Community | August 20, 2009 | 60 comments

Tom Ridge says Bush Administration pushed to raise terror alert for re-election in '04

source: http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/08/ridge-admits-terror-alerts-raised-election/

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WakeUpPeople
A remarkable detail to be published in former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge's soon-to-be-released book asserts that the Bush Administration attempted to wield the color-coded terror alert system for political gain -- a charge often leveled by Democrats but not previously confirmed by a high-ranking Bush Administration official.

Ridge's publisher is pushing details from his book in advance of its release. Notable among them:

"Tom Ridge, the first head of the 9/11-inspired Department of Homeland Security, wasn't keen on writing a tell-all. But in The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege...and How We Can Be Safe Again, out September 1, Ridge says he wants to shake "public complacency" over security.

"And to do that, well, he needs to tell all. Especially about the infighting he saw that frustrated his attempts to build a smooth-running department. Among the headlines promoted by publisher Thomas Dunne Books: Ridge was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings; was "blindsided" by the FBI in morning Oval Office meetings because the agency withheld critical information from him; found his urgings to block Michael Brown from being named head of the emergency agency blamed for the Hurricane Katrina disaster ignored; and 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."
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60 comments // Tom Ridge says Bush Administration pushed to raise terror alert for re-election in '04

  • S3th
    • 0
      S3th  

    • What's wrong with you people...It doesn't matter if there is a D or an R next to their damn names...Politicians in this country are all a bunch of lying, self-serving sons-a-bitches.....

      The more I see you people argue how dems are better than reps, or vice versa, the more I am certain we as citizens are doomed to fall for their shit, and fight over stupid crap, while they sell America out to the elites.

      The stupidity is kiling us!

    • 2 years ago
  • Xanatos
    • 0
      Xanatos  
    • S3th:

      Hear Hear!

      What we need to do, is tear down the politicians and their system, and create a more open and accessible government, one where the common man has just as much a say in what happens as the politician. A Government in which politicians are held responsible for their crimes, and not able to hide behind political clout.

    • 2 years ago
  • Raven6
    • 0
      Raven6  

    • What I'm sure of is that Republicans are horrible at anything remotely to do with leadership.

      Tom Ridge admits getting Bush re-elected was behind Homaland Security Alerts. Lies.

      Where's the WMD ? Oh Lies.

      McCain and Bush both saying the economy was "fine" just months before the election ... must both be from Mexico. Yet more Lies.

      Bush said no one told him about Katrina then woops there's the videos of an entire room of experts telling him it would be one of the worst disasters in our history. Lies.

      Obama will take our guns ... Lies.

      Obama not U.S. Citizen ... Lies.

      Healthcare reform will pull plug on grandma ... Lies.

      Republicans in a restrooms aren't looking sex from undercover cops in the next stall ... Lies

      Uhm ... so it's safe to say if a Republicans lips are moving he's either lying or in a restroom.

      Either way, we want no part.

    • 2 years ago
  • Raven6
    • 0
      Raven6  

    • Yet more proof that the Republican Party is a criminal organization and a cult.

      Republicans sit there like drones awaiting their Message from Faux Snooze. Faux has no way to actually knock healthcare reform so they put out lies.

      Republican Drones repeat it. It's brainwashing. I had an idiot tell me he's not voting for anyone that would pull the plug on grandma. Asked him where that verbiage was in the bill (he claimed he had it in his hand).

      Turns he couldn't find it. It was actually a printout from the Faux Snooze Website. So after being confronted by the truth we saw a strange look in his eyes. Not anger, but not understanding either. Just a strange faraway look, it was like he was "rebooting" then he just nodded his head and said, "Well, I'm a Christian, that's what I believe."

      This is a classic example of a cult. And this is by design. Republican leaders don't want thinkers.

      Thinkers get in the way of starting wars, slave labor, and killing Je st about anyone.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
  • Raven6
    • 0
      Raven6  
    • Raven6:

      What I'm sure of is that Republicans are horrible at anything remotely to do with leadership.

      Tom Ridge admits getting Bush re-elected was behind Homaland Security Alerts. Lies.

      Where's the WMD ? Oh Lies.

      McCain and Bush both saying the economy was "fine" just months before the election ... must both be from Mexico. Yet more Lies.

      Bush said no one told him about Katrina then woops there's the videos of an entire room of experts telling him it would be one of the worst disasters in our history. Lies.

      Obama will take our guns ... Lies.

      Obama not U.S. Citizen ... Lies.

      Healthcare reform will pull plug on grandma ... Lies.

      Republicans in a restrooms aren't looking sex from undercover cops in the next stall ... Lies

      Uhm ... so it's safe to say if a Republicans lips are moving he's either lying or in a restroom.

      Either way, we want no part.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  
    • Raven6:

      And Obama has lied a lot too. Have you pointed that out?

      Or are Democrats flawless?

      Katerina was more the fault of the state and the city than it was of the government.

      Houston was hit with a hurricane and they got response from not only the city but the state and the government and that was because the Mayor FOUGHT to get attention and the city help.

