Reports: Panetta to CIA
Several outlets are reporting this afternoon that Leon Panetta, former chief of staff to Bill Clinton, is Obama's pick to head the CIA.
Panetta is considered more of a budget expert than an intelligence specialist, but he has a strong progressive background and has eloquently argued against Bush era spying tactics. Panetta also served on the Iraq Study Group in 2006 and formerly chaired the Center for National Policy.
We have calls in to the Obama transition office as well as the Panetta Institute, his current home at California State University, and will update as soon as we hear more.
Late Update: Despite Panetta's lack of nitty-gritty intel experience, his selection is a welcome sign after some reports that current CIA chief Mike Hayden might be asked to stay on. Panetta's fiscal expertise could mean good things for the long-neglected task of intelligence spending reform, a herculean task that involves merging competing fiefdoms of powerful lawmakers on the Appropriations Committee.
It also appears that Dennis Blair, the naval admiral long tipped to become Director of National Intelligence, will be unveiled as a nominee alongside Panetta.
Wait for the far left to start complaining about THIS ONE! HAHAHAHA!
Did they really think that people who actually worked INSIDE the CIA with actual field experience wouldn't have connections to "torture," etc.
Now they get someone who is AGAINST torture and is actually quite progressive with regards to rule of law, but they will go "what about the experiecne?!?!"
Can't have your cake and eat it too, fellas.
January 5, 2009 3:16 PM | Reply | Permalink
That won't be the argument. They'll start screaming because he was in the Clinton administration. Just wait.
January 5, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
do you two have your heads up your own asses, or each others'?
January 6, 2009 9:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
Wait for the far left to start complaining about THIS ONE! HAHAHAHA!
Did they really think that people who actually worked INSIDE the CIA with actual field experience wouldn't have connections to "torture," etc.
Now they get someone who is AGAINST torture and is actually quite progressive with regards to rule of law, but they will go "what about the experiecne?!?!"
Can't have your cake and eat it too, fellas.
January 5, 2009 3:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
but they will go "what about the experiecne?!?!"
Name three people - not even lefties, just Democrats - who have said this.
(crickets)
Name one.
(crickets)
January 5, 2009 3:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
head over to DKOS and see for yourself.
January 5, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
oh, i see, "far left" is wingnut for "daily kos" you really should get out more.
January 5, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Who said I equated "wingnut" with "far left?"
DKos is far left. Why do you think they've been complaning about every single Obama appointment who is not Dennis Kucninich or Howard Dean?
All I'm saying is that the far left cries out for anti-torture policy, which is right, but when it comes to appointing someone to head the CIA, they can't come up with someone with extensive field experience who has not had their hands stained.
Their hissy fits over John Brennan now lead to Leon Panetta, who is a fine choice, but who indeed does not have field experience
January 5, 2009 3:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
here's what i found on the front page of dKos, which i haven't read in years:
so the upcoming "hissy fit" over panetta you're predicting is not in evidence, i.e., you're talking out of your ass.
January 5, 2009 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/1/5/155228/2353/928/680456
here you go.
Leon Panetta Is a Weak Choice for CIA Director
that's one.
January 5, 2009 4:17 PM | Reply | Permalink
that's one.
uh-huh, one. with the update that Diane Feinstein is opposed to the pick. some "far left"
January 5, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
unless, by "far left" you mean "centrist, pro-war, bush-enabling center." in that case your comments make sense. this pinko's okay with panetta
January 5, 2009 4:57 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is significant, and a good sign, that Obama did not consult Feinstein. She is part of the pro-war group implicated in the torture coverup. I think this send a signal that he is not willing to run a coverup for Dems.
By the way, she had no difficulty confirming Mukasey, in spite of his support of torture.
January 6, 2009 10:38 AM | Reply | Permalink
hey, didn't you read the all caps? this guy knows exactly what he's prognosticatin' (the phrase "far left" was a dead giveaway)
January 5, 2009 3:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
As a former Chief of Staff, Panneta has plenty of experience stringing people up by the balls. He'll be fine.
