a word on why Pelosi would make a good Speaker.

I thought that Pelosi was unfit to be Speaker before the recent news stories about her plans to make Alcee Hastings chairman of the Intelligence Committee; now I know she is unfit to be Speaker.   So, I am sending this follow up letter to Inslee:

Dear Congressman Inslee:

Last April, I wrote you an email letter asking you what made Nancy Pelosi fit to be Speaker, and possibly President.  Three weeks later, I received a stock reply, giving me a list of your "accomplishments" — and not a single word justifying the possible elevation of the San Francisco congresswoman to the post once held by, among others, Henry Clay, Thomas Reed, and Sam Rayburn.

It appears, therefore, that we agree — which happens less often than either of us might like.  Nancy Pelosi is unfit to be Speaker.  And if there was any doubt about that question, it was removed by her widely reported intention to name Alcee Hastings to head the sensitive Intelligence Committee.  A Democratic Congress impeached and convicted Hastings for perjury and corruption, removing him from his position as a federal judge.  That Pelosi believes Hastings is fit to head the Intelligence Committee should, by itself, disqualify her from even being considered for Speaker.

Now, I would like to ask you to do something for your country, even though it may offend some extreme Democrats.  I want you to pledge — publicly — that you will not vote to elect Pelosi Speaker.  

Since any Democratic majority is likely to be slim, only a few Democratic congressmen would be able, by witholding their votes, to force the choice of a decent and competent Speaker, instead of Pelosi.

There are fewer decent and competent Democratic congressmen than there once were, but there are still some.  I would not object to your Washington colleague, Norm Dicks, as Speaker, nor to California congresswoman Jane Harman.

Finally, let me be blunt, as I was in my first letter.  Your career, Congressman Inslee, has not been filled with examples of you putting the nation before your party and your own political ambitions.  This is a chance for you to do the right thing, to show a little political courage, to go with all those profiles.

As before, I should tell you that I have posted this letter at my own web site, Jim Miller on Politics, and at Sound Politics, and that I might post any reply you make at both sites.

Sincerely,
James R. Miller

Copy to Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi

If you choose to write a similar letter to your own Democratic congressman, or to a Democratic candidate, I would be interested in seeing their response, if any.

Cross posted at Jim Miller on Politics.

(You can find more on Nancy Pelosi in these two posts, the first describing her machine politics background, and the second comparing her district to Speaker Hastert's.

Note to "mainstream" journalists:  There is no reason that you can't ask similar questions of Democratic House candidates — and you might get some interesting answers.  For instance, does Darcy Burner think that Alcee Hastings is a suitable choice to head the Intelligence Committee?)