Thursday, August 20, 2009
Tom Ridge, the first Director of the 9/11-inspired Department of Homeland Security, has written a stunning tell-all autobiography titled, The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege...and How We Can Be Safe Again, available September 1st.
In the book, Ridge says he was never invited to attend National Security Council meetings, was “blindsided” by the FBI in morning Oval Office meetings because the agency withheld critical information from him, his urgings to block Michael Brown from being named head of the emergency agency blamed for the Hurricane Katrina disaster went ignored, and most shocking of all, Ridge says he was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush’s re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over.
This is an interesting admission to say the least. Dave Weigel, writing for the Washington Independent, notes that in the past, Ridge denied manipulating security information for political gain. For example, in 2004, Ridge he said, “We don’t do politics in the Department of Homeland Security.”
From the Left 
This would seem to have Cheney’s fingerprints all over it.
Pardon me but isn’t this the definition of criminal behavior? How many resources were wasted so the Great and Powerful Boooosh could swoop in to save the helpless and hapless ‘little people,’ under threat of the “turrists?”
Eric Holder, are you following this? Wake up and act.
I hate these people so much. There are no words that can adequately describe the depth of the anger I feel for them. They lied to the American people for political gain and they lied about lying. I predict we will be learning about the deception that defined the Bush administration for the next 50 years and beyond. I am truly surprised the country survived.
I’m shocked. Next thing you know, I’ll find out that ice cream is delicious.
At least we’ve begun to heal and we’ll never have to deal with another Nixon/Reagan/Bush again. Whew!
I’d like to wrap duct tape around Tom Ridge’s mouth and drop him in the Atlantic Ocean at high tide.
All those announcements that scared the shit out of so many people and for what?
I never, ever bought that stupid color code nonsense we were fed.
Everytime a poll came out showing the public’s dissatisfaction with Bush, the next day, the color code was raised.
The administration clearly tried to manipulate the public and to some extent, it worked.
After all, Bush (and Cheney) were turned to office and we had to suffer another 4, long years with them in office.
How brave of him to come forward with this now. Christ, what a mediocre, mendacious bunch of turds make up our political class.
To bad Ridge didn’t open his mouth when it would’ve mattered.
It’s tough to avoid the framing of the corporate media, but this is a case where it is important. Bush never was elected, much less reelected, President.
Sure, they exploited America’s utter post 9/11 paranoia for the most base political reasons. Ridge’s book is not news. The only thing newsworthy is the fact that someone who was in the know is finally admitting it. He should have written his book five years ago.
I knew what was going on in the hours leading up to the election of 2004. It was so freaking obvious, you had to be an idiot to miss it.
On the first posting on my blog on June 2, 2006, I wrote the following:
“PREDICTION: George W. Bush will be remembered in history, primarily, as the first (pray last) former chief executive to go to federal prison. Sound crazy? Stay tuned.:
I stand by those words.
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Tom Degan
Goshen, NY
Tom: I don’t know where Goshen is, but I’m in NYC. I want to believe, but fear all of the miscreants will escape. That said, if your prediction comes to pass…steak dinner, on me. And I mean a good steak.
Hey pal!
I am sixty miles north of you in Orange County. One way or another, we’ll do it!
Cheers!
Tom Degan
http://www.tomdegan.blogspot.com
Hi! Mind if I link to your pic over at http://www.mockpaperscissors.com and http://www.relaxedpolitics.com/?p=12979 ?
Thanks!