Daschle concerned about 'sobering' terror briefing

ZWire ^ | July 9, 2004 | DONNA SMITH

[FairOpinion]

SPEARFISH -- Sen. Tom Daschle, D-S.D., said Thursday that he was very concerned about homeland security issues in the face of what he called the most sobering terror report he had heard recently.

The United States is tightening security in the face of a steady stream of intelligence indicating an attack aimed at disrupting elections, the White House said Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security is addressing the threat and has efforts underway to ''ramp up security,'' White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Thursday.

"It is absolutely essential for the U.S. Senate to turn its attention to what we can do to make America safe," Daschle said.

Of particular concern are the nation's borders and ports, Daschle said, and there are security issues unresolved as the homeland security appropriations are "hung up" in the Senate.

Asked if the timing of the terror concerns might be aimed at stealing political thunder from the announcement of John Edwards as the democratic vice presidential candidate, Daschle replied, "The report is so sobering and so serious that I cannot bring myself to believe anyone in this administration would use this for political purposes."

Daschle said the most recent terror briefing was the second this week and contained information that there is a higher threat than there has been at any time since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

[Cultural Jihad]

I nominate Hollywood.

Naw, the terrorists want to harm America, not help it. Now, if the glitterati were to ever appear wearing sackcloth and ashes, and donate their tax-cut monies to helping the poor instead of living high on the hog . . .

[adam_az]

"So, those who do not proclaim sufficient support for Israel are called antisemites."

i hate to be the one to point out the big turd in the punchbowl.... but supporters of Hamas, PIJ, Fatah, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Hizballah, Syria. Iran, etc etc etc USUALLY ARE.

[Vic3O3]

ping alert!

[Squantos]

I suspect it'll be more of a coordinated Bic lighter arson attack from 50 or so "tourists" across our nation on a Tuesday. Simplicity of the boxcutter vs complex illegal ordnance laden efforts are hard to defend against. But IMO if we prepare for everything they will do something else.

Stay Safe !

[bayourod]

"It's not a racist thing obviously, it's a "respect" thing."

The immigration issue is very complex and there is lots of room for men of good will to disagree over many aspects and for many disparate reasons.

The fact that you are not motivated by racism does not negate the fact that others are. Have you not heard the Buchaneers rail against Hispanics. "They dilute our culture, their dirty, dishonest, abuse the welfare system, steal American jobs, breed like rabbits, etc...." ALL Hispanic immigrants "dilute our culture, take jobs, breed, are drugies, dirty..." etc., not just the ones out of status. This is racism; it has nothing to do with fairness

The Buchaneers, and other third party imitators are posting the Hispanic hate threads for the sole purpose of demobilizing the Bush base in order to help Kerry.

[MarMema]

ping

[bayourod]

I answered every one of your questions point-by-point several days ago. Go back and look at your comments, then apologize like a real man would do.

Your continuous attacks on President Bush prove that you are not a supporter of his, regardless of how often you claim you are. Your own words tell all of us what you are.

[MeekOneGOP]

---

Daschle replied, "The report is so sobering and so serious that I cannot bring myself to believe anyone in this administration would use this for political purposes."

Now you know how serious the threat has to be for Daschle to say this.

Also, this is the briefing that Kerry "just didn't have to time" to listen to. He wants to be president, and can't find time to at least learn about the most serious threats our nation is facing.

---

Exactly right regarding Jean Keri. I thought the exact same thing about him not having time.

I think da$$hole is more concerned with losing his job for all those years he and democRATS have been using their own Weapons of Mass Obstruction and all the other BS they have been pulling for purely partisan reason.

Deep down, da$$hole is .....

Saddened, deeply saddened . . .

I think he has a real good chance of finally getting his head handed to him November 2nd, and I think he knows it. It's a little late for him to sound "sincerely concerned" now .....

[Sabertooth]

He doesn't "coddle" anyone, least of all illegals.

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why doesn't he call them Illegal Aliens, instead of "undocumented," "migrants," and any other politically correct euphemism that might roll off of his tongue?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why did he, during his maiden gubernatorial campaign, speak out against California's Proposition #187, and subsequently boast about that opposition during his 2000 Presidential campaign?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why are there millions more here now than there were the day he took office?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why did he attempt to get a Section 245(i) Amnesty stealthily attached to a Homeland Security bill in 2002?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why has his Administration been the first ever to create guidelines for bank acceptance of the Mexican matricula consular ID cards, which are exclusively needed by Illegals?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why has he not spoken out against Orrin Hatch's “Dream Act” Amnesty, which would legalize Illegals who arrived here as children and effectively require States to offer them in-state college tuition rates?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why has he punted on the issue of States issuing drivers licenses to Illegals, especially given that immigration and naturalization are under federal authority.

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why hasn't he spoken out against any of the various Amnesties currently being foisted through Congress?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why does his own guest-worker Amnesty not require them to leave the country and return to their nation of origin before applying?

