What is the point in having Obama as president as he rehires the complete Clinton stuff back. Is that all America has to offer and if yes why have elections anyway bringing back the people who brought the problems on America does not seem the way to go. What can such a man, Panetta possibly tell to anyone at Merrill which şis worth 28000 $ for one speech. They should really stop the charade - what does a bankrupt company like Merrill need speeches at all from this breed of people for (another THain misconduct Mr President not only redecorating but bribing your stuff) - that proves how filthy the whole system is and Obama will not change anything about it as he even continues the path into the disaster by corrupption and greed. What makes me most uncomfortable about all this is the inevitable disaster it will bring upon us all. The course is into global turmoil and war as the cancer keeps growing the patient has to die. Looking at Obama's astro chart things get very clear slowly as he is a Leo but with an exact square to Neptun - that can be a snake oil salesman's quality or the one who is easy to manipulate as he believes what he pretends to do and claims but is ultimately not going to happen. In both cases he will be used for and by other people in the background with a more sinister agenda. The ones informed can make in such times incredible fortunes on behalf of the public.

CIA Nominee Panetta Received $700,000 in Fees

WASHINGTON -- The White House's nominee for director of the Central Intelligence Agency, Leon Panetta, has earned more than $700,000 in speaking and consulting fees since the beginning of 2008, with some of the payments coming from troubled financial firms and from a firm that invests in contractors for federal national security agencies, according to financial disclosures released Wednesday.

Mr. Panetta received $56,000 from Merrill Lynch & Co. for two speeches and $28,000 for a speech for Wachovia Corp., according to disclosures released ahead of Thursday's scheduled Senate hearing on Mr. Panetta's nomination.

Both Merrill and Wachovia reported big losses last year and were acquired by larger firms. The Wachovia honorarium was dated Oct. 30, and the last Merrill Lynch honorarium was dated Oct. 11, according to disclosure forms filed by Mr. Panetta in connection with his nomination. At the time, Bank of America had agreed to a rescue of Merrill Lynch; Wachovia had agreed to be acquired by Wells Fargo & Co.

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