The Fury of Enablers Scorned

Sen Diane Feinstein(D-CA), who is the incoming chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, doesn't like Obama's choice of former White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta to head the CIA, and outgoing chair Sen. Jay Rockefeller(D-WV) is also less than thrilled.

Feinstein it should be remembered was one of two Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee to vote to approve Attorney General Michael Mukasey even after he he said he didn't know if waterboarding was torture.  At least Sen. Chuck Schumer(D-NY) could claim a personal connection to Mukasey from their New York days.  Sen. Rockefeller cut a deal with the Bush Administration to allow for telecom immunity in the lawsuits surrounding warrentless wiretapping.

If nothing else, if Panetta's nomination sidelines those Democrats who helped enable the worst aspects of the Bush Administration then this is will be a successful pick.