Sam Donaldson: Yes Burris, No Panetta

So, if it comes to a court showdown over Burris and the Senate, based on what we know now about him and the appointment process, I think he will be seated. And when it comes to the next CIA director, I don't know who it will be, but I don't think it will be Panetta.

THE SENATE SEEMS DETERMINED NOT TO SEAT ROLAND BURRIS, APPOINTED BY GOVERNOR BLAGOJEVICH TO BE A SENATOR FROM ILLINOIS. AND THE WORD LEAKED FROM THE PRESIDENT ELECT'S CAMP IS THAT MR. OBAMA WANTS LEON PANETTA TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE C-I-A.

(ABC News Photo Illustration)

Sam Donaldson, a 41-year ABC News veteran, served two appointments as chief White House correspondent for ABC News, from 1977-1989 and from January 1998 to August 1999, covering Presidents Carter, Reagan and Clinton. Donaldson also co-anchored, with Diane Sawyer, "PrimeTime Live," from August 1989 until it merged with "20/20" in 1999. He co-anchored the ABC News Sunday morning broadcast, "This Week With Sam Donaldson & Cokie Roberts," from December 1996 to September 2002. Currently, Donaldson appears on ABC News Now, the ABC News digital network, in a daily show called "Politics Live."

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