I doubt getting a progressive into that slot would help much, frankly. What would a progressive defense secretary do---wipe out the militaryindustrialcorporatemedia complex? -- Baldie McEagle

Once were out of Iraq and Afghanistan, then we can get a "progressive" chief to help dramatically downsize our bloated and mostly unnecessary military.

Oh, never mind.

...we must go after Napolitano. About the only thing she hasn't given in the way of support for Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his atrocious human rights abuse and abuse of authority and just plain abuse is a blow-job. But then I don't know everything that goes on in the back seat of the Arizona Governor's car...

I think Richard C. Clarke would make an honest DNI, but I'm not sure that he would want the job.

He'd have to fight off the bureacracy within CIA, not an easy job.

Well I am sincerely shocked. But delighted! We need these moments to remind ourselves that grassroots and netroots clamor does occasionally affect the actions of those in power. Well done everyone.

Ann Coulter’s Jaw Wired Shut (see sig)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/25/ann-coulters-jaw-wired-sh_n_146248.html

on my talk radio show in Montana, "Democracy's Edge" on November 15 and he was adamant about John Brennan being a really bad idea. He repeated that in a Baltimore Sun Op Ed http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.intel14nov14,0,4502683.story

and on "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman on Monday, November 17.http://www.democracynow.org/2008/11/17/obama_taps_ex_cia_officials_tied

Read Melvin Goodman's "Failure of Intelligence". And he's sure not happy about Robert Gates. Read his book and you'll know why. By the way, He recommends that the SOS should be against missile defense and says he like Hegel.

I am [as usual] cynical that Brennan’s stated reason is truthful.

Timely dissent is a necessary part of Democracy, even when the corresponding element, [that the “Government” actually hears The People’s dissent], is not in evidence. If both have occurred simultaneously now, that is cause for celebration.

One person who actually was a “strong opponent” of these policies in real time and from the inside, and who paid a price for his dissent, was Alberto Mora, former Navy general counsel.

Thomas Jefferson, said “Dissent is the highest form of patriotism.”.

Mora is a patriot.

In other noteworthy news, torture on the new 24 show did not work. Although, it was an American who was being tortured, so maybe this is not exeptional news (but still noteworthy).

I have to agree with Avelna.

Brennan's been advising Obama on national security issues for months. As Glenn himself noted earlier this week, it was Brennan's advice, above all else, that swayed Obama to become a "FISA 45 percenter" (amount of Dems that voted Yes, see my blog), and with his lead, for the FISA deform amendments to become law.

That all said, Brennan didn't put a gun to Obama's head this summer. BO made that vote decision himself.

So, let's not applaud too much that Brennan is OUT until we see who is IN.

Well done to Glenn, Andrew Sullivan et al. I agree with Glenn, "the best political news I've heard since the election".

I hate to be so shallow, but I'm even happier about Ann Coulter's jaw wired shut than about the Brennan news! Never thought I'd see the day. Is this The Rapture?

(hopefully, I don't have to clarify I'm kidding. sort of ;)

Wooooooohoooooo!

Obama wants to nominate more than one Republican to keep his rivals effort viable, so Gates and Hagel are probably the two best picks. Gates may have a checkered history, but tell me a serious error in judgment that he has made as SECDEF. Keeping Gates says to those worried about pulling out too soon from Iraq, that their views will be heard before key decisions are made. He also takes all orders from the commander in chief, so he won't be able to fly solo and cause problems. I'm not sure where Hagel could end up.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/11/gates-cabinet-a.html (sse sig)

That's all. Thanks for being on top of this. Thanks for making it clear what this appointment would mean.

And to top it off, Coulter is on a book tour to tout her book about how the left bloggers/media are all to blame for Obama getting elected.

It feels so odd to be reading such positive columns from you Glenn. Glad they're warranted. It's been a long 8 years. Hope it keeps up.

http://glenngreenwald.blogspot.com/2006/12/swamped-by-muslims.html

Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Swamped by Muslims
By Glenn Greenwald -- The following is a letter sent by Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA) to various constituents [...]

[...] if American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran.

We need to stop illegal immigration totally and reduce legal immigration and end the diversity visas policy pushed hard by President Clinton and allowing many persons from the Middle East to come to this country.

I fear that in the next century we will have many more Muslims [...]

- - Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA)

- - Glenn Greenwald

* * * * *

http://salon.com/politics/war_room/2008/11/24/goode_loses

Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 16:00 EST

The Virginia State Board of Elections certified Democratic challenger Tom Perriello as the winner in the state's 5th Congressional District on Monday.

Perriello began the race as a long shot, since he was running in a district that’s considered deep red. But the combination of a compelling back story and increased black turnout seem to have put him over the top. That Goode was a magnet for controversy didn't hurt, either.

Most infamously, Goode publicly worried about the significance of Minnesota's Keith Ellison becoming the first Muslim congressman, saying, "If American citizens don’t wake up and adopt the Virgil Goode position on immigration, there will likely be many more Muslims elected to office and demanding the use of the Koran." Goode also shared a stage with a local official who endorsed him on the grounds of his authentic, "real America and real Virginia" quality, though by that point in the year, such talk was pretty standard fare. Last, but not least, he ran an ad *** http://thinkprogress.org/2008/09/29/perriello-ad/ *** against Perriello that showed the clean-shaven, boyish challenger looking swarthy and bearded.

― ― Gabriel Winant