Screw Denial

Response to the otherwise thoughtful editorial that Arthur quotes here: while the Bush administration increased the practice of extraordinary rendition, it began under the Clinton administration.

Nancy Pelosi can call Cunningham's resignation symptomatic of corruption, but let's not forget that Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid is potentially involved in the Abramoff scandal. Interestingly, Martin Frost points out that NP could be third in the presidential line of succession if the Democrats take control of the House in 2006.

I have to admit I don't think this is nearly as interesting as who will replace take Cunningham's spots on various committees. (Honestly, Condoleezza Rice is fifth in line right now, and Madeleine Albright was fifth before her.)

Cunningham served in the House Appropriations Committee, which is in charge of the budget, specifically on its Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations subcommittee and its Defense subcommittee. He was a member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and chaired its Subcommittee on Human Intelligence Analysis and Counterintelligence on the House Select Committee on Intelligence. Ray LaHood is currently vice chair of the Intelligence subcommittee, and will presumably become chair.

Cunningham also inspired the Top Gun movie. That was probably the first movie I saw that wasn't rated G — I have fond memories.