Bush nominates General Michael Hayden as new CIA head

It appears the pundits were right on this one, as President Bush nominated Air Force General Michael Hayden to head the Central Intelligence Agency.

In naming Hayden on Monday, President Bush noted that he knows the intelligence community "from the ground up - he's been both a provider and a consumer of intelligence."

The confirmation hearings are expected to be difficult, partisan and contentious.

Here's a sample:

"I'm very troubled by the nomination because he is one of the main supporters representing Donald Rumsfeld who helped to put in place the programs of spying on Americans and has been one of the biggest defenders of it," the Associated Press quotes Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) as saying Monday.

That's funny, Senator. I was `troubled' by your recent nomination, considering your views and your background.

For more on Hayden, go here.