One must look at the big picture; you're taking a Republican governor out of the mix.

Pennsylvania has term limits and this is Ridge's last term as governor.

I have a better question- why do we need to add more bureaucracy, when some high level official in the Pentagon, Justice Dept. or FBI could just as easily handle it? I loved W's speech last night, but this was the one aspect that din't thrill me.

That should read "didn't thrill me", of course.

Yea and he voted to ban those scary semi autos and hi cap mags and to tax and register long guns in Pa./sure he's just the man for the job,NOT!

You may want to ask the kool-aid drinkers on this thread.

BUSH APPOINTS PRO-ABORTION CATHOLIC TO HEAD HOME SECURITY

Just a simplistic thought.

1. Rudy, Pataki are needed worse in New York.
   
2. Ridge has military experience, not FBI experience like the Oklahoma governor.
   
3. This is closer to a military than an FBI operation.
   
4. There is just a remote possibility that GWB and his advisors know what they're doing.

Also, taking Pataki out of the mix virtually assures that the next gov of NY will be either Andy Cuomo or Carl McCall (both Dems).

Bush selected Gov. Ridge in general because he is qualified, but in particular because he is keen to appeal to the voters of Pennsylvania, whose Electoral Votes he covets in 2004.

This position will groom Ridge to be V.P. candidate in 2004 to replace Dick "Bad Ticker" Cheney.

As a former Governor with National Security executive experience, Gov. Ridge will be supremely qualified for V.P.

At some point on Election Night, probably after Gore was projected the winner, Bush regreted selecting Cheney over Ridge. PA's electoral votes would have come in quite handy that night.

"why do we need to add more bureaucracy, when some high level official in the Pentagon, Justice Dept. or FBI could just as easily handle it"

I'm not one for more bureaucracy, but I could see how ONE person might be needed to cut through inter agency rivalries, etc. The CIA is, after all, not SUPPOSED to work internally, so they have to share with the FBI. Same for military- they're not in theory a law enforcement agency.

It is hard to say if the mushy middle (and even left-leaning) New Yorkers will rush back to the 'rats whose gutting of defense and intelligence brought them the latest disaster. Remember, after four years of Jimmy Carter, Reagan managed to carry both New York and Massachusetts in two elections. Now that I think back to 1984, I kind of feel sorry for Walter Mondale. He was a considerably more qualified candidate than anyone the Democrats have put up since, especially compared to DIRTXPOTUS. But the same thing could be said about Joe Biden, Gary Hart and a host of others.

It is never just one person, as this one person almost certainly will have a fairly large (and highly-paid) support staff. Given the fact that he'll be dealing with many different departments in many agencies, there is no telling how much bureaucracy will be added.

And I don't even want to think of what will happen to our constitutional rights. Can you imagine what would happen if another Clinton-type made it to the top (like Hillary, for instance)? The potential for abuse is truly alarming.

Let's hope that Bush is not grooming a Ridge for the Vice Presidency. If he is, he has not learned the lesson his Dad did about angering a basic constituency. As a "Roman Catholic", Tom Ridge is not allowed to speak in any Catholic Church as a result of his proabortion beliefs.

Could you think a bigger insult to Roman Catholics than to raise to the Vice Presidency a man who has been forbidden by The Bishop of Erie from speaking in any Church in the Diocese?

It had been long rumored here in Texas that 43 wanted Tom Ridge as Veep. They were great friends as when both were govenors. Loyality is very important to Bush, we've seen it over and over here in Texas.

Anyway as the rumor goes, 41 picked Chaney because of his foreign policy experience. It made sense.

Although this is pure speculation on my part, but I think that in effect Bush got himself a secondary Veep. He, Ridge and Ashcroft will work the homefront and the Chaney/Powell team will run the overseas war. Its a basic management strategy and Bush is the consumate businessman, amoung other things. Although I have to add if Powell doesn't get in step with the rest of the administration...well I'll leave that to you guys.

What it comes down to is this Bush wanted Ridge on his team, Bush got Ridge on his team.