We're pulling for Judge Tunheim

Local judge for Obama's CIA director?

By David Brauer | Published Wed, Dec 17 2008 7:50 am

That's according to this morning's Wall Street Journal, which notes:

New names for director of national intelligence and CIA director have surfaced in recent weeks, including former CIA analysis chief John Gannon for either job. Former CIA operations chief Jack Devine, deputy CIA director Steve Kappes and John R. Tunheim, a federal judge in Minnesota who has handled several terrorism cases, have been mentioned as potential CIA directors.

Obama hasn't made a nomination for CIA boss, but his pick for national intelligence director, Adm. Dennis Blair, is running into trouble. That could force a deck reshuffling that benefits Tunheim, a Clinton judicial appointee originally nominated by the late Sen. Paul Wellstone.