Well, Well …

Porter Goss just resigned as director of the CIA. That was unexpected. Hadn’t he just delivered Mary McCarthy to be burned at the stake? Isn’t he Dick’s boy?

The Associated Press reports,

CIA Director Porter Goss resigned unexpectedly Friday, leaving behind a spy agency still battling to recover from the scars of intelligence failures before America’s worst terrorist attack and faulty information that formed the U.S. rationale for invading Iraq.

Hmmm, does this mean investigators had tied Goss to the Cunningham scandal? Think Progress connects the dots. See also Peter Daou.

William Branigan of the Washington Post reports that neither Bush nor Goss gave a reason for the sudden departure. Early news stories implied that Goss’s resignation was part of the second-term shakeup. That doesn’t wash, I say; Goss wasn’t on the White House staff and had only been CIA director for two years. Plus, it seems he’s been zealously doing the White House’s bidding by using polygraphs to sniff out leakers at the agency — a high priority among Bushies.

When Goss became CIA director two years ago he was charged with the job of “reforming” the agency, which meant transforming the CIA from an intelligence agency to part of the White House’s political support team. It’s possible the Bushies didn’t believe the transformation was happening fast enough. Maybe they want to replace Goss with an even bigger toady. But the righties seem dumbstruck. Even Bill Kristol was caught off guard.

Bill Kristol, executive director of The Weekly Standard, told Fox News Channel that there had been “no rumblings” of such a departure.

“I don’t think the White House was expecting this,” Kristol said. “It comes as a total surprise. I may be overly suspicious here, but this one just has a real element of surprise and suddenness that makes me wonder if something popped in the last few days that led to this announcement.”

Back in July 2004, Ray McGovern (you might remember Ray McGovern from yesterday’s “Quiz Rummy!” episode) called Goss “Cheney’s Cat’s-Paw.”

He has long shown himself to be under the spell of Vice President Dick Cheney, and would likely report primarily to him and to White House political adviser Karl Rove rather than to National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice. …

… Appointing Goss would administer the coup de grâce to intelligence analysts trying to survive while still speaking truth without fear or favor. The only saving grace for them would be the likelihood that they would be spared “multiple visits” by Cheney to the inner sanctum where it used to be possible to produce unvarnished analysis without vice presidents and other policy makers looking over their shoulders to ensure they “had thought of everything.” Goss, who has a long history of subservience to Cheney, could be counted upon to play the Cheney/Gingrich/et al. role himself.

Larry Johnson says he doesn’t believe Goss’s resignation is part of the White House shakeup; it’s more likely Goss is in trouble.

This could get juicy.

26 thoughts on “Well, Well …

  1. Pingback: Liberty and Justice

  2. The AP isn’t getting it..there was no intelligence failure at the CIA.. the failure was in the interpetation of the intelligence..Goss was nothing more than a two bit whore who was supposed to clean out the resistance to Bush’s total domination of the agency..Bye bye Porter…as another flunky bites the dust.

    Fortunately all the bullshit that Bush is trying to cover up is still festering beneath the surface.. the lies, the secrets, the deceptions and the power plays…and it’s not going to go away until America gets honest answers..How many times does the question of why did you lie have to be asked before you realize that addressing the question straightforwardly, openly, and honestly is only way to resolve the question.

  3. Of course if you surf over to CNN there is the breathless “Breaking News” red boarded picture of Rep. Kennedy and the news that he is going to enter re-hab. Apparently this news trumps any news at the CIA Hookers? Connection to the DCI? Nothing to see here people, move along.

  4. This is the first I’ve heard about Porter’s fondness for the flesh. Why that old rascal..I would have never guessed, he seemed so grandfatherly and reserved. I guess it gives credence to the old adage..when there’s snow on the roof, there’s a fire in the fireplace.

  5. I think the Rumsfeld incident yesterday with the ex-CIA analyst in Atlanta could be significant due to the timing of the resignation. Rummy called himslf a “Consumer of Intelligence”, which is quite a stretch. It seems Gross and Negeponte had a flare upon this and Goss resigned. So we have Negreponte and Rice left for Bush …

  6. Bye, Bye Porter!
    Watch them ‘Gators down on Sanibel.
    Gonna spend more time with family while we fight the generational war against the “terrists”, are ya?.
    Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out….

  7. Unfortunately the nation’s top stupidity official remains in the Oval Office.

    Too funny!

    This is what happens when I hit the TV-free laundromat right after work. Still can’t believe “Patrick Kennedy goes to rehab” is breaking news on CNN, and Goss’s resignation isn’t.

    I agree, the timing may be linked somehow to the Rummy incident yesterday.

  8. Maha is right this will get juicy.

    First; sex, power and politics have always played big in DC. Even though we haven’t heard about a lot of sexual escapades since Gary Condit left office, it’s been there but it’s more secretive.

    Cunningham, poker games in Watergate and another hotel and prostitutes. I can’t imagine having sex with Cunningham-YUCK. No wonder his wife dumped him before he went to prison; she probably learned what was going on.

    Secondly, what’s the story behind the story. There always has to be a fall guy and so far, it looks liks Porter.

    Also, timing after Rummy in Atlanta yesterday adds to the mix.

    joanr16 – I agree with you. There was more coverage of Patrick Kennedy than Goss today.

    Do you think Snow has started snowing the networks?

  9. Britwit –

    Got it. (Gosh, I’m flattered. Kidding!)

    The question is, how does your hubby feel about Bush now? Our nuclear family has always been liberal, but my dearly loved (and fun and adventurous) parents loved Bush. This love is quickly fading, however, so don’t give up on your guy.

