National Security & Education: A Relationship?

I had lunch today with Michael Chertoff*, a bevy of Secret Service guys (Yes, I only saw guys) and I'm guessing an undisclosed candidate for the presidency. I never saw the guest of honor but am guessing that he was getting a security briefing from the Secretary of Homeland Security.

But that's not the story. Since the restaurant was on Robertson near Beverly, there were bevies, hordes, squads and pods of Paparazzi--lurking and cruising for Paris, Lindsey or some other truly important person who would be recognizable on sight. Having seen the police motorcycles, the three Highway Patrol units and the four black SUVs, they knew something was up.

When I left the restaurant, they asked me who was in there, and I told the press gaggle that Michael Chertoff had just left. These affiliates of the media, if not the press, all said in a happy chorus of ignorance "Who?"

As a society, we have interesting priorities. Sigh.

* Okay, when I say I had lunch with him, I mean we shared the same restaurant.