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One high-level Democrat with strong ties to Feinstein, who spoke on condition of anonymity, characterized the senator's statements on Panetta this week as "a show of strength, a brush-back pitch, from a powerful chair who can be helpful or hurtful" to Obama."She feels strongly about protocol," Feinstein's friend said. "As chair of the Intelligence Committee, she expected a courtesy call, especially if it was going to be outside the norm."
"If she did not respond with a show of strength, she'd be seen as weak," the insider said. "This is not the time for weak leaders. And she is not the kind of wallflower that would simply turn the other cheek with this kind of offense."
...
With the withdrawal of New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson as Obama's nominee for commerce secretary - in the face of a pay-to-play inquiry - and the current brouhaha over Panetta, she said, "I would be more careful. You don't want to squander all the good will from the election."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/07/MNTH154H3S.DTL
Yes, one better play nice with Feinstein, or your smashing electoral victory will be "squandered".
Pathetic. Pathetic.
