[Snowy]

I guarantee you -- GUARANTEE -- if this is something to worry about, we will hear from Ridge.

On the other hand, if they raise the level and nothing happens, Kerry will spin it as grandstanding and hype.

[antceecee]

I agree. Their hands are tied in reference to raising the terror alert level. The Dems have denounced the color system as silly and stupid and ineffective. Meanwhile, every time the alert is raised they scream that Bush is using it to scare people.

[Rutles4Ever]

On the other hand, if they raise the level and nothing happens, Kerry will spin it as grandstanding and hype.

Yes, but at the worst, there's material evidence of a threat (undated and unverified to this point) which would make it more politically acceptable to be wrong about raising the threat than NOT raising threat and getting hit.