Posted on 05/10/2007 12:32:05 PM PDT by Calpernia
WASHINGTON -- Senator Charles Schumer says the federal government should scuttle its Department of Homeland Security.
The New York Democrat is particularly incensed by the agency's plan to require passports to drive across the Canadian border. He says he's trying to convince his fellow Democrats in the Senate to dissolve the Homeland Security department into smaller agencies.
But Schumer says he's not sure if there are enough votes to dismantle the agency formed in response to the September Eleventh terrorist attacks.
Speaking to a group of New York business leaders in Washington, the senator called the department a conglomerate that's too large and incompetent.
While Schumer has been one of the agency's most outspoken critics, he also says Congress should be saddled with part of the blame. He says creating the Department of Homeland Security was "one of the worst things" Congress did.
Give Chuckie a sign to wear around his neck that reads “I am an idiot” - it would save time.
Hah...
Bush got a ton of heat for going against this saying we didn’t need more government agencies going the same job.
Time makes all reversals possible....
Hey Chuck, disband the Dept of Education while you’re at it.
People of NY. Go to the tallest buildings still available to you and jump out. The First Responders will have Body Bags available for you.
This should get Chuckie a lot of camera time.
For all the wrong reasons, Schumer actually gets something right.
Wasn’t it his party that insisted on this huge department?
I’m apt to agree after reading about how so many $$$$ million dollar Homeland Security grants have been given to every Barney Fife Mayberry police departments across the country to buy $250,000 armored personnel carriers and equip themselves like paramilitary death squads so they can go out and serve warrants to people smoking a little reefer.
Michael Chertoff created the Patriot Act which encompasses Homeland Security.
Chertoff use to work with Giuliani in NY as a prosecutor.
Or at least, we've got to do something about that sounds-like-it-was-translated-from-German-or-Russian name.
My plan:
Rename Department of Homeland Security the "Department of Defense". Assumes duties of border, immigration, coast guard, etc. You know: defense. Same thing it's supposed to be doing now.
Rename Department of Defense the "Department of War". (Or, if too un-PC, "Department of the Military".) You know, same thing it's doing now.
Idle hopes, I suppose...
Scarily enough. I am in agreement. This bureaucracy is unnecessary and is completely useless.
Yeah, using the patriot act and 9/11 stuff to go after non-terror related stuff is disgusting. But it’s exactly what many of us here were predicting as it was being debated.
With all due respect, I’m pretty certain it was Dem pressure that was the impetus for creating DHS. They wanted another huge government department with union employees.
More “first responders”, so that when the next attack happens, they’ll be out quicker to clean my carcass off the street.
And the Dept. of Energy, HUD, Nat'l Endowment of the Arts, and a dozen other money-sucking, worthless programs and agencies.
I hope and pray that he vanishes in the subway.
“”Department of Defense””
How about in these times we have a “Department of Offense”?
Well, I prefer to call it "Department of War" like we used to, but that's just me :)
Schumer was for it before he was against it....
“....That thought aside, HLS has been virtually worthless.”
Oh I don’t no about “worthless”...look at what they’ve done for the plastic sheeting and duct tape industries. /s
Break up the Department? You mean act against the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission?
Back during WW II it was called The War Department. But that was before the word War drove our congressmen to run for the Midol.
ROFL ROFL ROFL remember how hard the RATs pushed to establish it? They couldn’t wait for time to plan it, it had to be created NOW (then). I guess enough time has passed that their role in forcing its creation will be forgotten, drowned out by the cry (wait for it) ... Bush’s Fault! ROFL
Can you clarify? Are you saying it wasn’t Michael Chertoff that created the Patriot Act or are you disagreeing that Homeland Security is part of the Patriot Act?
The Dims and the High Priests of the 9-11 Commission as I recall, backed by the Jersey Girls.
There’s no way in hell Schumer ever would have made a statement like this if New York was getting a disproportionate amount of Federal money from this department.
Well, at least he placed the blame where it belongs.
I hear lots of squeals, then I remember stories like this:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1559773/posts
Rosenbergs’ Granddaughter Sues NSA Over Spying - Rachel Meeropol
Also, think about the Kosovo times from the Clinton years, then remember Fort Dix.
I think they want to take away Bush’s powers in fear of themselves getting caught.
He’s a Drive by Senator!
Chertoff created the Patriot Act?
Wow, that’s a new one on me. He became head of DHS in 2005, long after it was formed.
I think it’s pretty inarguable that DHS was congress creation.
You mean back to the way it used to be? I wish these idiots could make up their minds.
Did Schumer call the DHS a dagger to the heart of Canadian relations?
