> This is poisoning the well. There are some good questions in the posted letter. Whatever their political stripes or past failings, at least someone is willing

> This is poisoning the well. There are some good questions in the posted letter. Whatever their political stripes or past failings, at least someone is willing to press the issue instead of dropping it. Note that if the questioner is generally viewed as someone who would ask such questions merely as an attack strategy (something which is depressingly common in the GOP these days), that's going to make it easier for the administration to avoid giving a meaningful answer; his reputation gives them some cover. For the same reason, somebody who's viewed as a friend of the administration asking the same questions would be much more painful. So for better or for worse, it does matter somewhat who's doing the asking...