We Like The Vicious Peter King Better

Republican Congressman Peter King, the ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, said the attempted Christmas Day bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253 as it approached Detroit was the result of "serious mistakes made from beginning to end."

The beginning would be the alleged bomber's father, a prominent Nigerian banker, telling the American Embassy in his country months ago that he believed his son was involved with Islamic extremists in Yemen.

"The least we should have done is put that guy on a list where he'd be subjected to a pat down, or a secondary screening, if not a no-fly list," said King, referring to the man with the explosives-laden panties, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.

King accused the Obama administration of not fully getting it. "They seem to have the attitude in the administration that we need to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt," said King.

Imus asked the Congressman to clarify exactly what happened on the plane-whether the PETN explosive had failed to detonate, or if some action taken by the flight and by fellow passengers had thwarted the attack.

"It was a combination of luck that it didn't detonate, and the fact that there was a quick-acting crew that prevented him from taking any follow-up action," said King, who had paused before replying, as if to say, "I can't believe this idiot just asked this question."

Contrary to Imus's perception, King then claiming he was "delighted" to be on the show today, and was merely trying to be nicer to the I-Man in 2010. Perhaps King should be nice all the time, if for no other reason than Imus is battling prostate cancer.

"Actually, that doesn't mean anything to me," King replied, earning him a point in Imus's favor. So much so, in fact, that Imus hinted King run for Senate in New York. While he's "looking at" the statewide race, King is reluctant to give up his House seat, and "run all over the state" for the next year instead of working on homeland security issues. Oh yeah, and he'd have raise almost $40 million.

"But back to prostate cancer," said King. "Rudy Giuliani had it nine-and-a-half years ago, and never even talks about it. You're in great shape, and all you do is talk about it!"

Someone who could stand to do some more talking, at least in King's view, is President Obama, who waited three full days after the attempted airliner bombing to say anything publicly, and whose administration has continued to send mixed messages about its views on terrorism. However, he does not necessarily think any one person, like Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, should take all the blame.

"It would be helpful to me if you were willing to throw her under the bus," said Imus. "Instead of this namby-pamby position you've taken."

-Julie Kanfer