# Told You So! (Tom Ridge Rats Out Bush/Cheney) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104 "2009-08-20T18:17:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/1 "2009-08-20T18:17:40Z")
[http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/20/ridge-politics-terror/](http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/20/ridge-politics-terror/) (Definitely a lefty site, tighty righty proceed with Shields Up…) Note: link offered so that you wont have to scroll down the site, and might think I’m on about _National Review_ pointing out how Obama is just like Ahmedinijad because he doesn’t wear a tie, this is about some other bullshit…And no, I’m not making that up! I don’t have to make shit up, and couldn’t if I tried! \*\*Ridge admits Bush administration pushed to raise security alert for political reasons on eve of re-election. \*\* > [@](#): > > …U.S. News’ Paul Bedard reports that, in the book, Ridge reveals that he considered resigning because he was urged to issue a politically-motivated security alert on the eve of Bush’s re-election… Remember that? Remember how us loony lefties bitched and performed, pissed and moaned, that the Bushiviks were yanking the national security chain to get more votes? The Bushiviks were a bunch of lying swine who would use any dirty trick in the book to keep their grip on power? Then perhaps you remember how outraged were the sensible conservatives amongst you, shocked shocked that we would dare such vile suggestions, such putrid slander! Truly we were off our collective rockers, making wild and unsubstantiated charges, running around like our asses were on fire and our heads were catching, crazy crazy us. Number ??? in the series “We Were Right, You Were Full of Shit” is herein offered, no doubt to be continued. We told you so. You called us names, sneered and scorned, and we were right. We told you so. We were right, you were wrong, that was the devil planet, don’t go there, we said, and we were right. And we told you so. Oh, and just one more thing: We Told You So. How low do you have to be to pull shit like this? Pretty damned low, which is another thing we told you so. And don’t, dear Og, smugly tell us again how Bush was re-elected and how that means something worthwhile, or tell us how paranoid we are to believe there might have been some skulduggery afoot, because there was some skulduggery afoot, and to this day we don’t know how much! Oh, and we told you so. We Told You So. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/2 "2009-08-20T18:22:23Z")
Shrug. At the time, it did seem strange how “conveniently” the Terra Alerts seemed to coincide with the "spectre of questioning or disagreement"or whatever “stuff” they wanted to “win”… at least it seemed strange to me. ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/3 "2009-08-20T18:38:28Z")
He considered resigning over that, huh? It’s nice to know that we were right (I suppose) but that dude is such a tool (literally). ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/4 "2009-08-20T18:39:52Z")
Well, recall that, at the time, Tom Ridge had a pretty good reputation as a non-partisan straight-shooter. At the time. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/5 "2009-08-20T18:43:21Z")
> [@From your link](#): > > mong 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. I’m sorry, but are you sure it was Bush or Cheney that pushed him? Could it have been someone else? Scooter Libby? Karen Hughes? Jim Nicholson? ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/6 "2009-08-20T18:45:25Z")
In other news, the Pope is still Catholic, the sky is still blue and bears still poop in the woods - whether in fact they do use Charmin toilet paper is still up for debate. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/7 "2009-08-20T18:46:00Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m Could it have been someone else? Scooter Libby? Karen Hughes? Jim Nicholson? Satan? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/8 "2009-08-20T18:51:05Z")
I’m a bit skeptical - only because in this account Everything Would Have Been Fine had Ridge’s recommendations been followed. His actual performance in office showed rather mixed results. I’m not dismissing it, but I do require corroboration. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/9 "2009-08-20T18:51:14Z")
Acting on their own? Without approval? Which The Leader instantly rebuked them for, and then apologized to the nation? Being, as he was, wholly dedicated to an utterly strict compliance with the ideals of electoral purity? As soon as they got rid of those pesky and disloyal US Attorneys, like the ones who wouldn’t prosecute for phantom voter fraud? Is this\*\* Bricker \*\*parodying **Bricker**? ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/10 "2009-08-20T18:51:21Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m sorry, but are you sure it was Bush or Cheney that pushed him? Could it have been someone else? Scooter Libby? Karen Hughes? Jim Nicholson? Oh c’mon! If Libby, Hughes or any other flunky pushed him to raise the alert do you really think for one second it didn’t come from higher up the chain of command? Really? Give me a break. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/11 "2009-08-20T18:52:36Z")
Does it matter who did it? The repubs used a government agency to fabricate a terrorist scare . Are Bush and Cheney not responsible for what their employees do? I can not pretend Cheney and Bush were kept out of the loop . But if you can ,good for you. But what difference does it make.? They were carrying out administration policy. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/12 "2009-08-20T18:53:32Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > …I’m not dismissing it, but I do require corroboration. “Well, OK, you got an affidavit from God Almighty, countersigned by Gabriel. But is this the original, or a copy?..” ---
