"Wolf!"

A vague, nonspecific threat prompted officials to close the Baltimore Harbor Tunnel.

I have a sneaking, sickening suspicion that this has something to do with the fact that President Bush's poll numbers are in the toilet and even his base is starting to revolt because Harriet Miers' conservative credentials aren't unquestionable enough.

In short, I think it's bullshit.

What seems odd is that the FBI received the threat "a couple of days ago," which would have been Sunday, and the tunnel, which is on a I-95, the major roadway along the Boston-Washington corridor, wasn't closed until 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Closing the tunnel on Sunday, or immediately after receiving the threat, when fewer people are using the tunnel, would've meant that CNN's dramatic aerial views of the gridlock would have to compete with NFL football. Better to wait so that there's more traffic, a longer backup of vehicles and less compelling programming to draw attention from the images. Who's M.O. does that sound like? (Hint: He might be indicted this week.)

And if there were a real threat, why is traffic still being allowed through the tunnel (one lane is getting by in each direction)? If there were a chance of some disaster, why wouldn't the road be completely closed?

Click here to read Keith Olbermann's take on why the key to a good terror threat is the timing.

If, God forbid, this turns out to be something, I'll eat a piping hot plate of crow, but something else tells me this is bullshit. And that something is the fact that the government is responding. The Bush administration ignores real threats. A PDB titled "Bin Laden determined to strike in US" (8/6/01, but you already knew that) prompts no action, but an anonymous phone call sends agents scrambling (two days later)? Please. This is probably about as real as the elevated terror alert levels that coincided with the Democratic National Convention in 2004. What color is the threat level today? Brown.

I wish I didn't have to think this way, but we all know the Bush administration's record when it comes to telling the truth.

You know, if the administration had funded efforts to secure the tunnel, maybe this wouldn't be happening. I mean, it's been more than four years since 9/11, and what part of our transportation infrastructure, save airlines, has received any security attention at all?