Transcript: Obama Presser – Economy, Panetta, Middle East | January 6, 2009
Filed under: Barack Obama, Bush Foreign Policy, Obama Transition, Recession, U.S. Congress, U.S. Economy
(Source: CQ TranscriptsWire)
SPEAKER: PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA
[*] OBAMA: When the American people spoke last November, they were demanding change, change in policies that helped deliver the worst economic crisis that we’ve seen since the Great Depression, but they’re also looking for a change in the way that Washington does business. They were demanding that we restore a sense of responsibility and prudence to how we’d run our government.
One of the measures of irresponsibility that we’ve seen is the enormous federal debt that has accumulated, a number that has doubled in recent years. As we just discussed, my budget team filled me in on — Peter Orszag now forecasts that, at the current course and speed, a trillion-dollar deficit will be here before we even start the next budget, that we’ve already looked — we’re already looking at a trillion-dollar budget deficit or close to a trillion-dollar budget deficit, and that potentially we’ve got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come, even with the economic recovery that we are working on at this point.
Hey Senator Feinstein – Get Over Yourself!
Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-CA, Simulates Fellatio in Recent Senate Hearing on Aggressive Interrogaton Techniques.
The more I think about it, the more inspired I think President-elect Barack Obama’s pick of Leon Panetta for CIA Director is.
Senator Diane Feinstein apparently doesn’t. Why? Because she wasn’t consulted. CALL THE WAHMBULANCE!
Dame Feinstein is apparently having a hissy. Here’s what she’s sending around to the media this afternoon:
“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.”
Guess what, Lady? The O is in charge of presidential appointments. You’re just making yourself look like an ass by complaining. I should also note that as of 5 p.m. EST, your crybaby statement wasn’t posted on your Senatorial website for all of the constituents to see what a political hag you are.
Just looking at what’s on the president-elect’s plate – Gaza, depression economics, Wild Man Putin, China building aircraft carriers, Gitmo, his girls starting at a new school, Bill Richardson – do you think you could give the man a break, Diane?
Seeing as how Leon Panetta is supposedly a friend of yours, could you have handled this tirade with a call to Rahmbo? This the kind of shit that guy lives for – Rahm would’ve made it right.
Instead, you act like a bitter, old hag and look like a tool. Get over yourself!
Leon Panetta a Curious but Intriguing Choice as CIA Director
We’ve become a nation of technicians, specialists, degreed and certified to do specific things. When the big jobs come up, you’ve got to have experience in a specific area to get noticed. We often overlook making personnel choices which could add another dimension, challenge the status quo or effect change merely by dint of the choice being made.
The potential appointment of former Congressman, White House Budget Director and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta to lead the often embattled Central Intelligence Agency is a refreshing appointment by President-elect Barack Obama. Rather than choose a technician from either the operations or analytical ranks of the intelligence community, Obama’s choice is to put a public service-oriented smart-guy manager in charge. With Panetta’s service in the Clinton White House, Obama will be served by Panetta’s perspective on what the chief executive needs from the CIA.
There is a great deal of analytical and operational skill within the ranks of the CIA. Putting a big picture-oriented thinker and manager in charge who brings a better understanding of intelligence product from the customer’s perspective is a worthy experiment.
We are at a time when the CIA is also smarting from the influence of the Cheney Vice-Presidency. Panetta is smart enough – and humble enough – to not come to the intelligence table with unsubstantiated pre-conceived ideological notions which may bring outcomes damaging to our country’s standing in the world. Panetta is also service-oriented, spending time over the last few years helping to build the Leon & Sylvia Panetta Institute for Public Policy at a branch of the California State University sited on a former U.S. Army base.
Obama’s choice may get some flak from intelligence community insiders and pundits who were awaiting the annointing of the next director from within their own ranks. Putting a citizen in charge with a fresh perspective on the world and our place in it may turn out to be a tremendous win for Obama.
