Obama Makes Intel Announcements
EmailIn addition to Leon Panetta at CIA and Dennis Blair as Director of National Intelligence, President-elect Barack Obama announced that:
* current director of national intelligence Mike McConnell will be named to Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board,
* Michael Leiter will stay on as National Counterterrorism Center director,
* John Brennan will serve in the White House as Homeland Security Adviser and deputy National Security Adviser with the title of Assistant to President.
In the wake of some criticism that has emerged about Panetta because of his lack of direct inelligence experience, Blair interestingly offered kind words about Panetta and PEBO, saying that Panetta would have his "complete trust and substantial clout" and would be a "strong manager and strong advocate for the CIA."
PEBO said his team would "adhere to our values as vigilantly as we protect our safety."
– jpt
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Obama Avoids Questions on Contraception Rule
“Blair interestingly offered kind words about Panetta and PEBO”
Yeah. Blair also was interestingly “kind” to the Indonesian military; in fact, he mutinied against Clinton in their favor. “Change” is sooo refreshing.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 12:00 pm 12:00 pm
Belle: is there ANYTHING at all about the new administration that you like? How can you be so negative about absolutely everything?
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 9, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
“MISTAKES are the usual bridge between INEXPERIENCE and WISDOM”…Sofer
The next 4 years will either prove this statement correct or incorrect. I am betting on Sofer
Posted by: ThanksGuys | January 9, 2009, 12:09 pm 12:09 pm
Yes, change truly is refreshing, Belle. Glad to see that you are finally seeing the light.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 9, 2009, 12:11 pm 12:11 pm
Obama is a one-trick pony and his administration is just the Clinton 2.0 version of the disaster that we had in 1992 and 1996.
And I am so tired of hearing idiot liberals spout off about how inspired we should be about this pathetic excuse of a POTUS. His is the most inexperienced PE in modern history. His isn’t inspiring whatsoever… he is a joke that was elected by the sheeple of America… and each and every one of them has their hand out for something from our newly elected Dear Leader.
Belle… the only thing to like about the new administration is the knowledge that it will fail so miserably that in 4 years we can only hope that this socialist is long gone.
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
Ted Cole: yet another positive, uplifting voice from the radical right.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 9, 2009, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
Panetta is the only superstar here. The folks upset with that choice seem to put intelligence hierarchy over competency and coordination with the president and the rest of his national security team. Why not change the CIA after years of missteps and infighting?
Posted by: matt | January 9, 2009, 12:49 pm 12:49 pm
I am very GLAD i do not live in NYC or washington DC with Panetta leading the CIA… Obama OWNS the next attack
Posted by: MSN exposed | January 9, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
William J. LePetomane: I guess I just haven’t been brainwashed to believe that a larger Federal Government… which by the way Bill… has never solved any problems… can actually succeed at producing anything. Can you name an invention that was created because government got bigger? How about a problem that the government has solved by getting larger?
I love how you Obamaphants all think that now he has been elected that we should all fall in love with him. Sing Kumbaya and love one another. Would that be just like the way you all supported George W. Bush for the last 8 years? You are a hypocrite Bill!!! I am willing to bet my paycheck that I paid more in taxes on my house and car than you did in income tax last year. So essentially you are spending my money not your own… all the while you have your hand out waiting for Big Gov’t to solve all your pathetic problems.
You should try making some real money and then come to the table and demand that people like me pay more in taxes.
I don’t want a refund check I just want more of my OWN money back. I will spend it much more intelligently than Barry Obama will. But he thinks that we are too stupid to know how to do anything and that the only solution to our myriad of problems is more government.
I am sorry but if you believe that then you are not as smart as you think you are Bill.
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 12:55 pm 12:55 pm
Inexperience along Chicago are two buzzwords often repeated to malign Obama. Obviously ten years in the senate don’t count for experience among some. That aside, look at what Bush’s eight years of “experience” being governor brought: a massive debt in the trillions, thousands of lives of Americans lost to a war based on lies, a loss of international credibility, a forced bailout which remains unaccounted for, etc. I’ll get depressed if I keep listing. I don’t know who Sofer is, but summoning up quotes on bridges hardly challenges the president-elect.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 1:04 pm 1:04 pm
“Obviously ten years in the senate don’t count for experience among some.”
Uh, do you mean ten MONTHS in the Senate? The Trojan Pony spent his ENTIRE time in the Senate going for president. (Remember that Democratic saboteur John Kerry turned over the Democratic convention to Barry when He was still “serving” in the Illinois state senate.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
Thank goodness PEBO’s keeping John Brennan in some capacity, they’ll have a least one official who has any idea what he’s doing.
Posted by: DonG | January 9, 2009, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
So Kat… I suppose we should have just let Saddam Hussein keep on provoking us and our allies, right? And Afghanistan was a war based on lies too?
You sound like my 2-year old. The only difference is he is smarter than you. Your ignorance is on display for the world to see with you pathetic attempt at a response.
Maybe Obama will save the U.S.? I doubt it… but it is possible. The thing of it is… I would never place all my hopes and dreams in that basket of inexperience. I love it when liberal mental-midgets start talking about Obama’s “experience” in the State Senate and U.S. Senate… 143 days in nearly three years and most of his votes were votes of “present”. Now that’s leadership if I have ever seen it. But now Barry actually has to take a stand. And his true colors are already showing.
