Talk:Michael Chertoff

Why were negative articles about michael chertoff from nationalvanguard.org and david dukes web site removed? Should there be pro as well as con articles on Michael chertoff?

There are both pro and con articles there. However, the article doesn't need advertisements for dubious sources. Jayjg ^(talk) 01:30, 7 Feb 2005 (UTC)

Russian origin and meaning of his name

Is it worth mentioning that his name Chertoff means "Devil's own" in russian literally? Or will cons jump me --Tigry 03:58, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

I don't see any NPOV issue with noting it, but I don't think the etymology of his last name (even if he is of Russian descent) is all that relevant to the article. - Walkiped 12:40, 1 Mar 2005 (UTC)

So we will leave it here. Several sites, including these two [1] [2], say:

Michael's father, Gershon, was the first child of Paul Chertoff from Russia, and Esther Barish, from "Roumania," according to the 1930 U.S. Census. Gershon graduated as a teacher of the Talmud at age 20, in May 1935.

His grandfather was a Jew from Russia, so his name has Russian origin, and has a definitive meaning in the Russian language. Besides a meaning mentioned above, it can also mean smth like "damned" in such sentences as, for example, "this damned Michael ruins everything he does". Compare with Hellman.

Is this comparable to those German names (I recall one literally meant "sewer stench") that were given to Jews by the Prussian state during the 19th century? Or is the meaning of this name in Russian merely an etymological coincidence? --Adamrush 10:11, 13 September 2005 (UTC)

Swearing-in date

There have been some competing edits regarding the date on which Chertoff was sworn in as secretary of homeland security. Although a ceremonial swearing-in, presided over by Bush, took place on March 3, 2005, [3], he was first sworn into office on February 15 [4]. It was on February 15 that he actually became secretary. - Walkiped 02:12, 4 Mar 2005 (UTC)

---

What's his relation to Ben Chertoff/Benjamin Chertoff, 9-11 "research editor" for Popular Mechanics? Kwantus 22:37, 2005 Mar 6 (UTC)

The only things I ever posted about Chertoff related to the absolute truth that he has failed to control the border (or even seek to) in a time of terrorism. If the only things a person can post about a figure like Chertoff are total, gushing praise, what is the point of anybody posting anything? Also, it looks like defenders of Chertoff are claiming that any honest assessment of his failures is defamatory -- which is simply a ludicrous proposition.

Hurricane Katrina

This article seems to be a target for some controversial editing in light of Chertoff's management of the FEMA response to Katrina, and it seems likely given current affairs that this will only increase; this article is probably worth flagging as current affairs and keeping a close eye on. 80.192.5.25 1427, 3 Sep 2005 (UTC)

Most recently Chertoff has directed the FEMA response to Hurricane Katrina which devastated four southern states. On September 3, 2005, several days following the initial strike of the hurricane and subsequent catastrophic floods Chertoff, came under extreme criticism for his agency's perceived gross mismanagement of the rescue and recovery efforts. Charges of ineptitude and indiffference were lodged against President Bush's administration, in part due to FEMAs slow mobilization of rescue/recovery personnel to the affecteded areas, Chertoff was denounced by politicians,(New Orleans Mayor Nagin) news media outlets, (Newsweek) and local citizens (via CNN interviews) when he appeared to be defending the pace and scope of FEMA's response to the nation's largest natural disaster.

You think? Benjamin Gatti

Op Ed moved here - for a little more citation

"It should be noted, that the lack of regional communication was significant. No cell phone towers or electricy existed, and battery operated rescue radios frequently ran out of power only eight hours into any given rescue operation. Secretary Chertoff was relatively dis-connected with the local agencies. In the media onslaught during the hurricane aftermath, Secretary Chertoff was widely recognized as one of the only federal officials who candidly accepted blame, did not seek to place blame on others, and pushed for the continued relief of New Orleans residents."

(text move Benjamin Gatti)

"city"

I italicized city to get the point across--Jaysscholar 04:09, 6 September 2005 (UTC)

"New Orleans Dodges The Bullet"

In the last paragarph I put in a link to a nice site with front pages from all the major papers. Please don't remove it until it becomes clear which paper he was talking about. Right now, the whole "dodging the bullet" thing looks an awful lot like a bald faced lie.

If it turns out to be true, it will then be open for discussion why the feds are using front page headlines for meteorlogical study.

→ It's 'Bold faced lie,' not bald. 70.177.15.225 22:34, 18 October 2006 (UTC)

There is no reason at all to mention his last name's etymology

Unless the author of the article intends to imply that the Russian meaning of his last name in any way has affected his life or his role in the world, it is greatly to the deteriment of NPOV. At the very least more thorough research into why he bears that surname should be done, or preferably it should be removed as it gives us no insight into the man or his life.

If the name "Jefferson" meant "Bringer of Death" it wouldn't be appropriate in an article about Bill Clinton or Thomas Jefferson: William Jefferson Clinton (whose middle name means "Bringer of Death")...

It only implies in the reader's mind that there is a connection between the etymology of the surname and the person's actions.

Let's remove that irrelevant phrase about Chertoff's surname from the article.

What does "Irish born Jersey native" mean?

It's used to describe McCann in the second paragraph of the Public Service section. Was this guy born in Ireland or Jersey? Born in Ireland and brought to Jersey while still a baby?

Section on Gassy Remarks?

Michael Chertoff's "Gut Feeling" remarks seem news-worthy enough to garner intense coverage this week, should that translate to a section in the article?

It's worth a mention, Chertoff is publicly speculating that there will be a terrorist attack on US soil this summer ('07) based on no intelligence report or evidence other than his intuition. This is a far cry from the GOP rallying call that we're safer because they're in power. The criticism of his comments is that they seem like a cynical atttempt to scare Americans or, worse, that he actually thinks an attack will boost support for the US occupation of Iraq and, thus, would be a positive development. The implications of that reasoning are staggering.