Department of Homeland Stupidity, Chapter 1,655

Yah, that Chertoff--whadda guy!

Fire departments are using Homeland Security grants to buy gym equipment, sponsor puppet and clown shows, and turn first responders into fitness trainers.

The spending choices are allowable under the guidelines of the Assistance to Firefighters grant administered by the Homeland Security Department, which has awarded nearly 250 grants since February totaling more than $25 million out of the current spending pot of $545 million.

In fairness, Chertoff tells us that 'it's Congress who directs the spending...'

But as we've noted earlier, that's not quite true. Most likely, Chertoff could simply ignore the 'earmarks' and not spend the money.

Meanwhile, some Firefighters' Union, somewhere, is enjoying a $69,000.00 "clown show." All this time you thought they just fight fires and do CPR, eh?