Dianne Feinstein Not Too Pleased With Panetta Pick

[sabra]

http://washingtonindependent.com/23827/dianne-feinstein-not-too-pleased-with-panetta-pick

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who’s about to take the reins as chairwoman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, doesn’t appear to be too happy with Leon Panetta’s prospective appointment to head the CIA. Here’s what her office just sent me:

“I was not informed about the selection of Leon Panetta to be the CIA Director. 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.”

[thereismore]

1. Me not too pleased with Sen. Feinstein. She's not my favorite. nt

[Bobbieo]

6. There is no way in hell PE Obama is going to please everyone

with his choices so I say "Get used to 'em!!!"

[PurityOfEssence]

51. So, are we now living in Fuckyouistan?

I can't stand Findspine, no matter how many times I keep voting for her. She's a privileged corporatist and yet another legislator who's blinkered on the subject of Israel, she's more than a bit of an appeaser, she's wimpy and there's more that I won't blather on about right now.

She IS, however, a senior Democrat with experience and responsibility in this area, and she should have been consulted out of ceremonial respect if nothing else.

The "so there, take that" attitude seems to disproportionately apply to Democrats and leftists these days.

I hope Obama's team doesn't repeat the Carter Administration's mistakes of pissing off the locals unnecessarily.

Hopefully the team will make a gentlemanly apology; that's all that's really called for here, and it would be wise to make nice. The inability so far of this group to admit anything even close to a mistake is getting old already, and isn't "new" or "hopey-changey".

Blustering posts blasting people to just shut up and take it aren't what I particularly like hearing from what's supposed to be a movement of plurality. Some manners and decorum are important on the political stage.

[bottomtheweaver]

55. She's my senator and she's basically a Republican where it counts.

Totally on board the Bush-Cheney fake war on terra, DHS, domestic spying, whole nine yards. Gives scary speeches about "threats" whenever they're in a pinch. Rose to power via assassination of Moscone. Frankly I've always wondered about her, but then these last eight years have made me highly suspicious of all such lucky breaks.

[Joe Chi Minh]

59. Isn't she a Carlyle Group investor? A kind of a conflict of interest with the nation,

the way they've carried on in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[bottomtheweaver]

61. So it seems.

Here's a thread from GD that looks into this:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=4772357&mesg_id=4772357

[PurityOfEssence]

80. That's a bit more damning than I'd make it, but does that still justify not notifying her?

Is this a deliberate snub? My assumption is that this was just a screw-up from inexperience rather than some kind of veiled message. The implications of imperiousness are a bit hard to shake in light of the silly hissy fit over the Illinois Senate appointment.

Yes, there's never been a greater beneficiary of a double assassination that I can think of, and had that not happened, I seriously doubt she EVER would have advanced beyond SF City politics.

Still, politics necessitate some finesse and grace, and this is a hell of a clunky mis-step to a prominent member of one's own party.

The interesting argument I heard on NPR is that the incoming team felt that the intelligence community was so compromised by the house-cleaning and politicizing done by the last regime that they felt an outsider was necessary. That's pretty valid thinking in a way, and that's fine, but they still should have at least given her a courtesy heads-up, if not perhaps an actual bit of consultation. I don't think she's the enemy as much as I think that she's just a jellyfish and a bit of a corporatist. If people would remember, she spoke out against Cheney at some very important junctures to criticize the stiff-arming he gave her and her colleagues in the lead up to 9-11 with his laughable Terrorism task force. She actually uncharacteristically spoke up and complained about his hauteur.

Perhaps there's a bit of a reminder shove here for her supporting Hillary Clinton during the primaries. (Clinton WON California, lest we forget...)

It's either amateurish or boorish, but either way, it deserves some notice.

[Joe Chi Minh]

84. Worse things happen at sea. I think it far more likely to have been

very well-calculated.

