Posted on 06/21/2011 2:50:15 PM PDT by Hawk720
With little fanfare or controversy, the Senate on Tuesday unanimously confirmed Leon Panetta as the next Defense secretary as a debate rages in Washington over the cost and scope of military operations abroad.
Panetta, President Barack Obamas CIA director, succeeds Robert Gates, who has led the Pentagon since late 2006 and is retiring at the end of the month.
Panettas confirmation comes just a day before Obamas major address on the Afghanistan war in which he is expected to announce hell withdraw all 33,000 surge troops from the region by the end of 2012. In addition to the troop drawdown, Panetta will have to contend with lawmakers on Capitol Hill who are seeking to restrict Obamas military operations in Libya.
The 100-0 vote revealed how well respected Panetta is on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called it a home-run choice, saying the president made a very wise decision.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
Very wise words from both of you. The Killers Without Conscience continue the long march through the institutions of our country.
Of course the Pubbies voted for him!
The Dems are Left-wing Leftists and the Pubbies are Right-wing Leftists.
A Leftist by any other name is still a Leftist whether they have a D or an R after their name.
Panetta and Gates are both foreign policy realists. In fact, they both served on the Iraq Study Group.
You have got to be Sh1++1n’ me . . .
Being a Socialist, Communist don’t mean anything anymore! Personally I would like to throw them in Jail!
100-0, I cant get 100 people to say waters wet, somethings fishy here
The fact that Sen. Graham said something is not the sign of anything.
All he did was use the unanimous vote to make a point that was obviously true. If Panetta were not respected on both sides of the aisle, he would not have won unanimously. It was the vote that proves the point. Graham’s comment was meaningless in evaluating opinion about Leon Panetta.
Take his comment out of it. There are some fine Republican Senators who voted for Panetta. Jeff Sessions, Tom Coburn, Jim DeMent, James Inhoff, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio, Mike Lee, and I could go on...
I’m not saying their votes prove anything on Panetta, other than that they believed he was an appropriate pick.
Think about it. So many voted for him, what difference does it make what one dim bulb named Graham said about it?
Cogent reply, thanks. People need to remember that the tea Party is not just something going on out in Flyover Country. There is a sea-change going on in D.C. that has the various political factions going to the mattresses. So these days more than ever before, interpreting events means perceiving functional factions, not outward labels.
And there's one more thing. Everyone wants Obama impeached or defeated. but who do you think is waiting in the wings, like a snake in the grass? Hillary, that's who. So interpret things at least at two levels if you want to see what's going on - the Obama level, and then underneath, the Hillary level. Once both are considered, THEN look at the exterior events and ask yourself what they could mean, for and against these factions.
Otherwise you won't have a clue.
IBTZ
Panetta has a lovable face, like a basset hound.
You are an ass and a dense one at that. Oh, so Panetta is the best that this administration can offer...with his communist ties? And you are ok with that? Geez no freaking wonder we are in trouble!! Asses like you are just ok with someone that has communist ties. Unbelievable. Honest to God I see now why the country is going down in flames.
And I’m suppose to be satisified and not raise hell because why again? Panetta is communist lite? Do your research dumbass.
Guess you like Romney too and anyone who is ‘moderate’. Wake up stupid.
If YOU had a brain cell in YOUR head, you would be livid over this.
How is it you have slipped by FR being a Romney supporter and a moderate?
When the crash of the United States of America happens, pat yourself on the back because you voted for those that were the best out of shitty choices. Good for you lowlife.
Panetta is a liberal Rat, you fight liberal Rats every step of the way.
Are we going to fight to save this country from liberal Rats are not?
It's that simple with me right now and the hell with our fine Republican Senators who don't see that.
UBL....op....
And the current administration just gets worse and worse. And America continues its slide into the cesspool of disaster.
btt
I agree. Would we rather see Obama pull Ron Dellums or Pat Schroeder out of retirement for this? Panetta is the best we`re going to see for SecDef from this administration.
Panetta is an old Republican.
Yep. He’s the best of the worst. And there’s much worse out there. At least he can pull the trigger.
I'm sick and tired of it all. The only way we are going to right this ship is by physical force. God help us
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.