Posted on 08/20/2009 8:56:17 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Ridge: I was urged to raise terror level for re-election @ 11:32 am by Eric Zimmermann
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge was pressured to raise the terror threat level in the run-up to President Bush's re-election, the former cabinet secretary will claim in a new tell-all book.
Titled "The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege…and How We Can Be Safe Again," the memoir is intended to rouse Americans from their complacency about security issues, Ridge says.
To accomplish that goal, Ridge has included some stunning allegations about his time in the Bush administration.
He almost considered resigning after being pressured to raise the terrorist threat level for political reasons, U.S. News reports.
Ridge also claims he was never asked to attend a National Security Council meeting, and says he repeatedly warned against appointing Michael Brown to be the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) Brown resigned after lawmakers and journalists on both sides of the aisle accused him of mismanaging the response to Hurricane Katrina.
I guess he won’t be invited to Crawford anytime soon.
It never ceases to amaze me what these clowns will do to get some attention.
I’m just guessing but I doubt he’ll be offering up any evidence.
If so, why this "revelation?"
Let me correct this:
...the memoir is intended to rouse Americans from their complacency about security issues make me some money, Ridge says.
Selling books saying anything
I wonder if he gives specific quotes of what was said to him, and by whom. If he does not, then I think he is not credible. Regardless, the MSM will blow it way out of proportion.
... and to think that this political lightweight almost became Bush’s VP. Whew!
What color is his book?
and chairman zero has taken a page right out of this playbook as anytime he watched his poll numbers drop he starts threatening to investigate the Bush administration....
Who tf would want to go there?
“He almost considered resigning after being pressured to raise the terrorist threat level for political reasons”
OK, so why didn’t you resign?
Hahahahahahah...so who supposedly pressured him to raise the threat level?
I understand people need to make a living, but if you make a great living yet can't live with yourself, what have you accomplished mr ridge?
Certainly terrorist intelligence would not show increased threats to attack the US during President Bush’s reelection
sarc
“Ridge...says he repeatedly warned against appointing Michael Brown to be the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA.) Brown resigned after lawmakers and journalists on both sides of the aisle accused him of mismanaging the response to Hurricane Katrina.
####
What a pandering little a$$wipe.
THe VAST majority of the problems related to Hurricane Katrina had to do with the fundamental and abject lack of personal responsibility and foresight on the part of the residents of New Orleans and had very little to do with any FEDERAL “response”.
Y’know, there haven’t been a whole lot of “Tell-All” books coming from the Bush Administration... at least not yet. I think when Bill Clinton left office there was a whole slew of these C-Y-A memoirs.
self serving much...?
W had a lot of snakes around him...
Yes! Just what the Republicans need! More Tom Ridges!!!
If he thought it was wrong, he should have refused and let them fire him. I am tired of people who come forward after the fact and tell all, but at the time they just went along. What is he going to claim, Stockholm Syndrome?
Did Ridge also ask OBL to release that video threatening America.
Ridge is a first class moron.
I have almost no respect for our *ruling class* anymore.
Wow - he didn't consider resigning - what he did was 'almost consider' resigning. I wonder how you 'almost consider' doing something. Is that like a subconscious thought that you only become aware of while you are writing a tell-all book?
Either he is lying and thus he has no integrity.
Or he is telling the truth, in which case, he has no integrity.
If he was never asked to attend a National Security Council meeting, isn’t it a least possible that there were threats of which he was not aware when asked to raise the threat level?
So, let’s get this straight from RINO Ridge
1.) urged to raise terror level, you ALMOST resigned but didn’t
2.)Having NOT resigned you tell us NOW that this occurred- FOR WHAT REASON are you telling this now?
3.) You additionally try to increase your status among the “katrina bush bashers” by saying you warned against Brown appointment to FEMA! WHY are you doing this.
IF you were a person of honor and integrity and this did indeed happen THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE RESIGNED.
