AM Feed - May 10: Hayden Backed by Rumsfeld
Hot Topics
- Gen. Michael Hayden, President Bush’s pick to succeed Porter Goss as CIA director, finally received a vote of confidence. The bad news? It came from beleaguered Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. It’s no surprise that Rumsfeld would support someone with a military background to take over the CIA – as a longtime veteran of political turf wars, Rumsfeld knows what’s at stake to have an ally in the intelligence community. Others remained skeptical of Hayden’s candidacy. “I don’t think a military guy should be head of CIA, frankly,” said House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-IL). [link]
- And speaking of Bush nominees under fire: Brett Kavanaugh, one of Bush’s controversial judicial nominees, appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday and offered up a “know-nothing” defense. As the White House staff secretary, Kavanaugh would have been privy to documents relating to the administration’s secret eavesdropping program, torture memos and Jack Abramoff visits. But Kavanaugh claimed to know nothing but what he read in the newspapers about these issues. The American Bar Association has downgraded its rating for Kavanaugh, and lawyers and judges who have worked with him called him “insulated” and “sanctimonious.” [link]
- A new poll from New York Times/CBS News once again reinforces President Bush’s terrible performance on a number of important issues. Bush’s ratings on foreign policy, Iraq and the economy are now at the lowest point of his presidency, and an anemic 13 percent of Americans approve of his handling of gas prices. Just 31 percent approve of the overall job he’s doing as president. [link]
Quote of the Day
“It turns out it was wrong, that intelligence. Fair enough.” – Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, on the prewar intelligence about Iraq.
Morning Snark
- Note to Rumsfeld: This is one case where a simple “My bad,” doesn’t quite cut it.
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