David Broder: President of the Janet Napolitano Fan Club

I came back from mini vacation to Largo on an emotional high. I can’t think of a better way to recharge and regroup than spending time with dear friends. Kara and Damon were incredible hosts and even though it had been over two decades since we had seen each other, we picked up right where we left off. Then I had my “Earth to Carolyn” moment.

It came as no surprise to anyone who knows her that Napolitano handled the incident and its aftermath with aplomb. In the years I have known her, she has managed every challenge that has come her way with the same calm command that she showed in this instance. If there is anyone in the administration who embodies President Obama's preference for quiet competence with "no drama," it is Janet Napolitano.

Is David Broder serious? He’s talking about Janet “the system worked” Napolitano, right?

…She is being criticized for saying "the system worked," but her part of the response system did work.

It must have been a frantic time for her. She was in San Francisco, far from her Washington office, and she must have had a sleepless night. But her eyes were bright, and her voice was calm. Everything appeared to be completely normal, except that her usual sense of humor was absent, as it should have been, given the circumstances.

…her part of the response system did work. In what possible way? Does Broder believe that the Department of Homeland Security is an after the fact agency? If that is the case we should rename the agency the Department of Homeland Janitorial Services. However, I think most American would prefer that a security agency prevent terrorist attacks, not come in after the attack and clean up the mess left behind.

Broder defends Napolitano’s dismal performance on television immediately after the attack by saying that she “refused to speculate…”. There was nothing to speculate about. The government had known about the Underpants Bomber for months prior to the attack. What Napolitano did was attempt to spin the attack in such a way that the American people would not find out that our government failed at their prime directive to keep this country’s citizens safe.

Our government failed but they got lucky. The Underpants Bomber was every bit as incompetent at his mission as Janet Napolitano was at her’s. We can’t count on luck. The American people need confidence that their government is looking out for them and when there is a failure that the government will deal with the failure in an upright and honest manner.
We did not get honesty or competence from Janet Napolitano. Broder is not looking at the situation with a critical eye. He is acting like a White House hack.