Bush pressed to name new CIA director

Members of Congress have recently called for prompt action in replacing George Tenet at the CIA. The Bush administration's mouthpiece has said that a candidate for the position of CIA Director will be nominated "in due course."

Allow me to speculate for a moment. Replacing Tenet is important, and the Bush administration would really prefer to have someone at the head of the CIA who will kowtow to them. Therefore, the nominee will be a known extremist, probably someone so far to the right that their approval by the Senate will be impossible. When the nominee is (as expected) rejected, the Republican National Committee will paint the Senate as "too liberal," or even as "unpatriotic" for questioning the judgement of our President. After all, he is in communication with God regarding his every decision, right? It would also provide a convenient avenue for labeling all of Bush's critics as "pessimists." Only a pessimist would disagree with Dubya's cronies!

No, I don't expect the Bush administration to nominate anyone who might possibly disagree with the Executive branch on any points - though that is precisely the kinf of nominee we need. What is more likely is that they will deliberately propose someone who will provide the political fodder they desire.