Such niceties as you place so much store on would be fine in the lazy, hazy days of a political summer. However, Obama and the Democrats have a massive task on their hands and little time to get things moving - there would have been none to spare a month ago - and a peremptory discussion terminated by Obama for lack of time to spare on it, would surely have caused for more offence.

It's surely not difficult to imagine Obama's position on that particular issue as being frankly non-negotiable. He will surely have looked at it from every angle, and its not a routine matter but one of great moment. It's also surely not inconceivable that his opponents in the matter might have been given an advantage he considered it would be imprudent on his part to give. "Secrecy is power" is something I think the intelligence community will have some some small measure of acquaintance with. It was perhaps a decision, like many others, ensuing from consultation with many intelligence experts currently outside that Committee, rather than an arbitrary personal pick.

Intelligence chiefs on that Committee are going to be ultra worldlings, with even Democrats among them investing in the Carlyle Group, so the notion that the kind of president everyone else expects Obama to, at least, try to be, not finding himself at odds with them at times, even on such major issues, seems pretty implausible. I think he would be a weak president indeed if there were not occasions when he would lay himself open to accusations of being somewhat discourteous. It's a cockpit, and while that may in normal times render mutual courtesy all the more desirable, there should be times and circumstances in which offended parties should just "bite the bullet", and show a little understanding.

If you watch that video, "The Wass'Up Boys", you'll notice that the guy on the phone absolutely bawls at the mate of his who'd just come into the room, because he had to tell him twice to pick up the phone. If he did that to a woman, he would have made an enemy for life. In that kind of committe, Ms Feinstein's got to learn to be a man, warts and all. If they say politics is "show biz" for ugly people, imagine what an imperial US Intelligence Committee must be like. Pass me my shades, will you.

[Thrill]

2. Obama doesn't answer to you

[MadBadger]

20. Well... techincallynhe does, but I agree with your sentiment

Obama answers to the people of the United States.

[WeDidIt]

3. Well that does it. Panetta was a BRILLIANT pick!

Way to go, Barack!

Pissing in Diane Feinstein's Wheaties is good enough for me.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. Agreed and she's my Senator

Voted for the war on Iraq

Voted in committee for FISA amendment to grant retroactive immunity to telecoms companies

Voted for this in the Senate Intelligence (!) Committee and then voted to end debate on the amendment foreclosing promised filibusters by more principled Democrats.

Voted to confirm Michael Mukasey as Attorney General

Mr. Mukasey wouldn't provide a straight answer on water-boarding then (or even now)! Quisling Feinstein justified her vote for Mr. Mukasey on the grounds that any other nominee might be even worse.

Voted to confirm Condoleeza Rice as Sec. of State

This despite Ms. Rice's dismal performance as Director of the NSA in the previous 4-years. Ms. Feinstein justified her vote for the incompetent Ms. Rice on the grounds of personal acquaintance with Ms. Rice.

Voted to confirm Michael Hayden as Director of the CIA
This despite Mr. Hayden having previously architected, implemented, and run the program for NSA's illegal wire-tapping of American citizens.


So much for her intelligence

[Cha]

14. I would have thought they

were on the same page but I guess I don't know that much about Leon.

Just learned today that he's against torture which is a big pro.

[NYC_SKP]

17. Ditto... n/t

[Arugula Latte]

32. Yep. If DiFi is against him, I'm for him.

[harun]

72. +1

[AtomicKitten]

4. I prefer my OTHER Senator from California.

[yardwork]

5. This tends to reinforce my feeling that Panetta was a good choice.

[Ian David]

7. Because DiFi probably belongs in jail along with Bush. n/t

[EconomicLiberal]

13. Um...I think you are going overboard there.

[TheWraith]

9. Who gives a crap what DiFi thinks? nt

[Captain Hilts]

28. She's head of the senate Intelligence Cmte. Obama should care. nt

[Phx_Dem]

57. Well, she hasn't done too good a job so far.

She voted for the Iraq war, even though it was clear to many people that the Bushies were lying (or wrong) about the intelligence. She also supported the Patriot Act and, I believe, she voted to confirm Mukasey who is pro-torture. She has voted yes on so many Bush bills, I've lost count.

