A Top 10 List That Matters

Esquire has released its rankings of “the 10 best members of Congress.”

Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), a 34-year House veteran, tops the list — he’s credited with holding the Bush administration accountable, as chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, while others have been unwilling or indecisive.

Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), who offers important points in Daphne Eviatar’s TWI piece today on torture and the Bush White House, is the highest-rated senator, coming in at No. 5. Though a freshman, Whitehouse is commended for playing a leading role in challenging Atty. Gen. Alberto Gonzales during the U.S. attorneys scandal.

Maybe in an effort to be nonpartisan, the list includes five Democrats and five Republicans.

For contrast, take a look at Rolling Stone’s 2006 list of the ten worst congressmen. Seven of them are still in office.