Posted on 04/06/2003 5:24:10 PM PDT by Brian Mosely
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN APRIL 06, 2003 19:28:31 ET XXXXX
HEAT ON BRILL AFTER HOMELAND SECURITY BOOK PRAISES 'SYSTEM THAT'S WORKING'
Author Steven Brill is experiencing total friction among his close circle of media associates after releasing a book which claims: Homeland Security under President Bush is working!
And why have there been no fresh terror strikes in the United States since the start of the war?
Brill says it's the competence of the current leadership.
PBS host Charlie Rose shouted and squirmed and called Brill's premise "ridiculous" during a promo for the book "After: How America Confronted the September 12 Era," which Brill released last week.
[AFTER ranked #678 on the AMAZON.COM sales parade Sunday afternoon.]
"He is a laughing stock!" mocked one network executive, who has been a friend of the self-described "lapsed-liberal" for more than 10 years.
Brill has been telling associates how arguments over the 700-page book have "nearly become violent."
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Brill explains: "I’ve had a kind of cultural revelation, and it centers on Tom Ridge, whom all my friends think is a bumpkin because he doesn't look and sound like them. Janitor’s son wins scholarship to Harvard, gets elected governor. Yet my friends think he’s a dummy. The reason: because he’s utterly without guile. To me he is emblematic of what’s great about the country – a guy who leaves his cushy governorship and therefore his wife has to go get a job to pay the bills because they have new rent to pay, and goes to Washington to help. And his staff is the same way.
"Sure they don’t do everything right, but they work their asses off and take all kinds of s**t from the press and the pundits and just keep their heads down and do the job they said they would do. The book is full of poignant scenes of these decent people just plain working hard and making sacrifices. No politics. No bulls**t. No glory. No scouring the papers for news clips about themselves."
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Brill, who founded COURT TV, and recently streaked with the media mag CONTENT, offers an exhaustive, optimistic account of life after terror.
On Aviation security:
"Everyone now agrees the government has done a good job. The largest new government agency in the history of the government – the Transportation Security Administration – was recruited, trained, and stood up in a space of six months. "
On Ashcroft’s much-criticized interviews in the fall of 2001 of young Muslim immigrants:
"These produced actual leads that lead to actual terror-cell indictments. And what happened was the most of those interviewed proved to be law abiding people who wanted to help and who did help with tips that produced real cases."
On Port Security:
"These people really did a great job. We now have our inspectors at the 20 largest foreign ports inspecting stuff bound for the US before it even leaves for the US. And in our own ports we have new radiation detectors, new computer systems to target the riskiest containers and many more agents deployed to catch the bad stuff. (One of the book’s main characters is one of those agents.)"
On Patriot Act:
"Surveillance that it allowed has led to nailing of terror cells and prevention of attacks by people not yet arrested."
On Private Sector:
"The CEO of a giant insurance company – Chubb – decides on 9/12 NOT to take his lawyers advice that they can claim an 'act of war exemption' and not pay any claims. Instead he announces they are going to pay all claims and averts an economic panic. He does so because it’s the right thing to do and also because he believes it will enhance Chubb’s reputation. Other insurance companies soon have to follow."
Brill declares: "The American people and the American system have been as resilient as ever!"
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There have been a few terrorist related incidences here at home and several significant events around the world, since 9-11. But all in all, terrorist organizations are definitely feeling the pressure from budgetary increases in anti-terrorist spending by the US govt and the overall increases in vigilance by the American people. This hightened level of alertness here in America, has also had significant impact on raising the level of awareness in many foreign governments worldwide.
Security and saftey efforts can never be perfect, but they're a lot better today then prior to 9-11. Tom Ridge has made a difference since joining PresBushes fight against international terrorism. In fact, all of Bush & Company, from the highest officials to the lowest grade government worker deserve kudos for a job well done.
Contrast this with:
XXXXX DRUDGE REPORT XXXXX SUN APRIL 06, 2003 19:52:02 ET XXXXX
HILLARY CLINTON BOOK PAST DUE, PUBLISHER'S ANGST OVER NO MANUSCRIPT, NO TITLE; SENATOR TOOK LARGEST ADVANCE IN HISTORY
**Exclusive**
Executives at publishing powerhouse SIMON AND SCHUSTER are dismayed over Hillary Clinton's failure to turn in a completed manuscript for her book, due out in August, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.
The senator of the Empire State has already received a $2.85 million cash advance on her memoirs, from a total deal valued at more than $8 million.
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"We must be off to the printer next month, but the manuscript isn't in yet!" said one SIMON AND SCHUSTER source last week. "Advance sales are lagging. And there is no title. Without a title it's been difficult to market."
One top source says the situation has not reached a legal concern, rather it is being described as an "annoyance."
The former first lady signed the deal before the 9/11 terror attacks.
One Clinton intimate explains: "In all fairness, she has been preoccupied with serving New York during these challenging times... [But] the writing is wonderful, touching, and will lift Hillary to a new level of respect."
Character does matter!
People like the pompous ass Rose can't support Ridges' HSD, but they'd heartily support pograms to lock up the right wing.
The dems falsely believe that the economy will be a winning issue for them and therefore block any reforms.
America has grown up and no longer sees the world as a reflection of the stock market.
Among people who have a clue, Ridge is known as a genius of organization.
This, of course, has no bearing upon what liberals think of him.
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