CIA Director Resigns

CIA Director Porter Goss resigned unexpectedly today.

The media is reporting this as part of the whole “administration shake-up” thing. But there’s more going on here.

The former Republican Congressman from Florida, Porter Goss’s name has surfaced time and time again in the Republican bribery scandal, which began with an investigation into now-convicted Republican Congressman Duke Cunningham and his lobbyists. That investigation spread to the CIA, where Goss’s hand-picked #3 man at the CIA, Kyle “Dusty” Foggo, has now fallen under serious investigation in connection with a massive bribery scheme that touches on multi-million dollar contracts that may have been improperly awarded, private Poker parties…and hookers.

Yes, hookers. The FBI is currently investigating two defense contractors who allegedly provided lawmakers (in return for awarded contracts) free limousine service, free stays at hotel suites at the Watergate and the Westin Grand, and free prostitutes.

In the article that I just linked, journalist Ken Silverstein says: “I’ve learned from a well-connected source that those under intense scrutiny by the FBI are current and former lawmakers on Defense and Intelligence comittees — including one person who now holds a powerful intelligence post.”

…and who is a former lawmaker on the Intelligence comittee who “now holds a powerful intelligence post?”

That’s right. Porter Goss. Who resigned today, “unexpectedly.”

I would love for the media to actually start to do their jobs with this…..I mean after all, it’s got scandal, it’s got sex….the American public might actually pay attention.

Cinqo De Friday Music

Right, so let’s get the cinqo de mayo tie-in out of the way first, for those of you so inclined: Here’s another track from filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’ band: Chingon – “El Rey De Los Chingones” Roughly translated: “King of the Badasses.”

Discovered a new artist from UK this past week, and I’m loving her stuff so much that I’m going to feature two of her songs. This first track is her lead single, an ode to London, built around a sample from “Shake Senora”. This song just screams “Summertime”, and I’m sure that, in the UK at least, this is going to get played to death over the coming months. Lily Allen – “LDN.” (site doesn’t allow hot-linking, so it will take you to an interim page, where you can click the link…or, just copy-and-paste from here.)

The second Lily Allen track is a hilarious anthem for anyone who has ever been cornered in a bar by an unwanted chat-up. As she sings in the refrain: “You can’t knock ’em out, you can’t walk away, you try desperately to think about the nicest way to say — just get out my face, just leave me alone…and no you can’t have my number, ‘cuz I lost my phone.” The song is filled with this cheeky semi-rap about bad bar encounters that I think most everybody can sympathize with. Lily Allen – “Knock ‘Em Out.” (same site, same restrictions as above)

There’s a scene in the film “High Fidelity” (if you haven’t seen it, you must — go rent the DVD. I’ll wait here), where John Cusack’s character, Rob, the owner of “Quality Vinyl” (a record store) says to one of his employees: “I will now sell five copies of ‘The 3 E.P.s’ by The Beta Band.” He puts the album on, and sure enough, we see five of the customers in the store stop what they’re doing, listen to the song that plays, and obviously start to get sold on it. Here is the song in question: The Beta Band – “Dry The Rain.”

One of the best dark-electronica collections of the past few years has been the soundtrack to the movie “Pi.” I’m not going to begin to try to describe the film, suffice to say that it’s very, very dark and very very strange. Here’s one of my favorite tracks from the soundtrack: Clint Mansell – “We Got The Gun.”

I’ve posted tracks by Roisin Murphy a few times. She’s now solo, but used to be the vocalist for the Dublin-based group Moloko. I discovered Murphy when she launched her solo career, and so I’m only now starting to check out the stuff she did with Moloko, and all I can say is WOW. The same kind of jazzy-electronic-pop stuff that she now does solo….which I love. Here’s a track from the 2003 album, Statues, which makes me want to dance: Moloko – “Come On.”

Speaking of jazz, here’s some acid jazz built around sample loops and original instrumentation, from the French electronica musician Ludovic Navarre, AKA St. Germain. His stuff is innovative enough that famed jazz label Blue Note picked him up and release his albums, eclectic mixes of electronics, jazz, blues, and ambient. Another track that gets your head bobbing – St. Germain – “Rose Rouge.”

One of my favorite downtempo/chill electronica groups, Zero 7, is about to release their long-awaited third album. This is the first track from the album, which sounds for all the world like Crosby Stills and Nash meets Moby. If the rest of the album is this good, I will be a very happy fan. Zero 7 – “Futures (feat. Jose Gonzalez)” (another track from the site mentioned above — either follow the link, or copy-and-paste).

There you go folks. Enjoy.

The “Liberal” Media, At It Again….

Some fairly big news from yesterday, that’s getting barely noticed: A 27-year veteran of the CIA grilled Rumsfeld during a public appearance in Georgia (that well-known hotbed of radical liberals). Ray McGovern asked him why he lied about the run-up to the Iraq war, and quoted Rumsfeld’s own words back to him, before behind ushered out by security. Read the transcript or watch the video at the above-linked page.

The thing that I think is noteworthy, apart from a multi-decade CIA veteran publicly questioning Rumsfeld on his bullshit, is the fact that McGovern was just one of several people at that event who protested…there were four other people who either asked him pointed questions (including the mother of a soldier killed in Iraq), interrupted him with shouting, or (in one man’s case) stood quietly with their back to him in silent protest. ….and this was in GEORGIA, folks. NASCAR country. As Red as Red States get.

So, is this all over the news?

Of course not. And when it is, it’s being spun to death: Paula Zahn interviewed McGovern on CNN yesterday, and not only went with the whole “hostile war critic” angle, but actually defended Rumsfeld in her questions. Example question: “How much of an ax do you have to grind with Secretary Rumsfeld?” This is our Media, folks. Whores to the powers-that-be.

Today, CNN.com has a video report, titled “Rumsfeld faces tough questions”, buried in their “POLITICS” section. Their lead story, with big photos and extra coverage? Did Ted Kennedy’s son, Rhode Island Democrat Patrick Kennedy, get away with Drunk Driving last night? That’s right, voters….LOOK! OHNOES!!! DRUNKEN DEMOCRATS!!! He’s a Kennedy too, ya know. (Wink wink).

What’s that? 27-year veteran of the CIA asking public questions with proof that the Administration lied to us to start a war? Multiple protests occuring at a high-security event in the heart of Conservative America? Shush.

Did we show you the DRUNK DEMOCRAT???