But then, that would not have allowed you to continue to line your pockets, and set up a presidential or other run as a professional lying RINO politician. What’s next, you and Colin Powell doing a “blackface” vaudeville act about “no WMDs ever in Iraq” This man is an ASS. Just cause you were a fighter pilot doesn’t give you anything other than a flyboy. This from the son of a real steely-eyed sub driver who had more integrity in his little toe than in all of this idiot Ridge.
Two things are possible. Number one is that Ridge is lying and number two is that he violated his oath through his political cowardice.
“Regardless, the MSM will blow it way out of proportion.”
Translation: Chris, Ed, Rachel and Wolf will harp on this for the next two weeks.
Great. That’s just great.
I’m sick and tired of this. Tell these people to STFU. If you have nothing positive to say then STFU. Hey, Ridge, what’s your point? Why would you write this?
Uh, okay, so what?
I would think that a Nationwide election for the President of the United States would be a de facto cause for the raising of the threat level.
What more tempting target - and effect - could there be than disrupting the election process in America itself?
Note that he not only didn't resign, he didn't even consider resigning. But he did ALMOST consider resigning. What does that even mean, anyway.
Well, this seals it for me. I am never voting for G.W. again! Ever! /s
Bush made a stunning number of bad appointments, and Ridge was one of them. Now he’s showing his gratitude for being promoted beyond his competence.
A book. It's ALWAYS in a new book.
A heightened terror alert was absolutely legitimate.
Anyone with half a brain should have been terrified at the prospect of Kerry in the White House.
I wonder if he gives specific quotes of what was said to him, and by whom. If he does not, then I think he is not credible. Regardless, the MSM will blow it way out of proportion.
And subsequent polling should see Dumb O at -1
It comes with crayons so, the color is left up to the reader. I am making mine beige.
ANOTHER a**hole with a vendetta! ALWAYS didn’t trust the man - think Specter lite - but this really takes it...geez, Bushie sure could pick ‘em...
Must be, has to be YELLOW!
This strikes me as entirely credible. There were times when it seemed obvious that the Bush White House was wagging the dog with elevated alert levels. What I find hard to believe is that there are still folks who believe that there are politicians who are above politics.
Bin Laden: Al Qaeda motivated to strike U.S. again
Bush, Kerry denounce new videotaped message
Saturday, October 30, 2004 Posted: 4:59 AM EDT (0859 GMT)
story.binladen.jazeera.jpg
Osama bin Laden delivers a videotaped message broadcast on Arabic language network Al-Jazeera.
more videoVIDEO
Bin Laden times message with U.S. election.
premium contentPLAY VIDEO
Kerry reacts to the videotape from Osama bin Laden
premium contentPLAY VIDEO
Bush responds to the new message from Osama bin Laden
premium contentPLAY VIDEO
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• On the Scene: Nasr: ‘He’s sending a message to the American people’
• Transcript: Bin Laden’s message to America
• Timeline: Terror on tape, bin Laden messages
• Special Report: The hunt for Osama bin Laden
• U.S. attacks al Qaeda operator
(CNN) — Osama bin Laden delivered a new videotaped message in which he told Americans their security does not depend on the president they elect, but on U.S. policy. And he said al Qaeda remains motivated to strike the U.S. again.
His blockbuster book will rate right up there with Shmoe Scarbourough an the best seller list...234th or so.
To stay relevant and make $$$ and go to DC cocktail parties? (sorry Barney...)
Cynicism is fine, but its not evidence in itself. I think allegations still need to have actual evidence to support them.
The passive voice (”was asked”) = bull****. Always.
You can prety much predict that the Left will lionize Ridge, at least for a while, now that he’s turned on President Bush like a rabid dog. For Ridge’s near-future career path, see Scott McClellan.
I regret having voted for Ridge once, and I’m proud to have voted third-party when he ran for re-election.
I understand the the state of Louisiana had, in years prior ro Katrina, received many Federal dollars to repair the flooding problem in New Orleans, but the LA gubmint chose to purchase an off shore gambling ship with the money, rather than make repairs.
Who is Zimmerman, and just WHO pressured Ridge to up the Alert? Has anyone read the book?
And Ridge says this in his book? I'll believe it when I see it.
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