One President at a Time

Apparently today it was Obama's turn. The pic is a screencap from his presser about the tanking economy with new Treasury Sec Geithner in the background. Maybe it's me but he doesn't look very proud nor happy to be there, listening politely as Obama rattles off all the economic woes that developed during his time at the Fed.

The accountability thing sounds good, though. It'll be very interesting--and unprecedented--to see all those trails of pork spending in vivid detail, that is unless the Senate finds a way to block out his proposed sunshine. As Harry Reid recently said, they can do anything they want to and have for generations (or something like that).

As to Leon Panetta getting the CIA Director, it looks as though Obama is following some unwritten rule about replacing departing Clintonistas in-kind, as the screen door had hardly hit Richardson on the butt before this announcement was made. Panetta is probably just taking one for the team here as it's doubtful anyone in DC actually wanted the job lest they receive a vetting by the nutroots almost as thorough as did Joe the Plumber.

It would be shocking if he lasts much more than a year since my guess is he's a placeholder until all the waterboarding stuff winds down, but nevertheless, here's to his success in corralling that bunch. The turnip truck is long since gone--he's been around DC forever and will not likely be intimidated, although those spies are a wily and determined bunch when they don't get their way.

Meanwhile, as everyone was looking at Panetta the Decider-elect announced several Justice picks that McClatchy says signal a rollback of Bushitler's torture and gulag policies (not quite in those words but thinking them, no doubt). The nutroot yip dogs must be chewing up a frenzy right now.

Bottom line, with a relative softie like Panetta at CIA and a Justice legal counsel who's resume includes statements like "Bush's corruption of our American ideals" we've completed our magical trip back to the Clinton salad days of terrorism when the FBI was at the tip of the spear. I certainly hope they've learned a little from their mistakes.

MORE 1/6/09

The Panetta spin begins:

Obama is sending an unequivocal message that controversial administration policies approving harsh interrogations, waterboarding and extraordinary renditions — the secret transfer of prisoners to other governments with a history of torture — and warrantless wiretapping are over, said several officials.

Wonder which "officials" told reporter Pamela Hess that Obama was sending an unequivocal message by selecting Panetta and why did she buy it? Her own storyline admits the delay in filling the post was primarily due to reluctance from the experienced candidates over the perception of being tied to past policy. That's why Obama's first choice, John Brennan, dropped out. Therefore, if Obama was really interested in reforming CIA he could have picked Panetta first. He didn't.

Whatever the real reasons it's very frustrating to watch reporters like Ms. Hess try to obscure history by grouping rendition into the toolkit now considered torture, then saying Panetta comes in with clean hands. Excuse me, but what utter BS. Panetta was Chief of Staff to Bill Clinton in the mid 90s when the terrorist rendition program was started. It seems no matter how many times Michael Scheuer reminds everyone about it, certain clowns refuse to get it. It simply must be on purpose.

Here's more opinion on the matter:
LA Sunsett; Joe the VP; Big Tent Moonbat.