ABC Says Hayden Nomination Definite

Ed at CQ predicted the Hayden CIA nomination would be withdrawn.

With these defections, I expect the White House to name another candidate by tomorrow morning, probably Mary Margaret Graham or Frances Townsend. Neither will be as good as Hayden, but both will cause little disruption for confirmation.

There's still time for that to happen. But ABC is claiming the nomination is a done deal.

George Stephanopolous just announced on ABC’s This Week that Gen. Michael Hayden will definitely be named President Bush’s nominee to succeed Porter Goss as the DCI for the CIA.  Interviewing Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Saxby Chambliss, both Senators expressed reservations about a military officer heading up the CIA — since it is a civilian intel agency.

I doubt Josh Bolton wants to start off his tenure as Chief of Staff by admitting he helped Bush get it wrong on Hayden. I also think Bush likes to fight for his decisions more than Ed's prediction would allow. We saw that with Harriet Miers, and the current opposition to Hayden isn't nearly as broad.

I think the White House really does see the NSA issue as the way to start getting the public back behind Bush and the Republicans on National Security, as well as using the hearings to fend off some of the criticisms on the program, perhaps even some of the mis-information around it.

Given Bush's ratings, he has to fight back, or fade away. The NSA program appears to me to be the right fight at a time when he doesn't really have a choice. Poling around the issue has always been on Bush's side.

Comments

[Stormy70]

Plus, the Dems tend to look like grandstanding idiots during these hearings. I consider that a bonus.

[Phoenix]

"Given Bush's ratings, he has to fight back, or fade away."

I get such a visceral reaction to this. Fade away?

BUSH: -10
MSM: +10

And we have our winner folks. Oh! Look, Congress just went up in flames. Don't worry, pollsters are there getting the word for us. Stay tuned.

Sorry. I'm feeling whiny. I see a name like 'Saxby Chambliss' and wonder what kind of parents would name their son Saxby with a last name like Chambliss. Someone come poll me. I'm the average American weenie on the street with no brain function. Shucks, can't we just have another big attack on America that's not caused by weather so people will like and stand behind our president again?

[Jane]

I feel that a military man in the top position of the CIA would be very beneficial especially one that has headed the NSA, he already know what is going on in the secret world. Plus the Air Force is more big business than a military organization so he is not really a military man.