Political Terrorism

Chicken Hawk re-down?
"There was concern that if the (if we) if the intelligence supported raising the threat level, it might actually re-down to the detriment of President Bush because people might perceive it political." Bush National Security Advisor Fran Townsend

Even with the flexibility of context* it seems inescapable that politics was a consideration. The above quote might be the case where HS Secretary Tom Ridge prevailed, with this exception proving the rule. Since they feared it being political, they had to raise the level for fear of being charged it was political. If this seems a demonstation of insane thinking, then you get it.
[Held in draft, posted as is 8-26-09]

* Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge prevailed in one case and this may have been it. So an attempt to raise the threat level was rejected for political reasons. (See first link insanity)