April 30 - Pet Peeve Monday - Cashing In On Incompetence

This week’s PET PEEVE MONDAY is about former White House Administration personnel that write “tell-all” books after they have been fired. I believe they are known as "DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES” in the corporate world.

The liberal news media gives them a platform to tell “their” story, to humiliate the Bush Administration, and most importantly, to make a buck.

One notable writer was Richard Clarke. In 2004, Clarke's published “Against All Enemies: Inside America's War on Terror--What Really Happened.” The book was critical of past and present presidential administrations for the way they handled the war on terror both before and after September 11, 2001.

Clarke was the chief counter-terrorism adviser on the U.S. National Security Council for both the latter part of the Clinton Administration and early part of the George W. Bush Administration through the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Clarke made a big show during an appearance before a congressional subcommitee. He turned and apologized to families of 9-11 victims if he was in anyway at fault. Hey, here’s some news, Clarke, read your job description. You were in charge of counter terrorism. That would make you AT FAULT.

How about giving your book money to the families, Mr. Clarke?

Another example of a “Disgruntled Employee” was Michael Brown. Brown was the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Unless you were under a rock or washed away by a flood, you know of Mr. Brown’s incompetence during Hurricane Katrina. Pictured below, is a New Orleans resident trying to reach “Brownie” on the phone.

After Brownie decided “to pursue other interests and spend more time with his family,” he hit the news talk show circuit. He tried to reinvent himself and become a history revisionist. Sorry, Mr. Brown, that rescue boat has sailed. Shame on the “news” channels for giving Brown a platform and another 15 minutes of fame.

Our final contestant on the panel is George Tenet. George Tenet is the ex-leader of the CIA. He wrote a tell-all book about life inside the CIA and White House. He was almost my LOSER OF THE WEEK last week.

Tenet released his memoir today titled, "At the Center of the Storm: My Years at the CIA." Somehow it was leaked to the NY TIMES on Friday. Nice job, Mr. CIA.

This is a man that held the most secret of secrets for the greatest power in the world, yet he can’t protect his own book. I’m sorry, but there was a reason you were fired Mr. Tenet. You were INCOMPETENT. In his book, Tenet slams Bush for the War in Iraq.

Tenet also spreads the blame for the U.S. being unprepared prior to 9-11. He challenges people that impugn his integrity. I’m sure you have integrity. I question just your capability.

Mr. Tenet earned $4,000,000 for his book and brings in $50,000 per speech. Again, how about giving back to the widows of 9-11 for your failures?

Why can’t today’s insiders take a page from the class shown by others that have served our Presidents and moved on? Peggy Noonan wrote a book, "What I Saw at the Revolution: A Political Life in the Reagan Era." It was her account of her time with Ronald Reagan. She gave us a great look. She also waited until Reagan’s term had ended.

My PET PEEVE is that “DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEES” are given a stage and a check to off load their incompetence onto others. The buck apparently stops, in their bank account. These people are no better than the snake oil salesmen from the Old West. If we are going use the Old West model for society, I say we reinstate hangings.