NBC: Obama picks Panetta for CIA director

kill that noise already...oh by the way...john mccain lost.......lol...funny...forget unity...those republicans can go to hell...right there with their vp

Kristina-416455

It is extremely obvious you are one of the Obama people that just make excuses for everything he does that seems "out of sorts".

Even you must be surprised by this appointment!  How can you keep making excuses when the administration is none other than Clinton's all over again???????

I am a democrat who voted for Obama!

well the comments are still pretty civil only one used &*(— so that's still good.  Come on people just express glee, indignation, or great pick but you are doing a good job of civilty

I keep praying Obama will be as good as  leader as he is an organizer, so far he has not leAd in any of his short careers  but he is doing great getting everything organized and it he can make it work, I'll be sorry I did not vote for him

aside (wonder who Gov Palin would have picked)

As long as he picks as his #1 and #2 guys Jesse Ventura and Chuck Norris, I'm happy.

Looks like HRC is getting everyone in place for the Great "Cou Da Ta".

gee pres.elect obama don't you have anybody outside the clinton administration you can pick from for your cabinet, thought you were the right choice kinda wondering now, thought you might be a 21st century man but I guess it's politics as usual

While gas is so cheap, maybe all of us that has never visited Washington DC should start planning a tailgate party

Welcome Back Kotter, version II; this is nothing more than Clinton all over...

How stuuuuuuupid is this?  We need a highly trained operative totally familiar with CIA, NSA and other national security interests.  What we need is more not less in this extremely important position.  This ain't good change, this is goofy!  He may as well have appointed Barney Phiffe (sp?). 

 Might as well appointted a guy that lives under a bridge to be CIA Director. In this current world climate, the CIA Director should be someone with alot of experience or just MAYBE some experience. A negligent pick by Obama.

I think I am going to start a Chuck Norris for CIA Director petition- any signers? LOL;-)

I thougt president obama, was his own man but I guess its politics as usual, guess you owed the Clintons more than you led us to believe, hope I didn't waste my vote, may have been deceived by one of the biggest scams in politics, hope not, if I was I hope the republicans don't vote for a single thing you want, thought it was a change coming well mr. obama guess you fooled all of us. I guess you'll be getting your cuban cigars from the good ole boy, Bill clinton

I never noticed before, Leon could enter a Barney Frank look-a-like contest if you factor in the plastic Nancy P. smile.

This is certainly looking more and more like Bill Clinton's 3rd administration.  As for Panetta, the article says it all- no experience in the realm of intelligence.  Go figure.

Mr. Obama, who is your second pick for this position? Since there's no way on Earth that this guy will get past the confirmation hearings.....

I'll bet he picked Panetta because Putin was not available.

You all will be surprised.  Leon is intelligent, smart, a squeaky clean boy scout, ...I could go on.  When he was selected for the Director of the Budget, the press jumped on him as a person who knew nothing about the Budget process.  After a short while, every was in support.  Then, Clinton picked Leon for Chief of Staff.  Even more noise.  A short time later, bot Republicans and Democrates loved him.  You will get the picture when he gets a 100% vote for the appointment.  I guess I can wrap up by saying he is not in the mold of the Washington insider.

SO WHY did OBAMA get elected???

WHAT Change??? Looks like a CLINTON admisitration to me!

The Socialists are taking over!! Beware!

I agree with SB on a major point: As a conservative, I was horrified with the "intelligence" community's apparent willingness to make claims regarding Iraq that were not capable of substantiation---even Bush complained of (or admitted) that in December (although it was what he wanted in order to justify the Iraq action). So, how much worse could it get under Panetta, you, me, or the hot dog vendor on 6th Avenue?

I voted for Obama. The other choice was just evil and senile. This one is well intentioned at least, and isn't derelict. 

The positive side of this choice is that Panetta will know how to communicate with the White House. I suspect actually, that this will be more important than we realize. Previous CIA directors have been fairly versed in the CIA, but lousy at communicating with the president.

The downside of Panetta is obvious. He is likely to make the mistakes Anthony Lake did, and get ops going that he then stops at the last second, thereby delivering good men to their deaths. (Mostly I am talking about recruits in target nations.) He is also likely to place far too much value on signals intelligence. This will tend to result in continuation of the development of people in the CIA who are risk-averse.

wanna bet?

Panetta only makes sense if State Department / Hillary is really going to be 'in charge' of foreign policy (versus military / CIA). Panetta has spent a lifetime deferring to the Clinton's...so a few more years won't hurt.

In fairness, one can make the case that it is the State Department's turn to lead, given the results of Pentagon / CIA efforts of late.

Of course, the downside is if the war is REAL and the risks to us are REAL, the moral strength of the State Department won't really count for much. As asked by Stalin of Churchill and Roosevelt during WWII when the 'point of view' of the Pope was brought up...'how many armies does the Pope command?'

Interesting event. David M. Price identified Leon Panetta as having ties to the Institute For Policy Studies, IPS, in his well-broadcast and published large booklet entitled, "Secret," which detailed Bill and Hillary Clinton's ties to Marxist groups. David identified Leon's name in the preface of the booklet as a possible pick as a cabinet member in the Clinton adminstration BEFORE Clinton formally took the presidency. As mentioned in the article, Leon, did take the position. The FBI has a copy of David's booklet, given to them in Wichita, KS.

Late to this chat, but dang what an ignorant pick.  Even Hilary was not this bad a pick.  The CIA is NO PLACE for a politician.   I was expecting better out of our PE.

By the way, Richardson withdrawal was not unexpected.  He has been appointed to more posts he is not qualified for than the Poster Child for the Peter Principle.

Come on, BHO!  You can do better!  A lot of people who didn't vote for ya are at least rootin' for ya.    In our office pool, I have January 23rd, 2009 as when you get your first gray hair!  Good luck!  Wouldn't wish your job on my worst enemy.  I hear Johnny Mac is thanking the Lord nightly for his inability to string two thoughts together.

As a republican, I would like to see Obama appoint some fresh minds...for Christ sake, it's like a Clinton Twilight Zone.