Former Bush Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge is releasing a book on September 1 titled, “The Test of Our Times: America Under Siege…and How We Can Be Safe Again.” U.S. News’ Paul Bedard reports that, in the book, Ridge reveals that he considered resigning because he was urged to issue a politically-motivated security alert on the eve of Bush’s re-election:
Among the headlines promoted by publisher Thomas Dunne Books: Ridge was never invited to sit in on National Security Council meetings; was “blindsided” by the FBI in morning Oval Office meetings because the agency withheld critical information from him; found his urgings to block Michael Brown from being named head of the emergency agency blamed for the Hurricane Katrina disaster ignored; and was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush’s re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over.
Playing politics with terror was a relatively frequent occurrence in the Bush administration. In August 2004, the AP reported that even “some senior Republicans” privately questioned Ridge’s timing of a terror alert that came just three days after the Democratic National Convention. According to the AP report, “One top GOP operative, who works closely with Bush’s political team, said the White House appeared to overplay its hand, and voters may smell politics behind the warning.”
No surprise about that information.
When Pres. Bush used Sept. 11th as a justification to invade Iraq, you just know that everything he does has an overwhelmingly political slant to it. I’m just surprised that it took over four years for the truth to come out.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:58 amPutting out a false alert for political reasons needs to be criminalized.
August 20th, 2009 at 9:59 amWhere were all the people who are screaming about the “government is out of control” now when all this crap was going on? What a surprise!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:01 am“One top GOP operative, who works closely with Bush’s political team, said the White House appeared to overplay its hand, and voters may smell politics behind the warning.”
_______________
We smell something behind the warning pal, but it’s not necessarily politics…
August 20th, 2009 at 10:03 amTom Ridge, along with every other Bush tool is managing in some way or another to capitalize on tragedy.
“He considered resigning” yeah right.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:04 amvinylspear says:
“He considered resigning” yeah right.
_____________
“… but settled for waiting 4 or 5 years to write a bad tell-all book instead.”
As Paul harvey used to say… And that’s the rest of the story.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:05 amWiz says:
Putting out a false alert for political reasons needs to be criminalized.
____________
Would it not be like shouting Fire in a crowded theater?
August 20th, 2009 at 10:06 amIn the category of tell us something we didn’t already know. Shocking that the Bush administration would politicize national security. It politicized everything else, which is why the GOP has the same favorability as a dung beetle.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:08 amColor coded alerts? To attempt to influence elections?
No one could have predicted!
Hey…tell me something I don’t know, m*th*rf**ker!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:09 amRidge admits Bush administration pushed to raise security alert for political reasons on eve of re-election.
– - Say K-K-Karl, tell us again how the Bush White House would NEVER politicize an issue like this.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:09 amPut them all in jail, or else say goodbye to our ‘democracy’.
Here me, Obama? Do you hear me? PUT THEM ALL IN JAIL, NOW.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:09 amThroughout all of American history, there’s not one iota of evidence that a democrat failed to use the power vested in him as commander-in-chief to defend this country. One tactic that was on supercharge during the Bush years–played to the crazies, whose outrage was nowhere to be found–was that a democrat would be briefed on a threat, get agitated , then retort “You’ve covered your ass!” — wait, does this sound familiar?
August 20th, 2009 at 10:10 amand worth resigning over…but didn’t.
Another (Republican) profile in courage.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:10 amRidge reveals that he considered resigning
– - And that thought hung in his consciousness for all of about two seconds and then was gone, never to be considered again.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:11 amHeckuva job, Ridgey.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:11 amDaddy-O says:
Put them all in jail, or else say goodbye to our ‘democracy’.
Here me, Obama? Do you hear me? PUT THEM ALL IN JAIL, NOW.
First, it has to go through Sen. Max Cattle, who must win the heart of Sen. Chuckley.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:13 amWiz says:
Putting out a false alert for political reasons needs to be criminalized.
