Tom Ridge says Bush Administration pushed to raise terror alert for re-election

[NFS4]

I saw this link on my Facebook homepage, so I don't know how reliable the site is, but I always wondered about this. Jon Stewart and a few of the other other liberal talking heads speculated about this, but it appears that Tom Ridge is spilling the beans now...

http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/...lerts-raised-election/

Tom Ridge, the first head of the 9/11-inspired Department of Homeland Security, wasn't keen on writing a tell-all. But in The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege...and How We Can Be Safe Again, out September 1, Ridge says he wants to shake "public complacency" over security.

And to do that, well, he needs to tell all. Especially about the infighting he saw that frustrated his attempts to build a smooth-running department. Among the headlines promoted by publisher Thomas Dunne Books: Ridge was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings; was "blindsided" by the FBI in morning Oval Office meetings because the agency withheld critical information from him; found his urgings to block Michael Brown from being named head of the emergency agency blamed for the Hurricane Katrina disaster ignored; and was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush's re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over.

I guess it kinda like looking in the rear-view mirror now, but still interesting nonetheless.

 

[Phokus]

Republicans are corrupt, news at 11

 

[StageLeft]

Not terribly surprising, but to hear it from him, what a sh*t administration that was, like we didn't know already, but still.

 

[JSt0rm]

of course he did. I think only the dumb ass masses even believed it when it happened. I think the daily show did a piece on the movement of terror alerts.

 

[Engineer]

Yahoo news link in case anyone doubts the above link.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: Phokus
Republicans are corrupt, news at 11

Senator Kennedy would like to speak with you.

 

[sandorski]

It seemed blatantly obvious at the time, especially afterwards when it just stopped, but there was always enough Doubt for even the most devout Bush Basher to kinda hedge their bets. That kind of thing should be a Crime if it isn't already. A Democratic Republic that is so easily manipulated is good for no one.

 

[heyheybooboo]

AFAIK we are still at yellow - airports and transportation at orange ...

 

[Patranus]

Well, there were terrorist attacks in Afghanistan during their election so what would make you think that they wouldn't try similar things here?

 

[Engineer]

N/M...misread the statement.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: Patranus
Well, there were terrorist attacks in Afghanistan during their election so what would make you think that they wouldn't try similar things here?

because its Afghanistan? are you saying tom ridge was a liar?

 

[AnnonUSA]

Originally posted by: Phokus
Republicans are corrupt, news at 11

Wrong... Politicians are Corrupt....

 

[umbrella39]

I would like to say I am shocked at this revelation but I'm not. I think we all knew this back when it happened but it's nice to hear from the horses mouth. Sadly, this kind of information goes against the programming of the sheep in this country so as per usual it will fall on deaf fanboi ears.

 

[DaveSimmons]

It's a shame that Ridge was too corrupt to blow the whistle at the time.

 

[Perknose]

Originally posted by: Patranus
Well, there were terrorist attacks in Afghanistan during their election so what would make you think that they wouldn't try similar things here?

Geography maybe?

 

[Vic]

Shocking!

 

[BoomerD]

NO! Say it ain't so Tom!

 

[ZeGermans]

Water wet.

 

[OrByte]

Originally posted by: Vic
Shocking!

no...its.... :music: shoooockkinnggggg :music:

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: AnnonUSA

Originally posted by: Phokus
Republicans are corrupt, news at 11

Wrong... Politicians are Corrupt....

"Their" politicians are corrupt. Ours want the best for everyone. Insert the party of your choice.

 

[marincounty]

Politicians are corrupt. Republican politicians are lying, criminal, thieving scumbags.
That makes two elections Bush stole. Aren't you glad?

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Seems like the lowest of ridiculous, "OMG, Bush is teh ebil." assertions I've ever heard. Do people actually believe that raising the terror level on the eve of the election would have impacted the vote? It wasn't raised and Bush won anyway.

This is media hype, pure and simple, to sell Ridge's new book to a certain target audience because I doubt conservatives give two shits about Ridge.

 

[marincounty]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Seems like the lowest of ridiculous, "OMG, Bush is teh ebil." assertions I've ever heard. Do people actually believe that raising the terror level on the eve of the election would have impacted the vote? It wasn't raised and Bush won anyway.

This is media hype, pure and simple, to sell Ridge's new book to a certain target audience because I doubt conservatives give two shits about Ridge.

Of course, anytime a Republican speaks the truth they are exiled until they apologize to Rush.

 

[BuckNaked]

Originally posted by: Engineer
Yahoo news link in case anyone doubts the above link.

Did anyone read the link?

Ridge says he objected to raising the security level despite the urgings of former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, according to a publicity release from Ridge's publisher. In the end the alert level was not changed. Ridge said the episode convinced him to follow through with his plans to leave the administration; he resigned on Nov. 30, 2004.

 

[Craig234]

Originally posted by: AnnonUSA

Originally posted by: Phokus
Republicans are corrupt, news at 11

Wrong... Politicians are Corrupt....

Whatever you do, don't single out the Republicans as doinf any act wrong that you don't equally blame Democrats for.

Democrats - equally guilty for something equating to Watergate, Iran-Contra, Plamegate, Abramoff and DeLay, kicking arms inspectors out of Iraq to start a war, and much more.