“While Schumer has been one of the agency’s most outspoken critics, he also says Congress should be saddled with part of the blame. He says creating the Department of Homeland Security was “one of the worst things” Congress did.”
OMG. I agree with that statement. Bush, IIRC, was originally dead set against creating another agency, but went along with the Congress-critters’ desire to make it appear that they were actually doing something.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2005-01-11-chertoff-side_x.htm
Chertoff played key role on 9/11
By Kevin Johnson and Mimi Hall, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — In the minutes after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, while Attorney General John Ashcroft was rushing back from Milwaukee, Michael Chertoff was calling the shots.
(snip)
Chertoff was one of the architects of the USA Patriot Act, which provided law enforcement broader surveillance authority.
“Michael Chertoff’s record suggests that he sees the Bill of Rights as an obstacle to national security,” Nojeim said. The nomination “should spur a search of his entire record on civil liberties.”
At the Justice Department, Chertoff oversaw the work of about 800 lawyers and staffers. If he is confirmed, he will take over a 183,000-employee department that former Homeland Security inspector general Clark Kent Ervin described recently as “a huge, dysfunctional bureaucracy.”
If this Senator were to propose Repealing the Treaty I might take more interest in his daily convocation of the media.
If they broke up the Education Dept also I would be game.
While we’re at it, let’s do some more re-organizing.
Department of Natural Resources
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Agriculture
- Merging/Eliminating Department of the Interior
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Transportation
Department of Human Resources and Business
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Labor
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Commerce
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Health & Human Services
Department of Justice
Department of Defense
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Energy
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Homeland Security
- Merging/Eliminating Department of Veterans Affairs
- Assimilate the CIA into this department
Department of State
Department of the Treasury
TOTALLY AND COMPLETLEY ELIMINATED:
- Department of Housing & Urban Development
- Department of Education
Oh, the USA Today (and their lefty interviewee) says he was an architect of the Patriot Act.
Yep, that cinches it, you got me.
Bryan24 for President 2008
Hey chuckles, and then what ya gonna do when N.Y. City lies in ruins from a nuke?
Fault will lie in your lap there stupid.
I worked for Customs and Border Protection and even though the Department of Homeland Security has many flaws. Dissolving it again into separate agencies will only throw up the walls which have barely came down at all again. It will benefit the bureaucracy but won’t make anyone more secure. The biggest problem I saw there is the mock security and inconsistent security clearance processes. Often times the agencies still work against each other or keep critical information from each other.
What I think needs to happen is a blood letting of management and personal. Plus I believe there are far too many people in the Department of Homeland security that are compromised in that they do not support US interests. I believe that a loyalty test should be administered to screen anti-American types from the security agencies.
http://www.heritage.org/research/HomelandDefense/the-long-war-ch3.cfm
Winning the Long War
Excerpt:
As one of the principal architects of the Patriot Act, Dinh believed the law ... 31 See Michael Chertoff, “Law, Loyalty, and Terror,”....
http://www.globalpolicy.org/empire/terrorwar/liberties/2005/0203chertoff.htm
Despite Poor Civil Liberties Record, DHS Nominee Questioned
Excerpt:
Michael Chertoff, Bush’s new nominee to replace outgoing Secretary Tom Ridge, ... also criticize Chertoff for his key role in developing the USA PATRIOT Act
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0105/011105c1.htm
Homeland Security nominee gets mixed reception
Excerpt:
The nomination of federal judge Michael Chertoff to be secretary of the Homeland ... division and helped create and implement the 2001 USA Patriot Act.
http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat?pid=62081
Corporate Control of Ports Is the Problem
Excerpt:
Chertoff was one of the architects of the USA Patriot Act, ... Yes, the soon-to-be Homeland Security Chief Michael Chertoff represented a known bin Laden...
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/01/11/politics/11cnd-cabi.html?ex=1178424000&en=705754a4162b2a45&ei=5070
The New York Times > Washington > Bush Picks Ex-Aide to Ashcroft
Excerpt:
Michael Chertoff was an architect of the administration’s approach to fighting ... In particular, he has defended the Patriot Act
>>>Dissolving it again into separate agencies will only throw up the walls which have barely came down at all again.
That is exactly what they want (the dems, MoveOn, Libs, Soros and company)
Nah, chuckles will be out of town; but back in time for the Federal Aid and donations.
Oh, shut up Chuckie! Those living along the borders will use passports...nothing else will change, they will still go back and forth like nothing happened.
Can we disband the Department of Education too Schmuckie? And do away with the NEA and PBS while we’re at it.
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