She doesn't need her opinion and if wanted it, he would have asked for it.

[TheWraith]

67. Bing! As other people in the thread have said, her rejection is probably a sign it's a good move. nt

[Captain Hilts]

75. It's about the head of the Sen. Intel Cmte. It's not about Feinstein and whether or not...

you and I agree with her.

ESPECIALLY when she is a former senate colleague AND a member of your party.

It's not cool she learned this in the press and got blind-sided.

[Ian David]

56. Mister DiFi? n/t

[Still Sensible]

10. I agree with Feinstein on this one.

I would even think someone with oversight experience (as opposed to someone inside) would work... maybe someone else from that committee. What I don't have a lot of confidence in is someone with no intelligence experience and expecting them to be anything but an administrator. Then again, with CIA currently reporting to the "Intelligence Czar" maybe it doesn't matter. I don't have anything against Panetta's politics.

[Thrill]

11. I think they needed someone to go in there and clean the place up

I think Panetta is a tough SOB who can do that.

[Captain Hilts]

26. I agree. nt

[Arkana]

85. Plus it's pretty clear he's anti-torture.

That's the biggest thing.

[Captain Hilts]

25. Obama should have told her before he told the press. Bad form. nt

[Thrill]

31. Obama hasn't announced anything

[Captain Hilts]

35. Someone near him let it out. nt

[Thrill]

42. He hasn't made the nomination official. I'm sure she will know before its made

Which is all the respect that is required.

[Captain Hilts]

43. Too late. It's in the press. nt

[Thrill]

69. Ambinder said the leak didn't come from Obama's camp

[Still Sensible]

82. I agree it was bad form, but maybe there was a message sent here

and since his "boss" does have some intelligence background, it's probably ok.

[DebbieCDC]

12. Oh all of a sudden DiFi is worried about "intelligence experience"?

:rofl:

[yardwork]

18. It would laughable if it weren't so transparently pathetic.

[Cha]

29. Exactly. n/t

[BluegrassDem]

15. I don't think Obama and DiFi are buddy-buddy

I think Obama could give a rat's ass about her, IMO. I wish we could get a more progressive senator representing California.

[Alexander]

22. Obama negotiated with Hillary in Feinstein's house.

In hindsight, I wonder if that's when he offered her the Secretary of State position.

[Ichingcarpenter]

77. That's why you see Feinstein supporters on this thread

masking their outrage at her not being contacted, when
Feinstein could have said no comment.

[Captain Hilts]

27. Doesn't matter what he thinks of her. She's head of the Sen. Intel Cmte. He should have told her..

before he told the press.

[Thrill]

33. Obama hasn't told the Press anything

[Captain Hilts]

36. His people let it out. nt

[Thrill]

38. So? I'm sure he will tell her before, he announces his choice.

[Captain Hilts]

41. It means nothing now. The boat's left the dock. nt

[yardwork]

73. How do you know? Maybe Panetta leaked it himself.

Apparently he and Feinstein aren't great pals. Maybe Panetta leaked it just to annoy her.

[bottomtheweaver]

16. That is a VERY good sign.

Maybe she had Warren in mind?

[Alexander]

19. Good. She's one step to the left of DINOs.

Both she and her husband have profited immensely off the Iraq War which she voted for.

She was always a conservative Democrat - she frequently clashed with Harvey Milk and George Moscone while on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

I suspect if California was any more conservative, she'd be a full-blown DINO.

[BeyondGeography]

21. Must be good then

What's the matter, Panetta have too much integrity or something?

[Jamastiene]

23. Well, considering I keep hearing Rick Warren was partly her bright idea,

fine, let her be unhappy about it. Payback.

