Be aware: They're going to use the Goss thing to divide us

[WilliamPitt]

and to make a run at the leadership issue. Be prepared for a lot of Democrats who will roll over for the Goss nomination. They are doing this to deprive Rove and crew of a juicy talking point: "The Democrats are playing politics with national security."

Sharpen those coping skills, friends, and remember that a President Kerry can nominate whomever he pleases for Director of CIA after January 20th.

[Trajan]

1. Pat Roberts (R) himself didnt want to see Goss ...

One might wonder how divisive this appointment will be for the GOP itself ...

Perhaps the Dems would do well to simply acquiesce, and allow Goss with the intention of replacing him come next January ...

Expedience can be a delicate balm, if applied carefully ...

[havocmom]

2. So, shall we just refer to Goss as Mr. Temp?

Little bit of reading on him makes me think the real spooks won't be letting him in, no matter what Congress does.

[Carni]

3. You hit the nail on the head

As far as I am concerned they should just confirm him and move on...if he sucks at the job (which he will) that is just more future ammo regarding bush's bad leadership!

Furthermore to be realistic WHO would bush appoint that would be honest and decent?

That would be NO ONE... so what difference does it make!

[frank frankly]

4. good warning. it sounds like Goss is a horrible selection

hopefully, in any event, he will be fired by Kerry.

[burythehatchet]

7. one thing that gives me comfort is that Kerry

has shown a great ability to think three moves ahead. He won't say anything that will cut the number of his options.

[tandot]

5. I agree. Democrats should just agree and Kerry should fire his

ass when he takes office. This can take the wind right out of those right-wing fundies sails. They selected Goss simply to show voters that Democrats are weak on terrorism and that they don't care about the safety of Americans.

Why picker over it? Bush has only 3 more month in office. Let him play his little game and let him use 9/11 to politicize the issues.

On edit:

Actually, Kerry should point out that BUSH is doing everything in his power to further divide the two parties and to use this appointment for political reasons, that Bush is a Divider, not Uniter. And that if Bush gets 4 more years, this country will be divided at a level never seen before. But Kerry should not oppose Goss' appointment.

[woofless]

22. 5 more months

with the last two as lame duck. I shudder to think of the damage that could be done in those two months.

[tandot]

34. Sorry, 5 more month...

and each and every single day this incompetent idiot is in charge is too much. The damage Bush has done so far will be hard to repair...

[Paradise]

6. yup, and thanks. n/t

[reprehensor]

8. Good point.

Goss is still an ass.

[WI_DEM]

9. too bad a number of democrats will roll over and play dead

If he is a horrible selection and it appears he is--then he should be opposed by democrats and to hell with Rove and company. We should oppose him on the merits and convince the American people that we are correct.

[lancdem]

10. Will, someone just told me the Post says

the Dems will try to stall the nomination.

[unfrigginreal]

11. So why aren't we out in front with the juicy talking point...

"The Republicans are playing politics with national security."

It's unbelievable that even when we know what they're up to we would rather cope than fight. Nominating a politician for this slot, especially one so intimately involved with CIA, doesn't bode well for the changes needed in the intelligence community. Why doesn't Kerry give a respectable non-political name to the Democratic leadership as an alternative to make it apparent that it's the Repugs that are playing politics with such an explosive issue?

[DinahMoeHum]

12. Does it really matter? Goss is just a temp until January 2005

when Kerry comes in to clean house (knock on wood)

And if it means the 'Pukes lose another Congressional seat in the bargain, so much the better.



:kick:

[Tempest]

13. Who is Goss, and why is he considered unfit?

I don't know squat about him, other than the fact he's a Repug.

Any specific info is appreciated.

[JohnKleeb]

15. I believe hes chairman of the inteligence commitee in the house

dont know much about him myself.

[WilliamPitt]

16. Here you go

http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/081104Y.shtml

[Tempest]

21. Thanks Will

Sounds like there's several reasons for not allowing this partisan hack to take the job.

[unfrigginreal]

17. He's chairman of the House Intelligence Committee...

the guy that was in charge of the committee that was supposed to be providing oversight to the CIA. It's sort of like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse.

[sniffa]

14. agreed - another division from the king of distractions

[Not Me]

18. From my business perspective, this should wait for the appointment

of the Terra czar. Based on the 9/11 commission's advice, the czar should have budget and hire/fire responsibility. At a minimum, he/she should have input to the selection of the CIA director, as it is likely the CIA appointee will have reporting to the czar.

Bush is sidetracking the 9/11 recommendations with his CIA appointment today. And yes, he will use any confirmation discussion as a wedge.

[JI7]

19. Goss thing dividing us ? hahhahahahah

most people are worried about jobs, paying health care, taking care of their families. they are struggling just to get by. they don't have time to or care to hear people debating over some cia director.

would we be happy if bush fired rumsfeld and replaced him with mccain ?

