Mike McConnell, the outgoing director of national intelligence, basically had one overall goal for his tenure: secure congressional approval for the Bush administration’s warrantless surveillance program through the revision of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Jay Rockefeller, the outgoing Democratic chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, helped him do it. So it’s hardly surprising that McConnell should congratulate Rockefeller for accomplishing his mission.

Today McConnell awarded Rockefeller the National Intelligence Distinguished Public Service Medal. (PDF) Something about that just doesn’t quite scream "aggressive congressional oversight." Rockefeller has always been disinclined to speak up for himself, and those close to him said he never wanted the headache of a top intelligence-committee position in the first place. But it’s amazing that he doesn’t seem to realize that McConnell is laughing at him by giving him this medal.

Crossposted to The Streak. Should I have used "They Calling You A Bitch, Not A Bandit, At Your Wake" for the headline? It’s a killer Clipse lyric but I kind of want to keep it in reserve.