(2004-11-30) — Citing creative differences with the Bush administration, Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge today resigned his cabinet post to become the new CEO of Binney & Smith, makers of Crayola crayons.

“It’s a growth opportunity for me,” said an emotional Mr. Ridge at a hastily-called news conference. “I’m 59 now, and it’s time to move beyond the five colors in the Homeland Security Advisory System. At Binney & Smith, I’ll oversee an operation that often packs 128 different shades into a single box.”

Privately, associates of Mr. Ridge acknowledge that he has often clashed with President George Bush over expanding the multi-hued terror alert warning.

“Tom told me that the president’s view of terror threats is too simplistic,” said one unnamed Ridge confidant. “Bush sees the threat level in stark terms- green, blue, yellow, orange and red. But Ridge wanted to convey more shades of meaning. When he tried to get the president to add fuscia, salmon or even puce, he was rebuffed.”