More on the Homeland Security Boob

There's a good editorial in the LA Times (soul sucking registration req'd) comparing Bernard Kerik with his predecessor/successor Ray Kelly. The author writes,

Kerik may have campaigned hard for Bush, but Raymond W. Kelly, a former head of the Customs Service who is in his second run as New York's police commissioner, would have been a better choice. But then, Kelly, who has worked for Democrats, may be too independent-minded for this administration.

I think there are many other reasons to prefer Kelly over Kerik. Hmm. Let's see.

Kelly:

• St. John's Law School
• Masters Degree from Harvard.
  
• Rose up through the ranks.
  
• First go round as PC, crime starting to go down.
  
• Federal career in Haiti Police Mission, Immigration and Customs (?)
  
• Second go round as PC, continues startling crime reduction in spite of rapidly increasing attrition.

Kerik:

• GED
  
• Achieved the illustrious rank of Detective 3rd grade.
  
• Never passed a promotional test.
  
• Political hack with Giuliani campaign.
  
• Appointed Commissioner of Corrections, oversaw many scandals.
  
• Appointed PC, happened to e PC when 9/11 happened.
  
• Federal experience in Iraq an utter failure.

I'd say it's not much of a comparison. The LA Times editheads conclude:

Kerik will have to take on Republican leaders on these issues if he is to succeed, and fight the current, nonsensical anti-terrorism spending formulas that convert scarce security funds into political pork.

Kerik projects a tough-guy image, and his 9/11 credentials could give him added credibility to argue that more money needs to go to fortify actual targets. Currently, Wyoming gets seven times the per capita anti-terrorism funding of California. But Kerik, a Giuliani acolyte who was a relentless campaign attack dog for Bush, may simply give the administration cover to proceed on its present course. Even if he were inclined to make waves, his lack of experience at the federal level could prove a major handicap.

Kelly, on the other hand, would have brought a more bipartisan sensibility to the job, a wealth of federal experience and, for what it's worth, a more distinguished police record. But given that we are talking about someone charged with protecting the nation from terror attacks, we hope that Kerik proves us wrong, and that it turns out he was the ideal New York cop for the job.

Base10 wholeheartedly agrees.
- posted by Base10 @ 10:20 PM