QUOTE OF THE DAY – THE PATRIOTS – AT 8:46 A.M. ET:  The big buzz, as all of you know, is about Leon Panetta's new book, "Worthy Fights," and the extraordinary interview he gave last night to Bill O'Reilly, in which Panetta, somewhat diplomatically, devastated Barack Obama's style of "leadership."  But Panetta follows two others, Robert Gates, like Panetta a former secretary of defense, and Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state and probable Democratic nominee for president.  All have raised the gravest questions about their commander-in-chief. 

The Obamans are striking back, questioning the character Panetta, in particular, and the judgment of the others.  Is it fair?  Do you attack a god when he's still doing his god act?  But Ed Rogers, at WaPo, has a superb reply to the defenders: 

Perhaps Panetta, Gates and Clinton are telling those who still serve in government that President Obama’s biases and instincts need to be challenged. The few adults left in the administration should not roll over, and the Republican opposition needs to be constantly vigilant in order to try to shape a more protective American national security posture. Maybe Panetta, Gates and Clinton are putting loyalty to a country at risk ahead of deference to the president who appointed them.

All three knew their disclosures would be flashpoints in the media and that many would find fault in their decision to go public. Gates and Panetta have both held their last government jobs, they don’t need the money and they don’t have an agenda beyond contributing to the historical record. Clinton may have a more tangled mix of motives behind her latest book, but the points she makes are still valid when reinforced by Gates and Panetta.

The bottom line is that all three have made it clear: There are problems within the Obama administration, and they saw those problems up close. As Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal told Milbank, “Secretary Panetta and others are echoing what is obvious from the outside, but it’s more powerful when it’s coming from people on the inside.”

COMMENT:  Well said.  Obama has been badly damaged by Panetta's revelations.   Most Americans may not be following this story, but the powers in Washington are eating it up.  Our regret is that, for two more years, Barack Hussein Obama Jr. will be running the foreign policy of the United States.

October 8,  2014