Too Many Secrets

Claims of "national security" have reached a new level of ridiculousness, recently. Not only does Bush have a secret plan to end the war in Iraq (according to Conrad Burns), apparently Dennis Hastert has a secret list of successors to the post of Speaker of the House. The list was created to "ensure a calm transition if terrorists were to hit the Hill" and of course Hastert's office won't let us see it because it's "a matter of national security." But it could determine who replaces Hastert if the page scandal forces him to resign. The names are assumed to be GOP loyalists hand-picked by Hastert; there's speculation that Doc Hastings (R-WA) might be on it. Hastings, the current Ethics Committee chairman, also happens to be in charge of the Foley investigation.