Grab and Keel

Wiki says:

“Senator Feinstein holds a number of “firsts”; she was the first female President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, San Francisco’s first female mayor, the first woman to serve in the Senate from California, one of two female Jewish senators (both of whom represent California), the first woman to serve on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the first woman to chair the Senate Rules Committee.”

While many of our eyes are focused on what’s happening with Kennedy, another event has unfolded. Dianne Feinstein is up to run the Senate Intelligence Committee! Out here in the land of the golden sunsets, we knew she was toying with a Governors run, and that would have been a pretty easy jaunt.

No doubt she has chosen the harder road. 

Feinstein gets nod to chair intelligence panel

Zachary Coile, Chronicle Washington Bureau

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

(12-16) 04:00 PST Washington ––

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein has been tapped as the chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday, a post that would give her immense clout over U.S. intelligence agencies and the power to shape policies on wiretapping and the treatment of detainees.

Feinstein’s promotion was welcome news for other state Democrats, as well as Republicans who plan to run for governor in 2010. The 75-year-old senator has flirted with the idea of running for governor but has told friends and allies she would be unlikely to make a bid if she got the top post on the intelligence panel.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/12/15/MNBV14OHE5.DTL&type=politics&tsp=1

She deserves this appointment. She is exceedingly well equipped for the job.It’s going to put her right in the crosshairs, however, regarding FISA, and the Patriot Act. If you can’t remember how she voted on those particular items, check the Wiki linked to her name above.

Congratulations Dianne! Hope your ankle is healed.

I Own My Vote, PUMA, The Denver Group, The New Agenda