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Porter Goss Left Because...?

by BooMan
Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:01:36 PM EST

Porter Goss resigned today as the Director of Central Intelligence. There are several possibilities for why Goss chose to resign now. One obvious possibility is that he intends to beat the filing deadline to enter the Republican primary for Senate in Florida. Wonkette says the deadline is next week. Another possibility can be seen in Time's report on unrest at the Agency over recent administrative changes that have turned over all foreign intelligence agency liaisons (as well as the primary responsibility for counter-terrorism) to the National Intelligence Agency under John Negroponte. It's also possible that Goss was actually fired for incompetence, resigned because he didn't get Negroponte's job, or stepped down because he wants to spend more time with 'Andy Card's kids'. But the juiciest rumor involves the Watergate free hookers scandal.

If that scandal is about to blow and rock Capitol Hill, it might be a good idea to get out in front of it and fire anyone that can be fired.

I have no idea why Goss is leaving. It will very interesting to see what kind of replacment they select. Hopefully it won't be someone else that was having breakfast with the head of Pakistani intelligence on 9/11. We can hope.

As for the agency, they are into total disarray. Shitcanning (I know, he resigned) the DCI dead in the middle of an internal witch hunt is a very odd thing to do. It makes me lean a little toward the hooker theory of things.

Porter Goss John Negroponte CIA NIA DCI DNI

Porter Goss Left Because...? | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Easy. (4.00 / 4)

He's resigning because Patrick Kennedy is getting a shitload of press coverage, and the hookers aren't. He's just jealous.

by vicki (nosnivelling at hotmail dot com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:23:08 PM EST

Re: Easy. (3.50 / 2)

This is stunning- even Ed Shultz is ignoring Goss for drugs. I'm astonished at so many people's inability to sort out important events from trivia.

CNN is the worst on this.

by Tehanu on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:25:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Timing is everything (4.00 / 3)

There's a link on his site that says "Click here later to listen to Rep. John Tierney, D-MA, discuss the resignation of Peter Goss." I don't know how he distributes his show but it might not have met the deadline for whichever feed you're listening to.

The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote. -- Ambassador Kosh

by Omir the Storyteller (omir.the.storyteller -CAT- gmail -DOG- com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:35:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Timing is everything (4.00 / 2)

I've been listening for 2 hours, but he is so enamored with how he has never used drugs that he can only talk about that.

by Tehanu on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:07:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Easy. (none / 0)

So that's where Gannon went.That kincky bastard!

If you want me to go back to the place that I was born, tell your corporations to leave my country (Leon Gieco)

by cruz del sur (nicodk@sbcglobal.net) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 09:00:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Josh Marshall's comments over at TPM (4.00 / 4)

"Here at TPM HQ we were listening to the president's announcement. And the talking heads on CNN were speculating whether Goss's departure might be part of Josh Bolten's 'new blood' shake up in the Bush administration. I don't suppose it has anything to do with the fact that Goss is neck deep in the Wilkes-Corruption-and-Hookers story that's been burbling in the background all week. We don't know definitely why Goss pulled the plug yet. But the CIA Director doesn't march over to the White House and resign, effective immediately, unless something very big is up"

The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote. -- Ambassador Kosh

by Omir the Storyteller (omir.the.storyteller -CAT- gmail -DOG- com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:29:40 PM EST

Re: Porter Goss Left Because...? (4.00 / 6)

I live in the DC area.

At 4:59P, the local news led w/ Kennedy. The report went on until 5:02, helpfully pointing out that you can read more about this story on the website and running a poll to ask if Kennedy received preferential treatment.

At 5:24, there was a "Beltway and Beyond" segment that discussed the "unexpected resignation" of ole Porter, and then helpfully added that this resignation is happening in the midst of a "white house shake up." The segment lasted about 20 seconds.

And they wonder why they lose credibility by the second...

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:31:58 PM EST

I'm voting for... (4.00 / 3)

SEX SCANDAL! That's the only explanation that covers why Goss was dropped like a hot potato. Bribery, corruption, influence-peddling... Joe Six-Pack and Cathy Christian don't pay attention to vague, complicated stuff like that. But, SEX gets their attention and their indignation every time.

For those saying Bush wouldn't stand next to him in that case, I answer: Sure he would because later he can deny he knew the reason for Goss's sudden resignation. Then, he'll be appalled and sorry for him just like he was over his aide's shoplifting arrest.

by sjct on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:29:54 PM EST

Re: I'm voting for... (none / 0)

yup, this just screams whoregate to me. May there be many more rolling heads.

