The liberal press and the Democrat demagogues on Capitol Hill are having a hissy fit over "who blew the cover of Joe Wilson's wife." The answer is not hard to find. The culprit was Joe Wilson IV—with some help from his wife. When Wilson wrote an op-ed in The New York Times in July and revealed that he had gone to Niger on a CIA assignment, he called attention to his wife. CIA people who are really undercover are very careful about not identifying themselves or their families with the agency. They wait until their children are old enough to keep their mouths shut before revealing, even to them, that they are CIA officers. Wilson listed his wife's maiden name in the biography he put on the web site of the Middle East Institute.
When a CIA officer under deep cover is assigned to a hostile country, he knows that the enemy counter-intelligence service will do a background check. Any involvement of a relative with the CIA will endanger the officer's cover. Mrs. Joe Wilson also helped shred her cover when she made a contribution to the Al Gore for President campaign and listed her cover company in the Federal Election Commission filing. If she were ever posted overseas under cover, that would provide the hostiles with a lead to unravel her CIA connection. More
[snip]Friends say he wants his voice heard on the national stage. But he's not convinced running for re-election to a Senate where his party is likely to stay in the minority is best for him and his family. [snip] [Wahhhh! I won't be in power!]
Some Democrats want ``ballot insurance'' - at least one candidate filed for the seat along with Graham, not to run against him but to replace him if needed.
Party insiders said the decision has been difficult for Graham. ``He is completely agonizing over it,'' said one state party official who has talked to him.
``He loved being a chief executive, a governor,'' a top national party official said. ``I don't think he's really enjoyed being senator.''[Graham was senator for 3 terms, now he's not in power it's no longer worth it. Oh well, he's got that cushy pension.]
In 2002, Democrats became the Senate minority, which cost Graham the intelligence committee chairmanship that made him a leading voice on terrorism and the Sept. 11 attacks. Majority status makes legislative service more enjoyable, and most experts say odds are against the Democrats retaking Senate control next year.
Still, Democrats say Graham could hold his seat without national party help, increasing its odds of switching enough seats elsewhere - two - to regain control.
The question ``is bigger than Florida politics,'' Maddox said. ``I think the country needs people like him to navigate us through some very troubled waters.''
Meanwhile, Florida awaits his decision. Uh-yeah, we're all on pins and needles.