January 5, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
That is the best comment on this topic!
January 5, 2009 7:07 PM | Reply | Permalink
waiting
January 5, 2009 3:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
your ESP is faulty
January 5, 2009 3:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Panetta seems organized and is against torture.
Perhaps he will be just fine.
January 5, 2009 3:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Indeed. "Against torture" is by far the most important thing. This is a good choice.
January 5, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
According to this: http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/01/05/1732576.aspx Feinstein (and Jay Rockefeller) want a guy who was FOR "enhanced interrogation techniques", so that should give you a picture of where she stands on the matter.
January 5, 2009 11:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Is there anyone left from the Clinton Administration without a job?
Bill for Commence?
January 5, 2009 3:26 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sandy Berger
(put him in charge of the National Archive!)
January 5, 2009 4:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
I think Obama wanted a CLEAN BREAK from Bush and he got it with Panetta.
January 5, 2009 3:27 PM | Reply | Permalink
Awww yeaahhh Panetta, bringing sexy back!
Haha.
Sorry.
January 5, 2009 3:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm concerned that this choice which obviously panders to the fair minded, thinking liberal/progressive wing of the Democratic Party will create political blow-back that will further stain the obviously tarnished Obama mandate. Aren't you concerned? Shouldn't we all be concerned? After all, just how forgiving can the press be when confronted with the seemingly deliberate (and very concerning) appointments of seasoned liberal, thinking, intelligent, broad minded folks to such high level positions?
I'm just sayin'
/snark
January 5, 2009 3:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Total pander.
Imppeeaaccchh! Immmpppeeaacccchhhhh!!!
January 5, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
I share your concerned. once we have a CIA chief who's opposed to torture and believes in 4th amendment protections, what's next? a vice-president who signs on to such Americanities? perhaps a president? dare i say it, a supreme court?
January 5, 2009 3:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Seems like a first rate manager and stands on the right side of the torture issue. Of course it will all depend on who he surrounds himself with and if the rank and file spook accept him as their leader.
Panetta was outspoken in the past about torture - so a message is being sent there. He doesn't have any intelligence experience, though as Clinton's COS he has been around the tough decision making.
I suspect Brennan might find himself Panetta's second-in-command, in a spot that doesn't need Senate confirmation or gets any publicity.
January 5, 2009 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
What is critical is not that Panetta is intelligence expert himself, but those in the intelligence field believe they are empowered to do their job and that their intelligence will be respected to the extent that it should be (viewed with a critical eye, but not dismissed when it isn't what the administration wants to hear). If we are actually going to make progress in places like Pakistan and Gaza, we will need a competent intelligence team out there who have high morale.
January 5, 2009 3:35 PM | Reply | Permalink
January 5, 2009 3:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
WHERE DA CHANGE?/
ME WANT CHANGE!1
January 5, 2009 3:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Sorry buddy. I can give you a couple dimes and a penny but with the cost of the bus going up I'm having to keep what the barista gives me back when I get my double half-caf blue latte lite.
If you want change maybe you can find a grate near 9th and K. I hear Mt. Vernon Sq. is a good spot...
January 5, 2009 3:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Panetta served on the Iraq Study Group with the new NSA James Jones. I'm sure that connection probably helped him get the job.
January 5, 2009 4:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
Jesus Christ. The man who was with Cheney in the EOB Bunker on 9/11.
Obama's a fucking joke.
January 5, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
And you're an ass : : :
January 5, 2009 5:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
No. You're thinking of Mineta, as in Norman Mineta, the Trans. Sec, who gave testimony regarding 9/11.
Panetta has not worked for the Bush administration.
January 5, 2009 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink
Panetta served on the Iraq Study Group with the new NSA James Jones. I'm sure that connection probably helped him get the job.
January 5, 2009 4:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Panetta is a great choice. He is not insinuated into the "intelligence" apparatus, he is not a criminal and will not look the other way.
