gilpin

He's 18th in line. You might think about changing your handle to "WorriesWay2Much".

sonora

That would really be a Tom Clancy-esque scenario

FliesWay2Much

You're right. As the newest cabinet member, he's rock bottom on the totem pole. I've been in government over 30 years. I've played in exercises in the Continuity of Government program. At every State of the Union address, there is always one cabinet member who is at a secure location to preserve presidential succession in case somebody decides to blow up the Capitol and wipe out the government. #18 can become #1 very quickly in any number of scenarios.

He's 18th and you and I aren't even on the list.

gilpin

The answer to that is to eliminate the state of the Union address as a speech delivered in person. It started out as a simple written report, but now it's turned into a phony photo-op which is collosal waste of time and resources. Of course I realize that can never happen because they all want the free TV advertizing (which is now the most important aspect of being an elected official).

hoshman

What bothers me most is that many here seem to dismiss the DHS leadership as idiots. That's way too simplistic. They're dangerously smart. Maybe not smart in their job ( security) but smart in politics, psychology, and media manipulation.

Look how Chertoff managed to bump the Iraq progress report down the news priority list by having a "gut" feeling the week it was released. He burned a lot of media time and attention that could have gone to other less flattering things. Scarily brilliant - when you think about it.

Also we're rapidly approaching budget season in DC - and this only serves to help him justify more money (which directly equates to power). Again - pretty smart.

And as others have pointed out - he can now take credit if anything does happen - anywhere! All this while knowing that even if he's wrong ( and like any good "psychic" his gut is so vague as to be certain to be proven "right") nobody will remember or care, or worse they'll give him the credit!. Again - not a bad move.

As many here have said - the security theater is just that - but it is convincing the media and a large percentage of the voting public that "something is being done" but "more must be done". Again for his ends good psychology and manipulation.

So don't be so quick with the term "idiot". Being one myself sometimes, I don't want to be lumped in with that crowd

Xyzzy

Are you sure you weren't thinking of Amerika which was a 1987 TV miniseries?

birdstrike

You give them too much credit. They are politicians, first and last. But they are not "dangerously" smart. They just have access to power beyond what your average citizen can command. Chertoff demonstrated what an idiot he was with Katrina and lately sharing the status of his intestines, which I believe are simply loose with fear.

mikeef

Hey, Kip, just curious? How'd that gut feeling end up working out for ya?

Mike

cpx

I do not think that first gut feeling worked well for em.. may be its time
for him to come up with another gut feeling.

bocastephen

I don't know about him, but I sure get indigestion every time Skeletor opens his mouth.

MKEbound

Wait for it....

With the heavy holiday travel days coming up next week, I'm sure we'll get some reminder from DHS that we need to be vigilant.

Ari

I hope next time he has a "gut" feeling, it is leiomyosarcoma.

DevilDog438

Personally, I'd like his "gut feeling" to be caused by a healthy dose of pink belly personally administered by every member of the flying public.

Spiff

Use of shoes in the administration thereof would be a plus.

Comrade Chertoff, you are a lying, gutless piece of trash.

DevilDog438

Dammit, Spiff...

It is a good fracking thing I am getting a new laptop soon...you just made me spit iced tea all over the keyboard...