Article: Napolitano -" Incompetence In Ascendance

When a CEO fumbles and stumbles repeatedly, then demonstrates incompetence, the company's Board takes remedial action, and if it doesn't, the shareholders get vocal with their votes. When the head of Homeland Security repeatedly demonstrates an inability to manage, as well as a peculiar ignorance of either mundane or critical facts, does she get sidelined? Not in this Administration.

Janet Napolitano said on CNN's State of the Union, "One thing I'd like to point out is that the system worked." After the Nation had a head-shake wondering what planet she was talking from, she then said on Monday, "No secretary of homeland security would sit here and say that a system worked prior to this incident which allowed this individual to get on this plane."

This is the same Napolitano who in April of this year, shortly after taking office, demonstrated an uncommon knowledge of geography, international affairs and of recent history, with a claim that the Sept. 11 hijackers entered the United States through Canada. What a great opening statement for a New Administration to make toward its biggest trading partner, and supplier of the majority of its energy needs.

This former Arizona Governor is a self-proclaimed road safety expert because she thought that she could put a dent in the Arizona deficit by installing a photo speed enforcement program. The fact that the systems don't even pay for themselves, much less bring in tax dollars, escaped her notice, and she went to Washington before the evidence of her mistake came to the fore.

Of all services a government provides its population, Security is first and foremost. The position of Secretary of Homeland Security is one that should be filled with an individual who is Ready, Willing and most importantly, Capable, of fulfilling the demands of this most critical post. This administration has deemed that security and terrorism are almost inconsequent concerns of American taxpayers, since it has attached such an inconsequential individual to manage the department. Fortunately, courageous passengers who demonstrated swift presence of mind and effective action trumped the serious breach in National security that resulted from the mismanagement.

One Canadian newspaper in April 2009 asked, in reference to Napolitano, "Can someone please tell us how she got her job?" The question today should be asked of the President, "How can someone this incompetent retain her job, and why has the task become so unimportant?"

Well, while we're asking questions, there's one more question that absolutely must be asked, "Can anyone from this Administration deliver common sense and coherent commentary without a teleprompter?"

James Raider writes The Pacific Gate Post