| Yesterday was not a good day to be a | | | | Amnesty has been tried and has failed repeatedly |
| Republican ! But how did those of us concerned | | | | in the past, and I don't expect it will succeed this |
| with homeland security fare ?There are three | | | | time.4) Appointment confirmations- These will get |
| things to look at here. One the Democrats took | | | | tougher. Even if the Republicans manage to hold |
| the U.S. House, BIG ! The Senate as I write this is | | | | on to a slim senate majority, I expect the two |
| hanging in the balance waiting on the results of | | | | independents to side with the democrats most of |
| two very tight races, best case the Republican | | | | the time. The administration will need to be much |
| Majority will loose strength. More Democratic | | | | more open minded in their choices.5) Iraq The |
| governors, a lot more. This is important because | | | | Democrats will push hard for a firm timetable for |
| governors control national guard and state | | | | withdrawl from Iraq. This would be a major |
| defense forces units. Governors also have a lot to | | | | mistake for too many reasons to go into here. |
| say about how "pass through" grants are | | | | My fear is they will get it.On balance I think |
| distributed. In most states they are also very | | | | yesterday was a very bad day for those |
| involved at setting budget and law enforcement | | | | concerned with homeland security. One of the |
| priorities.I' still digesting yesterday's results but | | | | major themes that brought the Democrats this |
| here are my opening thoughts.1) Rumsfeld is gone. | | | | victory was their promise of a change in policy |
| I had said before the election that this would | | | | toward Iraq. I expect that they will force a |
| probably happen anyway. The newly emboldened | | | | premature withdrawl from Iraq, which will likely |
| Democratic leadership will insist on it. Look for the | | | | lead to a collapse of that country's infant |
| administration to find a graceful exit for the | | | | government. I don't even want to think about |
| secretary of defense.2) Shifts in Funding.Tax and | | | | how many years, and lives will be lost in that |
| spending bills according to the U. S. Constitution | | | | mess. I keep saying that sometimes it would be |
| must begin in the house. Democrats as a rule look | | | | nice to be wrong. This is one of those times. |
| to shift money away from national security,law | | | | Come on Democrats ! Make me eat my |
| enforcement, and homeland security to social | | | | words,please !Robert A. Crutchfield is editor of |
| programs. Expect to fight for every penny of | | | | Homeland Security HQ ( He is a graduate of the |
| every allocation. We'll be very lucky to see any | | | | Professional Development Series at the National |
| funding increases anywhere. One place this will | | | | Emergency Management Institute. He has also |
| hurt us badly is the Coast Guard. The Coast | | | | completed the Critical Infastructure: Vulnerability |
| Guard's Deepwater Initiative has never been | | | | Analysis Course at the Naval Postgraduate School |
| funded as it should be. In fact Deepwater funds | | | | Ceneter for Homeland Defense and Security. He |
| have been raided just to keep the existing fleet | | | | has served on the advisory board of Defense of |
| of ships and aircraft going. This is the problem. | | | | Houston since 2001.Crutchfield also served as |
| The Coast Guard's cutter and aircraft fleets are | | | | Chairman of the Republican Party for the Sixth |
| old and falling apart. Spare parts are getting next | | | | State Senate District of Texas. He has been a |
| to impossible to find. Deepwater is just one glaring | | | | member of numerous convention committees at |
| example of what's at stake here.3)Immigration | | | | the senate district and state level. He is a life |
| Policy- I expect that immigration policy over the | | | | member of the Republican National Committee, |
| next two or three years will trend toward | | | | and the Navy League of the United States. |
| "amnesty", and away from enforcement. | | | | |