Obama's CIA pick, Panetta: Another DINO appontment?

[keepCAblue]

I have my reservations...I already posted this as a response in another thread in GD, but thought I'd post here. I think it helps paint the picture of just how conservative Obama's admin is shaping up to be, which does not bode well for us in LGBTQI community...

---------------------

Just a quick glance at his homepage for his CSU-Monterey Bay Institute for Public Policy gives me a shiver. Obama picks yet another conservative Democrat to fill his admin? Here are the Panetta Institute's honorees for 2008:

Arnold Schwarzenegger (a Republican)
Rep. Jane Harman (a Blue Dog Dem)
Rep. Jim Saxton (a Republican)

From the Institute's site: http://www.panettainstitute.org/ucanhelp/jefferson-lincoln.htm

The Jefferson-Lincoln Dinner

Each year at a special gourmet dinner, the Institute presents its Jefferson-Lincoln Award to individuals who have demonstrated independence of judgment and dedication to good governance in addressing our nation's problems and protecting the principles of our democracy.

The ninth annual Jefferson-Lincoln Awards dinner, An Evening to Honor Lives of Public Service, was held on the evening of Saturday, November 8, 2008, at The Inn at Spanish Bay. The honorees were California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, U.S. Representative Jane Harman (D-CA), U.S. Representative Jim Saxton (R-NJ), and Ron Brownstein, Political Director of Atlantic Media.

Jefferson-Lincoln honorees are selected by a special committee consisting of former U.S. Senators Howard Baker and Nancy Kassebaum Baker, and former U.S. Representatives Lee Hamilton and Leon Panetta.

Previous honorees include:

Diane Feinstein
Joe Lieberman
John McCain

[kenfrequed]

1. Whoo hooo

Score another point for the DLC! Whoopie.

Sorry I think I just broke my Sarchastrometer.

[MADem]

2. Diane Feinstein is OBJECTING to the appointment. Leon is a friken GENIUS.

I love the way people tar politicians with a broad brush based on the fucking AWARDS they receive.

Gee, is everyone who won the Heisman trophy a double murderer?

Sometimes, I despair of finding logic here.

Panetta is a GREAT guy. Smart as a fucking WHIP. And he has been vocal on the use of TORTURE as an intelligence tool.

FWIW, he's not for it.

Sheesh.

[keepCAblue]

3. So he's not for torture...what else does he stand for...or against?

Have you been to his site? Are you familiar with his Institute? If so, please offer some intellectual input to answer the question posed in the OP. Sarcasm and insults do nothing to further the discussion.

[MADem]

4. I knew him way back when he was a Congressman. Great guy. Sharp as a tack.

Knew his defense issues up one side and down the other. An astonishingly quick study, with a profound intellect. No flies on him at all.

FWIW, I AM familiar with his Institute. I've got some bad news for you--it's not a "Democratic" Institute. It's a NONPARTISAN one. That means they take on ideas and views that come from all sides of the spectrum--even from those mean, nasty REPUBLICANS. They aren't lockstep lefties, or rah-rah righties.

I beg your pardon about "sarcasm and insults." I wasn't being sarcastic OR insulting when I said that anyone who decides they hate someone based on others who receive the same award that they got is well, intellectually UNRIGOROUS. If you want to "further the discussion" you'd be better off not making that sort of justification that Panetta is somehow lacking because he got the same award John McCain did. THAT, you see, IS stupid...and that's just an observation, not an insult. And I'm not being sarcastic either--I mean that.

Panetta is a brilliant choice for this job. He's everything that Tenet is NOT. He's a symbol of that "change" everyone has been looking for, and he is smart enough to get the bubble in a hurry, and not be bullied by a bunch of mostly GOP Intel careerists at the job. I couldn't be more pleased at this selection.

[keepCAblue]

5. Perhaps you should re-read the OP. I never said Panetta got the same award...

If you had actually read the OP, you'd see that it is PANETTA's institute that is handing out the awards, not that Panetta got one.

when one ends a post with "sheesh" and throws out ridiculous analogies like, "Gee, is everyone who won the Heisman trophy a double murderer?", then insults the OP with "Sometimes, I despair of finding logic here", I think your tone is rather unmistakable, a tone which is obviously intended to flame rather than to address the legitimate questions posed in the O.P. ALL the OP stated was an observation, and a quick one at that, about the obvious right-leanings of Panetta's Institute for Public Policy. While both Panetta's Institute and you claim the Institute is bipartisan, the Institute's list of current and past honorees appear to have a definite slant towards the center: "Moderate" Republicans such as Schwarzenegger and Jim Saxton and conservative Dems such as Jane Harman, Diane Feinstein and Joe Lieberman (who was, at the time he was honored, still a Dem).

What is sad about DU, is that it seems one can no longer make an honest observation or ask legitimate questions of fellow DUers anymore without getting blasted with rude and overly-defensive responses by people who, more often than not, don't even bother to read the OP in its entirety. There was no indictment in my OP or any insults lodged at Panetta or his Institute; I simply made an observation and asked for thoughtful feedback from others about Panetta.

[MADem]

6. The institute is NONPARTISAN. Non-partisan. Without allegiance to any one party.

You are demanding lockstep lefty loyalty from a policy think tank that bears Panetta's name.

I do despair of finding logic here. You're whining because some REPUBLICANS got awards from a nonpartisan think tank.

That's pointless. It has nothing to do with the quality of the pick, or his ability to do a good job.

You label the guy a DINO, yet he's the DINO who wrote this: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2008/0801.panetta.html

No Torture. No Exceptions. Yeah....such a DINO....

[keepCAblue]

7. Oh please. I was demanding no such thing. Get over yourself. (hits IGNORE button)

Again, I asked a QUESTION regarding Panetta's politics. I did not assert anything. My, my how you love to twist words and snark. Your abrasiveness is, I've learned through searching your past posts, legendary. Hence, I've put you on ignore. I suggest you do the same to me. Good riddance.

[MADem]

8. I am surprised you are in a snit over Leon, and have nothing to say about the Denny Blair

appointment. He's another smart guy, but he's got more "issues" than Leon.

Here's a link, that you won't see, since you've run off in a huff. http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/6/dennis_blair_obamas_nominee_for_director

You start out by calling Leon a DINO (if that's not a pejorative, what is?), and then try to "claim" that you're seeking unbiased opinion after you've poisoned the well and made up a pitcher of DINO-licious Kool Aid for us. Yeah, it was JUST a question!

:rofl:

Thank you for putting me on IGNORE, though. Your fuse is way too short for my tastes!

:hi: Buh-bye!

[donco6]

9. Panetta is a good guy.

Lots of civil rights experience, which will help in reshaping the Gestapo . . . er . . . CIA.

[MADem]

10. Diane is getting over it too.

Obama called and said "There, there." She's calmed down.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j9VKSxg3vlTYL9fO-cAILwUZbM-gD95HSCU01
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Tuesday that President-elect Barack Obama apologized to her for not notifying her ahead of time that Leon Panetta was his pick for CIA director.

His name leaked to the press before Obama informed Feinstein, a California Democrat and incoming Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, who will oversee Panetta's nomination hearing.

"I have been contacted by both President-elect Obama and Vice President-elect Biden, and they have explained to me the reasons why they believe Leon Panetta is the best candidate for CIA Director," she said.

Feinstein complained Monday she had not been told about Panetta and expressed doubts he has the necessary experience.