U. S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California), a San Franciscan, is in line to become the first female Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, an increasingly important and very powerful Senate Committee in today's volatile world.
Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia, one of the grand and true gentlemen of the United States Senate, is stepping down and leaving his post as Chair of the Appropriations Committee, widely regarded as one of the most powerful positions in the Congress. His retirement from the Chair created a number of changes that are still being worked-out as this is being written. Without getting into the complicated world of Senate committee assignments, Senator Byrd's resignation from the Appropriations Committee Chair will open the door for Senator Feinstein to move to the Chair of the Intelligence Committee.
Nothing is certain yet, but we will know soon. There will be an announcement before the end of the month. Committee chair elections are held in November.
Senator Feinstein's office issued a brief statement about the expected change. Here is the prepared statement she released:
“Senator Robert Byrd has served the nation and West Virginia with unmatched longevity and distinction. It has been an honor to serve on the Appropriations Committee with him. He will continue to be a member of the Appropriations Committee and retain his chairmanship of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security. I look forward to continuing to serve with him in the next Congress.
“As Senator Byrd so eloquently stated in his resignation from the chairmanship of Appropriations, this is a moment of great change in our nation’s history. If Senator Byrd’s resignation means that I will chair the Intelligence Committee, I would welcome the responsibility, and I am prepared to address the great challenges facing our nation.
“I believe that strong oversight of the intelligence community is critical to ensuring our national security, and to restoring America’s reputation in the world.”
Senator Feinstein will not be new to the Intelligence Committee. She has been a member of the Committee for the past 8 years. She is currently Chair of the Senate Rules Committee.
The committee will soon be working closely with President Obama to restructure and redesign our national intelligence network and that will make the work of the Intelligence Committee even more central to the future America. This would make Diane Feinstein one of the most powerful voices in the Senate and give her a prominent role in shaping the intelligence structure of the United States for the balance of the 21st century. It is a wonderful opportunity for a remarkable individual to make very significant contribution to our country.
Gaining the plum chairmanship could decrease the possibility that our former Mayor would continue with any plans to run for governor when Arnold leaves office. It's something Senator Feinstein has been considering, but nothing beyond that stage. Receiving the powerful Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee with an opportunity to work closely with President Barack Obama is far better than being the Governor of California, as wonderful an honor as that is. At least I hope the Senator sees it that way.
Diane Feinstein is personally known to many of us in San Francisco. She was a member of our Board of Supervisors and later, after the assassinations of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone, Diane Feinstein, as President of the Board of Supervisors, was suddenly thrust into the office of Mayor of San Francisco. It was a very difficult time for us all and we all went through it together. So, for those of us who were around in those days, Diane Feinstein is a fellow San Franciscan and Veteran. We share a bond in that regard.
Diane Feinstein as chair of Intelligence would put both of California's senators in charge of high-profile committees on Capitol Hill.
California's other U. S. Senator, Barbara Boxer, lives across the Golden Gate Bridge over in Marin County. She now chairs the powerful and also politically influential Environment and Public Works Committee. She too will be working closely with President Obama. Senator Boxer's committee is the one that faces the daunting task of dealing with Global Warming and Climate Change.
To complete the set, San Francisco's own Nancy Pelosi is Speaker of the House. As an example of just how enormously powerful the position of Speaker of the House really is - get this:
According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if the President of the United States is incapacitated, dies, resigns, is for any reason unable to hold his office, or is removed from office (impeached and convicted), people in the following offices, in this order, will assume the office of the President, provided they are qualified as stated by the Constitution to assume the office of the President, which means they have to be must be at least 35 years old, must be a natural-born U.S. citizen, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.
1) The Vice President of the United States
2) The Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi is 2nd in line, after the Vice President, to ascend to the Presidency of the United States!
Diane, Barbara and Nancy have unprecidented opprtunities ahead of them to work with President Obama and Vice Presdient Biden and with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President-elect Obama's new Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel to bring real and genuine change to America.
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