Director of National Intelligence Candidates

The Drudge Report ^ | December 8, 2004 | Matt Drudge

[Bluegrass Conservative]

The following is posted on Drudge right now:

Names of people being vetted by the White House for the new position of Director of National Intelligence:

DCI Porter Goss

Gov Tom Kean

General Michael Hayden

John Lehman

Sen. Joe Lieberman

Rep Pete Hoekstra

Rep Jane Harman...

[So Cal Rocket]

Jane Harman???? Give me a break!

[pookie18]

Don't know Hayden...so I'd go with Goss, Lehman or Lieberman.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Just to bring you up to speed on Hayden:

Director, National Security Agency Chief, Central Security Service Biography Lieutenant General Michael V. Hayden United States Air Force Lieutenant General Michael V. Hayden, USAF, is the Director, National Security Agency/Chief, Central Security Service (NSA/CSS), Fort George G. Meade, MD. As the Director of NSA and Chief of CSS, he is responsible for a combat support agency of the Department of Defense with military and civilian personnel stationed worldwide.

General Hayden entered active duty in 1969 after earning a bachelor's degree in history in 1967 and a master's degree in modern American history in 1969, both from Duquesne University. He is a distinguished graduate of the Reserve Officer Training Corps program. The General has served as Commander of the Air Intelligence Agency and Director of the Joint Command and Control Warfare Center, both headquartered at Kelly Air Force Base, TX. He has also served in senior staff positions in the Pentagon; Headquarters U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany; the National Security Council, Washington, DC; and the U.S. Embassy in the People's Republic of Bulgaria. Prior to his current assignment, the General served as Deputy Chief of Staff for United Nations Command and U.S. Forces Korea, Yongsan Army Garrison.

[pookie18]

Thanks...I'm impressed...just added him to my list.

[marty60]

NONE of the above. Goss has his hands full cleaning out the CIA

[Bluegrass Conservative]

So who do you suggest then?

[Preachin']

At least Jamie Gorelick's name is not on the list.

[marty60]

Frankly, I really don't trust any of the usual suspects at this point. This is a very critical position. Our very survival could depend on who is appointed. I hope Bush thinks long and hard on his choice, and he/she gets a background check that rivals the inquisition.

[marty60]

HUMMMM pretty impressive. Now the question is: Does he have political aspirations outside the military?

[marty60]

Yes, thankfully

[Bluegrass Conservative]

How are these folks the "usual suspects"? I had heard Senator Lieberman's name mentioned as Secretary of State, but it was never really a serious candidacy. And, of course, Porter Goss was recently appointed to be Director of the CIA, but it seems that position and this one would have similiarities. Other than that, it is the first time I have heard any of these other folks names mentioned for an appointed position.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

That I don't know. However, being the military man he is, it may just be a case of, "My Commander-In-Chief asked me to serve. How could I say no?"

[Dubya's fan]

If President Bush appoints Joe Lieberman, the rats will lose a seat in the Senate - I think the CT governor is Republican.

[marty60]

I'm just burnt out from this election. Lieberman would probaly be fine. I just don't think that political types should have this position. But, that is to much to hope for.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

True enough, but they don't lose it for long. I don't see an appointed Republican being able to hold onto that Senate seat in the 2006 election, when it is regularly scheduled. The seat in the Senate would not make much of a difference in the two years until that point. The Republicans have a clear majority. However, that seat wouldn't get us to the magic number of 60 to be fillibuster-proof either. So, I don't think the Democrats would really pressure Lieberman to stay in the Senate if he wished to go into the administration.

The only Republican in CT that would have a chance at retaining the Senate seat in 2006 would be Chris Shays, but I seriously doubt he could do it either.

[Beckwith]

Surely you jest.

[hobbes1]

I like Harman as a choice. Makes the President Look good. Raises her profile among the Dems, (in a way diminsihing Hillary a tad) and then when things go wrong...lol, no problem cutting her loose....lol

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Then why not Hayden or Lehman? They're definitely not the "political types".

[WatchOutForSnakes]

Is that the best we can come up with? Hopefully this list isn't right. If it is I'd have to go with Hayden simply because I don't think they would want to pull a double switch with Goss and have to name another CIA director. As for Kean and Lehman?? Give me a break.

Where is Rudy on this list? Has he already told them no thanks?

[PhiKapMom]

General Hayden is my #1 choice -- couldn't get a better person IMHO -- he has seen it all, is organized, and has been part the top intelligence organizations in the Air Force and DoD.

[marty60]

Lehman appears weak at times. i think he is easily intimidated by the yammering class.

hayden does have an impressive resume. Good possibility.

