Carrying over from my post of last night, this morning’s WaPo’s piece on Hayden (In GOP, Doubts On Likely CIA Pick) brings up another political point on the nomination:

The challenges to Hayden’s expected nomination come when Bush is politically at his weakest and Republicans are distancing themselves from the White House in the hopes of retaining their grip on Congress in the midterm elections. The White House did not formally respond to the criticisms yesterday, but strategists said privately they are confident they can address Republican concerns and have Hayden confirmed.

It would seem that Bush is picking someone who will automatically start a fight with Congress–and with his own party. This is odd because the incentive for the Senate at the moment, even Senators within the Republican Party, is to fight the President.

In other words, why pick a nominee who will draw fire from within the party when the President (and his party) are already in a weakened state?

The Rovian Evil Genius Hypothesis would state that all of this is a maneuver for the President to give the Republicans in the Senate a chance to take a bold stand against an unpopular President so as to help boost their street cred back home for November while simultaneously letting the President look tough and uncompromising on the topic of national security (and still likely getting the guy he wants).

Occam’s razor would dictate that this is just another example of Bush’s arrogance, especially in the context of his unflinching position on the NSA wiretap program.

Yes, that seems more likely.

And, btw, the nomination is official.