9 January 2009
eh cumpà, auguri on that cia thing!
President-elect Obama recently named Leon Panetta, former Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton, as the new Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Panetta, 70, is a former Congressman from California, prominent attorney, First Lieutenant in the US Army, and founder of the Panetta Institute, a nonpartisan public policy center that operates out of California State University.
But most importantly to us in southern Italy, he’s Calabrese!
Panetta’s parents were born in Calabria before they emigrated to the United States. His father worked in a copper mine in Wyoming before moving to Monterey, California (Panetta’s hometown) and opening up a restaurant.
So how close is Panetta to his Calabrese roots?
He reportedly doesn’t get back here as often as he’d like, but he does speak Calabrese according to his cousin Domenico Panetta, former mayor of Siderno, which is about 50 km from me.
Of course Panetta’s nomination wasn’t without its detractors, but things now seem to be going smoother on his road to lead la CIA (pronounced “CHEE-ah” in Italy by the way).
And here in Calabria, we couldn’t be prouder. So in honor of Direttore Panetta, please join us in a traditional Calabrese tarantella:
Veniti tutti ‘cca e ‘mparativi abballari!
Capiscisti?
In bocca al lupo, cumpà!
Buon weekend a tutti!
Related posts:
- Winners of Travellers Calabria Guidebook & Calabrian CD by Marasà
- Hurricanes and Mudslides in Calabria
- Badolato Hosts Tarantella Power 2009
- The Meaning of (Calabrian) Life
- Kicking Off Travellers Calabria Week with Mimmo’s Music
20 beans of wisdom »
Gil on 09 Jan 2009 at 7:20 am #
I think that he will need some Legal advice about Italian American relations from a Calabrese Attorney!!!
Hah, I would settle for some donated frequent flyer miles or something
judy haley (coffeejitters) on 09 Jan 2009 at 7:31 am #
yay! 10 days left
judy haley (coffeejitters)’s last blog post..Dear Baby Girl
Woohoo!!!!!!!
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 09 Jan 2009 at 8:34 am #
I heard one of his cousins on SKY24 being interviewed.
I haven’t seen it, although I think I must have read snippets of it….
nyc/caribbean ragazza on 09 Jan 2009 at 8:35 am #
oops I hit submit too soon.
His family on this side of the pond is very proud of him.
nyc/caribbean ragazza’s last blog post..Flashback Friday – Jill Scott – “Golden”
Indeed! It’s been all over the papers down here.
joanne at frutto della passione on 09 Jan 2009 at 11:35 am #
I wonder if he’s getting any requests for *raccomandazioni* yet
joanne at frutto della passione’s last blog post..Frutto della Passione
Hah, I’m sure he’s been getting plenty of them throughout his career
joe@italyville on 09 Jan 2009 at 2:41 pm #
I love hearing that thick Calabrian dialect Michelle! and la tarantella… how can you not get up and start dancing?! You should hear my parents speak…. Calabrese through and through!
Hah, I believe you Joe…Calabrese is definitely unique
MariaNaperville on 09 Jan 2009 at 3:36 pm #
Michelle – Love your title! Really got my attention
Happy to hear we have un paisano on the team!
Thanks Maria…this was a fun post to write
Mary on 09 Jan 2009 at 3:46 pm #
La tarantella video is so cute! I love it! My mom will be so happy to hear about Panetta. Thanks for spreading the good news of Calabria!
Glad you enjoyed Mary! Spread the news!
Gennaro on 09 Jan 2009 at 5:08 pm #
Add that to a couple of Supreme Court justices with Italian roots. Not to shabby.
Gennaro’s last blog post..Painted Monasteries Of Romania
Indeed! Lots of paesani in high places in the US…just not very many that speak Calabrese, I don’t think
Connie Costa on 09 Jan 2009 at 6:57 pm #
Do you happen to know if his parent’s restaurant is still in existence and what it’s called? I just went to Carmel/Monterey area not too long ago.
