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We’re only human

21 comments on We’re only human

We’re only human

: The Bernie Kerik foibles are getting more and more amusing.

This morning, Howard Stern said that he, too, felt the sexual energy from book editor Judith Regan (but they worked in Howard’s house when he was married); he wonders whether this happens with all her authors; he fears it happened with Rush Limaugh.

And I do say that heading up Homeland Security, where immigration is really the ball game, while having an immigration problem in your own home is… well, a strike out. Bernie should be gone.

But we also do need to stand back from the glass-houses mode of nomination. Here’s the newsflash: We’re all human. We all have follies and foibles. If we expect nothing but purity of thought and deed in appointed office, we’re going to end up with the dullest people on earth serving us. We’re going to end up with Tom Ridge.

21 responses to “We’re only human”

  1. sickles Avatar
    sickles

    And what exactly was wrong with Tom Ridge?
    Under his watch, there were NO terrorist actions in the United States.
    What freakin’ planet are you on Jeff?
    What’s wrong with boring but effective???

  2. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    I agree with the extra-marrital affairs not being an issue. But the whole employing an illegal alien when you would be heading a department that enforces illegal immigration, well that’s a problem. Kerik should have realized that this would be a huge problem and should have removed his name from consideration.

  3. Terry Heaton Avatar
    Terry Heaton

    If the President of the United States can get a pass over a blow job from an intern, then Kerik deserves a pass over extramarital affairs and an inexpensive nanny. Oh wait. Clinton was a Democrat.
    What is it with us anyway? I’m with you, Jeff. When we take the right to err out of the human equation, we’re left with legalistic automatons.

  4. Penschool Avatar
    Penschool

    This is about more than just a nanny or an affair. What about Kerik’s long-standing ties to an allegedly mobbed-up Jersey construction company, or that Kerik received numerous unreported cash gifts from Lawrence Ray, an executive at said Jersey construction company (Ray was later indicted along with Edward Garafola, Sammy “The Bull” Gravano’s brother-in-law, and Daniel Persico, nephew of Colombo Family Godfather Carmine “The Snake” Persico and others on unrelated federal charges tied to what the Daily News called a “$40 million, mob-run, pump-and-dump stock swindle.” Or that Riker’s Island prison became a hotbed of political corruption and cronyism on his watch. Etc, etc, etc…

  5. B, Minich, PI Avatar
    B, Minich, PI

    I’ll tell you what’s wrong with Tom Ridge: he’s goes with the polls too much. The man only wants to do what is popular, what will advance him. I saw way too much of him when he was governor of my state, Pennsylvania. He’ll say whatever it takes to get elected, and then totally forget about his promises the instant he is in office (unless they are easy to do. He hates fighting for stuff.) In PA, he ran on school choice, and then didn’t do a thing about it. Never even mentioned the topic again, as if he had never talked about it before. I’ve seen other officials try to get hard thigns done – Ridge just sites there and hopes people like him.
    This opinion comes from a lifelong conservative and a longtime Republican. I have to agree with Jeff – it seems so minor, why do people have to be perfect? However, I do respect Kerik because he did step down when he thought something he was doing was unethcial – before anyone complained. He could have just found this, tried to hide it as best he could, and become the next Secretary – I do respect his decision to step down – that takes guts.
    Not saying that I agreed with that decision (jury’s still out on that one for me).

  6. Jefferson Berlin Avatar
    Jefferson Berlin

    I’m with Penschool. Are conservatives really going to make the argument at this point that integrity doesn’t matter? HAHAHAHA. I’m gonna die laughing. And Kerik’s a crook, for Christ’s sake. Or is he just YOUR kind of crook?
    The Bush administration gave us nannies and affairs so they wouldn’t have to deal with all the worse stuff.
    At heart I agree that the glasshouse world we live in is not a good environment for public service. But I think the disingenuousness at the heart of this argument at this time takes us nowhere closer to a more reasonable public discussion. There have been better moments and far less compromised behavior by public servants who’ve been crucified by the right.

  7. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    Yeah, it seems that “didn’t pay taxes for my nanny” is the new version of “want to spend time with family” excuse to cover something else up.

  8. MartiniPundit Avatar
    MartiniPundit

    Kerik is certainly an entertaining fellow, clearly very energetic. Equally clear, is that someone in the Bush vetting process was a bit too lethargic.

  9. BigMediaBlog.com / Lonewacko Avatar
    BigMediaBlog.com / Lonewacko

    Can anyone name two possible problems relating to Kerik having employed or continuing to employ this illegal alien nanny not relating to ethics and the like?