**Author:** ![Kearsen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kearsen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kearsen)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/13 "2009-08-20T19:01:28Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > “Well, OK, you got an affidavit from God Almighty, countersigned by Gabriel. But is this the original, or a copy?..” _laugh_ Now you are calling a ‘supposed’ passage in a book “affidavit from God” I knew you were a crack pot but I never thought you were that BIG a crackpot. ---
**Author:** ![Algher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Algher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algher)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/14 "2009-08-20T19:20:20Z")
Sadly, I can see this happening. Of course, there are always plenty of global issues that could trigger a Mauve alert (or worse, the dreaded Puce level warning). However - telling me that the alert level was changed just in time for election doesn’t event trigger a slight vibration of the BS meter. Can I just pretend that Bush Fils never happened, kind of like the rumoured Episodes II and IV of the Indiana Jones movies? [goes back into his Republican Hidey Hole, waiting for the return of the party to something he would support] ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/15 "2009-08-20T19:32:53Z")
> [@Algher](#): > > …[goes back into his Republican Hidey Hole, waiting for the return of the party to something he would support] Change it! Goddamn it! Change it! (Why, oh, why, don’t we have a “screaming, jumping up and down” smiley?) We need an honest conservative party, a car needs brakes just like it needs a motor. We on the left need, repeat, NEED to have our ideas examined and challenged. I have no problem with honest practicality and skepticism, nobody is so smart that every idea is golden. Besides, we need someone to blame when we vote down the prosthetic hands for gay whales legislation. “Hey, we wanted to, but the conservatives wouldn’t let us!” The assholes that destroyed the Republican Party didn’t just fuck you up, they fucked us all up! I can’t go to their caucuses, they’ve got a “shoot on sight” warrant out for me! You, not so much… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/16 "2009-08-20T19:41:00Z")
> [@Kearsen](#): > > _laugh_ > > Now you are calling a ‘supposed’ passage in a book “affidavit from God” > > I knew you were a crack pot but I never thought you were that BIG a crackpot. _whoosh_ Given that the Bush Administration was so damn rigid in its procedures, it is rather hard to believe that this didn’t come right from the top - Cheney. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/17 "2009-08-20T19:42:41Z")
_When you whooosh upon a star Makes no difference who you are… For when you whooosh upon a star, your dreams…come…TRUE!_ I just can’t hit that last note… ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/18 "2009-08-20T19:44:32Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > I’m sorry, but are you sure it was Bush or Cheney that pushed him? Could it have been someone else? Scooter Libby? Karen Hughes? Jim Nicholson? **Bricker** , how do you feel about someone above Tom Ridge in the Bush administration ordering a change in the terrorist security level to scare votes out of people? > [@SteveG1](#): > > Shrug. At the time, it did seem strange how “conveniently” the Terra Alerts seemed to coincide with the "spectre of questioning or disagreement"or whatever “stuff” they wanted to “win”… at least it seemed strange to me. A lot of things seemed ‘convenient’ and ‘suspicious’ around both Bush’s victories. For stating it, though, people were and are dismissed as crackpots. I guess when Ken Blackwell admits on his deathbed that thousands of Ohio votes were invented by hacking machines, people will shrug too, “well, we all kinda _knew_ already…” and **Bricker** will be questioning that the OP seems to imply that Blackwell himself was the one who wrote the hacking code and inserted the keys into the machine, and the OP had better find a cite for that. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/19 "2009-08-20T19:44:40Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > I’m a bit skeptical - only because in this account Everything Would Have Been Fine had Ridge’s recommendations been followed. His actual performance in office showed rather mixed results. > > I’m not dismissing it, but I do require corroboration. I don’t see how his effectiveness in office, whatever your opinion of it is, affects the believability of his statement. I’ll take your word that his book is self-serving; they all are. Is this topic one you’d think he needed to lie about for some sort of justification? I haven’t heard it brought up for years. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104/20 "2009-08-20T19:48:05Z")
Well, Tom Ridge had a pretty good reputation even amongst us traitors and scum. I never examined it that closely, but took the word of people who’s opinion I respected. Not the brightest bulb on the Solstice Tree, but a straight shooter. I’m willing to offer the benefit of a doubt and assume he’s just ashamed. Can’t blame him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/told-you-so-tom-ridge-rats-out-bush-cheney/507104.md?page=2)