FRANCINE BUSBY ASKS FOR A COOPERATIVE EFFORT FROM REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES SEEKING "DUKE'S" CONGRESSIONAL SEAT

Less than a week ago I promised that I'd keep you posted on the California congressional race that looks the ripest for a party change in '06-- the replacement for soon-to-be-indicted Republicrook Randy "Duke" Cunningham. Local progressive Democrat Francine Busby is looking more and more like a winner everyday. Francine pointed out the ironic hypocrisy of her Republican opponents this week by asking them to join her in demanding that Cunningham step down from his intelligence
committee seat, having already asked them to join her in calling for resignation. This makes complete sense since he was using that seat to raise HUGE amounts of illegal money at the expense of American taxpayers-- and at the expense of American security. ALL of the Republicans clamoring for Cunningham's old job were rabidly demanding the recall of Governor Davis (who, unlike Cunningham hadn't committed any crimes). In fact one of her opponents is a ring-leader of the recall effort, right-wing extremist Howard Kaloogian. Apparently, though, when one of their own is charged with bribery they're all deaf, dumb and mute.

Here's a copy of the letter Francine sent each one of them:


"Fellow Candidate,

More than 7 weeks ago, I asked you to join me in calling on Congressman Cunningham to resign. Unfortunately, silence has been your only reply. Voters can only assume that you believe Congressman Cunningham should remain in Congress, despite his publicly documented abuse of office.

Especially because he seems determined to serve the remainder of his term, I believe Congressman Cunningham’s betrayal of the public’s trust has compromised his security clearance and could be a threat to our national security.

I am very concerned about his continued service as a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism/HUMINT, Analysis, and Counterintelligence. As you know, the Intelligence Oversight Act of 1980 provided that the heads of intelligence agencies would keep this committee “fully and currently informed” of their activities including “any significant anticipated intelligence activity”, meaning that members of the Committee are privy to the highest levels of intelligence information.

So long as Congressman Cunningham remains in office while under investigation by a Federal Grand Jury for suspected bribery, I do not believe he should continue to have access to or provide oversight of our country’s highest intelligence secrets.

I also have deep concerns about Congressman Cunningham’s continued service on the powerful Appropriations Committee. The most serious bribery allegations against him stem from his service on this committee. I don’t believe we can trust his judgment with the purse strings of our country, nor do I believe he should continue to be in a position to shake down contractors for his legal defense fund.

While I understand that you believe Cunningham should continue to serve in Congress, I am asking you to join me in asking him, at the very least, to step down from his committee assignments. To most San Diegans I have spoken with, this seems like a common sense precaution.

While we may disagree on some issues, I hope we could agree that Congressman Cunningham’s criminal and legal jeopardy should not be allowed to jeopardize our nation’s security."