[Liquorice]

50. I heard she was against the idea, but had to accept it because

the decision came directly from Obama's staff.

http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2008/12/diane-feinstein-washes-hands-of-rick.html

[Beacool]

83. No, it wasn't .

Lay the blame for that decision on the right person: Obama and no one else.

:eyes:

[Sebastian Doyle]

24. If the war profitteer hates the pick, maybe Leon won't be so bad?

Of course the best thing to do to the CIA would be to either dismantle it entirely, or at the very least gut it completely so all the Bush Crime Family loyalists and Wall Street shills are gone.

[Avalux]

30. Don't mince words. She's downright pissed.

She thinks she should have been consulted first - well guess what Diane? You don't get to choose and Obama didn't need to ask your permission before making a decision.

Sometimes I can't stand that woman and I see it as a positive she's so pissed.

[Arugula Latte]

37. When is her term up? I wish she would retire already.

I grew up in the Bay Area and I'm sick to death of her. I had to look at her stupid "bow" suits all through the late '70s and 80s.

[Captain Hilts]

40. She's the head of the senate intelligence cmte. At minimum, she should...

have been told and not had to have heard it from the press.

[Avalux]

44. Is that the official protocol?

Just wondering. Can you say you've agreed with her decisions as head of the senate intelligence committee? I certainly haven't so I wonder if Obama would even respect her advice.

[Captain Hilts]

74. It's not about Feinstein. It could be Charo. It's about the head of the Senate Intel cmte.

When that person is a member of your own party AND a former colleague.

She shouldn't learn about the choice from the press.

[polichick]

34. Yippeeeeeeeee!

[indie_voter]

39. I'm not pleased with her and she's my senator.

If she doesn't like this pick, then it must be a good choice.

[Uzybone]

45. I have to say its pretty classless of her to go public

With her whine. Is she normally this petty. Obama is the president and he doesn't have to get her blessing in order to pick a CIA head. If she was upset she should have gone to Obama first, not the media.

[ecstatic]

46. It's typical of our side, unfortunately

:spank:

[Sultana]

47. Whatever, Diane

:eyes:

Just STFU

[EFerrari]

48. See? I KNEW this was a great choice. n/t

[Ikonoklast]

49. And yet, the world will still turn on its axis.

Come on California, we all know you can do better than DiFi and her war profits.

[zulchzulu]

52. So who made you boss, DiFi?

It sounds like Panetta might find out the bullshit people like DiFi helped implement as part of the War on Terror... she wants an "intelligence professional"... like maybe the kind that knows not to perhaps fire people for stepping over the line...

[Irishonly]

53. Who Cares

I wrote, called and begged that woman not to confirm the AG. I got a letter back saying she was afraid Bush would appoint someone worse. She and her husband have made millions off of the invasion. I don't know as much as I should about Panetta but if DiFi is upset, he can't be all bad.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

My position has consistenly been that I believe that California and the Senate

is best-served by having a REAL DEMOCRAT rather than a DLC-DINO in charge of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the 111th Congress.

In fact, when are Californians going to dump "LIEberman-in-a-dress" Feinstein out of office? When??

[Phx_Dem]

54. Good. If Feinstein isn't happy, it must be a good pick.

I don't give a shit what committee she chairs and, apparently, neither does Obama. Since when does he have to run his appointment by her? She's got gall. Particularly since she voted for the Iraq war and all of its flawed intelligence. I guess that doesn't make her too fucking smart. Feinstein is nearly a Republican and she's just pissed because Panetta doesn't support torture.

When she gets elected President, she can appoint whomever she wants. Until, STFU Diane.

[rhett o rick]

60. Agree. nm

[XOKCowboy]

65. No need for a dup post here. If DiFi is pissed, all the better

Her time is gone. She has zero credibility anymore. If only they could clone another Barbara Boxer in CA.

