My Fellow Dems, Don't Fall For It.

The Machiavellian machine known as the Bush White House has struck again. Even your Webmama has to admit: nominating Porter J. Goss for the position of CIA director, right as the election season is heating up, was an act of pure genius.

First, Mr. Goss is a Republican pol who happens to have some CIA field experience. There will be no danger of the Bush Administration receiving intelligence that doesn't fit with its political outlook, 'cuz he's their boy!

Second, but more important, by nominating Goss now, the Bushies have put the Democrats in the Senate between a rock and a hard place. If they let the confirmation go smoothly, the Bushies can claim to be "taking action" on cleaning up the mess at the CIA, without having followed any of the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission. If the Dems attempt to block confirmation and push to keep the 9-11 recommendations alive, they'll be accused of obstructionism at a time of national emergency.

My fellow Dems in High Places, don't fall for it. I believe we can successfully block this confirmation until such time as the Bush Administration (or better yet, its successor) seriously implements the 9-11 Commission recommendations, including centralization and coordination of all our disparate intelligence feifdoms. How can we do it? By clearly articulating to the American people that, unlike the Department of Homeland Security debate, the Senate Minority is not holding this confirmation up for any reason other than that it's bad for national security.

I realize that's a tough message to get across, especially when we're up against a well-oiled propaganda machine. But there are now plenty of resources to turn to, including moveon.org, Dean's Democracy for America, Michael Moore, Air America Radio, to name but a few. The time to act is now, before the Repubublican convention, and before confirmation hearings begin.

The issue of national security is vital to the country and pivotal to the election. Please, my fellow Dems, make your case!!