He is trying to scare us into thinking that Big Gov’t is the only solution but he is wrong. Get out of the way of industry and they will produce. Get out of the way of the taxpayer, i.e. lower their taxes and they will spend and carry less debt.
If you want to place your faith in government go right ahead… and while you are at it go ask someone from Cuba or the former Soviet Union what it is/was like under that sort of regime.
Hey they have great healthcare… right? Well… only according to Michael Moore and thank God he is such a reliable source of unbiased information… right?
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 1:19 pm 1:19 pm
Harry Reid (on his US SENATE website!) on the secret Senate resolution on Israel:
“This resolution supports what Reid has called “an unwavering commitment to Israel that is not a Democratic or Republican value, but an American value.”
Is Reid now in charge of “American value”s?? Has he gone completely nuts, or what?
Time for that revolution.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 1:20 pm 1:20 pm
Kat,
Obama was elected to the Senate in 2004.
Posted by: BertieW | January 9, 2009, 1:21 pm 1:21 pm
Typo: Inexperience along WITH Chicago are two buzzwords often repeated to malign Obama.
But Belle’s characterization takes the the cake with the Third Reich. Let’s face it, his lack of Aryan features immediately and totally disqualifies him.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 1:24 pm 1:24 pm
Bertie and Belle-
Obama had two terms as a state senator before being elected as a federal senator.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 1:26 pm 1:26 pm
Ted Cole: “143 days in nearly three years and most of his votes were votes of “present”. ”
Ignoring your penchant for insults, this is just a flat out, documented lie. He voted present less than 130 times out of 3000 votes he cast. You do the numbers on whether that is “most.”
Posted by: jhw539 | January 9, 2009, 1:33 pm 1:33 pm
Let’s see… how does Kat form an argument? When logic and knowledge fail… call other person a racist!!!
You sound less intelligent by each comment Kat. Keep ‘em up… you are really entertaining me. But the sad part is… it’s ignorant people like you that voted for Barry Obama in the first place. See… if a republican candidate had presented the same experience he/she would have never had a chance.
But since it’s someone from your party you laud him for being different from the mainstream.
Kat you are pathetic and you will reap what you sow. Unfortunately the rest of us get hurt in the meantime and the is the unfortunate collateral damage that the next Republican administration will have to deal with.
4 and the Door for Nobama!!!
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
Ted Cole – Your reactivity and your hissy fit is like that of a two year old. Usually, it’s the people who have doubts about their convictions who are the most easily challenged and angered. I wasn’t out to get under anyone’s skin, but I apparently had that power with you. I’m sorry you feel like you have to resort to name calling and defamation. It certainly wasn’t my intention to invoke reactions like yours.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
“Obama had two terms as a state senator before being elected as a federal senator.”
Oooo. “Had” 2 terms is right.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 1:39 pm 1:39 pm
jhw539: When he wasn’t voting present 130 odd times he was voting as liberal or socialistic as he could the other 2870!!!
Thanks for proving my point.
Too bad he didn’t have the courage to actually vote on the difficult subjects. Present is just a cowardly way of not taking a stand because it might be controversial.
Hey… he is yours for the next four years… that’s plenty of time to institute the beginning of socialism.
I wonder if he will get any money from Blago trying to sell his Senate seat?
Oh… I am sorry… we must talk about Dear Leader like that.
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
“Obama had two terms as a state senator before being elected as a federal senator.”
Yeah, those are two completely different things.
There are probably 20,000 people in the US or are current or former State Senators.
Posted by: BertieW | January 9, 2009, 1:42 pm 1:42 pm
jhw539: You sir are very uninformed… do you know some of the bills that he voted “present” on?
We aren’t talking about a “present” vote on whether to name a state office building after a deceased state official, but rather about votes that reflect an officeholder’s core values.
For example, in 1997, Obama voted “present” on two bills (HB 382 and SB 230) that would have prohibited a procedure often referred to as partial birth abortion. He also voted “present” on SB 71, which lowered the first offense of carrying a concealed weapon from a felony to a misdemeanor and raised the penalty of subsequent offenses.
In 1999, Obama voted “present” on SB 759, a bill that required mandatory adult prosecution for firing a gun on or near school grounds. The bill passed the state Senate 52-1. Also in 1999, Obama voted “present” on HB 854 that protected the privacy of sex-abuse victims by allowing petitions to have the trial records sealed. He was the only member to not support the bill.
In 2001, Obama voted “present” on two parental notification abortion bills (HB 1900 and SB 562), and he voted “present” on a series of bills (SB 1093, 1094, 1095) that sought to protect a child if it survived a failed abortion. In his book, the Audacity of Hope, on page 132, Obama explained his problems with the “born alive” bills, specifically arguing that they would overturn Roe v. Wade. But he failed to mention that he only felt strongly enough to vote “present” on the bills instead of “no.”
And finally in 2001, Obama voted “present” on SB 609, a bill prohibiting strip clubs and other adult establishments from being within 1,000 feet of schools, churches, and daycares.