If President Bush doesn't coddle Illegals, why has his Deputy Secretary of Homeland Defense, Asa Hutchison, directed border agents to cease and desist from apprehending Illegals in the interior in Southern California?

The Illegals know that President Bush coddles them, and will coddle them, and they vote for his coddling with their feet, every single day.

[MarMema]

LOL, have to share this with you. Husband and I were discussing possible scenarios to disrupt voting. I said they could shut down I-5 on election day and lots of people would not make it to the booths.

Then I said, hey, that would be ok! All the Seattle libs would not make it to vote but the rest of Washington state, the rural and outlying areas, would be able to vote. I like it.

[Sabertooth]

I answered every one of your questions point-by-point several days ago. Go back and look at your comments, then apologize like a real man would do.

I don't believe you did. Link?

Specifically, I'm looking for your answers to questions raised by your own posts which indicate that you are an employer of Illegal Aliens, in violation of federal law.

Your continuous attacks on President Bush prove that you are not a supporter of his, regardless of how often you claim you are. Your own words tell all of us what you are.

This is a dodge on your part.

Do you believe that it's OK to hire Illegal Aliens?

[nathanbedford]

These murderers are wretched and loathesome people. If I had a magic wand that was really magic, I would wave it and make them acknowledge Israel and live in harmony with Israel and no doubt greatly improve their lot.

But my magic wand is fresh out of bateries so I am compelled to consider the national interests of The United States of America.

[bayourod]

Link

[Sabertooth]

I answered every one of your questions point-by-point several days ago. Go back and look at your comments, then apologize like a real man would do.

I see now that you did, I apologize for missing it. I'll take it up with you over here, where you indicate that you have previously been an employer of Illegals, probably have Illegal gardeners, claim you support the prosecution of those hiring Illegals (including your landsaper?), and yet support Amnesty for employers of Illegal Aliens.

A mighty interesting list of particulars that folks might want to consider when they see you posting on various threads accusing who those who don't share your views of being Buchananites and racists.

[adam_az]

Not fair. You said "So, those who do not proclaim sufficient support for Israel are called antisemites."

It's people who claim Israel has no right to exist and makes excuses for the Islamofascists who are rightly called anti-semites. Also, people who are selectively against foreign aid to Israel... but you never hear a peep from them about foreign aid to other countries. That's a lot different than people who are opposed to ALL foreign aid.

[Fishrrman]

And those trains are being redirected,during the GOP convention.

The only trains (so far) that will be "redirected" into and out of Penn Station during the convention above it are the "Midtown Direct" service trains of NJ Transit. These will go to Hoboken instead of Penn (riders will have to take either PATH trains into Manhattan, or use the ferry - which is what they did before the Midtown Direct service started).

Amtrak and Long Island Rail Road trains will continue to operate into Penn, and (at this point) I believe the NJ Rail trains from Trenton and the North Jersey Coast line will, as well.

Supposedly inbound trains will be "searched" - presumably by bomb-sniffing dogs, etc - before entering Penn. We'll see.

With the disruptions to both downtown Boston (North Station) and New York City (Penn Station), I feel confident in predicting that these two conventions are _the last_ major political conventions that will be held within crowded city centers. As they are now deemed "Special Security Events", they are just too security-intensive and too disruptive to the normal day-to-day activities of urban centers to be conducted within them in the future.

[nathanbedford]

I once had a brilliant trial lawyer (for what its worth, he was a Jew) say, "In a jury trial a good lawyer never objects on technical grounds, no matter how compelling, he objects in the hearing of the jury that it is not, 'fair.'"

You say, "it's not fair." and I concede you are right. Get me batteries for that magic wand and I will do more fairness for Israel in one afternoon than a Walt Disney matinee.

In the meantime, while you are looking for those magic batteries, I must heed the old trial lawyer who said, "young man, lawyers are not hired to be fair, they are hired to represent their clients."

[monkfan]

The Houston ship channel. One fertilizer ship explosion or one dirty bomb or half a dozen RPGs could cut off 1/3 of our petroleum supplies/refinery capability.

And that's just for starters. The Houston Port handles an incredible amount of commerce. A successful attack on it would be a real kick in the crotch.

I work down there and I can tell you that the security is better than it might appear. If the terrorists want to target our port, they have their work cut out for them.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

".....Also, this is the briefing that Kerry "just didn't have to time" to listen to. ...."

My first thought---hate to use dasshole in a positive light, but the contrast between his reaction and catsup boy's inability to prioritize needs to be on the front row.

[bayourod]

A friend of mine on the President's Anti-terrorism Commission said several ships have been denied entrance to the port; one was to have exploded next to a refinery and another under the ship channel bridge.

They could hurt us anywhere from The Houston Yatch Club up through pipelines leaving the city heading north.