Posted on 01/05/2009 10:04:59 PM PST by melt
Sen. Diane Feinstein is reportedly fuming that Barack Obama picked Leon Panetta as his new CIA Director and never consulted with her.
Feinstein, the incoming chairwoman of the Senate intelligence committee, issued a sharp statement Monday that was a thinly veiled criticism of the pick. The statement made it clear that she had expected a career intelligence professional – unlike Panetta, who has no intelligence expertise whatsoever – to be leading the CIA.
"I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director,’’ Feinstein said.
“I know nothing about this, other than what I've read," said Senator Feinstein, who will chair the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the 111th Congress. "My position has consistently been that I believe the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time."
Panetta could face tough questions at his nomination hearing about his background in intelligence.
A former senior CIA official who advises Obama defended the surprise choice of Panetta, whose only military and intelligence experience is a two-year stint in the mid-1960s as a U.S. Army lieutenant.
The official told the Associated Press that Panetta had been a consumer of CIA intelligence when he was at the White House.
The source said Panetta was selected for his administrative, management and political skills that will allow him both to control and advocate for the agency.
The official added that Panetta will rely on the expertise of CIA officers to balance his lack of personal intelligence experience.
Veterans of the CIA were caught off guard by the selection.
"I'm at a loss," said Robert Grenier, a former director of the CIA's counterterrorism center and 27-year veteran of the agency who now is managing director of Kroll, a security consulting company.
The lack of intelligence...
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Biden will be dispatched to mend fences within hours. If he hasn’t been already.
I hope she dismisses his assurances by snidely informing him that her IQ is higher than his.
Actually, I am sure it is.
Well, every now and then Feinstein will lapse into coherency and morph into Scoop Jackson mode. This is one of those times. She apparently believes deep down that the administration is way in over its head and needs some sanity in a key position such as Intelligence. I have some grain of respect for Feinstein because she's an old-line leftist and not the moonbatty leftist that Boxer is.
Good point. Hitler got the trains running on time too! So we have that going for us, which is good.
Someone needs to check the temperature in Hades. For me to find something I agree with Feinstein on, it must have frozen over.
But, I do have to agree with her on “. . . the agency is best served by having an intelligence professional in charge at this time.”
Now, what action will she and the rest of the Socialist Demokratik Politburo take about it?
I’m not holding my breath. They are better at grandstanding than taking action.
Panetta is the most incompetent pick possible other than Sam Farr who occupies Panetta’s old House seat.
And Puñetta is just stupid enough to accept the job.
Nancy is auditioning for the role of “Loyal Opposition”
wait til they start making real decisions
nobama will make jc look decisive, clinton look moral and w look competent.
Every time he talks markets will tank.
Yes, in CA it is widely known that reasonable people and groups go to DiFi’s office to present their arguments. In my case, small biz folks who want to protect jobs and livelihoods.
Boxer’s office is a waste of time, unless you are an extreme group that is a part of her bizarre “vision” for the country. Anyone else is not greeted or treated professionally.
Surely, Feinstein didn’t expect a Muslim reared male to ask a Jewish female for her input or opinion?
First off - this is NOT a defense of WND.
Now to my point - Like any other media outlet, WND is before anything else a business and, as such, its financial health is what makes the reporting possible. Advertising is the core of their financial viability and the ad placement has to be such that they can have a reasonable expectation of consumer exposure. With the on-line media this requires an intertwining of advertising and reporting.
I'm sure if you can figure out a better way to meet the on-line media's financial needs your personal finances will benefit greatly.
Sorry Mr. Panetta, intelligence is not something you can "consume."
Either you are born with it, you work for it, or you gain it through experience.
true, but she is still a Duchess within the party - and Obummer is not toeing the party line - if he thinks the republicans are tough on him, he ain't seen nuthin' like the dems turning on an upstart within their ranks, plastic messiah or not. Feinstein (best galpal of Pelosi) can turn Obama into a Blago with a twitch of her nose. jmo
best regards, blu
Ya know, its gotta be pretty bad when even a moonbat like Feinstein gets worried.
The CIA has the goods on Zer0 and Hillary. Who better to place at the helm than another Clintoon appointee?
toeing party line = extending the public courtesy (show) of consulting with party superiors/specialists, as opposed to independent, closely-held suddenly announced ‘surprises’
imo moo jmo
Too bad Feinstein. Maybe your husband’s dealing with the ChiComs will be able to thwart Hussein’s power. But I doubt it.
The time to worry about electing a back-scratching, manipulative, corrupt Chicago politician, who has no experience or ability, and who cares nothing about anything except for siezing and holding power is before the election.
You're stuck with him now, genius!
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