Oy - Maxine Waters could replace Barney Frank

The L.A. congresswoman's bombastic tone and questionable financial dealings would only make it harder for both sides to find common ground. With Frank announcing his retirement, Waters is in line to become the senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. She would become chairman of that committee in the unlikely event that the Democrats retake the House next November. Please no - it would be a terrible choice. From the Hill:

While banks and other financial institutions often battled Frank, he was seen as someone they could work with. Wall Street views Waters as more of an opponent. "She's not a good face of the issues," one financial executive said. "She's too much of a bomb thrower." Democratic leaders may look to someone other than Waters, the second-ranking Democrat on the panel, to take over for Frank.

Waters is wrestling with a long-running ethics investigation over whether she helped secure federal funding for a bank in which her husband owned stock and previously served as a board member. Waters has maintained her innocence, and two attorneys on the House ethics committee were placed on leave for mishandling the case. An outside attorney is now investigating the matter.