[Reily]

Sorry I don't mean to be insulting but yes that notion is naive.

Also where do you think the CIA gets the authority to “check out” as you call it an American citizen?
Before the CIA can give you a clearance, you have to sign documents giving them permission to vet you for that clearance. Even the FBI needs legal authorization.

A CIA analyst can not wake up one morning and go into his office and decide to “investigative” someone or something because he feels like it. The CIA can no more do this then Air Force OSI analyst can decide to investigate say his neighbor. Every action particularly in the information age leaves an “audit trail” and analysts & field people are constantly “audited” to make sure that every action done & dollar spent is against the “target list”. It is a absolutely career ending and/or prosecutable action if someone should spend time & dollars against something not on that list. To even get time on a “national asset” means many many targeting committee approvals. So doing what you are suggesting wouldn't remain "secret" very long. The person that did this would be very lucky if he was only demoted!
The “rogue” federal agency notion is for spy novels, TV & movies.

[Art in Idaho]

Good points. Thanks for the info. Yes, I was making too many assumptions.

[El Gato]

The “rogue” federal agency notion is for spy novels, TV & movies.

I assumned he was thinking of something above board and legitimate, not sub rosa. For the same reasons that the rest of us get investigated before we can get certain jobs.

Of course we can't have the CIA or FBI "vetting" cannidates for elective office. But it would be nice if the "press" would do that, since it is supposed to be their job. They investiaged the snot out of Sarah Palin, but when it came to BHO, or any other socialist/liberal, they cover their eyes, plug their ears and warble as loudly as they can. Or they go into this routine: