How to Sink the Department of Homeland Security

It turns out, politicians have some pride. They don't like being used as body armor for someone else's political purposes. And they don't like coming in second behind someone nobody knows.

The previous Secretary of Homeland security, Tom Ridge, was the former governor of Pennsylvania -- a major state -- and was sometimes mentioned as a possible President or Vice-President. When Bush named him first Secretary of DHS, it was clear some stature was being put into the office. However, not much has come through DHS which is memorable, as all the political capital Bush had handed to him on a silver platter by 9/11 was spent invading Iraq. Ridge is being remembered as the man who played with colors. He leaves the office a weaker politician than when he came.

So it's no surprise that Bush couldn't find a politician bigger than the former NYC Police Commissioner Kerik. Who wants to see their career cratered as Bush's Hillbilly Body Armor?

Ignore these comments that possible replacements for Kerik are former Democratic VP candidate, and current Senator Joseph Liberman, or Assistant Secretary of State Asa Hutchinson. These are serious men, with real, and as yet unrealized, long-term political ambitions.

DHS will be filled by someone of the stature of, say, a former Congressman, now retired or a businessman. Someone who, on command from Cheney-Rummy-Bush, will run out there, take the hits, make the ridiculous statements that Cheney-Rummy-Bush can duck behind.

However, this fact should freak y'all out. Secretary of DHS has real powers, just not the political will behind it. If you put someone with no political maturity into that chair, if something were to occur which put political will behind him, we can look forward to stupid, anti-consitutional mistakes being made.

It's not good for the country to have politically weak cabinet members.