Posted on 12/15/2006 7:40:53 AM PST by jamese777
Former transportation secretary and San Jose mayor Norm Mineta joins the likes of Ronald Reagan, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other well-known leaders Friday when President Bush bestows on him the nation's highest civilian award.
At a White House ceremony, Mineta and nine other luminaries will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom -- an award to honor those who have made an ``especially meritorious contribution'' to the security or national interest of the United States, to world peace or to other significant cultural endeavors.
According to a news release issued by the White House, Mineta ``worked to improve the security of our transportation system and restore our confidence'' in air travel after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
``There is no question that I'm very elated to be receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom,'' Mineta said in a telephone interview Wednesday night. ``I'm really overwhelmed by the generosity of the president, especially when I look at that list of honorees and all of the accomplishments that all of the folks have. I'm really humbled to be on that list.''
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
This must be an elaborate hoax. Ever traveled into San Jose MINETA International Airport? Security is comprised of a few dozen fifty-year-old Filipina women waiting for their pensions.
Well that explains a lot.
Medal of Freedom for forcing cavity searches on 90-year old women after 9/11? Mineta was a digrace.
No, it doesn't. It just adds one level of "why"
Maybe he knows where some bodies are buried?
Cmon...someone? Anyone? Its Friday and I need a good laugh.
Ping the Iraq Study Group. Perhaps they can meet this challenge.
People like Rumsfeld are shown the door; people like Mineta and Tenet are given medals.
What am I missing?
About as deserved as Kerry's third Purple Heart.
Your vote and 100 million others outside of this corrupt "Two-Party Cartel". GW has fallen to where I can't see him as popular as Nixon was at his lowest.
No takers I see.
My very first thought when I saw the headline was "WTF!?!"
The political class takes care of its own. We don't have to understand it. We just have to pay for it.
"Anyone care to defend this action as sane?
No takers I see.
My very first thought when I saw the headline was "WTF!?!"
The political class takes care of its own. We don't have to understand it. We just have to pay for it."
How about letting George Walker Bush defend giving our nation's highest civilian honor to Norman Mineta? Here's what he said at the ceremony today:
Norman Mineta exemplifies the high ideals of service, integrity, and courage. Despite the injustice of living in an internment camp when he was a child, he later served his country in the U.S. Army and went on to become a mayor, Congressman, and Cabinet Secretary under two Presidents. The longest-serving Secretary of Transportation, he worked to improve the security of our transportation system and restore our confidence in air travel after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The United States honors Norman Y. Mineta for a life of selfless and distinguished service to our Nation.
Too funny all around.
The one thing that could have been done post 9/11 to make airlines safer would have been to arm the flight crews. Mineta has consistantly thrown up roadblocks to even just arming pilots despite the clear intent of the congress. They are more than happy to give full body cavity searches to 80 year old ladies though.
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