Democrats cool to Panetta at CIA

confirmation question for mr. panetta: what was your input to the numerous requests to finalize the targeting of OBM...osama ???

"A former officer in the CIA's clandestine service, Reuel Marc Gerecht, ..... 'First and foremost, people tend to overestimate what any director of the Central Intelligence Agency can do concerning reform and restructuring the institution,' he said. 'The institution more or less runs itself. This notion that leadership will somehow change the agency and particularly the clandestine service is a bit much.'" What a whitewashed bunch of crock! So what's that supposed to mean? Putting any political stooge, yes-man, sychophant, or amateur in charge of the nation's most sensitive national security operations? And somehow the organization will run itself? That's a recipe for CIA going rudderless, and another 9/11 or something far worse happening again. The stakes are too high for that. Leaders run organizations. The CIA needs a leader --- not some potted plant meant to appease Code Pink and the ACLU. To lead, any appointee to CIA Director needs to know enough about intelligence and national security so that they make that organization agile and responsive enough to go after current threats and identify/gather information on the future ones. Anything less than that is a betrayal of America's security.

This is absolutely the best pick ever for the CIA! As these last years have shown, the CIA is mostly a political arm of the DNC with their own agenda. What makes more sense than to appoint a political operative to head an organization that can be even better than J.Edgar Hoover's FBI in gathering intel on politicians since the CIA has international scope. It's shear genius on Obama's part. The other agencies that are more professional (NSA, FBI, Pentagon, etc.) can do the CIA's stated job. After all, when was the last time the CIA has been right on any major event? I say leave Obama alone! We must have a counter to the re-emergence of Putin's political oriented KGB so we can control the vast right-wing conspiracy wingnuts that is wrecking the planet!

What Harriet Meyers wasn't available? Political correctness allowed the 19 9/11 murder bombers to get flight training and kill thousands. Cronyism in the CIA will ensure NYC has tens of thousands die in the next attack. Liberals die because liberals lead. Irony and malfeasance hand in glove.

Why in G*d's name would we want ANYONE associated w/Bubba's admin. These idiots running ANYTHING that has to do w/natn'l. security is LAUGHABLE! Aren't these the same group of clowns who dropped the ball on Osama in the 90s? Who had actionable intel on numerous occasions as to Osama's whereabouts & cared enough to send cruise missiles to blow up an asprin factory? Isn't Panetta the same Slick Willie Chief of Staff who claimed he knew NOTHING about Bill's little "hide the cigar" adventures? The same Chief of Staff of an admin that helped erect the wall of silence b/w CIA & the FBI? The same Chief of Staff of an admin that had more leaks than a pasta strainer?! And he's gonna be "Top Spy"?!!! WOW!!! I feel safer already! This is ceratainly in keeping w/the "Hope" slogan of his sappy campaign. Unfortunately, in the particular case of the intel community, as with the military, "hope is NOT a method." I AM pleased that this will meet w/some resistance from within his own party. Thankfully, SOME of them still have some brains/common sense. I'll love watching THIS little sideshow to the OTHER laughable Hope & Change melodramas currently unfolding. SNL couln't WRITE sh*t any better than this stuff.

Oh, BTW, examine the scentence in the article: "...harsh interrogation tactics used on detainees after the 9-11 terrorist attacks." Can anyone posting here tell me if they give a rat's tuchus about "harsh interrogation tactics of detainees" if we REALLY remember what happened on 9-11? After we watched people jump to their deaths rather than burn? After a flight full of people decided to go out on THEIR OWN terms & crash their plane into a field? Really? I'm not too concerned when I put it in that perspective. I would think that anyone with a brain, heart, conscience, & memory would come to the same conclusion. Therefore, why should anyone be too concerned with if Aziz is kept awake for 72 plus hours under blinding white lights with Ozzy Osbourne & Metallica blasting at a billion decibels? Why should we care if Aziz feels like he's drowning for a little bit? It's a damn site more "humane" then what they do to us when they capture our guys. My sympathy was long ago spent for slime like this. You want sympathy, go look it up in the dictionary b/w sh*t & syphillis. I'm more interested in finding out if Aziz & his bubbies are planning to nuke, plague, gas, blowup or shoot up some city here in the US. Call me crazy. That just sounds like the price of doin bidness. Think they wouldn't do the same? If anyone does, they just need to go hug a suicide bomber. Maybe he'll "feel the love & understanding" & not take you with him.

I thought Hillary wasn't elected President. It's deja voue all over again. The Clinton II administration.

This says to me BoBo is starting the demise of the CIA! Considering all the problems the Bush Administration had with the "outcasts" that make up the CIA, we will now have someone in the White House who has disdain with anything that isn't inclusive. GOD HELP US AS THIS ADMINISTRATION OPENS THE DOORS TO THE WORLD! Putting someone in the leadership of a group of "spymen" who knows nothing about the culture is disasterous for the country!

I hear Monica Lewenski may become the next head of the FBI so she can get her blue dress back. Joe Biden is going to be correct, but obviosly not for the reasons he thinks. Nothing against Mr. Panetta (he proved to be a fine chief of staff for the Clintons), but I want someone w/ a little more experience to run the CIA. I guess since BO must think since nothing has hit the US since 9/11 it just ain't happening. Very disappointed in this pick. Any rumors that James Carville will soon be running NRO?

Whats next? Dona Brazile for FBI Director ? The Obama transition - what a joke. Comedy Central -- comes to Washington? Kathy Griffin - there is loads of material here for you girl - come on down !!! Fat Boy Richardson got what he deserved for spitting on the Clintons...Dona Brazile - you will get yours soon enough.

In politics the scenario is usually driven by many different hidden agendas and choosing an individual as the new CIA Head who doesn't have any intelligence experience fits the scenario. Why pick someone who obviously doesn't have the qualifications? If the average American applied for a job that had certain qualification parameters - the individual with the best qualifications should, idealistically, be offered the job. Well....maybe President-Elect Obama and whomever truly owns him (since the public will never know - he is the media's darling) have an agenda, such as maybe it is a good thing and better for them if the CIA Director is not too savvy. Just a thought.

Leon Panetta will be the death of this country. Both the chinese and russians are spending mammoth amounts of money on military upgrades and we are putting a political hack in charge of the CIA. God help us!

Mr Panetta was the "gentleman" that helped Clinton with his Chinagate problem if I remember correctly.

Is Mr.Obama going to be the same as Bush that won't listen to other's opinion? This man is not qualified to be head of the CIa.

Leon was also the same one who said he was not aware Monica and Bill were sharing cigars. Sgt Schultz indeed.