I’m pretty darned sure, Wiz, that it already IS a crime. What matters is this: Who’s doing the prosecuting…?
Hear me, Obama? Hear me? PUT THEM ALL IN JAIL, NOW. The evidence is overwhelming. It’s an avalanche. Separate yourself from them now, TODAY, and start calling the damned Grand Jury, already!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:13 amHey…
(ralph checks watch)
aren’t the trolls and tighty-righty pundits overdue to start their “smear Tom Ridge as a librul” campaign?
They’re usually a little more punctual than this.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:14 amNomorebush said,
August 20th, 2009 at 10:14 amHey, dungbeetles have a much higher favorability rating than the GOP.
Tom Ridge: An integral part of the ‘WH furniture scheme’.
Not a dining room table, mind you, but relegated to a step stool.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:14 amRidge reveals that he considered resigning because he was urged to issue a politically-motivated security alert on the eve of Bush’s re-election
Yeah, and I considered not hooking up with my best friend’s girl when she was drunk and coming on to me when we were alone.
Do I get the same credit that Tom Ridge deserves for “considering resigning”?
August 20th, 2009 at 10:16 amI think everyone, who views and comments on Think Progress, as well as other liberal sights will agree with me when I say, “I told you so.” It just seems everything I feared about Bush and Co. has come to light. And the thing that kills me is the Republicans and their ilk still promote this type of fear mongering. This health reform debate is a perfect example. I think what we’re seeing this week is a growing grass roots movement of us progressives in getting back to the fight much like during the campaign. Pretty exciting act, I think.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:17 amPUT THEM ALL IN JAIL, NOW.
First, it has to go through Sen. Max Cattle, who must win the heart of Sen. Chuckley.
I realize this is good-hearted snark, McWars, but I feel the need to remind folks that this has nothing to do with Congress, other than they also could choose to separate themselves from a rogue criminal enterprise that was the Bush administration, if they chose, by conducting separate investigations.
No. It’s up to President Obama and Attorney General Holder to investigate, indict, prosecute and incarcerate the criminals who held sway over the entire nation a few short months ago. It is up to them. And I intend to hold their feet to the fire, for all the good it may produce…or not.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:18 amDo nothing before 9/11 and take advantage of it afterwards. No wonder that fear still is the chief weapon of the brave right wingnuts.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:25 amSo are things orange or yellow right now?
August 20th, 2009 at 10:25 amAnd Keith O will run his “Nexus of Politics and Terror” segment on Countdown for the 6th time in 5, 4, 3…
August 20th, 2009 at 10:25 amPerhaps the rest of America will get it this time?
Hey, dungbeetles have a much higher favorability rating than the GOP.
As well as a higher purpose.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:27 amIt’s things like this that make me wonder what the situation really is.
1. Is it that the sh!t will be hitting the fan at some point and all these former Bushies are racing to cover their fannies?
2. Is it that it’s become obvious that nobody associated with Bushco will ever be held accountable, so it’s safe to talk now?
3. Is it that Ridge doesn’t really know if it’s 1) or 2), but sees an opportunity to make some money by writing a book, but has to put something worthwhile in it so it will sell?
If I had to place a bet, I’d put my money on number 3.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:27 amTell us something we didn’t already know. And when can we stop with the useless Orange Alert BS we get at the airport. And when can we stop having to go through the tedious and asinine inspections to get on the bus with wings. Enough already, anyone (with half a brain)knows that it is an ineffectual process whose only purpose is to make people feel safer without actually making them safer. I wonder how much this foolishness is costing us.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:28 amAnd I intend to hold their feet to the fire, for all the good it may produce…or not.
And you should, Daddy-0. Whether the current consideration to appoint a special prosecutor (torture investigation) ends up anywhere, will be indicative of how serious they are of cleaning up the place. It’s not a matter of “if” in my mind — they committed crimes!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:28 amljm says:
No wonder that fear still is the chief weapon of the brave right wingnuts.
