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Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40026: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:35:10 PM

Morell was the manager of the staff that provided Daily Briefings to Bush, so that might explain why he was with Bush at the time of the attack. His apparent life-long career with the CIA also explains how he knew of the 9/11 culprits to begin with.

Some more on Morell: he joined the CIA during 1980. As I mentioned earlier, he spearheaded CIA divisions on Asia, Latin American and the Pacific Ocean. Given that the 80s were Reagan's years, I don't really like the implications there, ala Iran-Contra, Mujaheddin, Mubarak and Saddam.

edited 12th Nov '12 6:39:38 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#40027: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:40:58 PM

I hope Petraeus gets a Secretary job anyway, but then, I suppose you're only allowed to have affairs if you're the sitting President like Bill Clinton.

...You do remember that affair almost got Clinton impeached, right?

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40028: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:42:46 PM

[up] No, he was impeached in the House, but acquitted in the Senate.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#40029: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:44:33 PM

[up][up]That wasn't it. He got impeached because he lied about the affair.

edit: He wasn't almost impeached he was impeached. It means "To bring up on charges" not "found guilty or convicted of."

Sorry about that but that's a personal peeve of mine.

edited 12th Nov '12 6:45:54 PM by Kostya

Trivialis Since: Oct, 2011
#40030: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:46:25 PM

Being impeached can shake things up even with acquittal.

Clinton was lucky US doesn't freeze presidential powers during impeachment. That happens in some countries.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40031: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:47:49 PM

Now that we've info-dumped on Michael Morell, do you think he's a fair or foul replacement for Petraeus as Director of the CIA?

edited 12th Nov '12 6:49:18 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#40032: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:50:11 PM

Like I said, the list of guys with qualifications to head the CIA has to be pretty short. And you're unlikely to get any that don't have implications to them that someone doesn't like. If Morell was on the ball enough to know who attacked us from the start then I'd say he's a good guy to hire for the job.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#40033: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:50:50 PM

[up][up]

Fair.

He has experience and doesn't strike me as insane, and that's all that matters.

I mean, can any of you suggest a better candidate?

edited 12th Nov '12 6:51:44 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40034: Nov 12th 2012 at 6:51:35 PM

As far as being the head of intelligence, yeah, I'd say Morell's a fair replacement.

Since he's been a recluse up until this point, we'll certainly learn more about him as Director, if he gets the position.

edited 12th Nov '12 6:56:13 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40036: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:06:20 PM

I'm a little iffy on what Morell might have done during the 80s, since that was Reagan's time, but we don't have any specifics. Even Petraeus called him "a career spook".

Weirdly, the two articles I've read state that it'll take months before the Senate approves Morell as the successor to Petraeus. I'm guessing they're waiting for Libyagate to fall outta the headline news after a while before they get the new Director.

edited 12th Nov '12 7:08:43 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#40037: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:14:50 PM

It's kind of strange that command of the agency is given to those who are usually outside of it. That... seems counterproductive really.

GameGuruGG Vampire Hunter from Castlevania (Before Recorded History)
Vampire Hunter
#40038: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:15:46 PM

So all that we know about Morell is that he was actually on the ball during his tenure in the CIA. Somehow, that's probably why he's on the shortlist for Director of the CIA.

Wizard Needs Food Badly
deathpigeon Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: One True Dodecahedron
#40039: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:17:27 PM

I'd rather we didn't have the CIA at all.

PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#40040: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:20:26 PM

He sounds like a fair legitimate replacement. The job requires people with Rainbows of Grey style morality. And if he knew Al-Qaeda was behind 9/11, I'd be glad to see him as prez. Him being a Spook does bother me on trustworthy-ness. On the other hand, it means he's been very good at his job.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40041: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:22:35 PM

We probably won't see Morell officially replace Petraeus as Director until late next year. He's still the interim Director until then, however.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#40042: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:27:55 PM

Frankly I'd rather have someone in charge of the CIA who knows how the place works, not a career politician or bureaucrat. Hmm... how much of a Jack Ryan vibe does Morell give off? tongue

As a related note, does the fact that Obama doesn't need to run for reelection mean he can reshuffle his cabinet and advisers with an eye towards competence rather than political favors? Surely, someone can get Paul Krugman on the short list for some high economic position or other. The man is the single most prominent voice in liberal economics from what I can tell.

But Obama is still playing the centrist card from what I've seen so far, which doesn't inspire confidence. If he keeps it up he may have such a dud second term that we get a GOP victory in 2016 despite all the progress that's been made.

edited 12th Nov '12 7:33:51 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40043: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:39:03 PM

[up] That's what I fear might occur as well.

Even if, by some chance, the Democrats get the White House in 2016, we might have to deal with a Republican Senate.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
DrTentacles Cephalopod Lothario from Land of the Deep Ones Since: Jul, 2012 Relationship Status: Having tea with Cthulhu
Cephalopod Lothario
#40044: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:40:30 PM

All I want from the CIA right now is for it to stop working inside American Borders. That's what the FBI is for.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#40045: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:43:14 PM

The FBI actually performed warrantless surveillance on Petraeus. That's how we know so much about the affair and the implications of it.

It was before they learned that they were spying on the Director of the CIA, but still - Big Brother is Bad.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#40046: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:52:31 PM

Most of our greatest politicians are career politicians!

edited 12th Nov '12 7:54:04 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#40047: Nov 12th 2012 at 7:58:30 PM

People ‘unliking’ Romney on Facebook at an alarming rate

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Colonial1.1 Purveyor of Obscurity from The Marvelous River City (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
Purveyor of Obscurity
#40048: Nov 12th 2012 at 8:01:28 PM

What's this affair you speak of?

"He could not know it. For it was not all a joke."
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#40049: Nov 12th 2012 at 8:03:37 PM

[up]

Its the reason Petraeus is resigning.

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#40050: Nov 12th 2012 at 8:04:59 PM

@40047: "Alarming"? Someone's been into the hyperbole punch a bit. There is no reason to continue following or liking a campaign feed for a failed candidate. The only reason this is news is because someone at that channel is bored.

edited 12th Nov '12 8:05:17 PM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"

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