Official Takes Blame [Rare} for Passport Mess

[rodeodance]

Official Takes Blame for Passport Mess
By MICHAEL J. SNIFFEN, Associated Press Writer

46 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - The current passport mess is rare among government foul-ups: A top federal official has publicly taken the blame and expressed regret.

"Over the past several months, many travelers who applied for a passport did not receive their document in time for their planned travel. I deeply regret that," says Assistant Secretary of State Maura Harty, who is in charge of passports for U.S. citizens. "I accept complete responsibility for this."

In an effort to thwart terrorists, the government implemented new rules on Jan. 23 requiring more Americans to have passports. By summer, more than 2 million Americans were waiting for passports; half a million had waited more than three months since applying for the travel identification that historically has been ready in six weeks.

The massive backlog has destroyed summer vacations, ruined wedding and honeymoon plans, disrupted business meetings and educational trips. Individuals have lost days of work waiting in lines or thousands of dollars in nonrefundable travel and lodging deposits. And Congress has been overwhelmed as constituent pleas for passport help soared from dozens a year to hundreds a month in many offices.

[babylonsister]

1. The article says gov't foul-ups are rare? What was Katrina? And

who is Maura Harty? She accepts complete responsibility? Now THAT is rare with this admin.

[qanda]

3. You have to reread it

It's saying that the foul up is rare in that someone is taking responsibility. At least that's how I read it.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. No, I think it said Passport foul-ups are rare, not Govt foul-ups

But then, I wonder what "accepting responsibility" means. Is the State Department going to reimburse for fouled up travel plans? I'm guessing it means much less than that, that Maura is falling on the sword, taking one for the team. Or may just mean "My bad, let's move on".

Your other question is much harder to address. Katrina was a hurricane that blew the veneer of civilization off the human animal. There were (are) so many screw-ups, at all levels, by all parties. Not a shining moment. I still don't know what a desirable outcome would look like. I'm starting to think that people shouldn't build houses below sea-level. But what do I know?

[Yupster]

6. She had a very difficult confirmation to her current job

Before she was in charge of bringing home kids who had been taken overseas by non-custodian dads mostly to Muslim countries. Family groups organized to protest her confirmation saying she did little for them. Jesse Helms brought the families to the hearings. She's also been Ambassador to a couple different South American nations.

I was surprised she was promoted by Bush, because while she stays out of politics, her family seemed to be very partisan Democrats.

I happen to follow her career as we grew up together.

[DeSwiss]

2. Brownie? Is that you???

This has got Rove's fingerprints all over it. Poor ol' Maura gets pushed under the bus right before the Sunday talkshows? Think this'll keep folks from talking about impeachment, do ya KKKarl???

They're all a bunch of bastards. Maura, your fifteen minutes are up! And as I bid you adieu, here's a button for ya:

[Quakerfriend]

5. My recent experience

with getting an expedited passport for my teenager (in Phila) turned out pretty well. He was invited to go out of the country with friends, at the last minute. So, we needed to get him a new passport in 2 weeks time.

First, people need to know that you CANNOT get good info on the government 800 lines. Though they lead you to believe that you can make/or have made an appt at the passport office via phone, when you arrive for said appt they tell you that they do not take appts!! (I met someone who said that they had come up from Miami to Phila just for this appt at the passport office:crazy:)

Correct info, re what you will need ,can be found on the many non-government sites that provide passport service for $$. THESE ARE RELIABLE. And, they do come through. I was told this by a postal employee who works in the passport office. And, they answer their phones . Of course, you pay.;)

However, we went the official route because I was afraid to trust any of the non-gov't providers.

Arrived at the passport office at 6am. Waited in line until 8:45am. Got in and out by 9:15am. Returned at 11:30am to pick up completely new passport, and got home in time for lunch.

All of the personnel were just lovely. Polite and quick. No problems. They only thing that bothered me was seeing mug shots of *, smirking dick, and condi hanging on the walls inside our state building:puke: