Ready for a Fight?

Gen. Michael V. Hayden, the principal deputy director of national intelligence, is being touted as the replacement for Porter Goss at the top of the CIA. To say that Hayden is neck deep in the NSA warrantless wiretapping "program" would be an understatement. However, that bit of outrageousness is not the point of this post. This is...

First, we turn to Shakes Sis on what should happen at Hayden's confirmation hearing:

Hayden’s got to go through confirmation hearings before he gets the position. Let’s hope the Dems kick it up a notch and nail this guy’s ass to the wall. The last person we need running the CIA is someone who has no respect for the civil liberties of Americans or the Constitution in which such rights are guaranteed.

Next, we find that the right wing is already sharpening their teeth. John Hinderaker of Powerline* fame says:

To all of this I say: great! Hardly anything would give the Republican faithful a bigger boost than the spectacle of Senate Democrats attacking an Air Force general for trying to protect America against terrorism. Please, Democrats, please don't deny us this opportunity. And could we possibly schedule the hearing closer to November?

Finally, let me say, I'm solidly on Shakes' side. The Dems should fight the Hayden nomination tooth and nail. However, as I look into my conventional wisdom crystal ball, I see the Democratic establishment backing off the fight because they don't want the backlash as exemplified by Hinderaker above. Don't fight Dems, because they will get mad at us. Don't fight Dems, because they will paint you as soft on terrorism. Don't fight Dems, because they will call you all traitors and terrorist-lovers. Just don't fight, because we wouldn't want you to change a strategy that has been winning you soooooo many election already.**

*I will not link to Powerline. The right does not get my links. Use Google if need be, not me.
**I can't believe I just got all fired by the conventional wisdom cowards and the nomination of Hayden is not even official yet. I need to drink less coffee.