Democrats Join Calls for Napolitano to Step Down Following Failed Attack

[Danno 1,228]

Democrats Join Calls for Napolitano to Step Down Following Failed Attack Following Failed Attack

Democrats have joined the ranks of those calling for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step down following the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight a week ago.

Some Democrats have joined in calling for Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to step down following the attempted bombing of a Northwest Airlines flight a week ago.

Though the CIA and an agency under the Director of National Intelligence have been under particular scrutiny in the preliminary review of possible missteps, Napolitano so far has taken the most heat from lawmakers. Not only does her department oversee the Transportation Security Administration, but her initial claim Sunday that "the system worked" was widely ridiculed and interpreted by critics as a sign that she's in over her head.

Some Republicans, who've taken issue with her in the past for calling terrorist acts "man-caused disasters" and other remarks, started calling for her ouster in the spring. The failed bombing on Christmas Day revived those calls.

Now Democrats have joined the chorus.

New Jersey State Senate President Richard Codey, a Democrat, wrote a letter to Napolitano this week calling on her to step down. He said Napolitano, an attorney and former Arizona governor, does not have the experience for the post she is in.

"We should have someone who doesn't need to go in there and learn about terrorism, learn about security," Codey told Fox News. "How close were these 300 people on this plane from losing their lives because homeland security broke down? Boy, it was really close."

The Department of Homeland Security was created in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks and has grown into one of the largest Cabinet departments in the federal government. Charged with keeping the nation safe from terrorist attacks and responding to natural disasters, it covers the TSA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and a slew of other agencies.

Codey said a candidate "well-versed" in intelligence should step into the job.

Democratic strategist Dan Gerstein also said Napolitano's response to the incident should be the last straw.

"I tend to think she will be pushed out in the next couple of months," Gerstein, a former adviser to Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., said.

For now, the administration says it has absolute confidence in Napolitano. She is an active part of the internal review and on Thursday took additional steps to improve security at international airports.

She announced that she's sending senior officials abroad to meet with leaders from international airports to review security measures. Napolitano said she is "fully committed to making whatever changes are necessary to protect the safety of the traveling public."

Napolitano on Monday also clarified that she didn't believe "the system worked" in the run-up to the attempted bombing, which failed because the explosive mixture used did not properly detonate. Napolitano said she was merely referring to the inter-agency cooperation in the aftermath of the attempt.

To Republicans who have lambasted the administration in recent days over its response, the White House accuses critics of playing political games.

"Unfortunately too many are engaged in the typical Washington game of pointing fingers and making political hay, instead of working together to find solutions to make our country safer," Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer wrote on the White House blog.

Republicans, though, have not held back.

Republican Rep. Dan Burton, R-Ind., said Napolitano does not have the experience for the job, and her remarks only prove that she doesn't take the terrorist threat as seriously as she should.

"She's not doing her job," Burton told Fox News.

Former New York Republican Sen. Alfonse D'Amato also said Napolitano should resign.

But other Democrats are urging lawmakers not to jump to conclusions when the internal review is only now getting underway.

Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., said that if it turns out the secretary dropped the ball then members of Congress will ask for her resignation.

"I'm not at that point yet," he said.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Give her a full year and then she can resign to "spend more time with family". The 1-year mark isn't that far off anyway.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I'd settle for fixing the problems that allowed this incident to take place, rather than a politically motivated witch hunt to merely make it appear that something has been done.

[SuperDuper! 230]

She doesn't have a clue ("The system worked"). Plus she has a manly face

She's a disaster, and has gotta go!

Get a military general in charge of DHS or someone who knows how to protect the US citizenry.

[slim 1,530]

So nobody's blaming Obama?

[Pooky 3,809]

So nobody's blaming Obama?

Why? Undoubtedly he has overall responsibility, but his departmental heads, i.e. Napolitano, are supposed to oversee their area of responsibility. So DHS failed on the job. Blaming Obama won't solve anything. Ousting Napolitano for someone competent might.

[slim 1,530]

Blaming Obama won't solve anything. Ousting Napolitano for someone competent might.

Going that high up the food chain won't solve anything. If you're going to blame Napolitano, you may as well blame Obama.

[Danno 1,228]

Going that high up the food chain won't solve anything. If you're going to blame Napolitano, you may as well blame Obama.

As far as we can see so far, Obama's fault is he placed the wrong person in this job....... and I know with Bush the Left blamed him every time toilet that wasn't properly cleaned but I said it then and I'll say it now, the people who should have had control are to blame and that is the Homeland security.

That these people would, after nearly a year in office try to drag Bush in on the blame game is so lame that it shows she is no leader.

If Obama does not can her, then he is to blame.

How do you claim to have a security plan in place when you are symotainously frisking old big haired Grandmas and granting visas to single young men from Muslim countries??????? (paying in cash with no luggage)

How do you not have a system in place to cancel visas and instantly flag persons from the "hot spots" ?

My Friends on the left..... do you realize how much political damage this woman is capable of causing OBAMA if she stays?

Just one more incident and the heat Obama has felt already would not even compare to whats ahead.....if he fails to act now.

The root of the weaknesses in the Obama White House sits right here.

Edited January 3, 2010 by Danno

[Pooky 3,809]

Going that high up the food chain won't solve anything. If you're going to blame Napolitano, you may as well blame Obama.

Nah, I'd rather blame the idiot who looked out of her depth and sounded patronisingly clueless in her press conference, then had to backtrack, despite a number of people stating that interpreting her speech in the manner she backtracked from was idiotic, thus removing all doubt that she did not have a clue. Homeland Security is Napolitano's single area of responsibility. It is one of many for the President.

Yes, he is ultimately responsible. Yes, he appointed Napolitano in the first place. No, he did not make himself look a prat by claiming "the system worked" in such a way that was open to interpretation and ridicule. Napolitano is an appointee for a specific area of responsibility. She needs to take the fall.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Going that high up the food chain won't solve anything. If you're going to blame Napolitano, you may as well blame Obama.

Sorry slim, you don't got it right this time. Obama just needs to can her. It's not on his head if he takes swift action to do this now.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

She has as much experience in what it takes to do her job as Barry has in what it takes to do his. That's why he appointed her. It makes no difference whomever is the head of Homeland Security as long as this president is the one who chooses them. He doesn't believe terrorists are bad people; in his mind, they're just misunderstood.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Colin Powell would be a good Homeland Security Chief.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The incredibly unqualified Napolitano should have declined the offer to begin with. She didn't have enough brains or care for the country to do it then, PLEASE do it now.

[SuperDuper! 230]

Colin Powell would be a good Homeland Security Chief.

He is SO 20th Century....

[NickD 203]

My single good for nothing vote would be for all incompetent, corrupt, inept, dishonest, etc. government leaders to step down.

Now you tell me who would be left.