This is probably a false fight designed to prop up supine Republicans in Congress and feign a pulse. After some bluster the opposition will disappear and Hayden will slide on in. This may be the Pottery Barn Rule in reverse - if you advocate drastic change, as Hayden apparently did, you get to fight for it.
Posted by gordon at May 7, 2006 12:41 PMI think you nailed the point Democrats should use to attack this nomination even republicans before (What a novel idea to take leadership on some issue Dems). The answer....Hayden's Rumsfeld's (and/or Cheney's) guy! You know the man that most American's, even many republicans, and several retired generals and foreign policy experts feel totally mismanaged the War. A War that many might still think was a the right choice, but one that they believe failed due to Rummy's incompetent micromanagement. Most people believe Rummy is to blame for the failed War. Do we really want another incompetent Rummy/Cheney type clone guy running intelligence.....I don't think so! Tie Hayden into that much disliked Rummy's and that loser-19% approval rating Cheney's ass so tightly he squeaks when he walks and you'll have your answer to any "weak on terrah" argument Rove might sling toward any Democrat....weak on terrah compared to what ChenRumHayden....suuurrrrre, I'll take that attack anyday to the American public.
Posted by emal at May 7, 2006 01:31 PMI stopped reading after Harman sung the praises of another felon lacky. I'm sick to death of that offensive idiot, it seems as if she's working deliberately to be as bad as Lieberman sometimes.
[sigh] I'll finish it now.
Posted by paradox at May 7, 2006 06:07 PMThe Dems need to do whatever's necessary or possible to oppose this guy, including getting behind the Republicans who are showing some backbone, for the good of the country. To stop Hayden, the Dems need to work behind or in front of the scenes, whatever is required. They shouldn't make political hay over Hayden unless that's what's needed to kill his appointment. Just stopping an appointment like this, or doing such damage to Hayden's appointment that he can't do what Cheney or Rummy want Hayden to do will help the Dems at the polls. Remember Harriet -- that wasn't good for Bush or the Republicans, and the Dems kept their work on that behind the scenes. If that's the kind of work required, then Dems need to do it. More important, the Dems need to do what they can to prop this newly found Republican Congressional backbone in place, because it will only help the Dems for Congress to savage a Bush appointee, which as I said will be good for the country as well. I'm guessing Republican opposition to this guy is mostly over the NSA wiretapping, something which institutionally rubs Congress the wrong way with the executive branch claiming powers it clearly isn't supposed to have, no matter what they claim is the reason.
Posted by Brian Bell at May 7, 2006 11:21 PM