Best Members of Congress

It's easy, and usually fun, to bash members of Congress. But what about those who deserve praise? Esquire picks some favorites, starting with Rep. Henry Waxman of California; the Democrat has long been the sole member not only criticizing the Bush team's missteps but actually investigating them. Then there's principled Republican Mike Pence of Indiana, a maverick of the kind lost when McCain went all presidential.

Also present at roll call:

• Rep. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona: A true conservative Republicans should learn from, and liberals will like his stance on privacy.
• Rep. Ike Skelton, D-Missouri: In military affairs, we like Ike, and the next president should listen to him.
• Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: “People don’t live by ideology alone,” she says. “They live by solutions.” Enough said.
• Rep. Artur Davis, D-Alabama: America’s real postracial black politician; look for Davis in the governor’s mansion soon.

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