Shocking

Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge has just written a book he's out there hawking. In the rush to promote the book there are many shocking and stunning revelations that are coming out....that aren't really that stunning or shocking.

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.

Oh my, he was pushed to raise those security alerts as part of a politically motivated fear campaign? Thanks for pointing out the blindingly obvious. Nice that you're trying to claim some sort of integrity and spine in this revelation. I mean you "almost resigned" over the complete politicization of terror alerts. Hey, isn't using the threat of terror, real or imagined, to advance your goals...uhh terrorism?

Still you can learn this, plus what I'm sure are some hoary old chestnuts about freedom, vigilance, and the majesty of the bald eagle, in Ridge's new book The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege…and How We Can Be Safe Again. It turns out fake terror alerts are one of those ways to be safe and failing to say anything or do anything about it until a buck can be made counts as passing said test.