Tresury and CIA Nominees

[Bobette]

Is anyone concerned about Obama's nominees for the Treasury and the CIA? Why aren't we seeing more written about these two, especially on this blog? The pro Obama supporters made it very clear that anyone supporting McCain was going to get shouted down on any issue or smothered with line after line after line of rhetoric from the national media. I don't know about anyone else but it got to be too exhausting for me to even give a rip in the end.

From what I've read the pick for Treasury has had a bit of tax trouble since 2001. Three days before his nomination was announced he quietly paid off the taxes he owed as far back as 2006. Obama says this was an "innocent mistake". I don't know about you, but whenever we've made an innocent mistake on our tax returns, the IRS went to great lengths to make sure we knew about it and that they wanted their money in no uncertain terms and they wanted it quickly even though our sum was paltry compared to the $34,000.00 Geithner owed. There was never an instance when we could say we had no idea we owed the money or any opportunity to put that debt on hold. In an article last week it was also stated that Congress wanted to "fast track the nomination" in order to have things all wrapped up by Tuesday. Smells a little fishy to me as well as more than ironic.

As far as the CIA nominee Panetta, I don't know much about him other than what I've read; that he has very little intelligence experience. Now I'm thinking if this guy is going to head up our country's intelligence bureau he should have some, no alot of experience as required by this position.

I've not seen too much written about these two gentlemen. Just a snippet here or there as if the less we know the better. So let me ask you this, isn't it reasonable for all of us who are even the least bit concerned to question these choices? Shouldn't we be comparing these nominees to their predecessors? After all, experience was the one thing the reporters and the McCain detractors loved to debate when it came to Palin and Obama. (Which never made sense anyway since Palin wasn’t the presidential nominee.) Why no uproar regarding two questionable nominees to two high ranking and very important positions in our government?

.

[J.Q. Citizen]

Is anyone concerned about Obama's nominees for the Treasury and the CIA? Why aren't we seeing more written about these two, especially on this blog? The pro Obama supporters made it very clear that anyone supporting McCain was going to get shouted down on any issue or smothered with line after line after line of rhetoric from the national media. I don't know about anyone else but it got to be too exhausting for me to even give a rip in the end.

From what I've read the pick for Treasury has had a bit of tax trouble since 2001. Three days before his nomination was announced he quietly paid off the taxes he owed as far back as 2006. Obama says this was an "innocent mistake". I don't know about you, but whenever we've made an innocent mistake on our tax returns, the IRS went to great lengths to make sure we knew about it and that they wanted their money in no uncertain terms and they wanted it quickly even though our sum was paltry compared to the $34,000.00 Geithner owed. There was never an instance when we could say we had no idea we owed the money or any opportunity to put that debt on hold. In an article last week it was also stated that Congress wanted to "fast track the nomination" in order to have things all wrapped up by Tuesday. Smells a little fishy to me as well as more than ironic.

As far as the CIA nominee Panetta, I don't know much about him other than what I've read; that he has very little intelligence experience. Now I'm thinking if this guy is going to head up our country's intelligence bureau he should have some, no alot of experience as required by this position.

I've not seen too much written about these two gentlemen. Just a snippet here or there as if the less we know the better. So let me ask you this, isn't it reasonable for all of us who are even the least bit concerned to question these choices? Shouldn't we be comparing these nominees to their predecessors? After all, experience was the one thing the reporters and the McCain detractors loved to debate when it came to Palin and Obama. (Which never made sense anyway since Palin wasn’t the presidential nominee.) Why no uproar regarding two questionable nominees to two high ranking and very important positions in our government?

.

You're exactly right Bobette. I've already made several comments about Panetta. I don't think I've said anything about Geitner but I may have. I haven't made this a big deal for two reasons; first, they haven't been confirmed so it could be as much a waste of time and energy as it would have been complaining about say, Richardson of NM and second, I have a feeling it might not do much good. I saw an interview the other day with a Republican whose name I can't remember at the moment. Even he basically said that Geitner has the skills that are needed at this time in our economy and that he was going to vote to confirm. If, despite that previous nominees, Democratic and particularly Republican, have been crucified over lesser issues and a leading Republican is going to vote to confirm, I'm just not sure if I see much of a point in making a big deal over something that seems a foregone conclusion. By the way, he also had an illegal alien employee issue but nobody seems to care like they have in the past. The hypocrisy involved is astounding to me.

As for Panetta, I think it's a stupid choice. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if we weren't in two wars and if we weren't fighting the type of enemy that makes intelligence so crucial but that's not the case. We need someone who has intelligence knowledge and the heart and will to be a warrior.

