Pelosi's position is a tough one, irrespective of her personal feud with Harman. The Congressional Black Caucus is rightly looking closely at this and similar issues. And they need to have their views respected.
However, I believe Jane Harman should be reappointed to the Intelligence Committee, and perhaps a co-chairmanship could be established. The reason? Because Jane Harman has really done her penance for her earlier mistakes and has been extremely tough on the failings of the Bush Administration for the past year. Unlike Joe Lieberman, Harman was not petulant about the criticisms she received. She did not have a temper tantrum when she faced a primary challenger; rather she went out to try and win the confidence of her constituency. In one of the most important blog pieces of 2006, mcjoan at daily kos described how Harman responded to the dissatisfaction with her performance:
Jane Harman, ranking member on the House Intelligence Committee, had come under extensive criticism from the left. Her support for the Iraq War and her February 12 appearance on Meet the Press in which she expressed support for the NSA warrantless wiretapping program, energized the the progressive left to work against her. Winograd earned the endorsements of "Progressive Democrats of America, Southern California Americans for Democratic Action, the Western Region of the United Auto Workers union and a half-dozen presidents of local Democratic clubs."
How did Harman respond? By trying to reach out to progressives and by listening. That included creating an account here at Daily Kos. In what were some often heated exchanges, Harman interacted with this community. And she listened to us. On June 1, the week before the California primary, she wrote:
Now I know that many Kossacks don't agree with me on every issue, and many of you may even be supporting my primary opponent. But you may be surprised at how much we do agree on.
You and I agree that the Bush Administration hyped and selectively released intelligence to build the case for war in Iraq. Had the White House been straight with the American people, diplomacy could have succeeded, making military action unnecessary.
You and I agree that the Bush Administration's NSA wiretap program without warrants is wrong, it violates the law. There's no reason that President Bush and the Justice Department couldn't follow the tried-and-true procedures under FISA that protect civil liberties. That's why John Conyers and I recently introduced the LISTEN Act, co-sponsored by 46 other Members of Congress, to turn up the heat on the White House.
You and I agree that the drumbeat towards war in Iran must end. We don't know nearly enough about Iran's true capabilities or intentions -- nor has the Bush Administration taken advantage of all the diplomatic, political, and economic options available to us.
You and I agree that we must always protect a women's right to choose -- protect and preserve our environment -- guarantee equal rights for all, including gays and lesbians.
That's why we're Democrats -- and that's why it's so important that Democrats win back the House this November. I know we agree on that. [Emphasis in original]
When confronted with a primary challenge from the left of her party, Rep. Harman understood that she had lost touch with an important component of her base. And she understood that she needed to find out why, needed to begin a conversation with those party activists and with the netroots community. Not only did she post diaries, she stuck around to comment. Not all of us agreed with her responses, and were adamant in telling her so. But we had an honest exchange of views and, amazingly, she began to take a harder line against the Bush administration. She came back to being a Democrat.
That's how a good politician, a good Democrat, and a responsible representative responds to a primary challenge. By realizing that they've got a problem back home, and responding to it.
I think that type of reachout, not the phony Lieberman kowtow to Republicans, deserves recognition and respect.
Harman is knowledgeable and respected. She also understands what the Bush Administration has wrought. Alcee Hastings need not be a pariah, but there is also a political component to this as well. Harman is insulated from the type of demagogic attacks that will come at Hastings.
It seems to me that the politic solution is obvious - co-chairpersons Harman and Hastings for intelligence. Has it never been done? So what? Let's do it now.