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 1:45 pm 1:45 pm
Oops jhw539… look the facts got in the way once again.
You are pathetic!!!
Posted by: Ted Cole | January 9, 2009, 1:50 pm 1:50 pm
Kat…Rabbi Sofer. Please try to be a little more “progressive” and read the words carefully..Mistakes will be made and are being made with inexperienced choices, just as every President that has preceded Obama. Obama should take a page out of history, and the Bush administration is history, and learn from those mistakes. As of January 21st he will own any mistakes derived from HIS poor choices. You can no longer blame the Republicans, if you do you are only denying a Obama Presidency as legitimate. I am discovering that the old liberal is nothing more than the new “old foggey.” Try to keep up, broaden your horizons and read something besides ABC Blog sites.
Posted by: ThanksGuys | January 9, 2009, 1:56 pm 1:56 pm
How is hiring tired, old Clintonites and supplementing them with incompetent Bush lackeys, constitute “Change?” Anyone… anyone??? Bueller… Bueller….
Posted by: please! | January 9, 2009, 2:01 pm 2:01 pm
“Obama voted ‘present’”
Now, he’s voted ‘present’ on Gaza. Unamazingly, The CHANGEling’s last actual vote was for the corporate “bailout”.
No guts, no glory, no change, no hope.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 2:08 pm 2:08 pm
“There are probably 20,000 people in the US or are current or former State Senators.”
That’s quite a stretch. Hyperbole aside and in respect to accuracy, Obama served 3 terms in the Illinois Senate from 1997 to 2004, then was elected as a US Senator from 2005-2008, His predecessor was elected as governor of Texas with no previous political offices. In Texas the Railroad Commissioner, who is a major force in gas and oil regulation, is actually considered a more powerful executive. Unfortunately, Bush was a worse president over the eight year term than he was a governor.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 2:09 pm 2:09 pm
Ted Cole: Yes those are the bills. D
id you happen to look into the constitutional concerns about how they were implemented? Or the good government concerns about passing a law that sounds good but simply replicates protections already on the books? Or whether Obama’s present vote provided cover for a couple one-the-line senators to also vote present and allow the bill to pass?
Demagogy is easy, why don’t you look into the details a bit more?
Posted by: jhw539 | January 9, 2009, 2:10 pm 2:10 pm
“As of January 21st he will own any mistakes derived from HIS poor choices.”
Not if his former Chicago comrades knock Him out of the box FIRST.
Where’s Rahm Emanuel?
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 2:11 pm 2:11 pm
Oh, and Ted Cole, if you knew so much about Obama’s vote why did you lie and say he voted present “most of the time”?
Posted by: jhw539 | January 9, 2009, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
“Unfortunately, Bush was a worse president over the eight year term than he was a governor.”
Yeah, empty-grin figureheads get WORSE as they rise, because there are more people watching.
Obama IS Bush, and the guys calling the shots, the Clinton administration against which He railed so prettily as a candidate, are of His parents’ generation.
Posted by: Belle Starr | January 9, 2009, 2:15 pm 2:15 pm
“MISTAKES are the usual bridge between INEXPERIENCE and WISDOM”…Sofer
The next 4 years will either prove this statement correct or incorrect. I am betting on Sofer
I read it carefully the first time, and you were clearly stating that Obama’s inexperience would validate Sofer’s statement. Rather than hoping for and being willing to work towards a better future, you apparently were resigned to hoping for failure. And I would say that both you and I are reading and arguing over ABC blogs too much, instead of being out there making a constructive difference. Thanks for the clarification.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 2:18 pm 2:18 pm
You haters wear thin quickly. The man has not even been inaugurated yet and you are ready to wipe him out.
Posted by: William J. LePetomane | January 9, 2009, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm
William- I wouldn’t take what you read too seriously here. This is just an extension of the world of Disney.
Posted by: kat | January 9, 2009, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
“Present is just a cowardly way of not taking a stand because it might be controversial.”
A present vote counts as a no vote for all the right wing amateur experts on IL legislative procedure.
Posted by: Ryan C | January 9, 2009, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
“As of January 21st he will own any mistakes derived from HIS poor choices. You can no longer blame the Republicans>
I think Obama should be responsible for his actions and I feel he will take that responsibility.
It would be a refreshing change from the Republican way of blaming others for their mistakes.
Posted by: Ryan C | January 9, 2009, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
“Hey they have great healthcare… right? Well… only according to Michael Moore and thank God he is such a reliable source of unbiased information… right?”
That’s true.
Cuba’s healthcare system is ranked #39 by the WHO.
The United States which spends more money on healthcare than any other nation is ranked #37.
Posted by: Ryan C | January 9, 2009, 5:38 pm 5:38 pm
It really is a campaign of hate on here against Obama . .. mostly name calling, bad mouthing . . . and little of substance. Just attempts to denigrate the man.
We know who left the country in the current mess.
I wish the new President well in what looks like a very difficult task ahead, and it may actually take some patience and effort on our parts.
Not just cheapshot badmouthing.
Posted by: pefros | January 10, 2009, 4:57 am 4:57 am