Posted on 08/22/2009 9:33:07 AM PDT by God luvs America
Ridge Changes Tune On Terror Alert LevelsPITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Click to enlarge1 of 1 Tom Ridge (File) Alex Wong/Getty Images
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numSlides of totalImages Former Pennsylvania Governor and Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge is calling out former colleagues in the Bush Administration, suggesting they tried to play politics with the terror alert level.
The charge comes in a book due out next month.
Ridge claims other members of the Cabinet pressured him to raise the terror alert level shortly before the 2004 Presidential election.
He says Attorney General John Ashcroft and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld pressed him to support increasing the nation's terror threat level from yellow or "elevated" to orange, meaning "high."
Just four days before the election, Osama Bin Laden had issued a videotape threatening new attacks on the United States.
But in his book, Ridge says there was "no support" within his department for boosting the threat level and he refused.
He writes: "I wondered, 'Is this about security or politics?'"
This new contention directly refutes what Ridge told KDKA-TV's Ken Rice in an interview in June of 2008.
(Excerpt) Read more at kdka.com ...
Thanks for posting. Ridge is a liar trying to profit from his time in the administration. No doubt about it, he should be ashamed.
Funny, even the democRATs/socialists/communists don't buy these books.
5.56mm
Ridge was a tool of the Bush Administration. I hope no one buys his crappy book.
But I would have pressure him on account of the Madrid bombings. If they tried it there, the terrorists could have tried it here to affect the outcome of the 2004 election.
In hindsight, I think they were too afraid to piss of America again. The Europeans will roll over but Americans have more to fight for.
Excellent point.
He’s not really Mr.Excitement and this story is the highlight of his book.Yawn!
Never liked Ridge. Weak chin, weak man. Typical RINO. Even in the Marine Corp. a few bad apples slip through—particularly with officers. It is interesting that two of slimiest of ex-Marines—Ridge and Murtha—come from Pennsy.
Frankly, I’m embarrassed to have been born and reared in that state. I’m also embarrassed to have lived most of my adult life in NJ. I’m trying to get out, but can’t sell my house.
Agree with everything you've said, except Ridge was army - not marines, FWIW.
There is no loyality anymore in DC. As soon as publisher waves a hand full of cash in front of someone, they sell their souls.
What a bunch of backstabbing cowards. Judas would be proud.
Well I would agree to a new party WHEN the DUMOCRATIC Party is dead, in a grave, with maggots feeding on the corpse.
“Are you lying now or were you lying then?”
-or-
2) Publishers pressured Ridge to come up with something that would decrease the probability of his book going to directly to the remainder bin.
....hmmmm. Which to believe.
Stabs Bush in the back and pretends to be holier than thou.
2004, we have Alqaida swearing they will hit us to affect our election. Remember Spain? Train bombs before their election, Tommy?
Bush took no chances. Tom Ridge can kiss my a$$. His book is Garbage. We never got hit, so Bush was too proactive I guess. Nothing pleases these Rinos and Communists.
“You mean the president of the United States used lies and mass manipulation/fear mongering to get himself reelected?”
No, he didn’t. For the record, there was no actual manipulation. The threat level was not increased. All Ridge says is that certain executive officials floated manipulation as a possible tactic. And they didn’t do without any justification, either, since they cited Bin Laden’s tapes.
I wouldn’t put much past politicians using their power to stay in office. However, in this particular case, it is much ado about nothing. Whispers and suggestions. Nonetheless, all anyone will remember is that Bush and the terror-alert system are somehow connected with manipulation.
“I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit to find out this was true. Rove is an absolute political genious”
Me neither. But the threat level was not in fact raised. That sorta makes Ridge’s story, if true, nevertheless meaningless.
He IS the epitome of what’s wrong with Pubbies.
PLUS, if all that weren’t enough, I heard the idiot
Michael Smerconish a few weeks ago get REAL excited and enthusiastic about him as a potential Presidential candidate in 2012. And he announced this on the radio like he was really going out on a limb,and doing something boldly original.
Too bad. It must have been uncomfortable for him to be talking out of both sides of that small mouth, LOL.
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