Posted on 04/13/2006 4:52:05 AM PDT by Chi-townChief
I don't know which of two news stories that hit last week should embarrass the Bush administration more.
First, we learned that a Department of Homeland Security spokesman was charged with soliciting a minor over the Internet and then, a few short days later, court documents came to light alleging that President Bush himself was the leak in the ongoing investigation into a 2003 CIA scandal.
Brian Doyle, 56, resigned form the Homeland Security Department Friday after being charged with seven counts of solicitation of a minor and 16 counts of transmitting pornographic material to a minor.
Police say that Doyle had sexually explicit conversations online with a computer crimes detective posing as a 14-year-old girl. He also sent pornographic movie clips.
In perhaps the dumbest and most shocking twist of Doyle's escapade, he told the detective his real name, his job and his phone numbers, including one for his cell phone that was issued by the government.
Reportedly, when the detective told Doyle "she" was sending pictures of herself over the Internet, Doyle couldn't leave his office fast enough to get home and log on, police said. Doyle was arrested when he arrived home.
I don't know what offends me the most. Doyle chasing after a 14-year-old girl is sickening but his utter stupidity — someone who obviously should have been smarter and known better — is also frightening.
Doyle had to be aware that many cops pose as young girls on the Internet and yet he gave out all of his personal information, with pictures apparently. What if he had been conversing with a terrorist posing as a girl instead of a cop?
And how did someone with such a disturbing interest in young girls slide under the radar undetected for so long? This man is 56 years old. How did Doyle get to be a spokesman for, of all things, the security department?
Turns out, there were hints in Doyle's past that he may not have been the right guy for a job.
CNN is reporting that friends and former co-workers are saying Doyle was disciplined by his employer of 26 years, Time magazine, for allegedly using company computers to view adult pornography.
Time investigated after another employee complained after finding offensive images on her computer. The photos were traced to Doyle. Doyle's colleagues at the time, though, signed a petition of support and the complaint was dropped. Doyle then got a formal warning and had to undergo mental health counseling. He either then took a leave of absence or was suspended, according to CNN sources.
Now, you have to assume that when someone applies for a position with the Homeland Security Department, they would be subjected to an extensive background check.
You would think that anyone with even the slightest blemish on their record would be excused from consideration. After all, it has to be a pretty sensitive job if it involves the security of our entire country.
But apparently that's not the case. It appears Homeland Security truly is an equal opportunity employer.
In light of the Time revelation, there will be a hearing May 18 to scrutinize the department's hiring practices, security clearances and other personnel issues, officials have announced.
I feel safer already.
The other embarrassing blow last week for the Bush administration is the disclosure by former White House aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby in court documents alleging that Bush himself authorized a leak — through Dick Cheney — to a New York Times reporter about previously classified information on Saddam Hussein's nuclear weapons. No one in Bush's camp is denying the allegation.
What hypocrites.
Libby says that Bush wanted to release "relevant" information to offset growing criticism of the United States' invasion of Iraq.
But Bush has gone on record many, many times repeating his disdain for leaks. In the fall of 2003, only a few months after the alleged leak, Bush warned that anyone in his administration who leaked classified information would be breaking federal law and would suffer the consequences.
I would call that a bit misleading, considering that he obviously knew he was talking about himself.
So what's Bush's defense today for talking back then?
Turns out, once Bush authorized leaking the information, it immediately became declassified, so therefore doesn't count as a breach of confidence.
Bush may not have broken any laws but his secretive actions sure were morally questionable.
I think, even way back in 2003, Bush realized support for the war in Iraq was waning and he wanted more Americans backing his camp, supporting his decisions.
At the time, there were many people speculating that the Bush administration either flat out lied or misrepresented intelligence reports out of Iraq.
When no weapons of mass destruction were found, despite Bush's repeated warnings that our country was under immediate threat, he knew he had to do something drastic to gain public favor.
In 2003, Bush's job approval rating was 64 percent, a number he thought at the time was much too low. He needed to build confidence again in his reasons for going to war. I think he saw an easy way to swing public opinion his way by telling Cheney to leak such information.
Today, Bush's approval rating is at an all time low of 36 percent. I wonder what he's planning next to try and change his numbers before his term is over.
Kimberly Brehm may be reached at kbrehm@starnewspapers.com or (708) 802-8815.
#2. I guess this reporter didn't do basic research. Even the NYT has been forced to correct their reporting about the Libby leak matter.
CHICAGOLAND PING
Media lied, brains fried.
This "wench" is doing the same thing Paul Begala did last week on CNN. Blaming Bush for the pervert in Homeland Security as if the bastard was a Bush appointee. In fact, he wasn't. The pervert was not a Bush appointee, he was a beuracrat (sp), one who came to work at Homeland Security from TIME magazine.
With Paul Begala it's just spinning crap, everybody considers the source, but when a journalist intentionally misrepresents facts, they need to be outted as dishonest.
I wonder what he's planning next to try and change his numbers before his term is over.
Ordering the bombing of Mexico City and declaring War on Mexico would, IMHO, give him a boost.
Wait... I just woke up, that was a dream - never mind.
(if anything, Dubya would sooner declare Martial Law and have US Citizens arrested for complaining about the invasion)
And yet, when Klinton not only broke laws, but was blatantly immoral, her kind peed all over themselves coming to his defense. Go figure.
Doyle was caught as a pervert while working at Time:
DHS Background Check Questioned
By Spencer S. Hsu
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 7, 2006; Page A04
The Department of Homeland Security official arrested Tuesday on charges of seducing a minor over the Internet faced disciplinary action at his previous workplace, Time magazine's Washington bureau, for misusing company equipment to download pornography, friends and former colleagues said.
Federal officials would not ....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/06/AR2006040601876.html
#1. The Homeland Security guy is a democrat who used to work for Time magazine. In other words, a former reporter. So this reporter might want to be a little careful slinging around the mud.#2. I guess this reporter didn't do basic research. Even the NYT has been forced to correct their reporting about the Libby leak matter.
Star Newspapers aka Red Star Newspapers
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