i agree that chertoff's "gut feeling" was more about politics than terrorism. but the "gut feeling" remark itself was remarkably stupid politics.
i mean, if we're gonna use the magic eight ball to decide this country's terrorism alert levels, that's fine. the alert levels are pretty meaningless no matter how you pick them. just don't tell us you're pulling colors out of your ass. i mean, the only possible use of the alert system is to reassure the public and/or put them on their guard. if you publicly admit that you're just making this up as you go along, you undermine what little benefit there is to the system.