    Hugs and kisses to Miss Coco. Just found out my brother from Hawaii needs a babysitter for their darling Diesel (a loveable female Mastiff) so I might soon be joining you in dog duties.

  10. It’s the hooker’s, stupid!
    If he was resigning for any other reason, they’d have had a replacement there to thank Goss for his service.
    Now, the question is, were they female, or was Jeff Gannon involved?
    Maybe the MSM will wake up with something other than a morning boner on this story. The only thing they ever seem to notice is sex.
    Now, if there’s a missing white woman in all of this, and a BJ, we can finally have what we want – the “I” word.
    The FBI needs to look for Gannons’s little blue dress.

  11. There is an interesting post at Huffington by Mark Kleiman about poker games. Easy way for contractors to pass money to Congressmen and CIA contacts?

  12. “Wow, Congressman, what cojone’s! Who would have thought, when you were bluffing that you only had a pair of two’s when I had a royal flush? Here’s the $50,000 I owe you. Now, over the next hand, let’s talk about that defence contract bill you’re going to support. First card down – an ace! I guess the card God’s are on your side tonight, Sir. Hey, Lola, bring us another round! Good boy… Uhm, girl… By the way, Jeff, you look great in that little blue dress.
    Now, Congressman, my company has…”

  13. Safavian, after receiving heads up to his imminent indictment, resigned on a Friday, then was arrested the following Monday. This allowed the lap dog MSM to always spinningly refer to him as a ‘former’ Bush official, rather than head of agency

    Goss unexpectedly resigned on a Friday. Hmmm….

    Goss’ handpicked guy to be 3rd in line at the CIA, Foggo [tied to Wilkes-Cunningham scandal], is now publically outed {WSJ] as being under federal criminal investigation.

  14. Sam – Your comment 12

    He didn’t like Bush and still doesn’t; he thinks the guy is an idiot.

    Think NRA – had him convinced about the gun issue and that was the only reason why.

    My family – all very liberal. They all live in Ohio. We just hope that the asshole Blackwell doesn’t become Governor.

    My brother said that he remembers seeing a picture of Blackwell when he was on The Cincinnati Council of Blackwell giving sometone the finger with a very hateful look on his face.

    My brother said that he wish someone would get that picture from either the TV network or Cincinnati Enquirer to show the “real” Blackwell.

    He is currently Secretary of State and tried to pull all type of shit in election. Karl Rove visited him on several occasions.

    Can you think Blackwell gave the State of Ohio up to Republicans.

  15. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12652460/

    Here’s another view..it doesn’t contain any of the good stuff( sex, corruption and intrigue), but it doesn’t paint a very good picture either..I’m hearing that the Air Force General( Meyers?) who was an architect of the domestic spying program is on deck to replace Porter..my initial impression of that possiblity is,..Yeah, that’ll work..the guy’s already been tainted. Is it true that you just can’t find good help these days?

  16. Swami –

    General Michael Hayden is the one they want. Big SPY GUY!
    He will definitely be a CZAR guy. He will do whatever to get to the source.

  17. Britwit-

    I just did a little reading up on Blackwell. I wasn’t familiar with him before. Wow. No wonder you’re worried. He seems like a juggernaut. I don’t know if anyone can beat him. Total backing of the repubs all the way up the ladder and, other than the shady dealings at the polls, he seems to have kept his nose clean. Perfect for the right. Religious, too, in that fundy way. Ye Gods. Sorry, Britwit. Dems really have their work cut out for them. Maybe Bushco will sink so far into the mud by November that they’ll drag some folks down with him. Tell your brother to look for that photo!
    As silly as he is, I think I prefer our Governator any day.
    http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-arnoldseal.htm

    Found this under “political humor.” It was an outtake from “Fahrenheit 9/11.”
    REP. GOSS: It is true I was in CIA from approximately the late 50’s to approximately the early 70’s. And it’s true I was a case officer, clandestine services office and yes I do understand the core mission of the business. I couldn’t get a job with CIA today. I am not qualified. I don’t have the language skills. I, you know, my language skills were romance languages and stuff. We’re looking for Arabists today. I don’t have the cultural background probably. And I certainly don’t have the technical skills, uh, as my children remind me every day, “Dad you got to get better on your computer.” Uh, so, the things that you need to have, I don’t have.
    — Rep. Porter Goss, March 3, 2004, Washington, DC

  18. Oops. Britwit, that was me.

    Enlightening article, Swami. Like Oberman said, you don’t think they’ve done to the CIA what they’d done to FEMA, do you?

  19. Sam- Not sure what your opps means.

    How are you going to get Diesel? Miss CoCo has dragged me and I was black and blue and banged up for two weeks. Labs have very strong necks. I can only begin to imagine what Diesel might do on a walk. A lot depends upon her age. I had a friend whose Mother used to breed those dogs in West Virginia.

    I can’t walk our steep hill – it’s 4% grade and I have asthma. I take her to the smaller grade.

  20. comment 20 – anonymous unless it was Sam – I got a little confused.

    ANYWHO-

    Blackwell is a total asshole. He is pulling the religious card and has a large number of black churches on his side.

    I hope that someone blows his ass out of the water.

    My niece is very involved in some political organizations who think like us.

    Blackwell is being rewarded for the “good work” he did for Satan.

    He was even going to have the weight of the paper an issue in some provisional ballots. He is a bag man.

  21. Was horrified to learn that Blackwell’s the GOP’s man for governor. Isn’t he running on a “reform” platform? The Dems in Ohio have their work cut out for them. Truly sickening.

  22. The Democrats need to start kicking ass in Ohio and, frankly, other key states. Blackwell needs to be taken OUT as in out of politics forever!

    alyosha it is so truly sickening.

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