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CIA Nominee Panetta Received $700,000 in Fees

WillRockwell said:
Please don't take this personal, I'm just trying to maintain a friendly dialogue. Your OP linked to a Fox News article that said Leon Panetta had been paid money for speeches from some of the same financial institutions that later received bail-out money. There was no insinuation in the article, and it was surprisingly neutral for Fox. But then you remarked:

"lobbyests, tax cheats, and washington insiders. The Mantra of change is dead. In less than a month Obama has shown he is no different than any other politician and his whole campaign on "change" was a farce. Instead we have seen incompetence, businessas usual, and naivitey......."

The story you cited provided no support for your statement. Panetta is not a lobbyist, received no money from anyone who would influence the CIA, and was not paid to advocate for anyone. When you have the experience of a Leon Panetta, people pay big money to hear you make a speech. It's one of the more benign ways that former government leaders can make money.

I think the disagreement started when you made your statement without reason, without any example or justification. It's as if you cited a story about the SuperBowl, and used it as a springboard to rant about government incompetence. It made no sense. We like sense.
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If you view this story in a vaccume you are absolutley right. But please consider these very turbulant two weeks for Mr. Obama.

He signed an EO, then immediatly applied a waiver for a lobbyist. He has what 4 now nominees that have tax problems. This Panetta fellow is not just woeflly unqualified, but a deep washington insider.

He campaigned on change from Washington Business as usual. However, in my opinion, what he has shown is naivety, poor judgment, and politics as usual.

Can you perhaps tell me in your own words what "change" has Obama brought to Washington thus far, and please do not say "well its a change from Bush". This was never the "change" he was talkin about.

He said no lobbyists, we have lobbysists. He said no washington insiders (or he said he would look to people like warren buffet), we got washington insiders. He talked ethics, we got tax cheats in line for jobs.

I really thought he would bring in this fresh crew of outsiders and what not. I may have disagreed with ALL of whoever he would have picked, but I would have respected him actually doing things differently. Sadly he has not and I am more concerned believe it or not with the next republican president continuing the use of the same piglets at the washington trough.
 
WillRockwell said:
We like sense.
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No, people here rarely do. Look at all the arguments made against the innate and inalienable rights of the individual. Those don't make sense. If Chewbacca lived on Endor, you must acquit.

*cough*

Anyway, the initial comment about Obama is correct. This CIA chick is maybe of questionable origin. It doesn't appear at this point that she is a lobbiest, but she seems to make the majority of her money off of speaking fees. We'll see what comes of that. 700,000....wow! Does the CIA go around speaking? I guess maybe in some sense it does. But if you look at the rest of what Obama has done, it's politics as usual. Political appointments and nothing more. And why is it that his cabinet seems to be coming from the Senate? How many seats were opened up from the Senate because of Obama? Like the State Department doesn't have someone more qualified than Hillary to be Secretary of State? Political appointment, scandal, tax cheats; we're not off to a good start. I think Obama will beat Reagan's indictment record in the end.
 
Ikari said:
This CIA chick is maybe of questionable origin. It doesn't appear at this point that she is a lobbiest, but she seems to make the majority of her money off of speaking fees. We'll see what comes of that. .
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Leon_Panetta,_informal_photo.jpg

CIA nominee Leon Panetta
 
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
lobbyests, tax cheats, and washington insiders. The Mantra of change is dead. In less than a month Obama has shown he is no different than any other politician and his whole campaign on "change" was a farce. Instead we have seen incompetence, businessas usual, and naivitey.......
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The naivete should be in caps. Seemed so easy when he was running around with the rehearsed speeches, but now that he's actually having to walk the walk he seems a little unsure. I'm scared for him and us at this point, cause he can, and probably will, do a lot of harm in the amount of time he's going to be in. I don't trust his judgment at all. I'd say that swagger with the little limp in it is going to turn to just a limp real shortly.

Those lobbyists just keep on slipping in. Did you catch David Ogden who was an attorney for the porn industry, and who is ultra liberal nominated for Deputy Attorney General?