[bigtree]

20. I don't think we should abandon politics This appointment is all politics

It's the president who is attempting to politicize national security with the appointment to the CIA of a politician who has publicly argued, as Bush has, that the intelligence budget cuts Kerry supported are responsible for our security lapse. That will be the thrust of his elevated argument throughout the election regarding the anti-terror effort. I don't think Kerry and others should shy away from criticizing Goss on his Bush view of the 'terror war'. I don't see how Kerry can avoid it. A good fight will do more damage to Bush's credibility as our argument against his efforts is a rightous one that I think most Americans are ready to agree with.

[flpoljunkie]

23. Isn't a CIA director appointed for a 10 year term?

And wouldn't that make it difficult for Kerry to fire a newly appointed CIA director?

[WilliamPitt]

24. I don't think so

and the president can fire whomever he chooses.

[flpoljunkie]

26. This indicates otherwise. JK could fire, but at what price politically?

http://www.twa800.com/news/ap-1-5-01.htm

Bush Sticking With Freeh at FBI

January 4, 2001

By RON FOURNIER, AP Political Writer 

   WASHINGTON (AP) - Sticking with Clinton appointees, President-elect Bush wants FBI Director Louis Freeh to finish the last two years of his term and sought a brief extension for CIA Director George Tenet, advisers said Thursday. 

<>Freeh is in the eighth year of a 10-year term given to him by President Clinton, but the two have often clashed; Bush advisers have told Freeh they want him to stay. The CIA director, though not a permanent fixture in the Cabinet, is nonetheless an important part of a president's foreign policy team. 

[michigandem2]

25. on Msnbc they just had a cia guy on there

calling the move to nominate Goss as political...based on the fact that Goss is from FL and then he went to campaign in FL today???
any thoughts?

[flpoljunkie]

27. Florida's Senators' reaction to Goss nomination to be CIA director

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/F/FL_GOSS_CIA_QUOTE_BOX_FLOL-?SITE=FLPET&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla.:

"U.S. Rep. Goss brings a unique combination of service within the CIA and, for the last 16 years, active involvement in congressional policy and oversight of America's Intelligence Community."

"Particularly at this time when there is a heightened awareness of the importance of sound intelligence in protecting our security, the nation would not be well served by a lack of permanent leadership at the top of the CIA. I will be urging my colleagues to see that this nomination is considered as expeditiously as possible.

"My close work with U.S. Rep. Goss on the House-Senate Joint Inquiry into the events of 9-11 and his support for the Joint Inquiry's recommended reforms of our Intelligence Community give me confidence that he will be a vigorous and visionary leader."

Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.:

"He's a natural. He's a former CIA agent; and, he's well respected on both sides of the political aisle."

"One of Porter Goss' challenges will be to keep political influence out of the process of intelligence gathering and sharing."

________________

The key question...Goss is said to be Cheney's guy

[bigtree]

28. Goss and Graham have been linked in the past to questions of involvement

with the Pakistani spy agency.

During the Sep11th week, it was Porter Goss, together with Bob Graham, who met with the head of Pakistan Secret Service, ISI, who was already in the U.S. before the attacks. This article says the reason for this meeting was never disclosed.

The Breakfast meeting with the ISI
from "GlobalResearch.ca

On the morning of September 11, Pakistan's Chief Spy General Mahmoud Ahmad, the alleged "money-man" behind the 9-11 hijackers, was at a breakfast meeting on Capitol Hill hosted by Senator Bob Graham and Rep. Porter Goss, the chairmen of the Senate and House Intelligence committees.

"When the news came, the two Florida lawmakers who lead the House and Senate intelligence committees were having breakfast with the head of the Pakistani intelligence service. Rep. Porter Goss, R-Sanibel, Sen. Bob Graham and other members of the House Intelligence Committee were talking about terrorism issues with the Pakistani official when a member of Goss' staff handed a note to Goss, who handed it to Graham. "We were talking about terrorism, specifically terrorism generated from Afghanistan," Graham said.

http://inn.globalfreepress.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=485

I don't pretend to know what this story means. I could use some enlightenment.

[flpoljunkie]

32. I don't know. Sounds like they were doing their jobs. After all, we now

know that Pakistan ISI makes it their business to know what is going on in Afghanistan, Bin Laden's turf.

[unfrigginreal]

29. I find it hard to buck Bob Graham when it comes to intelligence matters.

I'm tempted to say if he's good enough for him that he's good enough for me but damn, this guy has been involved with the CIA forever. It's hard to see him pushing for the necessary changes.

[beyurslf]

30. Pat Roberts (R-KS) said his nomination was DOA.

[UrbScotty]

31. Tell me something they DON'T use to divide us. (nt)

[hippiegranny]

33. just think of him

as a minor opening act on the bush/cheney farewell tour!