[bigwillq]

58. Well then, DiFi, run for president then.

Then you could make all the picks yourself.

[cascadiance]

62. I wonder what she would have said if Obama said "Fine, I'll appoint Ray McGovern or Sibel Edmonds!"

Would she back off of her "intelligence professional" or be more specific about wanting some neocon hack instead?

[Maru Kitteh]

63. Then she should run for president and make her own picks.

Easiest thing in the world.

[Gregorian]

64. Panetta started out in California. Maybe he knows things about DiFi she'd like to keep quiet.

I don't recall anything but that Panetta got his experience on the peninsula.

I am getting a better sense of the man as we move along here. Take a look at his Wiki page. He's been involved in some rather good things. Hunger, civil rights. I like this.

[TheKentuckian]

66. Panetta is a good public servent and cares about our citizens

STFU Dianne.

[starroute]

68. There may be some bad blood between them from the 1998 CA governor race

It sounds like Feinstein screwed Panetta over by waffling about whether to run until it was too late for Panetta to launch a viable campaign of his own. That can't have been good for their relationship.


http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/archives/1998/1998-Jan-22/1647/1/@@index

January 22, 1998

The decision by Senator Dianne Feinstein not to seek the state''s highest office represents the chance of a lifetime--or an opportunity coming too late in the game--for local boy Leon Panetta.

The longtime Central Coast congressman, who was tapped by President Clinton first to head up the Office of Management and Budget and then to whip Clinton''s office into shape as chief of staff, has been mentioned since last spring as a possible contender in the 1998 race for governor of California. All along, Panetta has stated that he had not yet made a decision about running for governor, all the while saying that he would remain in contact with Feinstein, hinting that he would not run against the former San Francisco mayor.

On Tuesday, Panetta--characteristically speaking through a spokesperson--said he was "very disappointed in Senator Feinstein's decision not to run for governor." He also said that he had "urged to run," adding that even though it is "obviously late in the campaign season," he would "spend the next few days reassessing my own plans."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/keyraces98/stories/ca020398.htm

February 3, 1998

Former White House chief of staff Leon E. Panetta yesterday announced he will not run for governor of California, but two other candidates, both with the cash to finance a bid, are considering last-minute entry into the contest.

With the deadline for picking up filing papers today, Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, a moderate Republican, and Rep. Jane Harman, a Democrat representing a Los Angeles-area district, are trying to decide whether they are willing to make the $15 million-plus investment to be competitive in the primary.

The huge fund-raising demands prompted Panetta to drop his bid: "I estimate that I'd have to raise something like a million dollars a week, starting now, to be competitive," he said in a statement.

Both Riordan and Harman are very wealthy. California political operatives expect the contest will break spending records and could cost in excess of $50 million for the winner of the primary and general elections.

[Cha]

70. But, now he has a big opportunity to

excel as head of the CIA..Yay!

[Ichingcarpenter]

78. I passed this information on in another thread on her past

Thanks

[truebrit71]

71. WGAF.....screw Fienstein...

...

[Jennicut]

76. Feinstein HAD to be contacted before Obama made his decision, what world is she living in?

He is the president-elect last time I looked.

[Canuckistanian]

79. The less she's consulted, the better

As far as I'm concerned.

I don't know why that war profiteer keeps getting voted in.

[brianna69]

81. Feinstein wanted someone else

for the post - Steve Kappes. Which is why she is now throwing a hissy fit. Too bad. Panetta has a zero tolerance stance to torture. The fact that Feinstein objects just solidifies what a great choice Panetta is.

[cottonseed]

86. I wouldn't have consulted Feinstein either.

She's a heavy hitter... If she didn't want Panetta and she was involved, then Panetta would not have been chosen. Since I think DiFi is a stinker, I think Obama did right on this one.

[TexasObserver]

87. Considering the source, that's like an endorsement.

Feinstein is not exactly a decent voice on matters of foreign policy and intelligence.