I'm glad this is happening cause the media can't hide it. They are also getting the old, "what goes around, comes around" getting slapped in their vindictive, vengeful faces. Hope the BBC, and foreign presses are getting a load of it all.
 
BWG said:
Reminds me of this quote...;)

Just because your voice reaches halfway around the world doesn't mean you are wiser than when it reached only to the end of the bar.-Edward R. Murrow
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Yeah, but you're smarter! Geting something halfway round the world is no easy task. These supposed smart guys that make these quotes, not sure.
 
Marilyn Monroe said:
The naivete should be in caps. Seemed so easy when he was running around with the rehearsed speeches, but now that he's actually having to walk the walk he seems a little unsure. .... Hope the BBC, and foreign presses are getting a load of it all.
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Don't worry, the foreign press sees the new president, sees the optimism with which the world received him, and also sees the constant, petty, partisan, divisive obstructionism coming from the American right. What they wonder is, if the rest of the world can hope for the best for the new American administration, why can't Americans?

This inability to accept that the opposition won, and will govern for at least 4 years, seems to be a failing of the American experiment in democracy. If the party that lost the election is actively working toward the failure of the new administration, how can they be trusted for counsel or inclusion? How can they even be considered patriotic?
 
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
You know looking at all of you bitching like usual. Do you really think you are part of any solution or are you just being well, bitches. (no offense intended). Seriously guys. Try to make it an interesting conversation instead of "who can pound the Reverend first" game....
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I see what you're saying, Rev. I don't think you help make it an "interesting conversation" when you come back with these angry responses dismissing anyone who isn't disgusted with Obama like you are. How that provides for interesting conversation is beyond me.

Anyway, I think people are pounding on you because all you seem to do is start threads attacking Obama. You did it thorughout the election. You're doing since Obama took office. After a while, people just see, "Oh, there's Reverend Hellh0und complaing about Obama again."

People tend to not want to engage constant complainers. Look at the positive responses you get when you post about your future child.

JMO
 
WillRockwell said:
party that lost the election is actively working toward the failure of the new administration, how can they be trusted for counsel or inclusion?
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Why the hell would you even trust the government or politicians in the first place? Any institution or people whom wield the power and sovereignty of the People must be treated with distrust for the chances of abuse are well too great. The failing isn't that now the Republicans are fighting the Democrats, the failing is that the People have not been diligent in their duties as freemen to watch and constrain the government. Fighting between the two parties...that's expected. Hell that's one of the reasons we need at least 2 parties, you can't just sit there and pass pass pass legislation and think that our freedom and liberty is gonna come out on top. We need friction, we need a slow and inefficient system of governance.
 
aps said:
I see what you're saying, Rev. I don't think you help make it an "interesting conversation" when you come back with these angry responses dismissing anyone who isn't disgusted with Obama like you are. How that provides for interesting conversation is beyond me.
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Wait, where am I angry? Gawd can I put any more smilies in? :lol::lol::rofl:mrgreen:


And are you suggesting that my response to the nonsense is the problem, not the nonsense itself?

I post many threads on Obama, yes. The ones that are more serious, tend to be avoided.


Anyway, I think people are pounding on you because all you seem to do is start threads attacking Obama. You did it thorughout the election. You're doing since Obama took office. After a while, people just see, "Oh, there's Reverend Hellh0und complaing about Obama again."

People tend to not want to engage constant complainers. Look at the positive responses you get when you post about your future child.

JMO
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Wait, is this the Whos having a baby forum, or a political forum. I address issues that obama has as president his choices and his mistakes.

I also point out where I think he is right or is doing the right thing.


You all wish to ignore this in order to make it all about me.


Like I said, You all get what you give.


Take it for what its worth.


And I am never angry...... trust me. :mrgreen:
 
Marilyn Monroe said:
The naivete should be in caps. Seemed so easy when he was running around with the rehearsed speeches, but now that he's actually having to walk the walk he seems a little unsure. I'm scared for him and us at this point, cause he can, and probably will, do a lot of harm in the amount of time he's going to be in. I don't trust his judgment at all. I'd say that swagger with the little limp in it is going to turn to just a limp real shortly.

