Posts Tagged ‘Feinstein’

This story in the Washington Times exposes, once again, the inherent corruption that is too prevalent in Washington, D.C.  When a powerful Senator can, without the slightest hesitation or second thought, introduce legislation that directs money to the agency that is funding her husband’s business, you know the system has failed.

On the day the new Congress convened this year, Sen. Dianne Feinstein introduced legislation to route $25 billion in taxpayer money to a government agency that had just awarded her husband’s real estate firm a lucrative contract to sell foreclosed properties at compensation rates higher than the industry norms.

Mrs. Feinstein’s intervention on behalf of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. was unusual: the California Democrat isn’t a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs with jurisdiction over FDIC; and the agency is supposed to operate from money it raises from bank-paid insurance payments – not direct federal dollars.

Having been on the inside of the cesspool that is Washington, D.C. for nearly 15 years, I stopped being surprised a long time ago. Now I’m just disgusted.  This is yet one more example of what is terribly, terribly wrong with Washington today.  And yes, I’m just as disgusted with Republicans who do this kind of thing as well (particularly those associated with the Abramoff fiasco.)

The selection of Leon Panetta as the new CIA Director is so bad that even leading Democrats are criticizing the choice.  The LA Times is reporting  that incoming Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Diane Feinstein, was not informed of the decision and that she may oppose the appointment.   Outgoing Senate Intel Chairman, John D. Rockefeller is said to “have concerns” about the nomination.

I think this is a blunder by Obama.  Panetta is a former Congressman (he was Chairman of the Budget Committee) then served as Clinton’s budget director before being tapped as Clinton’s Chief of Staff.  None of his experience prepares him to lead one of the most important agencies of the federal government as we continue to battle terrorism across the globe.

My knowledge of intelligence issues is limited to Robert Ludlum  novels, but here is a quote from the article that struck a cord with me: “If you go in thinking your experience someplace else is going to transfer, it doesn’t,” said the former high-ranking CIA official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

I understand that the CIA has been a disaster, but bringing in someone with no intelligence background is a mistake.  This is a political power-play by Obama Rahm Emmanuel.  Besides, how many Clinton alums are we going to have to tolerate?