So, you're right on many counts. They are questionable choices. There hasn't been much in the way of public opinion or outcry. I'm beginning to think that we, as a country, are numb. Bush was right in his last speech. Since 9/11, most people have gone back to their ordinary lives. Similarly, since the elections, most people have put the incoming administration in the back of their minds and even more don't understand the significance of what some of these positions hold. Sad but true.

[Bobette]

JQ - I agree there's probably not much we can do about any of it at this point. We just have to cross our fingers and hope he's making the right choices and if he's not there will be people there who will speak up. It is frustrating. The outcry on less important issues during the campaign were everywhere you turned. It's laughable to see what the media now thinks we want to know about. The news is saturated with stories regarding Obama but important issues such as these seem to be played down. Maybe after tomorrow things will settle down and the media will focus on the more important things.

The press has been more interested in beating us to death with stories about his vacation, what kind of dog he might get, wardrobe options, interior design decisions, what dolls the younger daughter favors, whether he'll get to keep his Blackberry, etc. Anything that is controversial is mentioned but not to the extent the papparzzi style stories are.

Only time will tell how effective he will be. Our country does need a strong leader, I just hope he's the right one. If he is we can only hope that the folks he entrusts to these positions will follow his lead.

[J.Q. Citizen]

JQ - I agree there's probably not much we can do about any of it at this point. We just have to cross our fingers and hope he's making the right choices and if he's not there will be people there who will speak up. It is frustrating. The outcry on less important issues during the campaign were everywhere you turned. It's laughable to see what the media now thinks we want to know about. The news is saturated with stories regarding Obama but important issues such as these seem to be played down. Maybe after tomorrow things will settle down and the media will focus on the more important things.

The press has been more interested in beating us to death with stories about his vacation, what kind of dog he might get, wardrobe options, interior design decisions, what dolls the younger daughter favors, whether he'll get to keep his Blackberry, etc. Anything that is controversial is mentioned but not to the extent the papparzzi style stories are.

Only time will tell how effective he will be. Our country does need a strong leader, I just hope he's the right one. If he is we can only hope that the folks he entrusts to these positions will follow his lead.

You're right again Bobette. All we can really do is wait, see and hope.

You really have to work at it to keep up with the latest news that really pertinent and relevant. People can say what they want but the evening shows on Fox News seem to be pretty informative. If you're looking for the mainstream media to put anything potentially critical out there for review you can forget about it. I heard someone describe it best the other day: The mainstream media does want to screw Obama but only so far as they really want to have sex with him.

[Bobette]

It appears that Tim Geithner's nomination was approved today. I can't say I'm thrilled with the decision, but hopefully he can redeem himself, afterall what can we do about it? There was a letter published in the Dallas Morning News today which makes an interesting statement regarding Obama and his associates. Thought I would share it with you.

But who are his pals?

Let's hope that Barack Obama can prove that his choices for his administration are able to perform because, based on continued credibility issues and obvious corruption matters, I find it hard to believe that he does not have some of the same character flaws.

My mom always told me that you are who you hang out with, and the American people surely have seen who Obama has been hanging out with -- and so far they haven't been the type of people I would want my kids to hang out with, or I would choose as my team.

The recent treasury secretary choice has been blatantly disobedient to the government and displays dishonorable behavior, just as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers did.

Sam Courtney, Carrollton

http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/letters-to-the/

[Shannon Benjamin]

Let's hope that Barack Obama can prove that his choices for his administration are able to perform because, based on continued credibility issues and obvious corruption matters, I find it hard to believe that he does not have some of the same character flaws.

My mom always told me that you are who you hang out with, and the American people surely have seen who Obama has been hanging out with -- and so far they haven't been the type of people I would want my kids to hang out with, or I would choose as my team.

The recent treasury secretary choice has been blatantly disobedient to the government and displays dishonorable behavior, just as the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and William Ayers did.


Bobette: I'd have to agree with your mother. Unfortunately, all these people are getting a pass in the main stream media. I have a friend at work who voted for Obama. When I told her some of the things that Wright and Ayers have done/said and how Obama didn't seem to have a problem with, she said she had never heard about any of those things. It's a scary thing.

[Bobette]

Hi Shannon - While my mom was and still is of the same opinion, the letter I attached was submitted to the Dallas Morning News by a gentleman in Carrollton. (as noted) However, in regard to your friend, I have heard the same comments from others close to me who voted for Obama. You have to wonder, did they stop reading the paper or watching the news when he took the lead or won the election? Or do they not want to accept that he may have some less than honest friends, much like every other politician?

[Bobette]

The nominee saga seems to get better and better. These folks have to know they were going to be thrust into the bright lights. Did they think any questionable "behavior" wouldn't be discovered? Did Obama's people check out these folks before announcing the nominations?