– - Ok, it’s time again for…. NOBODY expected 9/11! Our chief weapon is surprise!… Surprise and fear… fear and surprise… Our two weapons are fear and surprise… and ruthless efficiency! Our three weapons are fear, and surprise, and ruthless efficiency… and an almost fanatical devotion to Bush… Our four… no… Amongst our weapons… Hmf… Amongst our weaponry… are such elements as fear, surpr…sigh…
August 20th, 2009 at 10:30 amSomebody needs to shove Ridge’s book somewhere the sun don’t shine.
Jeezus! Filthy, rotten, scummy, reeking, feculent pile of shit!
August 20th, 2009 at 10:30 amI’m sure I’ll be disgusted for years to come by that administration as former conspirators come out with their money-making book projects. They constantly used national tragedy for political gain, covering their criminal incompetence with fear mongering.
Never vote republican.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:30 amThe teabagger trash and the other stupids are just itching for the repiggie return to power.
They love all that authoritarian, white-guy, gun-toting, war-loving crap, even if their own personal lives are in the toilet.
The repiggies have been quite successful at convincing the stupid that they are part of some great divinely ordained movement.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:31 ammisscoleopteramolly says:
It’s things like this that make me wonder what the situation really is.
If I had to place a bet, I’d put my money on number 3.
___________
You forgot possibility #4: That many Bushies, like Alberto, are now unemployable and will do anything in an attempt to make a buck.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:32 amI’d like to see the costs of an increased security alert. How much money was pissed away just to keep a false sense of fear running through the public is something that should be brought to the light of day.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:33 amWhat a pack of criminal loons. Is there anything they DIDN’T screw up?
August 20th, 2009 at 10:34 amExploiting Americans’ fear of terrorism wasn’t all brilliant. EC count was 251-286, was it? They still needed their Ohio henchmen to pull off an electoral heist.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:35 am… and everytime that pathetic excuse for a human being KKKRove says something about how they “never would have considered doing some of the things Obama is doing” it makes me want to spit, puke, and look forward to the day when his Karma catches up with the lying sob.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:36 amSo…
August 20th, 2009 at 10:38 amsome repugniscum may have remnants of conscience inside them, but they just can’t bring themselves to do the right thing when it counts, is that it, Ridge?
They prefer to write the truth in a book which will contribute to their bank accounts.
Repubs are the first to scream “election fraud,” yet here is one more addition to the mountain of evidence that they will employ ANY underhanded measure in attempting to “win” elections.
Bush was determined not to repeat his fathers one term presidency, no matter what had to be done to insure a “victory.” Truth be told, he never really won either of them.
Prevent fraud by insisting on verifiable voting paper trails in your local precincts. Democracy depends on transparency.
Peace :)
August 20th, 2009 at 10:38 amWay to go, Tom! Do nothing to prevent the deceit while in office but now try to make money out of your confessions and new-found misgivings.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:39 amWould that be like hiring protestors in an Astroturf attempt to shout down Democratic congresscritters at Town Halls and squelch any attempt at healthcare reform? Must be in the Republica DNA.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:39 amlet’s file this under the heading “no shit, sherlock”. like i couldn’t figure that out. the “terror alerts” conveniently disappeared after 43 “won” the election.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:40 amscaring people for political purposes is terrorism, no?
August 20th, 2009 at 10:40 amJesus H(ussein) Christ on a greasy pogo stick!
Just to chime in with everyone else — at what friggin’ point have we reached “enough information clearly shows criminal intent, actions, and possibly conspiracy.” At what friggin’ point?!?! HOW MUCH do you limp-dicks NEED to take action?
Politicians need to stop protecting other politicians (and ex-politicians) just because they are/were politicians.
The stench of “Old boy networking and @ss-covering” is getting unbearable.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:42 amBush & Co.: American terrorists. They should be treated the same as any other terrorists.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:43 amWho is Magog….
August 20th, 2009 at 10:45 amOk. We knew it was going on, now the rest of the world has to admit it. So my problem is why does anyone, ANYFCKINGONE, still support Bush and his incubi?
