Slade Gorton and Jamie Gorelick, both members of the exalted 9/11 commission, tackle one of the executive branch’s BIG issues in yesterday’s New York Times: the transition from the Bush administration’s national security officials to tne new administration’s national security officials. Gorton and Gorelick argue that terrorists may take advantage of America’s vulnerability during a time of transition.

With that in mind, John McCain and Barack Obama should be getting daily intelligence briefings now. They should also be already vetting candidates for elemental jobs like Secretary of Defense and Homeland Security Secretary. And the Senate should be prepared to confirm or reject all these nominees by inauguration day.

Followers of the federal government will find much to like and dislike in the piece. It does talk about the anxiety felt by defense officials when a presidential candidate promises to change everything,  But the piece goes overboard in its privileging of national security. It might also be nice for the federal government, and American public, to know a candidate’s choice to head the Environmental Protection Agency or Dept. of Labor. Those task are vital too.-MB

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