Hayden Confirmation Hearings: Post-Game Show

Aaaand that's it. What did we learn from the open portion of the Hayden confirmation hearing?

Senators with gray hair are boring. Brunettes with neat parts? Classy. Smooth.

Good luck to anyone who'll try to get actual news from those 8 hours of babbling. Our final thoughts, after the jump.

We had a very vague, nebulous conception of just who the new head of the CIA was before this, and now we have a clearer picture: He's a complete idiot. He speaks only in irritating sports metaphors and middle-manager corporatese. Hell, he might be slightly less incompetent than Goss, but considering that he took responsibilty for "putting a more human face on the NSA" during his tenure there, we can't imagine he has any idea what he's doing. Having been the designer and engineer behind the warrantless wiretapping program, the best defense he could muster for its dubious legality is that THREE LAWYERS TOLD HIM IT WAS OK. (Oh, and his RELATIVES IN LAW SCHOOL said they didn't see anything wrong with it, either. We have a friend with a bachelor's in economics, he's totally available for Bernanke to consult about rate hikes. Though, hell, he can't be worse than Maria Bartiromo, right? We hear they're still looking for a treasury secretary...)

CNN leads with the "warrantless wiretapping woulda stopped 9/11" bit, which was neatly disected by Senator Levin during the only five minutes his questioning was relevant (because, you see, the CIA already did know they were livin' large in Cali, they justdidn't tell the FBI). And theTimesgoes with the "there wasn't any news" lede (Hayden told senators he'd be the best darn CIA headever!). ThePostgoes with the "media is to blame" angle, along with a giant picture of hottie Lara Logan. (Shieffer calls her "high-maintenance!" Nowthat'stoday's lead story, people!)

So on to the secret hearing. We're sure the senators are changing into their pajamas and getting the pillows ready as we speak.

 Hayden Denounces Media Coverage of CIA [WP]

 Senate Panel Questions CIA Nominee [NYT]

 CIA Pick: Phone Tapping Might Have Netted 9/11 Terrorists [CNN]