Would someone please explain to me how even the brazen Bush administration could appoint John Poindexter director of the Information Awareness Office? It is horrifying enough that we have an Information Awareness Office, and now we learn it will be led by the man who shredded government documents to conceal the Iran-Contra affair and lied to Congress about it. The message is clear--the administration believes it takes a a totally dishonest person to properly direct the nation's spying. Makes sense, I guess.

At least people are outraged. A few years ago, Congress appointed the good Father John Danforth to be in charge of the FBI/Waco investigation. This was the man who, just a few years before, orchestrated a truly dirty campaign of lies against Professor Anita Hill (something he admitted) in order to get Clarence Thomas confirmed. Those were busy days for Danforth, an Episcopal priest. When he wasn't plotting the smear campaign against Hill, he was down at the church, celebrating the Holy Eucharist. Members of Congress said they selected him to be the Waco investigator because of his integrity.

Where's Lewis Carroll when you need him?