  10. Angelos Avatar
    Angelos

    Are Mike and Terry SERIOUS?!?!?!
    The party of morality and values, or so we’re told, but a proposed DHS Chief has a Battery Park love shack and TWO simultaneous mistresses (Regan and Pinero), and that’s OK and shouldn’t affect his nomination?
    THAT’S OK?!?!?!
    And Terry, did you say Clinton got “a pass over a blow job”? Did you not own a TV 6 years ago? Do you remember the word “impeachment”? Wow, that was a clueless thing to type. Funniest thing I’ve read all day.
    And sickles’ “under his (Ridge’s) watch” is the second funniest thing I’ve read today. Yeah, that color-coded chart was real good. Scared all the “terrists” away, you betcha.

  11. tony Avatar
    tony

    rumsfeld got a pass for abu ghraib
    bush got a pass for going to war over wmd
    clinton didnt get any pass for lewinski. in fact there isnt a day that goes by that i dont read some right winger bring it up. and today is no exception.

  12. gg Avatar
    gg

    If we expect nothing but purity of thought and deed in appointed office…
    Why shouldn’t I expect something form an appointed office? Isn’t there something about that whole “higher standard”? Or the fact that I don’t get any direct voice in such appointments?

  13. matty Avatar
    matty

    this is a disaster. now who will bring 9-11 symbolism to the cabinet?

  14. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    LOL, matty. Thanks.

  15. My Thoughts Avatar
    My Thoughts

    Although Guiliani recommended Kerik, I thought Kerik was a non-partisan based in part on his public service. Other Democrats endorsed him too.
    In the effort of Bush to reach out to non-partisans, this is a blowback.
    On the issue of Clinton, I thought we gave him a pass when we elected him twice to the Presidency despite warnings of his past and his on-going scandals. This is getting old.
    Of course, we constantly recite the affair of Monica, but Clinton’s scandals are getting worse all the time, especially with the Marc Rich pardon scandal.
    Yes, character matters.
    In the end, maybe Kerik’s withdrawal is well founded, but I think we should stop expecting politicians to be pure whether Republican or Democrat.
    What bothers me is the double standard applied toward Democrats. Clinton still gets the pass (the Marc Rich pardon is largely silent in the Mainstream Media), while a non-partisan Kerik is widely reported.

  16. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    “Clinton’s scandals are getting worse all the time, especially with the Marc Rich pardon scandal.”
    Can you inform me on what’s “getting worse all the time”? I’m not trying to be smart, I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.
    And I really don’t see a double-standard. Any appointment-bungle would be reported, whether Dem or Rep. Remember Zoe Baird?

  17. My Thoughts Avatar
    My Thoughts

    “Can you inform me on what’s “getting worse all the time”? I’m not trying to be smart, I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.”
    Marc Rich: UN – Oil for Food Scandal.
    “Ex-fugitive Marc Rich is suspected of having become one of Saddam Hussein’s middlemen in Iraq’s illegal oil trade just a month after he won a controversial pardon from former President Bill Clinton, a news report said.”
    http://www.libertypost.org/cgi-bin/readart.cgi?ArtNum=77267

  18. HH Avatar
    HH

    Of course no one wants to ponder if Michael Moore and Regan made the beast with two backs… Ewwwww.

  19. HH Avatar
    HH

    “clinton didnt get any pass for lewinski. in fact there isnt a day that goes by that i dont read some right winger bring it up.”
    Ever hear of a false comparison? Yeah, those left wingers and the mainstream media NEVER talk about abu Ghraib or the war…

  20. nyythurman15 Avatar
    nyythurman15

    HH … are mentally deficient?
    Let’s see, the war and Abu Ghraib get mentioned because people are dying and people were tortured.
    The only torture in the Lewinsky scandal was having the mental picture of blowing the president.

  21. Angelos Avatar
    Angelos

    Yeah wingers, don’t make fools of yourselves. For 8 years you hounded Clinton, manufacturing “scandal” after “scandal”, and all you could finally get to stick was a blowjob. Because, you know, Republicans never have sex.
    Marc Rich scandal? Really now. For it to be a scandal, more than 17 people need to be aware, don’t you think? There are a few Bush buddies who made money on oil for food too. And let’s not forget Halliburton’s illegal dealings with Iraq and Iran, that somehow Cheney managed to poo-poo away. You want to see a criminal, just look right at your VP.
    Clinton was elected again because the country prospered across the board. He was elected again because the country made true economic and social progress.
    There is nothing today that is better than it was in 2000. Economy? Environment? Foreign policy? Domestic policy? Down the shitter, all of it.
    You wingers are so deeply deluded by your “morality” that you’ll defend an adulterer/bigamist just because he’s on your side, and try to blame the left while you’re at it!!!
    Please, all I ask is, remember this moment in time. And if we’re still around in 15 years, laugh with me about how your dear leader actually led us to 8 years of the darkest period in American history.