Speaker vs CIA

Over at Left in Lowell there is some discussion of the Nancy Pelosi vs Leon Panetta issue.  I put it on the CIA chief since he is in charge and one assumes that when in charge, take charge; and take responsibility.

The Left in Lowell "spin" is that the Bush administration lied (to everybody) and thus Speaker Pelosi is innocent.

OK, lets take that the Left in Lowell view is the God given truth.  Now what?  If the CIA lied to Congress, there needs to be consequences. If nothing else, hearings in public and people brought forward and chastised.  What we don't need is a CIA that thinks it is right to lie to the US Congress, or at least the "Gang of Four" designated to received classified briefings.  If there are not going to be consequences, then Ms Pelosi should either resign for not being sufficiently in control or apologize for suggesting that Mr Panetta has been untruthful.  Or, Mr Panetta could resign.

Or, Ms Pelosi could have invited Mr Panetta over for a chat and told him that his outfit is out of control and she is going to cut the admin budget by 5%, so he better plan on laying off people.  Sort of a spanking in private.  Then Mr Panetta can apologize or he can say, no, you are wrong and take it to the President or take it public.  Maybe that is what happened recently.  Having gone public, it is time to settle this properly.  While it may be Democrats vs Democrats on the surface, below the surface it is the US Congress reasserting itself against the Executive Branch, which has been arrogating to itself more and more power over the last eight decades.

When will it be time for someone to take responsibility down there in DC?

Regards  —  Cliff