      What did the mayor of New Orleans do but sit down and whine about the situation? People like you tend to just blame Bush to blame him....

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • Raven6:

      In fact there was help offered to the Governor of Louisiana immediately and she turned it down. Said they had control of the situation. The Governor must ask for help to get the federal government involved in rescue.
      Mayor Nagin also, refused help and said he had it under control.
      Mississippi handled it with astute and accurate measures and it got done. No whining .
      If the Governor and the mayor in New Orleans/LA. situation would have had their acts together and accepted and co-ordinated the help offered none of the post-hurricane panic would have happened. It was not the federal governments call.
      You can't just sent troops into a state without the governor's request.
      But I'm sure the current administration(Democrat congress & President) will change that, if they haven't already!
      They will allow the feds to send troops into states without permission and create a Marshall law situation and the state won't have anything to say about it.
      It will allow the feds to take total control quickly if they so desire.
      There's a fine line between giving 'help', you can refuse, and forcing 'help' on groups of people whether they want it or not.

    • 2 years ago
  • clish1
    • 0
      clish1  

    • Just another instance of how well our country was run in the past 8 years. Thank you Dick Cheney and Karl Rove. No Bush because he was clueless.
      When will our politicians, both Democratic and Republican, look what is good for the country not beating the the other party.
      This is not a football game, this is survival for our way of life. I believe much of the common people in this country are just sick of the poltical games of both parties.

    • 2 years ago
  • J_Jammer
    • 0
      J_Jammer [removed]  

    • Anything to sell a book.

      Can't get a job? Lie about the job you did have---if it's important enough people will buy the book, believe it and you'll make millions.

      Smart.
      Devious.

      Two things people promote and then complain about the outcome of the combo.

      If this were true and he sat on it and said nothing when it happened...he's a loser. HUGE loser for profit.

      I don't trust how truth comes out in books....when the person had the power to state something when it happened.

      What is awesome is that Bush says NOTHING. He talks to NO ONE...he's silent.

      Something Obama should learn to do. Just because you have a witty retort and those who are in your flock laugh...doesn't mean it's necessary nor helpful to state.

    • 2 years ago
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  

    • We have a Justice Department, a Congress and a Senate who are paid to hold people accountable. Laws are in place. It's up to the Justice Department and Congress to have hearings and prosecute those who broke the law.

      If everything is now judged in the 'Court of Public Opinion', why are we paying them? It's time to hold our Congress accountable! Democrats and Republicans alike. It's time to stop 'moving along'. It's against the law for our Justice Department to be political?

      Many people from the Bush administration have made money selling facts, via books. I think the Justice Department could use those books as evidence. Were we willfully misled? Yes

    • 2 years ago
  • mjseydel
  • J_Jammer
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  

    • okay everybody....IF THAT IS THE CASE..then fucking do something about it...........................................

      god man!! its fustrating that this "concern" is limited to a few fucking people making books and movies to sell to the morons..

      if you were wronged..DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

      p r o t e s t..bear arms and demand..grow some fucking balls..

    • 2 years ago
  • S3th
    • 0
      S3th  

    • Subterfuge, subterfuge, subterfuge!!!

      Homeland Security...Another endless waste of taxdollars on a useless organization created out of another of our governments horrendous lies! Big government, and growing police state! I seem to remember another government in the past creating HOMELAND SECURITY after burning down their own building and blaming it on the Russians. Hmm...anyone need a history lesson?

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GQ0xP-an6U
      Homeland security busy protecting us from the scourge of foreign belly dancers. Thank you homeland security!

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fzcp-tbQfKs
      Unaired TV ad

    • 2 years ago
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  

    • go back to sleep - there will be no trials. Obummer would be opening a huge can of worms onto himself - for once he will be out of the office (soon!!!) - there would be a night of long knives for him... That would be spectacular though - the holly and transparent one! Hahaha

    • 2 years ago
  • alivein85
  • rebel_scum
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  

    • First of all - trying to organize our loose agencies into a coherent and information sharing union was and is a much needed undertaking. Second - every leader uses the system for his own political benefit. Those here who still think Obummer is clean and transparent - I don't even want to dignify you with a reply. Finally - Tom should be shot - a head of a security agency has no business releasing books and tell-alls. That's an oxymoron. That's why America has become the laughing stock of the world.

    • 2 years ago
  • alivein85
  • igordy
    • 0
      igordy [removed]  
    • igordy:

      that was a proverbial "should be shot" - you should learn to read between the lines. Chief of country's security has no business writing booklets... Know what I mean? You probably dont, but it's ok...

    • 2 years ago
  • Armageddon_Now
  • Betico
    • 0
      Betico  

    • this is obvious and for any mainstream news source to act like this is anything but academic is ficitious and cynical in trying to hide their complicity to bow down to the previous administration.

      fuck cheney and corporate interests.

