Ridge pressured to raise terror alert

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?

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.

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 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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

There's no proof of that, you're making assumptions. CNN had someone on the other night who was at the meeting, a number of people were arguing for raising the level, not just those that msnbc mentions, and a number were arguing against. Keep in mind the sources of this information. (Ridge is selling a book, the article is from msnbc.)

Personally I'd welcome an official inquiry on this, just to clear the names of those who were there.

I find it interesting to see who jumps at things like this. Statements like this are done to sell books. And look who throws the thread up without really looking into the validity of the statement the 'publisher' put out. Devisiveness is an ugly thing. If in fact something like Ridge describes would have been done, and done so for political purposes, then shame on them and actually, punishments should be dolled out. But from what I gather, Ridge just says he 'wondered' if the suggested change was for 'political purposes'. Wow!

But yes, as noticed, it wasn't actually changed and had nothing to do with the election results. Remeber all the people saying Bush was holding Bin Laden and Hussein until right before the election for a boost. Damn, get over it. Bush isn't our President anymore.

If you want to bash or celebrate anything that might make a particular party of politician look bad, remember, there is an equal and opposite reaction and bashing goes both ways, so you can hardly judge others for doing it to your guy. And if you want to be a cause for good, get rid of the Repubicans and Democrates and keep politics local where we can get to and reach our officials at arms length distance.

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.

Really? You're actually equating playing around with the numbers about how many people we need to provide health insurance to, to our government creating an artificial state of fear whenever it is politically convenient, with 9-11 as its backdrop? Interesting.

Wait, let me get this straight... All the people who are complaining about the oppressive and inept government are actually convinced that the color coded threat level was legit?

A couple of questions to any of you complaining about how awful government is at everything: Do you believe that every single terror plot against the U.S. in the last 8 years has been thwarted by our government? If so, does that mean our government is perfect since 9-11 at stopping terrorist attacks?

If not, does it mean that in fact, there were no terrorist plots to stop in the first place? I'm just trying to understand how the government- who we've determined is terrible at delivering mail and health care to people- is somehow able to pull off a perfect score in stopping terrorist attacks since 9-11 in a country of 300 million?

So which is it guys? Is the government perfect at stopping terrorist attacks in a country of 300 million for 8 years, or were there never any terror threats to begin with?

I do think that fear is used as a political tool, and the threats have been exaggerated, but I don't think that there have been no thwarted attacks or dangers.

There is a lot of stuff we do NOT know about that goes on.

Quick! What color is it right now? No looking.

I'll go with orange - since the recording at VPS has been saying for years "the threat level has been raised to orange."

I'm not saying the color level isn't dumb, just that a lack of another major terrorist incident doesn't mean there was never one thwarted or in the works.

I'll go with orange - since the recording at VPS has been saying for years "the threat level has been raised to orange."

I'm not saying the color level isn't dumb, just that a lack of another major terrorist incident doesn't mean there was never one thwarted or in the works.

I am sure you are right, but who knows what orange is compared to any other color? I would need to google it.

The government threat level is yellow, or elevated. The domestic/international flight threat level is orange, or high.

So as we sit here, we are at a significant risk for a terrorist attack, but if we fly somewhere, we are at high risk for a terrorist attack.

Bit excessive IMO.

The government threat level is yellow, or elevated. The domestic/international flight threat level is orange, or high.

So as we sit here, we are at a significant risk for a terrorist attack, but if we fly somewhere, we are at high risk for a terrorist attack.

Bit excessive IMO.

I'm staying home!

That's your choice - I figure I am in much more danger w/ my antics and adventures outside of airplanes.

H.L. Mencken had it figured out in the 1920s:

The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

I find it interesting to see who jumps at things like this. Statements like this are done to sell books. And look who throws the thread up without really looking into the validity of the statement the 'publisher' put out. Devisiveness is an ugly thing. If in fact something like Ridge describes would have been done, and done so for political purposes, then shame on them and actually, punishments should be dolled out. But from what I gather, Ridge just says he 'wondered' if the suggested change was for 'political purposes'. Wow!

But yes, as noticed, it wasn't actually changed and had nothing to do with the election results. Remeber all the people saying Bush was holding Bin Laden and Hussein until right before the election for a boost. Damn, get over it. Bush isn't our President anymore.

If you want to bash or celebrate anything that might make a particular party of politician look bad, remember, there is an equal and opposite reaction and bashing goes both ways, so you can hardly judge others for doing it to your guy. And if you want to be a cause for good, get rid of the Repubicans and Democrates and keep politics local where we can get to and reach our officials at arms length distance.

were you clearing the tables or working at the service bar when all this happened? i guess you can't complain that ridge is a dem, so you go with the book deal. what excuse do you use if there's no book?