I just found this interview, in which Panetta says his parents sold the restaurant long ago.
JenniferRafferty on 09 Jan 2009 at 7:47 pm #
I needed that tarantella just about now! Pulled me out of my need for a siesta. Thank you for sharing that, Michelle.
Jennifer
JenniferRafferty’s last blog post..Gluten-Free Restaurant Review: The Elephant Walk
A little tarantella is bound to wake up anyone
Foodista on 09 Jan 2009 at 9:15 pm #
That was fun!
Foodista’s last blog post..New Year’s Day Southern Style
Glad you enjoyed!
RITA on 10 Jan 2009 at 3:20 am #
I AM SO HAPPY YOU STOPPED BY MY BLOG AND GOT A KICK OUT OF THE AMERICANS IN THE PHOTO! YOU ARE LIKE A MOVIE STAR IN BLOG WORLD FOR THE ITALIAN/AMERICANS. STOP BY AGAIN SOON! LOVE YOUR SITE! RITA
Hah, that’s hilarious Rita…I had no idea! I’m glad you enjoy my site; yours is a lot of fun and I’ll definitely be back around
saretta on 10 Jan 2009 at 2:34 pm #
Evviva Panetta! That’s great!
I can’t help but mentioning…not that I’m bragging or anything…but the Tarantella did originate over here in Apulia, you know? In Galatina, to be precise, but no matter, your Calabrese version is just as lively and fun!
))
saretta’s last blog post..Mystery Photo no. 4
W la tarantella!!!!
Vee on 11 Jan 2009 at 9:54 am #
Wow I know lots of Panetta’s here in Oz, they must be every where
Vee’s last blog post..Supporting our Stirrup Queen
Yes, and we know where they’re from
a. on 11 Jan 2009 at 10:30 pm #
I hate to rain on the parade, but… I’m the only one who finds Obama’s pick of someone tied to the Clinton administration a bit disheartening considering his platform of “change”?
Oh well, at least he’s calabrese! W i terroni!!!
I don’t think Obama can really “win” on this one…if he picks people who haven’t served in administrations then people complain that no one has experience….
Anyway, I personally have no problem with Clinton administration picks as I rather enjoyed those eight years
Frank:))) on 13 Jan 2009 at 9:24 pm #
YOUR ABILITY TO FIND ANY LITTLE SOMETHING TO ADD FLOWERS TO YOUR BLOGS,IS A REFLECTION OF THE GREAT LADY THAT YOU ARE.
i DID ENJOY THE tARANTELLA,EVEN IF THE YOUNG LADIES SKIRTS WEREN,T FLYING AROUND HIGH THE WAY THEY DO NOW.iT,S ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE SOME NUDE PARTS THAT
PRODUCE,INEVITABLY, SOME FRENESY EVEN IN THE OLD MEN.
Hah, too funny Frank…there are other videos on YouTube with more live dancing, but I can’t guarantee any skin
wunschdenker on 29 Jan 2009 at 1:31 pm #
A good friend of mine – Doug Criscitello, fellow Italian-American, used to be the CFO of the SBA in DC (love governmental abbreviations, don’t you?!) and worked closely/met often with Leon P. Heard he was an upright guy. One thing though, when do you think he’ll stop using Grecian Formula and go for the natural look?
70 and no grays? Come on Leon!
Cool…and I’d definitely be willing to donate some grays if he wants to look more mature
wunschdenker on 29 Jan 2009 at 1:35 pm #
Woops…sorry, it was when my friend was the CFO of the OMB, which Penetta was the Director of in ‘93.
Noted. I think you just wanted to use more initials….
Tarantella Power - Badolato Hosts Tarantella Power 2009 | Bleeding Espresso on 01 Sep 2009 at 7:05 am #
[...] may think it’s all about the tarantella, but it’s really a celebration of Calabrian culture in general–music, dance, food, [...]