Lecture Alert: Red!

It took more than a year after 9/11 for President Bush to lay down the bureaucratic red tape known as the Department of Homeland Security. But when Bush won re-election in 2004 (or re-theft, depending on your viewpoint), it took Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge only a few weeks to decide on an early retirement, adding yet another name to the list of cabinet resignations. Like many a departing Bushie, Ridge’s official reason for leaving was family. Of course, when translated from Washington doublespeak, that typically means, "There's no way I'm going through another four years of this headache." In the War on Terror, Ridge was on the front line – not the easiest place to be in a nascent government program. While the FBI was busy spying on PETA and the NSA was busy granting Bush absolute power, Ridge was in charge of some 180,000 employees in nearly two dozen various agencies. So you can understand why he might opt for the lecture circuit. Nowadays, Ridge is taking his tough talk to the people with “You and the War on Terrorism,” discussing the prickly issues of border security and personal privacy – the latter being a topic of recent controversy, much to the chagrin of our eavesdropper-in-chief. But don’t expect Ridge to divulge any info about Bush’s alleged law-breaking. The walls -- they have ears. Ridge speaks at 3 p.m. this Tuesday at the Society of the Four Arts. Admission costs $25. Call 561-655-7226, or visit www.fourarts.org.
Tue., Jan. 10