Next Chairman for Intelligence (Reyes) Opposed War

NYT ^ | Dec. 2, 2006 | MARK MAZZETTI and JEFF ZELENY

[FairOpinion]

Representative Nancy Pelosi, the incoming House speaker, sent a strong new signal on Friday that Democrats intend to confront the White House by naming a Texas congressman who opposed the war in Iraq as the next chairman of the House intelligence committee.

Mrs. Pelosi chose him over Ms. Harman in part because he has repeatedly taken a more combative stance toward Bush administration policies like the invasion of Iraq, military tribunals for terrorist suspects, and the National Security Agency’s domestic surveillance program.

Mr. Reyes voted against authorizing President Bush to go to war with Iraq, and in June he said that the failures in Iraq “cry out for oversight.”

In September, Mr. Reyes blasted the White House’s justifications for the National Security Agency wiretapping program.

[FairOpinion]

It sounds like Reyes IS Hastings or Murtha, without the baggage.

Reyes is against the war, against wiretapping, for rights for terrorists and can't wait to attack the Bush administration.

[Kahonek]

"Reyes is against the war, against wiretapping, for rights for terrorists and can't wait to attack the Bush administration."

...and given his history and experience, he's about the best person we could possibly expect to have in this position. If you can find a Democratic Congresscritter who knows beans about intelligence and is pro-war, pro-wiretapping, a Bush fan, and wants to eliminate all rights for terrorists, you might have a stronger candidate. I'd suggest you submit that name to the Democratic leadership for consideration.

[Mr. Silverback]

Hey, don't get me wrong, it's a disaster. It's just that the message the enemy is getting now is "We're too stupid to fight you," and the message Hastings would have sent would be "We're ready to help; send small unmarked bills, please."