Still an excellent analysis 9 years after you wrote it.
Your phrase "noses raised" made me immediately laugh and visualize "Secretary" Mayorkas when testi-lie-ing in Congress. I recently read the Wikipedia article on the Department of Homeland Security, whose Secretary and thus highest official is none other than this man with the loftiest raised nose of all. It is quite scary to read the list of all the 22 agencies of our Federal government that report to this man. He now controls the Coast Guard, Customs, Border Protection, FEMA, Secret Service, Transportation Security (x-raying of air passengers' carry-on items, e.g.), Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, inter alia. The Secret Service has recently been given a MASSIVE public black eye in its protective mission. Its other mission is to protect our payment system (eliminate counterfeiting, e.g.) and financial systems, especially against electronic-based crimes. If this second duty of the Secret Service is just as ineffective as its first duty above, I will not be surprised at more nationwide financial meltdowns. In all the recently televised Congressional investigations into the Secret Service's actions and/or inactions in protecting former President Trump, I don't recall any mention of Secretary Mayorkas's duty to keep the Secret Service on their toes.
But I am probably being too harsh on this one man, as he is only one of many public servants charged with managing hundreds of thousands of other public servants, and he certainly cannot have a monopoly on incompetence.
Very wise, even-handed, and nuanced commentary. Thank you, Sam.
Prescient remarks Sam which of course, is no surprise. Thanks so much for reposting.
Still an excellent analysis 9 years after you wrote it.
Your phrase "noses raised" made me immediately laugh and visualize "Secretary" Mayorkas when testi-lie-ing in Congress. I recently read the Wikipedia article on the Department of Homeland Security, whose Secretary and thus highest official is none other than this man with the loftiest raised nose of all. It is quite scary to read the list of all the 22 agencies of our Federal government that report to this man. He now controls the Coast Guard, Customs, Border Protection, FEMA, Secret Service, Transportation Security (x-raying of air passengers' carry-on items, e.g.), Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, inter alia. The Secret Service has recently been given a MASSIVE public black eye in its protective mission. Its other mission is to protect our payment system (eliminate counterfeiting, e.g.) and financial systems, especially against electronic-based crimes. If this second duty of the Secret Service is just as ineffective as its first duty above, I will not be surprised at more nationwide financial meltdowns. In all the recently televised Congressional investigations into the Secret Service's actions and/or inactions in protecting former President Trump, I don't recall any mention of Secretary Mayorkas's duty to keep the Secret Service on their toes.
But I am probably being too harsh on this one man, as he is only one of many public servants charged with managing hundreds of thousands of other public servants, and he certainly cannot have a monopoly on incompetence.