But 30% of the humanoids we share this country with do.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:46 amSo he lied to help bush. What else is new–he is a Republican. Paul O’Neill is the only one to come out of that whole administration with any honor- because he left early & revealed that bushies were gunning for Iraq before Inauguration Day.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:47 amGOP “fair and honest”…just like Fox is fair and balanced. Both actually pedal fear and lies.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:50 amShocking.
And shocking to think that the Bush Administration would use dupes and fools in such a callous, self-serving way.
August 20th, 2009 at 10:53 amgog & Magog are from Ezekiel (sp) 35- these are the enemies of God, and the reason the bushies used to start a war on a country that had nothing to do w/ 9/11
August 20th, 2009 at 10:53 am54:
August 20th, 2009 at 10:55 amI know. I was just questioning who might be the manifestation. Seems the Bush crew may have come unto us in disguise…
When I worked for the govt (15 years ago), the agencies were extremely concious that their words could invoke unnecessary and counter-productive panic.
Everything had to be reviewed all up and down the chain of command.
Weasel Words were highly used.
And now that it is a crime to terrorize, what did the Bush Cabal do ??????????????????
August 20th, 2009 at 11:04 amUsing fear for political purposes is the very definition of terrorism.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:07 am… something he saw as politically motivated and
worth resigning over.
yet he stood there and let that lying chump put
The Medal of Freedom around his neck…
there should be a movement to get that medal back…
August 20th, 2009 at 11:08 amI guess it’s taking the mindless trolls who lurk around here a little longer than usual to get their talking points on this one – mindless fools
August 20th, 2009 at 11:12 amHow much money was pissed away just to keep a false sense of fear running through the public…
Pissed away? No, my dear, that taxpayer money was WELL-SPENT…keeping Bush in power, that is. It was worth EVERY PENNY to him and Uncle Dick.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:16 am…was pushed to raise the security alert on the eve of President Bush’s re-election, something he saw as politically motivated and worth resigning over.
But you didn’t resign Mr Ridge, and that tells us all we need to know about YOU.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:17 ammuzz: “I guess it’s taking the mindless trolls who lurk around here a little longer than usual to get their talking points on this one – mindless fools”
They need to wait until they can hear Rush, Glen, Shaun or Michael Weiner says about this thing before they can rush back here and repeat it.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:22 amNo, he did resign on 11/30/04.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:22 amOh really? “Voters may smell politics” when the Bush administration issued another groundless terror alert? The stench was overpowering. President Bush briefly became the most popular President in the history of polling after the 9/11 attacks, and Karl Rove terrorized us for years trying to get us to rally around the Worst President Ever.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:26 amFEAR!
The single greatest weapon that right-wing, super christian whacko, nutjobs have in their arsenal.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:26 amAnd this is news?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:28 amWeren’t libs & progressives saying this back when it happened?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:34 amSo, he only considered resigning? How brave.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:34 amSlighty OT but in the vein of Bush era criminality. Breaking news today about Bush’s CIA outsourcing hit squads to take out al queda members:
I thought that Congress was the only Government branch with the authority to raise armies or militias.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:35 amArticle 1, section 8 clause 11 of the Constitution says the Congress has the power: “To raise and support armies…”. Section 8, clause 16 gives Congress the power to provide for the organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States. Correct me if I’m wrong but Blackwater was contracted for security purposes solely for the intent of safely shuttling US and coalition forces from point A to point B (eerily similar to the Templar Knights purpose during the Crusades. They were founded specifically to ensure the safe travel of Christians seeking the Holy Land). Giving them the authority to use deadly force in clandestine military operations would be a federal crime would it not? Oh Mr. Tenet? Paging Mr. Tenet?
link to today’s NYT story on Blackwater and the CIA:
August 20th, 2009 at 11:36 amhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/us/20intel.html?hp
“One top GOP operative, who works closely with Bush’s political team, said the White House appeared to overplay its hand, and voters may smell politics behind the warning.”
