The option of picking a talented outsider to fill a key vacancy is not favored by the Bush administration which typically moves insiders around. It seems to me that the multiple management challenges at DHS would argue against creating a vacancy at the helm and another confirmation battle to replace Secretary Chertoff — who would have been a more popular pick for AG among conservatives before the recent immigration debate. As John Ashcroft well knows, senatorial courtesy towards a former colleague has its limits but how about a particularly smart and articulate former Senator who could ably make the case for crucial anti-terrorist measures? How about Jim Talent?