I am a Californian and not the least bit proud of Sen. Feinstein's remarks today. The CIA needs the light of day not more cover-ups.
January 5, 2009 4:59 PM | Reply | Permalink
What remarks? What did Feinstein say?
January 5, 2009 5:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
that she wasn't consulted about the pick, and that she wants a CIA insider for the job.
January 5, 2009 5:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Feinstein is a waste of skin, as always. An insider is the very LAST thing that's needed, and kudos to Obama for seeing that.
January 5, 2009 6:01 PM | Reply | Permalink
sully has a nice panetta quote, sure to send the DiFis of the country into fits:
How did we transform from champions of human dignity and individual rights into a nation of armchair torturers? One word: fear. Fear is blinding, hateful, and vengeful. It makes the end justify the means. And why not? If torture can stop the next terrorist attack, the next suicide bomber, then what's wrong with a little waterboarding or electric shock? The simple answer is the rule of law. Our Constitution defines the rules that guide our nation.
he'll do.
January 5, 2009 5:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hell he might be too clean for the intelligence community.
I wonder if he's being nominated in order to be defeated, which would open the door for Brennan.
Obama "Hey, I tried to find a qualified head who didn't have the stains of torture on him and he was rejected..."
January 5, 2009 5:51 PM | Reply | Permalink
benjoya,
And as an added bonus Panetta will let the chips, ( in this case dead, rendered, and abused detainees) ,lead to whomever enabled the Torture Team to get away with their suborning of our morals, traditions, and laws-and will help in their prosecution . I for one have long suspected that Bushcheney could not have so thoroughly clusterf---kked We the People the last eight years without some Enablers on the Hill-
Senator Feinstein & Congresswoman Harmon will need to be fully held accountable for any misdeeds done that may have aided & abetted the ongoing criminal enterprise aka gwb 43 for these last long eight years. (Could this be the reason that Feinstein & Harmon were not kept in the 'need to know ' oversight group regarding Panetta's pending appointment? )
Further Panetta will also be the perfect infighter to protect the field intelligence operators that acamus rightly observes need to be supported and protected from the future Cheney's and Bolten's browbeating. Panetta will also fully cooperate with the ongoing Durham investigation into who really order the torture " tapes" destroyed and why .
Yes - Panetta is an excellent choice for this new day dawning with Obama 44. And you know who might make a great pick for Panetta's number two - Col Wilkerson - he used to work with INR , and was SOS Powell's number two . The good Colonel really , really dislikes the neocons -and in fact AP reports that he thinks Bush was a "Sara Pallin " President ..
January 5, 2009 7:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
BENJOYA,
Panetta is the consummate infighter that can & will protect the Agency from the likes of Cheney & Bolten. And in my opinion the reason why Senator Feinstein & Congresswoman Harmon were not kept in this Panetta 'need to know "appointment loop is because some of the Enablers on the Hill -who aided & abetted the war criminals will also need to he held accountable for their actions . Panetta will restore the CIA to the rule of law .
January 5, 2009 8:04 PM | Reply | Permalink
Whatever Obama does there will always be criticism. The man just can't get a break!
January 5, 2009 6:30 PM | Reply | Permalink
All those intel professionals went along with War, Torture both in Iran/Contra and Iraq. They went along with illegal spying, rendition and shredding our Constitution. DiFi included with much of this. I am all for someone with a moral compass that does not come from the intel community. Panetta is on record opposing torture. He is an excellent manager. He sounds good to me.
January 5, 2009 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wondering of Feinstein's blunt statement reflects or expresses opinion of her ally, SoS-designate Hillary Clinton. Feinstein could have been a lot more circumspect while expressing the same skepticism.
January 5, 2009 10:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Feinstein is a CRIMINAL, and should be treated the same as Bush /Cheney. She doesn't want Panetta because of her criminality and her support of torture..Plain and simple...she needed to go years ago, she is a crummy Dem at the most! LIEberman in a dress!
January 6, 2009 4:59 AM | Reply | Permalink