Ridge Tells Colleagues He May Retire

[Judi Lynn]

July 30, 2004

Ridge Tells Colleagues He May Retire
Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge Tells Colleagues He's Considering Resigning After Election

The Associated Press



WASHINGTON July 30, 2004 — Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is considering stepping down after the November election, telling colleagues he is worn out from the massive reorganization of government and needs to earn money in the private sector to put his teenage children through college, officials said.

Ridge will not make a final decision until he talks to President Bush later this year and is focused on thwarting the terror attacks that officials fear al-Qaida will attempt before November, Assistant Homeland Secretary Susan Neely said.

"Secretary Ridge is focused entirely on the job the president has asked him to do," Neely said Wednesday.

Several senior Homeland Security officials told The Associated Press that Ridge has indicated in recent weeks he probably will resign after the election, even if Bush wins. They spoke only on condition of anonymity, citing the delicate nature of describing private conversations with their boss.
(snip/...)





Probably driven out because he refused to become shorter.

[no_hypocrisy]

1. If 50.1 percent of us vote for John Kerry, Tom Ridge WILL retire with W.

[Freddie Stubbs]

26. Not worth jack without a majority in the electoral college

It doesn't happen very often, but I am sure that is has happened before.

[mark wayne]

50. Unless Jeb rigs the vote in Florida again.

Using his "fool" proof electronic Diebold voting machines.

[saigon68]

2. ADIOS SCUMBAG

He'll have to find a "real" job

[izzie]

4. In the paint and color section of Home Depot?

You see he needs to make money to put his kids into college. Where are you going to make money to do that? He will cash in on his name. Your kids will have to get very good marks to get in and get a grant or loan.

[54anickel]

6. Needs to make real money? Maybe a book deal - a tell all would

be a big seller and perhaps cleanse he soul.
Nah, it'll never happen.

[Joy Anne]

13. Home Depot

A friend of mine with a child still in high school did that after a hostile corporate takeover shoved him into early retirement, and then his pension turned out to be worthless stock. So it can be done.

However, I doubt that this is the private sector job Tommie has in mind.

[BrotherBuzz]

42. He couldn't hold that job....

He only knows three colors: Red, Orange, and Yellow...

[JSJ]

3. he only thinks he's escaping an indictment for his part...

...in the worst criminality in American history. Don't let the People's door make contact with your big fat indictable ass on your way out, fadderland shit-hole.

[DoYouEverWonder]

5. If he was really worried about protecting America

rather than protecting himself, you would think he would at least stay until the end of W's term. But no, he'd rather cut and run as soon as possible. I bet this is what he'll do if there's another attack, cut and run.

[Jo March]

24. We'll see more rats escaping

No one wants to be around when the indictments come down, and we all know that they will if Kerry wins. The tide is turning. Even the faithful around Bush have to know that.

[Eurobabe]

7. Mr. Immodium was always wayyyy outta his league

Good riddance. Don't let the doorknob hit you.







This guy is as vacant as they come.

[JSJ]

8. he is literally a blockhead- look at that BLOCKHEAD! n/t

[Disturbed]

10. But I felt so much safer with him in charge.

;)

[Career Prole]

35. Blockhead's right! Pays a buck for a haircut

Two bits a side. ;)

[llmart]

9. Don't worry Tommy Boy.....

the voters will help you make the decision to leave in November. Good riddance to you and yours.

[dbt]

11. It cannot come soon enough!

Off to the Reptile Retirement Ranch with this whole bunch of slithering godawfuls!

:freak:
dbt

[IndianaGreen]

12. He can take his stupid color-coded terror alert system with him

I don't know how Ridge was as Governor, but as head of the unneeded and bureaucratic Homeland Dept he looked like a total idiot.

[UpInArms]

14. he can make his home under some duct tape and plastic

and not on the taxpayers' dime.

Goodbye and good riddance you fascist pig.

