Panetta: "We can't just sit here and b***h"

Leon Panetta gives presumably his last press briefing as defense secretary. Feb. 13, 2013. / CBS

In what he presumed to be his final press briefing as defense secretary, Leon Panetta today slammed Congress for failing to work with the executive branch and putting the nation's security at risk.

"Often times I feel like I don't have a full partnership with my former colleagues on the Hill in trying to do what's right for this country," Panetta told reporters. "I don't pretend we always make the right decisions, [but]... what I look for is members willing to work with us. We need to look for solutions. We can't just sit here and b***h... We have got to solve real problems facing this country."

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Panetta slams Congress: "We can't just sit here and b***h"

Panetta continued, "This is not a time when we can kind of take a deep breath and assume the rest of the world is going to be fine. We can't do this alone. We have got to do this with a full partnership with the Congress."

The defense secretary has not been shy about his frustration with Congress, which has so far failed to avert the $1.2 trillion "sequester" cuts, half of which would hit the Pentagon. "The looming cuts could jeopardize military readiness," Panetta said today. "I would again strongly urge the Congress to heed these warnings. This is not a game. This is reality."

Panetta said Congress' dysfunction was "on full display" during the Senate confirmation hearings for former Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., President Obama's nominee to replace Panetta.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today scheduled a vote for Friday to break the GOP-led filibuster on Hagel's nomination. Reid noted this is the first time in history a defense secretary nominee is being filibustered. "What a shame," he said on the Senate floor. At least 60 votes will be needed to move Hagel's nomination forward, and Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., said he is optimistic they have the 60 votes.

• In farewell remarks, Panetta rails against Congress, sequestration
• Graham threatens to hold up Hagel, Brennan votes

Panetta said today, "I think the Congress will act and that they will confirm Chuck Hagel this week."

Still, Panetta said that in instances such as Hagel's hearings, "What you see on display is too much meanness."

"The thing that makes the Congress work is that... there will always be party differences... but there are also some lines that are there that make that process work, lines that involve mutual respect," said Panetta. "Lines that involve courtesy and a degree of respect for each other despite what their decisions are. And you kind of see that breaking down. It becomes too personal, it becomes too mean."

Panetta, who served in the House of Representatives himself for 16 years, said congressmen need to have respect for each other but also for the institution of Congress. "Somehow members on both the House and Senate side have to get back to a point where they really respect the institution they're a part of," he said.

[chevyhotrod]

The so call sequester only cuts the rate of growth, it does not cut the budget a single penny. It only cut the rate of growth.

Now all you sheep just suck it up and do what your master tell you to do.

[Cowmpound]

Agreed. But where should it come from?

[Social_Adjudicator]

"Ed Wynn" the Vaudeville act was entertaining, but good riddance.

[eroteme2]

You will be missed Panetta, you attracted more homosexuals to seek military careers, and you brought women into ground combat. You certanly gained Obama's admiration. It is just a bit of a shame that you left our military services worse than they were after you became Secretary of Defense, even though you were one of the best when it came to military operations and knowledge?

[JonesUSA]

He deserves admiration of the entire country and the whole world for showing the courge to give our daughters the same opportunities as our sons!

[Cowmpound]

Was that the goal?

[peter_out]

What does b***h.. mean?

[reginaldorigo]

I'm reading it as ********

[sjc_1]

It sounds like Mitch.

[TJphoto]

Implosion of the Republican Party. Sit back and enjoy. Maybe a new party will rise from the ashes. A party of smaller Government, fiscal responsibility, and and a party of common sense. We can only hope. Article 1, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution.

[washmohickory]

You can only hope. I wonder how that party will get along with the Democrats?

[Krowster]

We the people have to start writing to our Governors, and give them the ultimatum that they must work for the people or be impeached, that includes their selections to Congress.

[djseavy]

I agree with the post outlining the anger and disrespect that seems to prevalent these days. It seems people can no longer disagree without resorting to turning it into a personal attack. It's no surprise we have so many random murders, kids who have no respect for anybody because that's what they learn from their parents, etc. It takes different ideas to keep our world going. Besides that - if we all thought the same, we'd still be rubbing two sticks together to cook dinner. Nobody would have ventured out of the norm and come up with new ways of doing things.

[nearl451]

Well, he got it right.

I was never a fan of the hawkish Panetta, but the parting shot was glorious.

[TPAULA]

Congress is a joke thanks to the worthless GOP members who prefer trying to find things to blame Obama for instead of trying to actually solve this countries problems. They aren't in the slightest bit interested in cutting back spending for any program they like, just programs that help the needy. I'm quite sure that they would love to go back to the days of child labor and sweat shops so that their rich friends can make even more money.

[Filmguy870]

Word! GOP=PIG

[chevyhotrod]

The GOP has passed budget, where is President Obama's budget?

Late again.

Last time President Obama's budget was voted down in the Senate 97-0 and 414-0 in the House.

Not a single Democrat voted for President Obama's budget.

[mrleme]

what a pawn