Posted on 05/06/2006 8:48:09 AM PDT by FloridianBushFan
News that Porter Goss had resigned as director of the Central Intelligence Agency fueled speculation he'd make a bid for the U.S. Senate.
Southwest Florida officials expressed their surprise Friday at his resignation as they lined up to praise the longtime former congressman from Southwest Florida for his decades of service.
Some expressed the hope that he will run for the U.S. Senate against incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson of Tallahassee.
Soon after the announcement was made in Washington around 1:45 p.m. Friday, rumors began to swirl in the nation's capital and in Tallahassee that Goss resigned so he could run against Nelson.
Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Sarasota, currently is the only Republican in the race but has had a poor showing in the polls.
Chris Ingram, a spokesman for the Harris campaign said Friday, "That's the first I've heard of that."
Carla Dean, chairwoman of the Collier County Republican Party, said a Goss run for the Senate would give Nelson pause.
"He certainly would be an able candidate," Dean said. "More power to him if he throws his hat into the ring."
Goss' reputation in Southwest Florida already is secure, Dean said.
"He served this area very well," Dean continued. "He's earned some private time if that's what he wants."
Snip...
Collier Commission Chairman Frank Halas said news of Goss' resignation was a shock to him.
"I really thought he'd be the person to restructure the CIA," Halas said. "I don't understand why he'd resign now."
Halas said the idea of Goss running for Senate makes sense.
"I'm not sure that Harris has the support to win," Halas said of Harris, who has been dealing with ethics questions.
(Excerpt) Read more at naplesnews.com ...
i highly doubt this.
Great scoop for the Naples paper. Very interesting.
This would not surprise me. Goss signed up to be the Director of Central Intellegence. Then after the 911 commission his title remained the same, but with the intellegence czar position his position became one that was not nearly as important.
I can certainly see why a former Congressman would not view being a drone in the bureacracy a great thing.
Right now all the evidence points to Negroponte simply wanting one of his own men in that position now that he is in charge of a number of agencies, including the CIA.
I think that all this speculation is designed to make fund raising harder for Harris. Both parties want her to loose. Can someone tell me why?
I thought this might have been reason as well.
I just saw this report on Drudge:
CIA boss Goss is cooked
Tied to contractor's poker parties - hints of bribes & women
http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/415304p-350961c.html
It would be great if Porter Goss ran - then I could actually vote for one Republican in the next election.
If Goss runs, I may actually show up to vote.
Tammy-Faye Harris makes me stay away.
Highly unlikely. I'll advised if true.
It's up on the main board now. The Sunday morning shows are going to have a field day.
Would love to see him run. He has all the name recognition that he needs.
You are not seeing this clearly. The motivation, whether Republican or Democrat is precisely the same.[1} The Democrats want to see Harris lose. No doubt about that. But look at motivation ... Democrats want that Senate seat.
[2] The Republicans do not REALLY want to see Harris lose ... but they see that she has no possibility of winning. She has been an incredibly weak candidate with a disastrous campaign and, her polling numbers are in the toilet. If Harris were the frontrunner, running a viable campaign, Republicans would be behind her 100%. BUT ... again, look at motivation ... Republicans want that Senate seat.
The bottom line is who controls the Senate ... and each and every seat is critical when the margin is so slim. To understand politics one has only to comprehend that it is all about power and control. All else falls into line behind that.
I was a supporter of Katherine Harris ... but am not now ... not after watching this lackluster, disaster of a campaign of hers.
P.S. It really has nothing at all to do with her being a woman or, God forbid, her "giving the election to Bush", etc., etc., ad nauseum ...
I think that Goss would have a better chance than Harris, but if this were true, it would not be just a rumor.
This has been brewing for a week or more ... give Porter Goss the benefit of the doubt for now ... but be prepared for more bad news to break. His name was one of the most prominent and recognizable in all the leaked rumours over the past week or so.
We need Tommy Franks.
The number 3 man at CIA, Foggo is his name believe it or not, is being investigated by the CIA IG regarding his connections to Duke Cunningham (went to poker parties at his Watergate appartment) and one of the bribers with whom he was very close friends going back to college.
The only link to Goss that I've seen is that Goss hired Foggo. Let's see what this turns out to be...
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