Maybe It Is Bratton
We hear the very latest buzz out of DC is that LAPD Chief William Bratton is in serious contention to replace Tom Ridge as Secretary of Homeland Security. With Senator Joe Lieberman having taken himself out of consideration, the word is the President needs someone who can sail through the Senate. Likely heir apparent Asa Hutchison is more from Bush's world, but his confirmation could be problematic as Democrats remember he was the lead accuser in the impeachment of President Clinton. Bratton would very easily appeal to both Democrats and Republicans in the Senate and most likely would be championed by Senator Dianne Feinstein. It may have been considered glad handing the hometown boys, but yesterday in an appearance in LA Ridge gave a thumbs up to both Bratton and Sheriff Lee Baca as potential candidates.
In the meantime, speculation abounds on how the withdrawal of the Bernard Kerik nomination and its aftermath may have inflicted a serious body politic blow to former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and any hopes he had for higher office. Indeed, in attempting damage control, Rudy has "spanked" Bernie (no not Bitter Bernie). Back home in New York, the local press makes the case for Bratton.
Conventional wisdom says that a Bratton appointment serves Bush in three ways. One - Bratton is well regarded and certainly has the qualifications to take the job and do it well. Second - as we mentioned - his confirmation should sail through the Senate easily eliminating the need for Bush to spend any of his hard earned political "capital" and save that for other fights. Lastly, and a lovely side benefit for the President is through a Bratton appointment he gets to spank Rudy for putting him in the position he did. No doubtBratton would love the poetic justice of swiping a plum from the Giuliaini protege who followed Bratton after Rudy fired him.
Yes, Bratton is saying he does not want the position. But that statement does not preclude him from receiving the offer, and if anything positions him as not angling for the post. You don't want to be seen as too eager or lobbying for the job. After the treatment he and John Miller have received here in LA, they may very well want to go to D.C.
Stay tuned.
Posted by Mayor Sam @ 12/16/2004 05:51:00 PM
6 Comments:
Mayor Sam you are so right. Bratton and Miller deserve better than this city has offered them. Bratton has turn LAPD around from being a corruption riddled dept. under Parks to respect and honor again. This City has treated Chief Bratton horribly and has done absoutely nothing to help him but consistently critized him for speaking his mind. I hope city council members are squirming in their seats waiting to hear if he goes. They have no one to blame but themselves. But who would be good enough to replace our dear Chief? And what will it do to the Mayor's race?
FROM MEATEATER:
Bush is pissed at Giuliani, but not so much as to poke him directly in the eye with Bratton. There are few people on this earth that Giuliani despised more than Bratton. More than likely this is a Bratton-generated story and he gives it legs by first commenting, then saying he is not interested. Stories don't appear in the Daily News gossip page (where Bratton has always had good contacts) out of thin air.
No, Bratton is staying, whether you like it or not. This probably guarantees a Hahn re-election, like that or not. Until Hertzberg actually defines himself (not his positions), Alarcon raises more money, Antonion finds his 2001 spark, or Parks gets more of a populist tone (loved his union comments yesterday), it's advantage Hahn. Not that I am voting for him yet.
Gimmee a break about the council squirming. It was Bratton who implied that they were aiding terrorists in the Most Over the Top comment of 2004. Still, council members raised more money and spent more money than they mayor in getting Measure A ads up (as crappy as they were). And the department ain't turned around yet. Ask most beat cops what they think of Bratton's upper management.
City council are nothing more than a bunch of crybabys. Bratton speak his mind and the truth. When they can't take it instead of confronting him they go to the press and whine. Because the put political pressure he had to apologize to those losers. The only ones who campaigned hard for Measure A was Padilla and Garcetti, and Tom. Everyone said they supported it but these guys actually went out to the communities and worked it. If Antonio wasn't so arrogant his commercial could have helped instead of hurt by putting his face all over it. Ask the beat cops if they prefer Bratton or Parks? No doubt a resounding answer would be Bratton. At least he doesn't hide crap like Parks. He puts it out there and that's what the guys don't like.
This morning on KNX from Bratton.....
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Police Chief William Bratton said Thursday he's not interested in taking over the job of outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge.
"At this particular time in my life, I'm enjoying what I'm doing and I've got three years to go on the first term," Bratton said in an interview on KNX-AM radio. "These stories take off like a missile, so I figure I'd shoot it down very quickly."
The KNX comment is the same line he was giving last night. Bratton is playing this like a fiddle. He wants out.
Don't count it out yet. If its going to happen, expect an announcement in the next 12 hours or so to get it on the Sunday morning shows.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home