    • 2 years ago
  • riverratt50
    • 0
      riverratt50  

    • It's hard for me to imagine that you guys continue to buy into that right left paradigm. What has changed? The war still rages on, more boys to die on their way, the economy is in shambles, national debt at record numbers and climbing, health care bill is a mess, cap and trade, FED, police state, flu pandemic, start of forced inoculations, martial law, town halls shouted down, trust in the government dropping like a rock, along with the presidents approval rating, NAFTA alive and well, chem trails in the sky, prisoners still held in cuba, north and south korea firing missals and rockets. And lastly, I don't think that 28.8 trillion to banks is "change" thats down right big bucks!!!!
      So now tell me, Where is the change? And don't claim its blocked by the other guys this time, the administration outnumbers the other guys this time, not the last time, but this time they do.

    • 2 years ago
  • booksellergirl
  • smallwood
  • Conniepae
    • 0
      Conniepae  

    • How can we still be waiting for hearings and justice. George W.'s own people left his administration and then wrote books describing the crimes. What would it take for an investigation and hearings? COURAGE!

      If Congress and the Senate had the courage to send our men and women off to war in Iraq, why don't they have the courage to hold those who initiated the war, accountable?

    • 2 years ago
  • Found_Avenue
  • nkeg87
  • unclecharlie
  • cool0ne
  • chasingame
    • 0
      chasingame  

    • It's kind of odd that he writes a book to "shake 'public complacency' over security" and in doing so tells us that the threats were trumped up for political reasons. I am not defending the Bush administration in any way because I am sure that it is true. But, like Neocongo said, Ridge is a coward. He is writing this book to make a buck, not for some greater service to Americans like he says. If he was truly looking out for our interest we would have heard about this years ago in the news. Not now in his book.

    • 2 years ago
  • Conniepae
  • digitrash
  • mario_a
  • samthesixth
  • Xanatos
    • 0
      Xanatos  
    • samthesixth:

      Wish I knew, I'd help Light up the Night with the flames of that Burning City.

      Perhaps the Man in the Tower will finally notice what's wrong.... probably not though, he probably won't even lift a fist....

    • 2 years ago
  • Eleganza
    • 0
      Eleganza  

    • Why isn't the right wing screaming about the Homeland security bureaucracy and how it is another example of big govt? it's ironic, when they create a useless bureaucracy it's different.

    • 2 years ago
  • nursediesel
  • booksellergirl
  • nursediesel
    • 0
      nursediesel  
    • Eleganza:

      BookSeller, It means cutting out all the redundancy in the federal government.
      Allowing the states the control of their individual state as it was intended.
      Get rid of more than half of the boards that are truly unnecessary. These Federal groups usurp the states rights as per what the people in those states want.
      Get rid of most of the entitlement bullshit and help people get the job that suits them so the tax payers don't have to keep viable people under the government's thumb. You know the old "teach people to fish and they can feed themselves"

      Go back to the Federal government as intended: the The President and his staff. The Supreme court and the Congress.
      All other federal jobs would have to do with physical security and safety of the borders and during times of strife, and the protection of the VIPs in Washington.
      I may have skimmed over this too fast but that's the gist of it. There is way too much useless bureaucracy in the federal government now. It's become bloated and sluggish and only working to keep their jobs. Useless.

    • 2 years ago
  • booksellergirl
    • 0
      booksellergirl  

    • "Captain Renault: I'm shocked, shocked to find that gambling is going on in here!
      [a croupier hands Renault a pile of money]
      Croupier: Your winnings, sir. ..."
      -- Casablanca

      These guys are bonafide crooks.

    • 2 years ago
  • masterzip
    • 0
      masterzip  

    • wasn't the purpose of homeland security set up so information can be shared,...??? So, now we just have a new agency with the same old issues McBushies said he was trying to correct,...

    • 2 years ago
  • biggranny
    • 0
      biggranny  

    • neocongo is right .where the hell was his truth telling then. coward. bush was a dictator.ridge is a crybaby with no spine. tell it to the folks whom died in new orleans

    • 2 years ago
  • clownpuncher
  • alivein85
  • alivein85
  • ALLNATURALVEGANS
  • WakeUpPeople
  • GodsnLiberals
  • WakeUpPeople
  • unclematt
  • carmalite
  • GodsnLiberals
  • neocongo
    • 0
      neocongo  

    • No suprise here. The right wing are masters of lies and propaganda. It just would be nice if someone like Ridge or Scott McClellan would have the BALLS to speak up when they realize what is going on rather than serve their masters faithfully to write a "tell all book" years later. Incredible cowards.

    • 2 years ago
  • Chique
  • GodsnLiberals
    • 0
      GodsnLiberals  
    • neocongo:

      My God!! are you guys still harping about this shit?? I mean if there is a reminder on how incompetent your party is and how guys were led around like sheep..

      WHERE IS THE IMPEACHMENT????
      where is the trails?? where are the "heads are going to roll" promised???

      maybe just maybe that either it did not happen or the people who promised you to get this corrected are part of it...

      man you guys are stupid..

    • 2 years ago
  • nkeg87
    • 0
      nkeg87  
    • neocongo:

      There was no impeachment because the people that promised it are cowards too. They're all in on it. And that's how the government works. I didnt vote for people that did live up to their word. And there is no need to call people stupid.

    • 2 years ago
  • GodsnLiberals
  • Progresshiv
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