[TheWatcher]

15. If He's That Displeased with his "Low Paying Job" Then He Should Just

TAKE A PROZAC AND GET OVER IT. :)

[Gin]

16. I love it when their words come back to haunt them.....good one watcher

g

[Snellius]

17. Stories like this are always planned leaks. Why?

My hunch is that they want to get Giuliani in there. Giuliani has been running hard at tackle with the press during the Dem convention. And he appeals to swing moderates.

[BlueEyedSon]

18. Another rat leaves the sinking ship.

[Rebel_with_a_cause]

19. Did he, too, say something Bush didn't want to hear and get the ax?

If I were the Chimp, I'd be living on the edge too, after that magnificent democratic convention showing.

[Ilsa]

20. That rising tuition is a real bitch, ain't it Tom?

Inflation creep is a real hassle, huh? And you're only making what, six figures? Take a Prozac, Tom, and get back to work!

[billbuckhead]

21. One of the top jobs in the government & can't put kids thru school

The Dems need to pounce on this statement like Rush on a hillbilly heroin tablet.

[DinahMoeHum]

25. Air America Radio has already pounced on this (this morning)

on the "Morning Sedition"


:evilgrin:

[Jose Diablo]

22. This is rich, he may retire?

Ridge is political, he will be history after the election. He still thinks Bu$h will get elected? What ya got planned Ridge?

That suckers got small beady eyes, matches Bu$h's hat size. Who in the hell let this guy in the political ring to begin with? Mellon, is that you?

[AlinPA]

23. Must be an expensive school. He was a blockhead governor in PA.

He cut a lot of businesss taxes which really reduced revenue and put PA into a budget shortfall. He removed environmental regulations, especially in coal mining where "long wall" mining causes instant subsidence and destruction of people's wells, and sinking of streams.

[midnight armadillo]

27. Six figures and can't afford tuition?!?

Penn State is only $10k/year, and his kid could work to defray the cost.

Oh, wait...clearly Ridge's kid will require an elite private institution since the public PA school isn't good enough for the former governor...but then again family reasons are the only reasons to retire from the Bush administration. Any other reason might seem to indicate disloyalty to Bush.

Hey Ridge, ever heard of student loans and the way they cripple one's life for 30 years after college??? :puke:

[yellowcanine]

29. In Ridge's defense - he does have that $700,000 mortgage in Bethesda to

service. You didn't expect him to live in Beltsville or College Park in some $300,000 shack, did you?

[Thor_MN]

47. I hope that was sarcasm...

If the Cheneying moron buys more home than he can afford, I have nothing but distain for him. My parents together never made close to a third of what he is making by himself and they put all four of us through college (with us working summers, work study and taking loans.) The pig thinks that the high $100Ks isn't enough? He's lucky that we aren't paying him what he is worth.

If the costs of living are so freaking high on the coasts, why the hell aren't companies outsourcing jobs to the midwest??? Our cost of living is apparently much lower, we actually speak the language with an understandable accent, and we aren't having to time shift opposite daylight hours to work during the same hours as the American CEO whores.

Hey Tommy Boy!!! Don't you get it? Your boss is getting rid of all the well paying jobs. Your kids don't need college for their Wal-mart shelf stocking jobs. Get used to it. You don't make the cut on the old wealth scale - there's going to be nothing for your kids because your boss is concentrating the wealth in the hands of those that have it now.

[yellowcanine]

28. Ridge is clearly is in over his head in Homeland Security - his color

codes and his advice to homeowners on "safe rooms" have made us the laughingstock of the world - the man does NOT inspire confidence. From what I have heard from friends and family (admittedly a lot of repubs) in PA he was an ok governor - at least not a right wing nut, anyway. I think he means well but basically doesn't have much of a clue as to what he is supposed to be doing. And I think that suits Bush fine. He never wanted a Homeland Security Dept in the first place so he is happy to have someone there that won't do much. One more reason why Bush has to go. Our ports are essentially a sieve while we are spending billions to deploy a nonfunctioning missile defense when it is extremely unlikely that anyone is going to try to attack us with missiles when all they have do is slip a couple of small nukes into the U.S. in a shipping container.

