Did y'all know that Richard Clarke had turned down CIA Chief Position?

[FrenchieCat]

before Leon Panetta was asked?

I heard it reported yesterday, I think on MSNBC.

Panetta was not Obama's first choice for the job. A number of candidates, including former U.S. counter-terrorism official Richard A. Clarke, declined the post.
snip
Clarke, a former senior counter-terrorism official in the Bush administration who became an outspoken critic of the president after the Sept. 11 attacks, acknowledged in an interview that he had been approached "repeatedly" about various national security positions.

"It wasn't so much this position," Clarke said of his rejection of the CIA job, "as it was that I didn't want to go back in right now."

The only surprise about the Panetta nomination, Clarke said, "is that he's willing to take it."
http://www.thecollegepress.com/news/us/obama-defends-choice-for-cia-chief-20090107.html


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-na-panetta7-2009jan07,0,7850757.story?page=2

[ErinBerin84]

1. yeah, I didn't know that until I heard it on Countdown last night.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Guess Richard Clarke understands that the position is that of

Head asshole in Chief there, and he didn't feel like it.....cause it is going to take a biggo shovel to unearth all of the Dookie mischief that has been going on there for the last 8 years.

[Uzybone]

2. Wow, the CIA must really stink right now

well at least we wont be seeing threads about how Obama has snubbed Clarke.

[Teaser]

4. OBAMA HAS SNUBBED CLARKE!!!!!1!!11!

THIS IS THE LEAST PROGRESSIVE ADMINISTRATION EVER!!!

[FrenchieCat]

5. I've already seen some, which is why I put this up.

Folks need to be informed prior to making accusations or speculating and calling it facts.

We could do that when Bush was in charge, cause we knew everything he did was fucked up, so no matter who much we speculated on his evil doing, normally we would turn out to be right.

However, with President Obama, we will have to use facts a bit more, and accusations a bit less, IMO. The difference is that the Obama administration, until it is proven otherwise, will no less normally aim to do the right thing. That in itself is change that I can believe in.

[CTyankee]

10. What? Use facts more on DU? What are you, a troll?

Seriously, I do support your idea. But it sure seems like some days DU folks just want to bellow any damn thing that pops into their head without thinking it through.

I think the reason Clarke didn't want to go back in is because he is making far better money on the outside and without all the hassle and really hard work. Been there, done that, he probably feels...

[MADem]

15. Very plausible.

He might stand to lose money taking the job.

Or, it could be Clarke's not in love with Denny Blair. They'd have to work closely together.

I think Panetta will do just fine. If he gets stuck, he has a qualified deputy, and he can always pick the SECDEF's brain....Gates used to have that job, after all.

[Thrill]

16. Has nothing to do with Blair

He said it wasn't the position.

[rvablue]

17. And other folks need to stop insinuating and putting words in people's mouths

unless you've got a link to something else, I'll take it that you are referring to my post.

IF you go back and read what it says rather than projecting your attack mentality, you will see I never said that Obama snubbed Clarke, I only made mention that I would have like to see him do it but had ZERO issue with Panetta who will do a fine job.

FC, you need to chill. I thanked you for the information. So much for gratiousness, but I guess from now on I'll just keep my expectations low.

[FrenchieCat]

20. Nope, it wasn't about your posts independent of others.......

I didn't name you, nor would I. It's not personal....and hopefully, it never should be. I just realized that I needed it to make it official after reading the posts of a few, including yours, but not exclusively based on anything you said. In fact, I've been reading since yesterday a lament about Clark, and didn't realize till I heard it reported on MSNBC that Clarke had actually been asked if he wanted the position. Sorry if you misunderstood this OP, and my agenda.

[phleshdef]

6. Thanks for pointing this out. Some people around here need to realize how ignorant...

their assumptions are.

[FrenchieCat]

7. Also dangerous........

Speculations are never a good thing if not backed up. Too many start to believe it. It is the problem with our media, and we don't need to act like them here.

[Captain Hilts]

8. Good. I like Clark, but Panetta's a better choice with an administrative background. nt

[FrenchieCat]

9. I agree.

[Cha]

11. I just saw something on Huffpost

about Clarke stating that bush didn't save lives and there were people dead because of him.

Sounds like straight shooter like Panetta.

[CTyankee]

19. Clarke is the real deal. I love when he comes on GMA as their resident

terror expert. He knows this stuff cold. He's smart as hell and very articulate. Of course the bushies hated him...

[windbreeze]

12. I have never followed or paid attention to this before....

but out of curiosity, how many have turned down a chance to work in Obama's admin? I'm relatively sure Clarke is not the first one and is this something that happens with any pres.elect? I don't ever remember anyone turning down a position in an incoming admin before...and find it just a little strange...are things (as we suspect)so bad in DC...that people don't want to be involved in what Obama has on his plate??...wb

[CTyankee]

18. I get the feeling that with Clarke it was more that he is doing pretty well

and making some good money and free of all the bureaucratic crap that he'd have to put up with. And he's older. He's already had the drama since he was still NSA when 9/11 happened -- it's theopening of his book and very dramatic indeed.

Maybe he's enjoying his life now and he's writing and speaking. NOt a bad life, that...

[Uzybone]

22. Happens all the time

Since Obama is the first black president every "misstep" will be painted as a disaster. Like Jill Zuckman of the Tribune said on hardball yesterday, people have stupidly high expectations of Obama. Some were expecting a $1 trillion stimulus plan to be ready to be signed on inauguration day. Things cannot, and in most cases, should not move that fast.

People turn down presidential appointments in every presidents term.

[merh]

23. Folks have turned down posts before

you are in the information age - the info is more readily available now

[windbreeze]

24. you're no fun

I'm old, have bad eyes, and wanted someone else to do the hard work...I thought if there was, say, someone who might have remembered a person who turned down and appointment by Clinton...or *...it might be at the forefront of their mind...and that perhaps they could just mention a name or two....because offhand, I couldn't remember anyone...

I agree with the poster who said we have some seriously high and unreasonable expectations of Obama...why? I couldn't say...but personally, I think it's going to take several decades for us to come out of what * has done to this country...but since I recall how we kept battering the very slim to none working majority we had in Congress from 2006 to 2008..I figure it seems we will continue to find fault with our own, it is the thing we seem to do best...as Democrats...wb

[merh]

26. Our expectations are too high.

Do I want the sun, the moon and the stars? Hell yes!

Do I think Obama can give them to me? Hell no. He is human.

I've worked with and along side some pretty remarkable people, elected folks and business leaders that were some of the best folks for the job. They did tremendous work, make great headway, but they also made mistakes and they stumbled. Those mistakes and missteps did not take away from who they were, the good people, the dedicated professionals that wanted to make a difference and that did make a difference.

Our nation is in bad shape, GWB has basically broken it and all of the systems that made it run, it will take a very long time to fix and it will take a great deal of effort.

Obama has said himself, he will make mistakes and won't be able to make everyone happy. I'm grateful that he is trying to make a difference. I think he is a good man.

[EraOfResponsibility]

13. I guess Clarke was so shook from Bush's atrocities

he couldn't face it again

[Hieronymus]

14. Obama's choice of Clarke and Panetta gives me reassurance of the

direction he'll take.

[spotbird]

21. Good for Obama

I really with Clarke had accepted.

[TheKentuckian]

25. Hopefully Clarke or Clark

will take over when Gates moves on.

[Number23]

27. Clarke would have been a fantastic choice

[bigwillq]

28. I did not know that.

I think Clarke had the potential to be very good.

[firedupdem]

29. kick!