Unfortunately, only about half of us smelled the rat. For eight years, the Bushbots made fun of us when we tried to tell everyone what these bastards were doing. Now it has been proven that we were correct about everything. What happened to all of the Bush bootlickers who spent all of those years denying that Bushco was doing anything wrong?
August 20th, 2009 at 11:38 amElBruce says:
No, he did resign on 11/30/04.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I meant that he didn’t resign at the time they were jerking him around and making him manipulate the security alerts — he waited until AFTER the election.
Resigning when he did meant absolutely nothing.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:41 amAs always with these SOBs, too little, too late. Anyone with the least amount of moral fiber would have spoken up before the election.
Sorry, Tom, you are not forgiven. You are a traitor, just like the rest of the Bush cabal.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:42 amit’s not like this wasn’t known at the time (as opposed to publicly confirmed – nothing they did was) but at some point, the Bush administration’s incompetence on the issue of ‘terror’ rises to the level of treason – ignore warnings, over-react, torture, indefinite detention, and now domestic propaganda in aid of the terrorists.
oh, but let’s go yell at obama for being a fascist . . .
August 20th, 2009 at 11:43 amRepublicans complain all the time about not trusting government, and yet they misconstrue and lie on important issues to the American people. Makes me sick.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:44 amI notice the trolls are steering well clear of this thread. God, they are cowards.
August 20th, 2009 at 11:45 amToo bad this a$$hole was too spineless at the time to speak out.
He is the very definition of a cowardly, jerk-off, facist!!!
You’re political career is over you RePugniScum bastard!!!!
You should be in prison for calling in false reports and filing false information to REAL law enforcement agencies!!!!!!!
What a useless, unAmerican jerk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
August 20th, 2009 at 11:59 amThe Bush criminal enterprise terrorized the American people for 8 long horrific years and then skated.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:00 pmThey have skated so far, but there is no statute of limitation on war crimes.
I still think Obama is going to start war crimes trials a month or two before the 2010 elections. That would kill the GOP for 2010, and the trials would not be over by 2012, so it would kill the GOP for 2012 as well.
Maybe that’s just wishful thinking, but if Obama is as good a politician as I think he is, I think the GOP is going to look back fondly at a time when they had as many seats as they now hold.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:16 pmThere ya go all you repug trolls. Manipulation and you asses fell for it along with some other sheep. God you repugs are brain dead, ya can’t figure out that the shrub administration played you silly asses.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:18 pm…not a big surprise. In fact, not a surprise.
August 20th, 2009 at 12:20 pmHe sold his soul to benefit George Bush and himself. Of course resignation amd exposing this at the time never entered his mind. It must be book selling time. He is beyond shame!
August 20th, 2009 at 12:37 pmWow, I am soooooo surprised…I had no idea that Bush would do such a thing…
….we all, of course, remember when that happened and we called it right…
….again.
Why is Bush and Cheney not on trial for WAR CRIMES?
August 20th, 2009 at 12:52 pm@ shoeless . . . I’m guessing the reason there is little rebuttal from conservatives on this thread is they all have JOBS, unlike most of the liberal geniuses posting here. (BTW, I’m on my lunch break and sometimes read this mindless trip for entertainment purposes. Thanks for not disappointing!)
August 20th, 2009 at 1:39 pmshoeless says:
Sometimes it’s just too hard to defend the indefensible . . . this is my guess as to why the wingnutties aren’t protesting this story.
August 20th, 2009 at 1:43 pm“Putting out a false alert for political reasons needs to be criminalized.”
That would be good but even more importantly, it needs to be prosecuted. I’m pretty sure that ginning up false intelligence to start an unnecessary war is illegal and, indeed, criminal but if nobody enforces the law, what good is it?
