Some Interesting Drama In Panetta Pick

It has been reported that President-Elect (or can we just get to calling him President) Obama will name former California Congressman Leon Panetta to head the CIA.

For the time being I will refrain from any specific speculation as to whether or not he is the right pick, though I do admit I wonder why a 70 year old ex-legislator would be chosen over a more-experienced professional. This is not to say that I have no respect for Panetta, indeed as someone who has lived near his district for many years I found him to be quite a responsible and reasonable moderate on many issues, especially those relating to national security.

However what I find particularly interesting is that the major objections so far have come from his fellow Californian and chair of the Intelligence committee Dianne Feinstein. Like Panetta, she is a responsible moderate and I have a good deal of respect for her opinion.

She notes that she was not consulted and has expressed doubts of his qualifications. I would think that, given their association with each other, that she would have kept those doubts a bit more private and made a more non-committal public statement.

I do therefore wonder if there is some bad blood between the two (or between Feinstein and Obama, since one would think he would consult the chair of the Intelligence Committee on the CIA pick).

Just some interesting drama for us to watch.