Open Season in Florida

President Bush finally nominated a new head for the C.I.A., Representative Porter Goss of Florida. A former intelligence professional and now the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Goss should enjoy good relations both internally and with the legislature. Without knowing more than the news about him, he seems like a solid choice and an easy approval in the Senate should be due. Since he was already retiring (thanks to Neal again for info), his selection won't affect the House at all, Bush sticking with his strategy of leaving his party's legislators intact.

The other contenders to replace Goss in the 14th district include Florida state rep Carol Green, local politician Doug St. Cerny, and Republican scion Connie Mack IV, whose father was a Florida Senator and great-grandfather was the sharply dressed manager of the Philadelphia Athletics. Money for Mack is coming in from out of state; his father was a popular fiscal conservative, and donors are counting on a more principled, less local stance from the young Mack, who is being called a "carpetbagger" in southwest Florida. This election will be all but decided at the end of this month, and the point of interest is whether Mack can carry the election on his father's name and money, or if the mobile, elderly population of the 14th will show loyalty to the local pols of their adopted district.