--
When we hear freedom we know it doesn't mean armed occupation. --felagund

by froggywomp on Sat May 6th, 2006 at 02:39:03 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Porter Goss Left Because...? (4.00 / 4)

Porter Goss and free hookers its a gift from God. Please oh please.

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; now we know that it is bad economics;" - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

by Salunga on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:36:29 PM EST

Re: Porter Goss Left Because...? (4.00 / 3)

I watch the crap news from time to time because sometimes amidst all the things that make me really, really angry, I just need a really good laugh.

I am laughing today. More laughs to come, no doubt.

don't miss ~ Matters of Spirit and Expanded Views

by shirlstars (shirlstarsw@aol.com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 07:04:52 PM EST

Like Arlo said (4.00 / 2)

in his concert not long ago:

"I figure some things were put on this earth just to make you laugh. Otherwise what would be the reason for them?"

The avalanche has started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote. -- Ambassador Kosh

by Omir the Storyteller (omir.the.storyteller -CAT- gmail -DOG- com) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 07:57:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]

ABC has a different take: (4.00 / 3)

Insiders at the CIA and other western intelligence agencies had been expecting the resignation of CIA Director Porter Goss for months.
Several of Goss' deputies had reportedly been looking for new positions in the last few weeks.
ABC News' Chris Isham reports the White House had sought to push Goss out late last summer, but the plans were delayed because of the administration's failure in handling Hurricane Katrina. ....
A final straw may have been the FBI corruption investigation involving his number three man, Kyle Dusty Foggo. Foggo is a long time friend of a defense contractor, Brent Wilkes, now under investigation for paying bribes to members of Congress.
Foggo admitted this year he had attended poker parties arranged by Wilkes in Washington, D.C., but he denied ever seeing prostitutes at the parties.
For the last few days, the CIA has gone to great lengths to distance Goss from Foggo. A CIA spokesperson said Goss had never attended any of the poker parties.
LINK

There are LIVES in the balance. Click here. Watch. Listen.

by cotterperson on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 07:21:55 PM EST

Can y'all PLEASE tell me... (none / 0)

Why you are even WATCHING CNN?

What?

Are you SURPISED or something?

I swear to God...the whole "liberal" media-watching establishment is totally into some form of masochism.

You watch the media like bored, lonely housewives watch soap operas.

You KNOW who's gonna get fucked up!!!

Why the HELL would you want to watch it!!!???

Turn the shit off and stop contributing to their ratings.

AG

Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.-Mae West

by Arthur Gilroy (arthurgilroy<at>earthlink.net) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:31:36 PM EST

Re: Can y'all PLEASE tell me... (4.00 / 3)

I can only speak for me, but I watch--to the extent that I can stand it--these types of shows not for what they cover but how and/or if they cover a story. Big difference.

Kind of a know-thy-enemy thing. Unfortunately, many other people watch these shows, and they think they are being informed. That's going to impact how you relate to other people when alerting them--again--about the 546,233 ways that this administration is full of it.

As for me, I've been cable-free since Dec. 2001.

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 05:48:58 PM EST
[ Parent ]

We have to watch (4.00 / 4)

because Mr. and Mrs. Joe Average are watching -- we have to know what lies we have to counteract this week.

It's the attitude of "I never watch that crap" that makes us look elitist, and drives the Average Americans directly into the arms of the ones that claim to be Just Plain Folks (when we all know they're not)...

"Who does the President think he's f-in' kidding?" -- Keith Olbermann, 3/20/06

by Cali Scribe on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:03:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: We have to watch (4.00 / 4)

I know I'd run out of things to say pretty quickly if I didn't read the New York Times and the Washington Post and occassionally watch cable news coverage.

It's not that Arthur is wrong about the worthlessness of cable news...it's a disinformation outlet unlike the print papers and do both real reporting and disinfo.

It's that the real value of blogs is to correct the record. We do little original reporting, but we do correct the record on how the reporting is reported.

Case in point: Donald Rumsfeld says he didn't say what he said. The cable news may make it clear that he is lying, or they may not. You can be sure that we will make it clear. We can't do that if we don't even know Rummy said a thing.

by BooMan on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:08:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Keith Olbermann (4.00 / 5)

made it very clear that Rummy was lying, that's for sure.

I'm not going to apologize for watching cable news. But that's not my only source of news...I read the blogs, the local papers, listen to radio talk shows, and read national papers (and other publications) on the Net. And when I view any news source, I have my filters set pretty high so I can figure out what's real, what's spin, and what's just plain bullcrap. A lot of folks don't have those filters...and those are the people we're going to have to reach this November and in 2008. We could just ignore them, but then we're just preaching to the choir and in the same screwed position we've been in throughout the Bush misAdministration.

