Ridge pressured to raise terror alert

[Bob]

Ridge: I was pushed to raise terror alert - Security- msnbc.com Ridge says he was pressured to raise terror alert

Ridge Terror Alert
Ron Edmonds / AP
Tom Ridge, the former Homeland Security secretary, faced criticism in 2004 from Democrats who alleged that raising the alert level was designed to boost support for the Bush administration in an election year.

WASHINGTON - Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge claims in a new book that he was pressured by other members of President George W. Bush's Cabinet to raise the nation's terror alert level just before the 2004 presidential election.

Ridge says he objected to raising the security level despite the urgings of former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, according to a publicity release from Ridge's publisher. He said the episode convinced him to follow through with his plans to leave the administration; he resigned on Nov. 30, 2004.

 

[scooterbug44]

Wouldn't it be nice if these people told the truth at the time, instead of years later when they have a book coming out and need a hook for their publicity tour?

 

[sunspotbaby]

Wouldn't it be nice if these people told the truth at the time, instead of years later when they have a book coming out and need a hook for their publicity tour?

yeah, right on sb.

 

[kkddbb]

i wouldnt read too much into this at this point. this may be politically driven. ridge has considered running for office for quit sometime. he'll have to go against bush on something to get the support he needs to get the votes. time will tell more of this story. but, who really cares. we're talking about a colored security graph. i supported it, but who really paid attention to it.

 

[Danny Burns]

i wouldnt read too much into this at this point. this may be politically driven. ridge has considered running for office for quit sometime. he'll have to go against bush on something to get the support he needs to get the votes. time will tell more of this story. but, who really cares. we're talking about a colored security graph. i supported it, but who really paid attention to it.

I, and many others, care. We all should care about manipulation for political gain from whatever camp (left or right) it comes, for any reason. Americans have been manipulated too easily for too long.

Obviously, enough people paid attention to it to give President Bush a considerable bump in the popularity polls just before the 2004 election.

 

[mtlinscomb]

I, and many others, care. We all should care about manipulation for political gain from whatever camp (left or right) it comes, for any reason. Americans have been manipulated too easily for too long.

Obviously, enough people paid attention to it to give President Bush a considerable bump in the popularity polls just before the 2004 election.

Great point, and so very true. It is very similar to lumping 15MM illegals into the 45MM uninsured Americans column. Obama has stated several times recently that a public option would not cover the illegals, yet he continues to repeat the number $45MM in his rhetoric.

 

[kkddbb]

I, and many others, care. We all should care about manipulation for political gain from whatever camp (left or right) it comes, for any reason. Americans have been manipulated too easily for too long.

Obviously, enough people paid attention to it to give President Bush a considerable bump in the popularity polls just before the 2004 election.

i only meant that i dont care about the color code. i do however care if it was done for political gain. im a no spin guy and dont want to see that from any party. fat chance in todays america a?

 

[Danny Burns]

Great point, and so very true. It is very similar to lumping 15MM illegals into the 45MM uninsured Americans column. Obama has stated several times recently that a public option would not cover the illegals, yet he continues to repeat the number $45MM in his rhetoric.

Whether you consider it rhetoric or fact. Whether the actual number is 30 million, 40 million, or 45 million. The exact number is moot. 10 million is too many Americans without insurance. I am one of the uninsured and I need help. Medications and health care consume about 25% of my income. I carry my own weight and cover these costs on my own, but many others don't or simply can't. Who do you think pays for these people? We still need insurance reform of some type and we (I) need it sooner than later.

And now to address the original thread subject. Politics and politicians will use any numbers to prove their points. It is up to "We The People" to think for ourselves, use logic and common sense, and "filter" out the nonsense. We must stop letting those who would take advantage of us, use fear to so easily manipulate us. Stop being so afraid. There is not a terrorist under every bush. What you fear, you attract. We have nothing to fear but fear itself.

 

[30ashopper]

I, and many others, care. We all should care about manipulation for political gain from whatever camp (left or right) it comes, for any reason. Americans have been manipulated too easily for too long.

Obviously, enough people paid attention to it to give President Bush a considerable bump in the popularity polls just before the 2004 election.

Read the article, and do some research. Raising the threat level was discussed in the security meeting due to Bin Laden's tape and other issues, but in the end, they decided not to raise it before the election.

 

[Danny Burns]

Read the article, and do some research. Raising the threat level was discussed in the security meeting due to Bin Laden's tape and other issues, but in the end, they decided not to raise it before the election.

I did read the article and it intimated that political influences were at play. But you are correct. The threat level was raised on August 1st and had nothing to do with the October discussions. My apologies.

"Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge claims in a new book that he was pressured by other members of President George W. Bush's Cabinet to raise the nation's terror alert level just before the 2004 presidential election."

"Ridge says he objected to raising the security level despite the urgings of former Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and then-Attorney General John Ashcroft, according to a publicity release from Ridge's publisher. He said the episode convinced him to follow through with his plans to leave the administration; he resigned on Nov. 30, 2004."

"Ridge writes in the book that the bin Laden tape alone did not justify a change in the nation?s security threat level but describes ?a vigorous, some might say dramatic, discussion? on Oct. 30 to do so."

Just the fact that political manipulation was an attempted factor is unsettling to me though.