While the Internet hums with speculation over Porter Goss's sudden resignation, at least one Goss scandal has been a matter of public record for over a year and a half. 77 U.S. senators (including 28 Democrats) confirmed a highly partisan right-wing GOP politician to the most important national security post in the nation, while we were in the midst of war and struggling against terrorism. And they did even though it was already public knowledge that we had been misled into invading Iraq.
These lawmakers betrayed the most profound trust given them by the American people in the interest of political expediency. Their act should not be forgotten.
By then, no politician in Washington could plausibly claim ignorance of the Administration's politically-motivated manipulation of intelligence. Yet these 77 American solons saw fit to confirm a highly partisan Republican - one with a reputation as a GOP Congressional "attack dog" - to serve in the most sensitive position in the land.
If they had done the same for a Democratic President, by confirming a Democratic partisan, I would say the same thing I'm saying now: shame on them. This "Washington insider" game goes too far when it compromises our security in the interest of pseudo-bipartisan cronyism.
I won't join in the hooker-scandal speculation about Goss for now. Instead, I'll just remind you of the Democratic Senators who voted "aye" on his nomination - lest we forget. Needless to say, Joe Lieberman's one of them, but so are some people I usually respect.
No Republicans voted "nay," although Santorum didn't vote (maybe he was walking his dog) and neither did Specter. (Some Democrats also abstained.)
Here's the list of Dems who did a disservice to their country with this vote:
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Breaux (D-LA), Yea
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Daschle (D-SD), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Graham (D-FL), Yea
Hollings (D-SC), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Miller (D-GA), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
Let's hope they learn a lesson from the Goss Affair - whatever's behind it.
P.S. Have you listened to the song and been saved yet?