I read OrangeClouds115 diary We Are Rubber, RedState is Glue and decided to wander over to that site. I don't do this often. I'll visit RedState sometimes when I know a shower is in the offing anyway. Maybe I'll visit Free Republic when I'm powerwashing the driveway and don't mind turning the device on myself. I'll even hit the Hannity forums when my doctor has already prescribed an intensely powerful chemical delousing.
So, with trepidation, I typed in the URL. You can figure it out for yourself. I don't want to feel personally responsible for driving up their traffic.
There I found an interesting article on the front page promoted from the blogs, "Jane Harman for Director of National Intelligence." More on the jump.
But with Negroponte, er, stepping aside and Harman apparently steamed at San Fran Nan and tired of being in Congress (according to this Post story today), I think Jane Harman would be a shrewd choice to take over the reins as DNI.
Ummm. Okaaay. Not what I'd expect. However, some of the reasoning for this notion, as we'll see is, well, suspect.
First of all, Harman courageously defended the administration's terrorist surveillance program -- when few in Congress on either side of the aisle were willing to.
"...few in Congress on either side..."? WTF? Didn't the Republicans pretty much unanimously provide legislative cover for the President on this?
Intelligence has historically been a non-partisan endeavor in the government. Because of this new kind of war that we're in, it's become one of the most contentious issues in the public debate.
Well, yeah. Intelligence has historically been non-partisan, until Bush and Porter Goss turned the CIA into a fount of partisan hackery, destroyed morale, and ran out the key lifers.
But the real lesson comes from the following quote.
Second, I think Harman is one of the few Democrats who seems to be on the right side when it comes to national security and intelligence matters.
What's the lesson? Speaker Pelosi damn sure made the right decision by not promoting Harman to Intelligence chair if that's the view we're getting from RedState.
Congratulations to the Speaker on her election. I feel better already (well, after the shower, that is).