Ahh to The Coveted Position of Insider

I see that Robert Gates passed through his confirmation hearing with nary a scratch. This is the same fellow who had no knowledge of one of the largest constitutional scams in history even though it was being run out of the CIA on his watch. This is the same fellow that failed to get confirmed the when he was anointed to run the CIA a few years later. Now we expect him to turn around the abomination that is Iraq. I think this demonstrates the value of being considered a "Washington Insider." Once the label attaches, your actual performance in government positions will be ignored.

I also notice that Sen. Levin (D Mich) thanked Mr. Gates for his "candor" on Iraq. (Gates admitted that we were losing.) To me, candor usually means speaking the unguarded and unqualified truth even if it is not favorable. Admitting that we are losing in Iraq is not candor -- it is merely stating the obvious.