August 20th, 2009 at 2:18 pmThis was not an isolated incident. There were numerous occasions when the security alert level was raised for purely political reasons.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:32 pmOh, and Rove was more involved in the firing of attorneys, CIA hired Blackwater and it failed, CIA briefed Congress when they felt like it, Blackwater chief–involved in murder, contractors built buildings that no one can use because they have too many toilets–the plumbing in Iraq cannot take it.
Our soldiers electrocuted from fatly wiring, over 4500 of our men, women killed, 35,000 wounded, and these bastards are still not in jail.
Two years from now, they will be bragging about how they lied and schemed to stop President Obama’s vision for our country.
I say we change our agenda right now:
August 20th, 2009 at 2:35 pm1. Roll back the tax cuts and increase them more.
2. Repeal DOMA, DADT
3. Regulate Wall Street and the banks and insurance companies up the …
4. Close every tax loophole in tax code.
5. Prosecute Bush, Cheney, Rove, Rumsfield
6. Stop every corporate tax break
7. Stop corporate farm subsidies
8. Investigate every 501© (3) non-profit, including every religious organization
8. Investigate the C Street “Family”
Add what ever else we can think of to turn this country around.
Fcuking criminals still have a politicl party! WTF!?!?!?!!?!?
August 20th, 2009 at 2:40 pmThe Republican party is a criminal party. They fool no one any more.
August 20th, 2009 at 2:41 pmseeclearly says:;
If the Reichwing nuts have jobs that keep them from posting here, why are they here in DROVES on other threads day in and day out, hmmmm?
Next time, know WTF you are talking about B4 you post!
August 20th, 2009 at 3:47 pmWhy is everything such a surprise? Those of us who reported the real news through the Bush years KNEW that the alerts were politically motivated. Fear was the factor that worked best from 9/11 to the present.
Here is an early editorial from TvNewsLIES.org –
http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/clockwork_orange_.html
We knew.
August 20th, 2009 at 3:59 pmI can’t wait for Bush and Cheney to go for each others’ throats.
August 20th, 2009 at 5:59 pmSo what. I assume the democrats have never, ever done anything like this in history. Please.
August 20th, 2009 at 6:57 pmOnce again I am amazed at how the left is so hypocritcal. Ya’ll constantly go on about how those of the right are intolerant or hateful. They have nothing on the left, liberals spew hate like a firehose. I read your bile to remind me why I left the Democratic party and became a free American with no party affliation. All politicians are liars and are only interested in having power over those people too sheep-like to question their anti-American rhetoric !!!
August 20th, 2009 at 8:11 pmkwsventures says:
So what. I assume the democrats have never, ever done anything like this in history. Please.
Not to my knowledge. Do you have any such evidence?
.
givemelibertyordeath says:
Once again I am amazed…
Wah wah wah wah, libs are mean to me boo hoo, just because I’m trying to destroy America from within and they won’t let me get away with it…
August 20th, 2009 at 8:31 pm.
WHEN GOVERNMENT USES TERROR/FEAR TO MANIPULATE THE PEOPLE…
… IT IS KNOWN AS T-Y-R-A-N-N-Y!
.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:12 am.
Q U E S T I O N:
Why did they have CODE GREEN and CODE BLUE if they never used them?
Does this mean that Americans were NEVER safe?
.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:24 amgivemelibertyordeath says:
Once again I am sick to death of your ignoran serial snivel that you posted in every thread. Just STFU til you have something useful to say
August 21st, 2009 at 1:26 am.
CODE ORANGE!
http://ninjapants.org/files/code-orange.jpg
.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:26 am.
#94 kwsventures,
Like… ?
.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:28 am.
Dear givemelibertyordeath,
G(no)P withdrawal much?
.
August 21st, 2009 at 1:28 amHas the GOP become the party of thugs? Against my better judgement, I am about ready to boycott the thug party all together. Voting a straight Democratic ticket becomes more and more appealing.
August 21st, 2009 at 12:23 pmlike the dems have never done any thing like that. ol’willy did it all the time, but he did it to avoid getting found with his ding dong in some girls mouth. give me a break you “hypi”crits.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:53 pm