Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

What does the captioned phrase mean?

WASHINGTON — Tom Ridge, the first secretary of homeland security, asserts in a new book that he was pressured by top advisers to President George W. Bush to raise the national threat level just before the 2004 election in what he suspected was an effort to influence the vote.

(omitted)

Mr. Urbahn said “the storyline advanced by his publisher seemingly to sell copies of the book is nonsense.”

Mr. Ashcroft could not be reached for comment. But Mark Corallo, who was his spokesman at the Justice Department, dismissed Mr. Ridge’s account. “Didn’t happen,” he said. “Now would be a good time for Mr. Ridge to use his emergency duct tape.”
Mr. Ashcroft could not be reached for comment. But Mark Corallo, who was his spokesman at the Justice Department, dismissed Mr. Ridge’s account. “Didn’t happen,” he said. “Now would be a good time for Mr. Ridge to use his emergency duct tape.”
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Hiromichi

[peterteacher]

Geez, I'm not sure. Maybe Corallo is hinting that Ridge talks too much and should have a supply of tape to put across his mouth to stop himself saying stupid or wrong things.

Any other interpretations?
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[hiromichi]

peterteacher:
I see. Thank you very much.
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Hiromichi

[redset]

Honestly I'm not sure either, but duct tape is used to make repairs, to hold things together etc. People claim it can do anything! So the quote could mean that the author needs to fix things, patch the holes in the story, or repair his (apparently) now damaged reputation.

This is just a possible interpretation though, the definite meaning isn't clear to me at all.

[hiromichi]

redset:
Thank you very much for your interpretation. I think it is one of better alternatives.
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Hiromichi