Will Obama scrap the Homeland Security dept ?

[jaysunb]

I remember hearing some time ago that Obama intends to separate FEMA from HLS, and put it back where it was pre Bush, after which there'd be a more effective internal security operation to replace the current model. If that is the case, maybe all this reconcilliation w/ Lieberman is just a smart looking move before he pulls the plug on the need for a HLS Senate committee. :shrug:

I'm betting there's lots more deep thought and planning going on here than meets the eye.

[monmouth]

1. From your keyboard to who ever is in charge. I'm very disappointed.

I don't doubt that Obama is stratergizing and I like that. Between Reid and Lieberman I'm too angry to think straight.

[tularetom]

2. My opinion of Obama would go even higher if he did

He could save bazillions of dollars and cut off Loserman's nuts at the same time.

And he could do it all with a big smile on his face.

You're right, there's a lot of maneuvering behind the scenes we'll never know about.

[jaysunb]

9. That's exactly what I'm feeling.

I wish I could find the occassion and content of this idea, but I'm almost positive I heard or read that Obama planned to rework the whole agency to make it more efficient and workable.

I hope I'm right.....

[cherokeeprogressive]

3. Nnnnnnnnope

[eleny]

4. It's not like Joe did anything important with the committee

Since he's made it useless, no need for it.

Fingers crossed.

[HereSince1628]

5. Never. It has huge amounts of money. Politicians love slush funds

that can be earmarked. HSD can be used to bring home the pork just like DoD.

[onehandle]

6. Doubtful. But I suspect he will rework it greatly. nt

[MaineDem]

7. Now there's a thought.

Interesting concept.

[bluestateguy]

8. It can be made useful if competent people run it and the dept. is reorganized

I don't like the people currently running the Department of Education, but that does not mean that we should scrap the agency.

[jaysunb]

10. The establishment of HLS was done in a rush

and basically shoved down the throat of a frightened Congress like much of the post 9/11 screw ups. I agree that it doesn't mean it's not needed, but it's worthless in it's current form. Just ask the victims of Katrina....

[Submariner]

11. If nothing else. change the name to National Security or something other

than "Homeland Security". It sounds like the FATHERLAND stuff of Nazi Germany.

[xultar]

13. I agree on the name, and then no chairmanship for joementum. tee hee hee...

[xultar]

12. PLEASE make it so #1. (TNG reference) That would BE SWEET...then no chairmanship!

[onenote]

16. even if DHS was eliminated, it doesn't mean that there wouldn't be an HS Committee

First, its unlikely that DHS would be eliminated. Doing so would be costly and disruptive at this point. DHS needs to be fixed, but it was created by tossing together a bunch of agencies from around the government, some of which didn't fit very well where they were. So just "undoing" it wouldn't make sense and wouldn't necessarily make anything run more smoothly. Second, the jurisdiction of the HS Committee isn't directly linked to the jurisdiction of the DHS. INdeed, for example, the charter of the HS Committee expressly excludes from its jurisdiction matters relating to the Coast Guard, the Transportation Security Administration, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center or the Secret Service; the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service; the immigration functions of the United States Customs and Border Protection or the United States Immigration and Custom Enforcement or the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security.

Second, if the HS Committee is considered such a prime committee, why did the repubs let Susan Collins have the chairmanship when they controlled the Senate -- she's hardly an A-teamer for the repubs.

[Cha]

14. Of course, there's more

than meets the eye here..we just have to wait and see.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. I wish he and Congress would

Put TSA under the Dept. of Transportation, Customs under Treasury, ICE under Justice, FEMA by itself, etc., etc. That creation was the epitome of everything repukes claimed they were against (big gov't) yet cheered on anyway.