[GraniteStateConservative]

I say we choose Maxine Waters.

[bmwcyle]

John Lehman --- Never

He was on NPR talking about a new National Police Force.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Those are the names Drudge listed. I have no idea what the source is.

[WatchOutForSnakes]

Why does President Bush have to make himself look good by appointing a rabid liberal from California? What is it with all of this talk about reaching out and appointing democrats, etc.? We won the election, didn't we? Have you ever seen Harmon on any of the talk shows? She is democrat through and through and has all the talking points mastered. She hates Bush and would do anything she could to bring him down. Frankly I'm tired of "reaching out". We won and we should choose people who agree with us, not disagree with us.

[maxter]

"At least Jamie Gorelick's name is not on the list."

That is exactly why NO ONE on the 9/11 Commission should be considered. They failed to do what they needed to do in regard to Ms. Gorelick.

[hobbes1]

Yes, actually I have seen her on a boatload of shows, and on this particular issue, she has been forthright and fair, couching her partisan criticisms, where they should be, but not demagouging the issue.....


My Main point being, these overfunded 9/11 attention grabbing professional grievers will remain a potnetial political problem, and a move like this makes that go away to a greater or lesser extent, and also shields the administration from criticism (like Ridge got over the last 3 years), and Harman has no higher aspirations, she has already left Congress once.....

I will tell you this.....If Kerry had picked her for a running mate, He'd be getting sworn in, next month.

[af_vet_rr]

Sure as hell not Lieberman. He was wanting to push government monitoring of the internet, etc., to "protect the children".

[Bluegrass Conservative]

And you think the government doesn't already monitor the internet?

[af_vet_rr]

Okay, let me put it another way, Lieberman was wanting to control some of the content available on the internet. Once they start trying to do that to "protect the children", it'll quickly extend to "protecting people from themselves".

[blackeagle]

bump

[Bluegrass Conservative]

Damn kids. They always get in the way of everybody's fun. LOL I'm just kidding.

I do understand your point. I can't say I'm a fan of "big brother" intruding either. At the same time, I don't want pornography to be easily accessed by children. It's a Catch-22 with no great resolution to the problem.

I may not agree with Senator Lieberman's proposal on that, but I do believe him to be a man on honest intentions and I believe his heart is in the right place. There just should be an alternative answer to the problem.

[twigs]

Lately, Harman has been talking intelligently. But she can be a real partisan hack. She hasn't convinced me she's ready for something like this. I just don't trust her.

[twigs]

I agree. I could accept Lieberman. At least from what I now know.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Wow. Like, a real CONSERVATIVE onslaught.

[NYURepublican]

I like Joe Lieberman. he sold out to Gore in 2000 though. But who wouldnt fo ra chance to be VP right?

[af_vet_rr]

I may not agree with Senator Lieberman's proposal on that, but I do believe him to be a man on honest intentions and I believe his heart is in the right place. There just should be an alternative answer to the problem.

The answer is parents who act like parents and not like their kids' best friends. That's for another thread though.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

While I think that is an excellent suggestion, it's not always the answer either. Don't tell me you didn't sneak and do some things as a kid that your parents never found out about. : )

[QQQQQ]

"I like Harman as a choice. "

You've got to be kidding! As someone pointed out, this is a critical position, no time for a token Democrat. Harman would be terrible.

In fact most people on this list are way too dovish.


My take on the potential candidates:

DCI Porter Goss possible, but then Bush will have to get a new CIA director

Gov Tom Kean He the head of the 9-11 commission and let the Dems roll all over him.

General Michael Hayden -- I don't know him, what someone posted about his sounds good, but I would like to know more about his real record of decisions.

John Lehman -- also on the 9-11 commission, also not standing up to the Dems.

Sen. Joe Lieberman -- he may sound like a hawk, as Dems go, but he wouldn't be strong enough.

Rep Pete Hoekstra -- I don't know him

Rep Jane Harman... -- this must be a joke.
====


I would hope Bush comes up with some real high caliber person for this job, it's a critical job.

[lonevoice]

A couple days ago Rush Limbaugh suggested that Congressman Sensenbrenner should be considered for this position. I don't know that much about him, other than he fought hard (successfully) in the Senate to get teeth in the Amber Alert bill, and he fought to get illegal drivers licenses considered as part of this intelligence legislation. He's House Judiciary Committee Chairman, but I don't know his record or history there.

[Bluegrass Conservative]

He's very popular with conservatives, but not overly with any of the Democrats or moderate Republicans, from what I understand. I doubt he would be considered, especially after this whole ordeal of him going against the administration regarding immigration.