"Gen. Hayden and the claimed irrelevance of presidential appointments" (Glenn Greenwald)

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/12/08/hayden/index.html


UPDATE III: Spencer Ackerman thinks "there’s no chance that Obama would actually pick Hayden" and that the report is being floated by Hayden allies inside the CIA. I, too, would be surprised (mildly, not overwhelmingly) if Obama asked Hayden to remain even temporarily, but as the Brennan incident demonstrated, there is real value in expressing objections to highly objectionable appointments before they are announced. Reports of prospective nominees are leaked precisely to see if there is formidable and intense opposition. While it's important not to assume every one of these rumors is true (which is why I noted in the first paragraph that this one may very well not be), this is the time to express and build opposition to potential appointees, not after the nominee is announced.

It's worth noting that disagreements and objections directed at political leaders aren't a bad thing. An astounding 79% of the public approves of Obama in the transition. Having "the Left" exert pressure to ensure attention is paid to its political values isn't going to cause a collapse of the Republic or even the Obama presidency. To the contrary, as The Atlantic's Marc Ambinder observes, the Left's objections have actually been quite muted, but provide an important benefit: "to prevent Obama from ruling as a royalist, a little cross-pressure is probably a good thing."

Even in this New Era of Trans-Partisan Harmony, there's nothing wrong with citizens objecting to what political leaders do and trying to pressure them to move in directions that they perceive are better. That's actually called "democracy." As upsetting as that disharmony apparently is to some, it's actually far preferable than the alternative, where everyone lines up behind a leader and agrees to remain respectfully silent and trusting in his superior judgment. Between excessive citizen activism and excessive trust or passivity, the former is far preferable to the latter.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/12/08/hayden/index.html