Whenever I hear the Bush administration issue yet another one of its vague, non-descript terror warnings, my first thought is that the President is scrounging around for some political cache.

I mean that two Johns - that would be Kerry and Edwards - got a pretty good bump up in the polls Wednesday.

So I wasn't real surprised to find Homeland Security Chief Tom Ridge holding court Thursday, citing "recent interdictions" as a reason to believe that al-Qaida is still after us.

He doesn't know when.

He doesn't know where.

He has no clue as to how.

Ridge knows only that al-Qaida has the capability to succeed.

The White House says all this means that national security is being ramped up, but adds that there's no reason for us regular folk to panic.

Nice touch, don't you think?

Scare the hell out of us, but at the same time give comfort.

Anyway, if I wasn't so cynical, maybe all these vague, non-descript terror warnings would somehow make me feel safer.

As it is, all Bush and his minions succeed in doing is make me worry all the more -- about them.

Want to share your thoughts with Ken Schram? You can e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com