Those lobbyists just keep on slipping in. Did you catch David Ogden who was an attorney for the porn industry, and who is ultra liberal nominated for Deputy Attorney General?

I'm glad this is happening cause the media can't hide it. They are also getting the old, "what goes around, comes around" getting slapped in their vindictive, vengeful faces. Hope the BBC, and foreign presses are getting a load of it all.
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I did. I haven't done ogden yet as I am having my fill of the "pound the Reverend" game here. I am glad posters like will have attempted to come out of thier shells but we shall see.


As far as obama, I fully agree. He is showing his inexperience in a big way. I have a whole nother topic I may start about how this stimulous bill is tatamount to blowing ones load prematurly and how it may come to pass that this wish list package is going to bite him in the ass in a couple of years.


We will see.
 
Reverend_Hellh0und said:
Wait, where am I angry? Gawd can I put any more smilies in? :lol::lol::rofl:mrgreen:


And are you suggesting that my response to the nonsense is the problem, not the nonsense itself?

I post many threads on Obama, yes. The ones that are more serious, tend to be avoided.






Wait, is this the Whos having a baby forum, or a political forum. I address issues that obama has as president his choices and his mistakes.

I also point out where I think he is right or is doing the right thing.


You all wish to ignore this in order to make it all about me.


Like I said, You all get what you give.


Take it for what its worth.


And I am never angry...... trust me.
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Okie dokie. :2wave: (I had to remove your green smiley face because there were too many images.)
 
Oh noes! Hide the Childrun! Lock Yer Doors! He got paid to talk! Call me if he's giving billion dollar contracts to former friends.
 
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aps said:
Okie dokie. :2wave: (I had to remove your green smiley face because there were too many images.)
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Thank you. If at anytime you think I am angry ask and I will let you know I am not.


This is a debate forum and I am who I am. I am a little more gruff than your average Chicagoan being from the great city of NY and living in the surrounding NJ area. ;)


Believe me, I am having just as much fun as Tucker Case. :mrgreen:
 
WillRockwell said:
Don't worry, the foreign press sees the new president, sees the optimism with which the world received him, and also sees the constant, petty, partisan, divisive obstructionism coming from the American right. What they wonder is, if the rest of the world can hope for the best for the new American administration, why can't Americans?

This inability to accept that the opposition won, and will govern for at least 4 years, seems to be a failing of the American experiment in democracy. If the party that lost the election is actively working toward the failure of the new administration, how can they be trusted for counsel or inclusion? How can they even be considered patriotic?
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Oh, we know who won, and a lot of us feel the same about "your" guy as you did about ours.

All that you speak was spoken by us as well. Don't like it much when it's happening to "your" guy. I'm hoping Obama will be successful, but with full scrutiny, and that he can bear up under the pressure as well as Bush did. I don't think Obama should get any "special" treatment at all.
 
WillRockwell said:
Don't worry, the foreign press sees the new president, sees the optimism with which the world received him, and also sees the constant, petty, partisan, divisive obstructionism coming from the American right.
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No. The press cannot see optimism. No one can. You can sense it, but sensing something is not the press' job. They need to report the facts. What they are projecting is their own optimism. That too, is not their job. Maybe some people in the world are all psyched that Obama is our prez. And maybe there are many who are scared to death or just don't trust the man. The problem with the press is that they won't just report. They decide for you what they want you to see.
What they wonder is, if the rest of the world can hope for the best for the new American administration, why can't Americans?
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No. That's what YOU wonder. If the foreign press is wondering that, than they are not reporters, they are philosophers.

You have your opinions, and others have theirs. We can all hope for the best, but tax cheats, recycled clinton administration officials, lobbyists ...etc are not a great start in the name of CHANGE. That's all we've got to judge Obama's performance on right now, and we have the right to stand up and say, "You're full of it Barack." Sorry if that deflates your optimism. Maybe we all want decent people in the Obama administration. Obviously they will differ from many of us politically, but that's not really the issue this week. The issue is the caliber of people he's appointing and the shady stuff he's willing to ignore.

I'm not saying Leon Pennetta falls under the above category (yet). He's always been a creep IMO, but so far nothing illegal has come to light.
 
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