Posted on 03/03/2006 7:44:17 PM PST by AZRepublican
n the aftermath of the public revelation of the presidential "teleconference" and mounting criticism of the performance of Michael Chertoff, Administration sources told HUMAN EVENTS today that the secretary of Homeland Security has "only a few days left" in the Bush Cabinet.
As one source acquainted with the former federal prosecutor and U.S. appellate judge said under promise of anonymity, "They will give [Chertoff] a little time so it won't hurt his reputation too much, but he's probably got only a few days left."
For weeks, Chertoff has been under fire from Capitol Hill and the media for his performance during the disaster last year. In addition, more criticism has been fueled by his clash with former FEMA Director Michael Brown in the so-called post-Katrina "blame game." (See HUMAN EVENTS' exclusive report, "Brown: White House Made Me Scapegoat," in which he says, "Theyve got to keep me out there as a scapegoat. If they get rid of Chertoff, they have no new scapegoat. Then it goes to the White House.")
(Excerpt) Read more at humaneventsonline.com ...
Thought Dept. of Defense was for defending this country.
Silly me.
It would be great for maybe two years. then you do the consulting gigs. Brown said he got a pay increase in this deal. Looks like chirpoff threw brown under the bus and now HE is being thrown under the bus.
Lurch didn't realize that when he threw Brownie from the bus, he was tethered to Brownie. It just took a while for the slack to be taken up.
Lurch Chertoff will now be heading up the Port Operations in New Orleans for DP:
Chertoff: Hey, Bubba, how do I get some of those speaking gigs?
Bubba: Hea hea, (gravely voice) well, ya just gotta believe you are the right person for the job, and you....
Chertoff: Are there any forms I need to fill out?
Nope. He has a terminal case of skeleton-face.
My Prediction: Chertoff will be nominated to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals opening left by Roberts elevation to the court (or maybe for Alito's seat in the 3rd circuit).
He was an appeals judge on the 3rd circuit before taking this position, having been nominated by Bush and confirmed handily by the Senate. So it should be easy to get him back on the courts. That won't be seen as a demotion I suppose, and it would reward him for taking the risk of taking the DHS job and giving up his lifetime appointment on the bench after only 2 years on the job.
I never liked Chertoff as the pick. He was a good conservative justice and it made no sense to pull him out of the judicial system, there had to be others suitable for the DHS slot after that NY guy fell apart (can't remember his name).
Can't have those rowdy military folks running around with guns.
I remember thinking this at the time...
Bernie Kerick
but .. "they" - whoever that is - have been saying Rummy is leaving, Cheney is leaving, Powell is leaving, Rice is leaving. Powell was the only one they got right.
It would be interesting for Bush to order Gen Honore to take charge of FEMA and bring Rudy G in for Homeland security. Give the general a thousand military personnel as his staff and let them "tame" FEMA. If the civilians in FEMA can't pull their weight...then can say adios to their career. This is the only thing that will fix the whole FEMA situation.
If true, no great loss. Chertoff proved he was no administrator, no manager of people.
He never should have been in. All hot air and PR.
Border security or lack there of, certainly bothers me.
Yeah but then slander would be so much harder.
Is there going to be a "You're doing a great job, Cherty" moment in his future? One can only hope. Blackbird.
Shivers just thinking about the Demorat cabinet if a Dem is elected President. Maybe that was the plan. To win in 08 and have the Homeland Security all set up.
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