The other day I said I didn’t know much about Kash Patel beyond the rumors. That’s not to say I didn’t know anything about him, but certain political figures make an impression and then — rightly or wrongly — it colors everything they do afterwards. So when I heard Trump planned to nominate Patel for FBI Director, I tried to separate what I’d read about him and what I’d heard in passing. What I’d read about him wasn’t great, but it was from years ago in a couple books about the first Trump administration. What I’d heard in passing was worse, but I’d heard it in passing, the people scoffing before and after they mentioned his name. It’s eerie how that can become the basis of your opinion of someone. (Think of Dan Quayle. Does anyone not scoff when they hear his name? Do many people have an example of why they’re scoffing beyond “Potatos”-gate?)
All this is to say what I knew about Patel was more impression than fact. Maybe the impression was spot on. But I wanted to know more before casting judgment because there’s so much noise in politics and what’s the harm in waiting for restrained, thoughtful analysis. (And by the way, this is just me. If you’ve seen enough or read enough about Patel to say, “Absolutely not,” or, “He’ll do great,” then you’re going on more than I am. I rarely watch TV news and I tend to gloss over quotes from political aides because they’re just parroting their bosses.) Which is where today’s link comes in. Whatever your views on Patel, I encourage you to stick with the column. It won’t please anyone 100%, but that’s another way of saying it has something for everyone. I’ve seen enough now to know how I feel about his impending nomination. Maybe that will change as more information comes in. Maybe it won’t. Either way, I have a better foundation for making my case.