When treating someone who's been poisoned, doctors need to know what the poison is, so they know how best to treat it. How are we going to know how to approach potential voters if we don't know what news they've been ingesting?

"Who does the President think he's f-in' kidding?" -- Keith Olbermann, 3/20/06

by Cali Scribe on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:27:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Can y'all PLEASE tell me... (none / 1)

i don't watch tv news, for the most part find it worthless, what's the pont, there is so much better coverage and expertise in the blogs. no cable, no cnn, no prob.

by annie on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 06:02:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Can anyone tell me... (none / 1)

If my congresscritter Mike Rogers (Mi. 8th) is alleged to be involved in any of the Watergate stuff.

It is time for Democrats to remember who got us in this mess, oppose them and not each other.

by keepinon (jaukkuri@sbcglobal.net) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 07:35:29 PM EST

Re: Porter Goss Left Because...? (none / 1)

Thanks for the mention of the breakfast. Truly one of the stranger synchronicities of 9/11...

"If you look for the social economic motive, you will not have to wait for history to tell you what was propaganda and what was truth." - George Seldes

by Real History Lisa (lpeaseRemoveThis@gte.net) on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 07:59:50 PM EST

Re: Porter Goss Left Because...? (none / 0)

I think it's likely General Michael Hayden,(former head of NSAand chief mechanic for the BushCo domestic spying initiative), will be appointed as the new DCI.

This argues against an earlier comment I made in another thread that Goss's departure may signal another instance of the neocon grip on power being weakened. Hayden is, after all, a rigid military intel-based regime loyalist and seems to be quite comfortable in implementing the authoritarian measures BushCo is so enamored with despite the fact that such measures violate the most fundamental principles enshrined in the constitution. As such, he's a perfect neocon foil; a drone who can faithfully carry out their insane anti-democratic policies and actions without being disturbed by conscience or illegality.

Even if Hayden does represent a furtheranmce of neocon power in the short term, (if nominated he wil almost certainly be confirmed by a majority of Dems), in the long run his appointment will still, in the end, represent one of many last ditch attempts by the neocon machine to cling to power in the hopes they can reinvigorate their agenda going forward.

But they will fail, just as their crascpot ideology has failed.

Denial is our most dangerous adversary.

by sbj on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 08:02:14 PM EST

Re: Porter Goss Left Because...? (none / 1)

if this is tied to hookers and poker games at the Watergate and other hotels, it's just a snippet of the scandal..Cunningham-Brent Wilkes.. contracts that's been playing under the radar for the past month or so.

About to blow wide open. Laura Rozen War and Piece has been covering the scandal and provides this link to Harper's article, Question,

How did the long-time personal driver for alleged Cunningham co-conspirator Brent Wilkes become the recipient of a $21.2 million DHS limo service contract last year?

Go read all about Shirlington limo, headed by Mr Christopher Baker, president, whose resume is a long criminal rap sheet spanning 1979-1989, yet he bags a sole-source contract requiring DHS security clearance and fingerprints to be cleared by the FBI

A problem? Why no, not when one has the right connectivity. Mr Baker's Shirlington limo service has office space at DHS building and the GSA.
Can't make this up.

Just to tickle your read, Mr. Baker provides limo service to

[.] At DHS, the limousines operated by Shirlington are reserved for the most senior agency officials: undersecretaries, senior staff, and senior political appointees. (Department Secretary Michael Chertoff has a separate transport detail.) DHS plebes take a Shirlington bus to travel between the agency's facilities in and around Washington and Virginia; a bus will also drop employees at a Metro stop on the Red Line. [.]

Well, "You can't vote for war and disown the results"

by idredit on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 08:36:16 PM EST

Ummm...? (none / 1)

What's wrong with this statement from Bush?

"Porter's helped this agency become integrated into the intelligence community. That was a tough job. He's led ably."

OK, I know. Shooting fish--or quail--in a barrel, I know.

But IIRC, the CIA is the oldest member of the intelligence community. And what's in a name? It's the CENTRAL Intelligence agency. Why in the hell would it need to be "integrated" into the intelligence community?

It would if Porter had to oversee his own demotion. And even I missed this:

*The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 amended the National Security Act of 1947 by abolishing the post of Director of Central Intelligence and distributing his duties between the new Director of National Intelligence (DNI) and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. The DNI took on several DCI Area components that performed certain services of common concern for the entire Intelligence Community, most notably the Community Management Staff and the National Intelligence Council.

Of course, when it went bad, they finally cut him loose--not the least of which being that they're obviously too stupid to actually perform due dilligence on their puppets.

Not too intelligent.

Can't hear ya, Peach!

by AP on Fri May 5th, 2006 at 09:07:08 PM EST

Porter Goss Left Because...? | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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