Debbie Schlussel: Tom Ridge: Meet the Travel Industry & Open Borders Gang's New Spokesmodel
He's Baaaaack!
Remember Tom Ridge, the first incompetent, do-nothing Secretary of Homeland Security? Well, he's back--tan, rested, and ready.
Ridge moved up from making silly commercials with his wife about having enough water and duct tape, is now a paid "consultant" to a travel industry group, Discover America Partnership. As I've repeatedly written, the travel industry opposes virtually every national security measure taken to protect and strengthen our borders. They're interested only in getting paid for bringing the aliens here. Who the aliens are and what they want to do once they get here simply isn't a concern to this industry without a conscience.
Their new spokesman, Ridge, is upset that we are allegedly not "welcoming" tourists into America and giving them free reign. If only we weren't. But, unfortunately, as we continued to do under his post 9/11 "leadership," we are, indeed, welcoming plenty of "tourists" onto our shores who then become part of the 20 million-and-growing illegal alien masses.
Remember the Visa Waiver program--which lets hundreds of thousands of criminals and terrorists into our country, no questions asked (and no visa required)? The ridiculous program should be ENDED. But, incredibly, Ridge wants the Visa Waiver program expanded.
I've written about how dangerous this program is. It not only allows hundreds aliens (from countries which are supposedly our allies) into the country without a visa, but that means there is no extensive background check or interview with a U.S. embassy about why they are coming here. They just get to come on over, no restrictions. The program has been used by plenty of dangerous alien Muslims to come into our country and try to foment terrorist plots and other manifestations of Muslim extremism. And--surprise!--they don't leave at the end of 90 days, like they are supposed to.
Ridge wants us to be nicer and friendlier to aliens:
The USA needs to do a better job welcoming international visitors rather than treating them as security threats, says Tom Ridge, the first chief of the Department of Homeland Security."We'd darn well better," says Ridge, a former Pennsylvania governor who is now working in business. "Our ability to influence events around the world will rely more and more in the future on our ability to influence people."
Memo to Mr. Ridge:
Our ability to influence people around the world will rely more on whether they respect our toughness and strength or laugh at our lack of it. Bending over backward and forward for our enemies in the name of selling plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rentals will only make us more vulnerable in the world.
That Ridge didn't recognize this after serving as the first Homeland Security chief should make us grateful he's gone from that perch. He's a high-class prostitute, with absolutely no principle. Just how much did it take for the travel industry to buy him? Unfortunately, his replacement is just as bad, if not worse.
Among Ridge's other dangerous and absurd recommendations:
* Expanding the trusted traveler program on an international basis:
Just what we need--allowing more aliens to forgo extensive scrutiny at airport security. Many of the 9/11 hijackers--with no criminal background or record--would have qualified for the trusted traveler program.
* Forcing airlines to collect a $10 fee from alien tourists to pay for foreign marketing of U.S. travel and a system to records visitors' exits:
Yes, more fees to help give more corporate welfare to his chosen industry. And more money for a system we already have in place--U.S. VISIT (which is supposed to track alien entries and exits)--but which plenty of money thrown at it has done nothing to fix.
Like I said, glad this guy is gone from DHS. Taking bets on where his equally awful replacement, Michael Chertoff, will go after he leaves. For which industry will he pimp?
Since Ridge already has the travel industry locked up, I suggest Chertoff become the spokesmodel for Bin Laden, Inc. With his support for open borders and amnesty and his lax attention to all Homeland Security domains under his control, he's apparently apprenticing for that job, already.
Posted by Debbie on June 18, 2007 09:32 AM to Debbie Schlussel