Well, scratch the "prediction" that Hayden would indeed be nominated despite stories of Repubs being "troubled" (I am so GD sick of pols using that meaningless word).
He'll be easily confirmed, and Dems won't put up a fight or even make an attempt to explain why it's "troubling" to have generals runnin' the CIA. Although it really won't matter much if Hayden's nomination somehow is stopped.
Goss was clearly sent in to gut all independent, non-partisan thought in the CIA. Why else bring in partisan Reactionary Congressional staffers to run the show? Based on the incredible flood of resignations and lost experience, he succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations, and the CIA has been weakened tremendously---this seems essentially agreed upon.
Now, did Goss think that he would then preside over a new "rebuilding" of his old agency into a revised right wing partisan organization, and didn't see that the idea was the PERMANENT undermining of this once strong quasi-independent agency? That the plan was to shift intelligence primacy into the more partisan, "friendly" military arm of the government?
Who knows, but as many have commented here, that's what's going on. The victory of the uniformed over the civilian, led by Deadeye and von Rumdfeld. No segment of the executive branch is more solidly Republican and "conservative" than the military and its officer corps, and that will never, ever change. Hence, the Capital & Crucifix Party wants to elevate the power of the military everywhere and always.
The Prussia of the 21st Century thus continues its inevitable emergence. And the world thought that the last version was a pain in the ass.....they ain't seen nothing yet.
Posted by euzoius at May 8, 2006 08:03 AMCommander Empty Flight Suit says Generalissimo Hayden is "supremely qualified" for the position. Where have we heard that before? Let’s see… Goss was supremely qualified to head the Agency, Cherftoff was supremely qualified to head DHS, Brownie was supremely qualified to head FEMA, Rumsfuck was supremely qualified to head the DOD, Harriet Meyers was supremely qualified to be a Supreme, etc, etc. It seems that every Bu$hCo rimjobber is supremely qualified for something or other. And, of course, Dumbya is supremely qualified to catch fish.
Posted by red_neck_repub at May 8, 2006 08:20 AMLet's face it, Bush is the antichrist. It is clear that the antichrist will be a politician. It is very important that the antichrist come of age during the worlds dependance on oil. Babylon (Irac) is essential to Satan and will be the focal point of his sons mission.
He must unite the world against Islam and convince them that all Arab nations must be invaded for the good of western society. Clearly, we are in this process now; first Afghanistan, then Irac, and now Iran. Then he will shift his aim towards Isreal, consequently losing the support of many allies including China (who will sign on for a cut of the oil which they will become further dependant on as they continue to evolve), and thus begins the most destructive war the world has ever seen or ever will.
So begins Armeggedon.
Or not. But Bush still sucks.
I think it's time for the CIA to take care of this situation in their own special way.
Like they did in Central America back in the day.
Posted by God Of War at May 8, 2006 08:40 AMIt's more than obvious they don't give a flying fuck about what congress thinks. Oh, there will be some statements of concern by Hagel and the likes, but when push comes to shove they will all fall in line. As always.
Posted by Zappatero at May 8, 2006 08:49 AMLike they did in Central America back in the day.
You mean 'today' also? I don't think pissing-off the CIA or FBI should ever concern a CnC. You know, like Kennedy in 1963. Just stay out of drop-top limos in Dallas and you're okay.
Posted by phidipides at May 8, 2006 08:59 AMThis nomination is simply another thinly veiled attempt to further degradee the checks and balances provided by the Congress and the Courts. Co-equal branches of government? Don't make me laugh! That's soooooooo pre-9/11! With the military in the hip pocket of the executive branch, and the military running the only quasi-independent, "civilian" intelligence gathering agency, their cabal is complete.
Just how effective is Hayden's leadership anyway? HMM? Well, HIS NSA couldn't translate foreign communications fast enough to discover and protect us from the 9/11 massacre, so Hayden begins warrentless, illegal wiretaps on Americans, deluging his agency with even more information that they can not manage, while denying U.S. citizens their most basic and fundamental rights. As I recall, there was something in the Constitution about reasonable searches. Oh yea, that'd be the pesky 4th Amendment. How about a little respect from our supposed leaders for the basic principles and documents that created this country? Damn them.
Posted by oppressmenot at May 8, 2006 09:12 AMOppressmenot, the anti-christ is supposed to be a universally loved character, Bush is definitely not liked at all, even by his own mom. If Hitler wasn't the antichrist, L'il Orphan Georgie, the FishKiller, isn't anywhere near it. 'Course, that doesn't mean he won't try his own brand of Armageddon soon, with Iran.
Posted by iamcoyote at May 8, 2006 09:23 AM...is supposed to be a universally loved character...
Well, Bush is universally loved in with in the apocalyptic crowd, isn't he?
Not that I believe such things, but it is always fun to point out that Bush is a CINO (Christian in Name Only).
Posted by Simp at May 8, 2006 09:48 AMYou know, Simp, I wonder if the neocons like him at all, really. They were happy to hitch their wagons to his meteor, but everyone knows Cheney's in charge. Bush is the neocons' useful idiot. They prop him up, sell him to the extreme "god" crowd, and mark my words, they'll bury him once he's done to hide their tracks as they scuttle away with the national treasury.
Posted by iamcoyote at May 8, 2006 09:57 AMIAC, Since we are doing a little tongue-in-cheek levity at the expense of our 'Decider-the-Thief', let's continue the foray for just a moment. The anitchrist is supposed to be charming and universally liked, yes. But, consider, s/he/it is also supposed to be cunning, sharp, evasive, slick beyond belief. His greatest asset, his ability to decieve. Therefor, what greater cover, what better camouflage, than a bumbling doofus that is pretty much despised the world over. Do you expect Satan to do exactly as we would expect? Or the opposite? To play into the the obvious? Or to use duplicity, irony, and deciet?
C,mon, doesn't this sound like the Prince of Darkness to you?
"We expect the states to show us whether or not we're achieving simple objectives — like literacy, literacy in math, the ability to read and write." —George W. Bush, on federal education requirements, Washington, D.C., April 28, 2005
Part of 'literacy' is knowing that the word 'numeracy' is the equivalent for knowledge of mathmatics. We'd all expect the the son of Satan to know this, yes?
And come on...Laura Bush? You really think Lucifer's son would be caught dead dipping his wick in Laura's Bush(pun intended)? No, no, no...he would be banging the chicks from the Aerosmith videos and there'd be a 24-7 video feed of the festivities through c-span.
OK, so you gotta admit, GWButthead is pretty damn good cover. Clever enough for the Dark Overlord himself.
Posted by oppressmenot at May 8, 2006 10:07 AMYou may be right, oppressmenot, but I think Laura is cover, too - you know, the "long-suffering chimpy married to the ice queen" narrative gets the fundies all hot. Meanwhile, the Little Decider is being serviced by his "backdoor man" JeffyLube. Remember, ol' Scratch is a trickster who likes his fun! Too bad the whole thing's fiction, because it would be perfect cover on the Debbil's part to make the anti-christ such a loser moron.
Posted by iamcoyote at May 8, 2006 11:01 AM