It seems like this is something that should be getting a bit more media play.Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge claims that President George W. Bush put the squeeze on him to raise the nation's terror alert level to benefit Bush in the run-up to the 2004 election.
Such a claim might explain why Ridge turned down an opportunity to run for a Senate seat in 2010, but when asked previously (and repeatedly) about whether the terror alert level had been manipulated for political gain, Ridge denied that any pressure had been brought to bear by the administration.
Of course, when Democrats raised the topic during the election cycle, they were ridiculed by their Republican counterparts, and the issue was used to bludgeon Dems on their national security and anti-terrorism acumen.
How about some good old-fashion reporting, including some alternate confirmation, you media hacks.
Sure, they exploited America's utter post 9/11 paranoia for the most base political reasons. Ridge's book is not news. The only thing newsworthy is the fact that someone who was in the know is finally admitting it. He should have written his book five years ago.
ReplyDeleteI knew what was going on in the hours leading up to the election of 2004. It was so freaking obvious, you had to be an idiot to miss it.
On the first posting on my blog on June 2, 2006, I wrote the following:
"PREDICTION: George W. Bush will be remembered in history, primarily, as the first (pray last) former chief executive to go to federal prison. Sound crazy? Stay tuned."
I stand by those words.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY