White House Set to Fight for Hayden (Specter(R-Scotland)may try to hold up confirmation)

Wash Compost ^

[hipaatwo]

The nomination of Gen. Michael V. Hayden to take over the CIA would trigger a fresh battle over the secret warrantless surveillance program he oversaw on behalf of President Bush, a debate that could help shape the contours of the fall midterm congressional elections, officials in both parties said yesterday.

Barring a change of heart, aides expect Bush to name Hayden tomorrow as his choice to succeed CIA director Porter J. Goss, who resigned under pressure Friday. Hayden, a former director of the National Security Agency and now deputy director of national intelligence, has become the most forceful defender of Bush's eavesdropping program since its disclosure in December.

Rather than steer away from a Hayden nomination because of the controversy, the White House seems ready for a new fight over it, convinced that it has public support and that Democrats opposing Hayden's confirmation would risk looking weak on terrorism. Democrats yesterday began formulating a strategy built around grilling Hayden during hearings and then determining whether any refusal to answer questions provides enough justification to oppose his confirmation.

"By nominating him, they are looking for a confrontation and forcing the Congress to take sides, so I am troubled by this," said Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, who has a close relationship with Hayden and considers him "very professional and dedicated."

[jveritas]

Thank you very much for helping to get the truth out regarding these very important documents.

[jveritas]

I think President Bush will make a bold proposal regarding the borders security come this summer.

[Txsleuth]

Specter is supposed to be a guest on Fox News Sunday...I am hoping tha Chris Wallace will have the guts to ask him about this..

[dr_who_2]

"Hayden" you say. Don't know him too well. Any relation to Harriet Miers, perhaps?

[jazusamo]

Thanks, that's interesting. Think I'll send an email to Chris tonight and maybe one in the morning before the show.

[Txsleuth]

Yeah...they are Siamese twins, joined at the hip.

[Txsleuth]

I think Specter waa originally scheduled to talk about immigration..because Gilchrist of the Minutemen was also scheduled...but, I think this CIA thing came up...

So they kept Specter, but also got (gulp) Joe Biden to come on....sigh

[Darkwolf377]

I agree. He sees the handwriting on the wall and cannot abide the illegals pouring in anymore. If he still wants to fight for his "temporary guest workers" then no one can stop him, but if he comes out in favor of a wall, billions more for armed security, and simply stopping the inflow, he will gain the support of Republicans NOW, and we will fight those other proposals later.

But if the Dems win in November, the chance of doing anything at all with immigration are exactly zero; they'll be too busy trying to impeach Bush--and they WILL try to impeach him.

[jazusamo]

Sorry to hear Biden will be on, can't stand him. I just fired off an email inre to Specter though, we'll see what happens.

[dr_who_2]

"By nominating him, they are looking for a confrontation and forcing the Congress to take sides, so I am troubled by this," said Rep. Jane Harman (Calif.), ranking Democrat on the House intelligence committee, who has a close relationship with Hayden and considers him "very professional and dedicated."

Right. If nothing else, it'll be entertaining.

[Jeff Chandler]

Specter and the Democrats are going to be handed their heads over this. The New Tone is dead.

Mark this post.

[BillyBoy]

Gee wiz, just as we predicted... your hero Snarlin' OurLoon MacSpecter is looking at "Borking" a nominee now that he's "secure" in his chairmanship and proven his "loyality" by confirming enough conservative judges without risking the overturn of his precious Roe v. Wade.

[jveritas]

There is no doubt in my mind that if the democrats win the House this November 2006, they will impeach President Bush. They hate him so much that they do not care about the terrible danger they can cause the nation when impeaching the Commander in Chief in times of war.

[Darkwolf377]

You are correct. You can feel it emanating from them; they feel this will wipe the board clean for Clinton, and more importantly they can put Bush up there on the Evil President shelf with Nixon.

If they succeed in that, all of these supposed Republicans around here can kiss any hope of immigration reform goodbye for decades.

[Liberty Valance]

This promises to be another fun confirmation hearing ;o)

[PhilDragoo]

[Peach]

Strategery!

[tobyhill]

Very interesting for Harman to talk about "taking sides". It's been the Democrats taking the sides of the terrorist and traitors. It's been the Democrats taking the side of the obstructionist even if the legislation is right.
Go ahead Harman and put your best obstructionist side forward, we dare you! Sure there's enough Rats to block the nomination and they'll look like the obstructionist they are but there is such a thing called "recess appointment". That's basically a screw you Harman from The President of the United States of America. Come to think of it, Bolton is still a recess appointee and still hasn't received an up or down vote.

[stands2reason]

Really? I've always wanted to visit Scotland... see the Moors, Edinburgh, etc.

:-)