Is Ridge Possibly Retiring So Bush Can Play an Ace Card Against Us??

[ItsMyParty]

Nothing...nothing is done in this administration that isn't for political gain. Funny how out of nowhere this a.m. is the hint on CNN, etc. that Ridge might retire to make more money to send kids to college. May I suggest that it is for the following reason: Bush cannot replace Cheney or be called a flip flopper; but he can have Ridge resign and replace him with Guilliani!!! That, unfortunately, would sway a lot of people's votes in the "who will protect you from terror" front and take the issue away from Kerry----and it might just make a dent in the NY City vote. Watch out, friends. No one said this group was going to go down quietly. I bet on a Rudy by fall---you know they want to get him out in front of the people and this is the perfect way to do it. Ridge means nothing to the voters.

[amazona]

1. what I heard

The whiny Ridge allegedly claimed he can't put his kids through college on his tiny income of $175,000 a year. I think he's angling for a raise!

[ItsMyParty]

2. amazona---I don't think he's seeking a raise because if Bush

wanted him they would make sure that his pocket was royally lined. This is the first whispers to see how it flies and then they will bring out Rudy. Bush desperately wants and NEEDS Rudy right now. Stay tuned.

[PDittie]

3. Nobody's leaving voluntarily before the election

(which doesn't mean Cheney wouldn't step down "for health reasons"...)

Ridge, Colin Powell, a few others will jump off after the first of the year (if Bush gets re-selected).

They all go if we drive them out of office. ;)

Rudy may find a place in a second Bush administration, but mostly I think he challenges Hillary again for the Senate. I don't think he stays on the sidelines because he's going to run for President in 2008.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Guiliani is pro-choice. He can't win the Republican nomination

for President.

[Bullshot]

5. If Giuliani is nominated, it will be a major flip-flop by the Republicans,

won't it?

Or, Giuliani can pull a George HW Bush and change is position on abortion for political gain. HW Bush changed his position from being pro-life, to pro-abortion, back to pro-life during his political career. It all depended on where the money and the political winds were blowing from.

[PDittie]

17. I don't disagree

but that won't stop him from running

[napi21]

6. How would you feel about Kerry naming Rudy to head HLS?

First let me say I REALLY WISH THEY;D RENAME THIS DEPARTMENT! Homelanad Security sounds way too much like the days of Hitler to me.

Anyway, what do you think about Rudy? He did do a good job in NY with crime, handling of 9/11, and he seemed to be able to manage the NYC employees without buckling under bad press.

[HFishbine]

11. You watch

20 years from now, the term "Homeland Security" will be as quant as backyard bomb shelters.

[ncteechur]

7. Does it really matter if Ridge resigns of not?...

Does the Sec of Homeland Security have any real power? Are they going to make that person the new intelligence czar? The only power that I see this cabinet secretary as having is to change the color code from day to day. So whether they replace him with Guiliani or Schwarzenegger, it won't matter. You can dress a pig like a dog and it is still a pig.

[ItsMyParty]

9. nct----what I think Kerry should say if they do try to stick in Rudy in

order to win the "we can protect you better" debate is that 1) Rudy would be good but there are plenty of others who can do just as well and perhaps name someone; 2) remind the voters that it isn't who is the head of this department BUT it's the president who decides what they are and are not going to do; and Bush has had 3 years since 9/11 and still has not done crap in protecting us.

[blm]

8. And Giuliani is NOT beloved by the 9-11 families. He backed Bush too much

over them and their pleas to be heard.

Wouldn't the American people prefer to have Gary Hart in charge of Homeland Security? The man who studied terrorism for two and a half years BEFORE 9-11 and who presented Bush with the Hart-Rudman report on terrorism in Jan 2001 which Bush promptly chose to ignore.

[DinahMoeHum]

10. ". . .have Gary Hart in charge. . ." Great idea !!

:kick:

[napi21]

14. I really like the Gary Hart suggestion too, but

But I really don't remember much about him as a person. I didn't pay much attention to politics back when he ran for Pres, so like a lot of others, all I remember is the dare he made to the Press, and getting caught on his boat.

Is he a tough enough leader to control this unruley crowd of departments that were consolidated into the DHS? I'm thinking of a Norman Schwartzkof personality!

[napi21]

13. I like the Hart idea.

But I really don't remember much about him as a person. I didn't pay much attention to politics back when he ran for Pres, so like a lot of others, all I remember is the dare he made to the Press, and getting caught on his boat.

Is he a tough enough leader to control this unruley crowd of departments that were consolidated into the DHS? I'm thinking of a Norman Schwartzkof personality!

[blm]

15. Most of DC defers to his insight and intellect.

I think after this election, there is going to be quite a purge of the uncooperative sorts in the intel agencies. The good guys have every reason to finally dump the traitors covering up for the Bush cartel.

[tabasco]

12. My guess ...

- Ridge is smarter than people give him credit for. He realizes what a profound mistake he made when he hitched his wagon with the neocons. Ridge probably had good intentions at DHS, but the utter corruption of the administration is taking him down too.
- I believe the repugs were grooming Ridge as their next candidate, after what they thought would be eight years of Dubya. Ridge would have it all: combat vet, former governor of swing state, 7 years of protecting America at DHS.
- Ridge probably isn't as bad a guy as the neocon leaders. But he had to have understood the utter lack of principles of the neocons and the utter incompetence of Bush. He went along with them anyway. So he deserves to retire in disgrace. He picked the wrrong friends.

[eleny]

16. Guiliani is a liability

He can't rise too high in the administration because he boinked his girlfriend in Gracie Mansion while his kids were at home. At least that's according to Randi Rhodes.

So, if he were to run for any office, including Senate, the DNC would bring out his sordid past in a big way. Guiliani's wife made such a public display of her hurt and disgust - it's on tape right in front of the Manse. That mess would see the glaring light of day so fast that heads would spin right off.