Panetta’s qualifications as presented by Teh One loving AP:

The former eight-term congressman from California has had plenty experience in overseeing all aspects of the federal bureaucracy as a former chairman of the House Budget Committee, as budget director and then chief of staff for President Bill Clinton; and more recently as a member of the bipartisan Iraq Study Group.

This should have gone to Jane Harman. This is the botoxed leading the blind now…

Rep. Harman and DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff

Really, really, really sad that PEBO let Pelosi keep Harman out of this role. Perhaps Nancy is miffed that she ranks 6th behind Harman at no. 1 of wealthiest members of Congress…

In the House of Representatives, Rep. Jane Harman, D-Calif., ranks No. 1, with $397 million, followed by Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., with $343 million. Rep Robin Hayes, R-N.C., ranks third, with $173.4 million. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., ranks sixth, with $62 million.

Pelosi has already blocked Harman from what would be the natural evolution of her role in Congress, becoming head of the Intelligence Committee…

Harman has the chops for CIA Chief. Leon Panetta SO does not..

Even the GOP members of the House endorsed Harman for the job, from Human Events:

Despite obvious differences on issues, Rep. Pete Hoekstra (R.-Mi) told us, “Jane is excellent on intelligence issues and you’ll recall that she was removed from the Intelligence Committee because she refused to dance to Nancy Pelosi’s tune.”  Hoekstra added that he made the recommendation of Harman in a telephone call to incoming White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emmanuel.

Harman (lifetime American Conservative Union rating:  28%) has compiled a liberal record after seven terms in the House.  But when it comes to national security, she has said “I live and breathe security 24-7.”  The Californian supported giving authority to the national intelligence director and unifying intelligence resources.  She also has been a consistent supporter of the U.S. action in Iraq.

“Her bipartisanship and pragmatism occasionally rankled other Democrats on the committee,” concluded the Almanac of American Politics, noting Harman’s close collaboration with Hoekstra on security issues and with other Republicans such as fellow Californian Dan Lungren on cargo-container screening. In ’06, with Pelosi calling the shots, Harman was passed over for the Intelligence Committee chairmanship in favor of the more partisan Rep. Sylvestre Reyes (D-Tx).

(Leon Panetta:NY Observer)

Not everyone is thrilled with this out of left field, inexperienced pick. From AP:

Fellow Californian Sen. Dianne Feinstein, set to chair the Select Committee on Intelligence, indicated that the choice caught her off guard.

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