[progressivebydesign]

30. Oh boo hoo.. his job doesn't pay him enough to send his kids to college?

Puh-leeze. How much do you think this guy gets paid? How much do you think this Bush crony has invested? Ridiculous. Where is he sending his kids? The Sarbonne? Is he planning on working for Enron? What type of private sector job will pay more than a major position in the freakin' White House? This smellss WAAAAY fishy. I think those Capitol Hill Blue stories are true. Bush is out of his mind, and people are running for the hills. hmmmm...

[yardwork]

31. He gets paid $175,000 a year as Homeland Security Guy

Wouldn't it be nice for most of us to have to "struggle" to survive on that?

/sarcasm off

[Career Prole]

36. I've been told by more than one freeper that if you can't afford kids

you shouldn't have 'em. Get rid of the kids, Tom. Be a personally responsible Amerikan.

"Ridge, 58, has explained to colleagues that he needs to earn money to comfortably put his two children, Tommy Jr. and Lesley, through college, officials said. Both are teenagers. Ridge earns $175,700 a year as a Cabinet secretary"

Now you know how I feel when I look at my 10 year-old and my 30 grand/year job...which paid me 50 grand under Clinton.

[leesa]

32. No, let's put him in jail for treason instead.

[Sabriel]

33. Does he have a "Tuition Alert" scale?

I guess it's at red right now. Mine passed red about 5 years ago. Moran.

[goforit]

34. LOL!!!!..........He probably gets no respect from his subordinates.

Rightfully so!!!

[0007]

37. Tom Ridge sees the hand writing on the wall, LOL!!

As does Colin Powell.

Can't wait to see those two classless twins take the podium at the repukes convention.

[tabasco]

38. Ridge hitched up to Bush when Bush was riding high.

Ridge is intelligent enough to know what a nitwit Bush was, even when Dimson's ratings were sky-high after 9-11. But Ridge decided to take the job offer in an administration led by an idiot. I have no doubt the repugs looked at Ridge to succeed Bush as their next candidate. But Ridge is now a laughingstock. He deserves everything he gets, as do all the enablers of this criminal cabal.

edit typo

[TahitiNut]

39. Link? Here's one ...

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/Politics/ap20040730_1092.html

[democracy eh]

40. hmmm , what is that line..., rats... ship...

[Neshanic]

41. Mr. Ridge, is your water glass sliding across the table?

[mtnester]

43. Another one bites the dust

as sung to the lovely melody of Freddie Mercury.

[Manix]

44. ...good riddance!!

[indepat]

45. It would be a shame to lose such a competent appointed official

whose every word is gospel and who inspires such confidence by the manner in which he keeps the public averted to pending danger. <sarcasm off>

[Hanover_Fist]

46. Can't help but think

of "rats fleeing a sinking ship"

[absolutezero]

48. of course he's retiring after the election

kerry isn't going to let him keep that job

[aint_no_life_nowhere]

49. At least he stayed in long enough to screw the US Immigration Service

beyond all repair. Seriously, under him it's gone from being called the INS, then to the BCIS, and now to the USCIS within the Department of Homeland Security. It's divided itself into an enforcement arm and an adjudications arm where no one knows what's going on. It's now turned into an impregnable fortress with coast-to-coast 1-800 numbers whereby aliens and attorneys can check up on pending cases, but the individuals who answer the phone do not have a file in front of them and only can tell you the briefest of information that appears on a computer screen. And at the local USCIS offices where the files are actually kept, if you go there in person to check on the status of long overdue files, they now have a computerized system that doesn't track the whereabouts of files; all they can tell you is that the file left the office where the final interview for a green card occurred but it doesn't tell you where it was transferred internally within the system...cases are now pending for years after aliens have filed all the paperwork, paid all the fees, and appeared for their final interviews. And the backlog of cases continues to get longer and longer and longer and longer and longer. When individuals seeking immigration do it through legal means and get blown off by the USCIS when the cases get lost and delayed for years, you understand finally why illegal immigration occurs as much as it does.