Gen. Hayden To Replace Goss at CIA?

So hints an update from the AP-

...Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden, top deputy to National Intelligence Director John Negroponte, is the leading candidate to replace Goss, a senior administration official said. An announcement could come as early as Monday.

Hayden was National Security Agency director until becoming the nation's No. 2 intelligence official a year ago. Since December, he has aggressively defended the Bush administration's warrantless surveillance program. He was one of its chief architects...

Gen. Hayden has a very close relationship with the White House and, according to Time magazine, "has a close rapport with Vice President Cheney". He also, as the AP article notes, is heavily tied to the warrantless spying scandal that has caused national controversy and anger been largely ignored by the media.

If Hayden is indeed nominated, could/should the Democrats use his nomination hearings as an opportunity to recast a national debate on the President's domestic spying program? I say yes. Give the evidence that the program is far more pervasive than they've stated, that major telecommunication companies are actively involved in the program, and that numerous questions about the justification for and scope of the program have gone unanswered, I think it's key to find out where the potential next CIA director stands. Does he believe in the unitary executive theory? How does he feel about the sanctity of the Constitution and the rule of law in wartime? Given their track record, how can Americans be assured that agency resources won't be abused to suit the President's political agenda?

It is also now known that Hayden lied to Congress in 2002 about the administration's spying.

All the above should be an issue. This is a good chance for Congress to take a stand.

Also- a late-December Washington Post article had this from Hayden on why they don't follow FISA-

Hayden said getting retroactive court approval is inefficient because it "involves marshaling arguments" and "looping paperwork around."

In their America, the rule of law gets trumped by the cumbersome nature of paperwork.

Finally, keep a few more things in mind in regards to Hayden's questionable background. This is a guy who doesn't know what the Fourth Amendment says. He is also the man who, when asked by a journalist if Bush's spying program has targeted his political enemies, simply refused to answer. And they want him to run the Central Intelligence Agency, which has faced much criticism in the past few years (not the least of which is becoming a partisan arm for the White House). As Comic Book Guy would say, worst administration ever.

[PS- Still no explanation for Goss' resignation. Most people, even conservative outlets buying the power struggle angle, are conceding that sudden departure hints at a larger story yet to be revealed. Wesley Clark was on Bill Maher's show tonight and was asked about the resignation. He stated that it's likely due to a 'personal' scandal... the 'Hookergate' explanation thus remains fairly plausible, especially since his #3 man- Kyle Foggo- is under federal investigation. It could be a mixture of many things.

UPDATE: Even Drudge is now leading with the Wilkes/Cunningham/hooker angle. Hmmmm.]

[PPS- Thanks to AmericaBlog for the heads up.]