Posted on 03/10/2006 6:10:00 PM PST by Phsstpok
Saturday Shows
Journal Editorial Report (Paul Gigot) - FNC show page
Sunday Shows
Fox News Sunday (Chris Wallace)
NBC Meet The Press (Tim Russert)
CBS Face The Nation (Bob Schieffer)
ABC This Week (George Stephanopoulos)
CNN Late Edition (Wolf Blitzer)
I would particularly ask that anyone with specific knowledge or resources about the topics / guests announced for these shows post them here so that the rest of us can go into the shows with a heads up on what to look for.
The Weekend Preview Thread is up
If you would like on or off my ping list please Freepmail me
The most interesting guest to me is Mike Pence. Will he become a major player (I hope)?
The dominant meme appears to be that Bush is so over, let's look to his replacement and ignore everything he says and does from now on.
HOW ARE YOU DOING!!????
Thanks for the post too!!
Placido Domingo!!! I'll go back and do my homework, which you have so wonderfully provided, but I am a hardcore opera fan and I just got all excited when I saw this. Thanks you so much for all of your hard work, Phsstpok. It's a feast of information.
Deal gives Dubai firm control of 23 U.S. ports - Eller lobbied Schumer - Causing this uproar
I AM NOT HOLDING MY BREATH! this will be BURRIED!
We will SOOOOO miss you.. but we truly want you to take care of yourself!
I am so sorry for this trauma... I really am...
Placido Domingo isn't mentioned on the FNS web page, but Chris Wallace talked about him during his "coming up this weekend" segment on Fox And Friends this morning. He specificially mentioned that he will sing.
Probably the Power Player Of The Week segment?
Excellent job! Thanks.
That would be my guess. They have my attention :)
Damn, If I'd have posted that ports thread a few weeks ago, this ports-crap would have had a short period of discomfort, eh?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1581542/posts?page=701#701
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1581542/posts?page=731#731
Eller's 10-50 million dollar beef is trivial in a 7 billion dollar deal. Not something to be ignored, but not the center of attention either.
See also http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1593184/posts?page=538#538 for links to disposition of the case Eller took to London to try to stop the sale of P&O. (they lost).
Send the link, with explanation, to each of the shows.
That's part of the reason for the thread.
Good catch, by the way.
LOL! Cboldt already has pointed out that I am WAY LATE to the game! ROFLLL!
dang! and as much as I try and stay involved... I MISSED THIS! the media has been STRIDENT in burrying it!
oy!
If the United Nations doesn't agree to major reforms of its Human Rights Commission, the U.S. should stick to its principles and withdraw from the body.
U.S. should recoil from UN rogues (Bill Frist Op-Ed)
(FR Thread discussing Chicago Tribune op-ed by Frist)
Now he chooses to grow a pair!
Schumer's involvement is news - but I figured the overall context was helpful. Most people piling on the "Eller revelation" jump to the conclusion that Eller is the pivot point or something. Schumer's pre-involvment via Eller is news in that it tarnishes his personal motive for action.
FWIW, the reason I found Eller back in February was because it was reported that a Miami player was suing to stop the sale. Hence a focus for research.
I'm surprised you missed this, your posts are surrounding mine on that Feb 19 thread!
FR thread on new Miami Herald article.
FR may have been on this before, but it's coming up again. Ping the shows!
[Frist] If the United Nations doesn't agree to major reforms of its Human Rights Commission, the U.S. should stick to its principles and withdraw from the body.Now he chooses to grow a pair!
Yeah, of lips. Talk is cheap, and he does quite a bit of it. Still hasn't brought the President's Circuit Court nominations up, one of which is coming up his ONE YEAR anniversary of being voted out of Committee.
Feb 19th.... I think I was sober that day...
oy!
I have to admit- it is the Schumer in the thread title here on FReep that made me go check it out....sorry I missed your information back then....I guess I get intimidated by you and a few others on your research...
you all are TREMENDOUS...
Like I asked Gipper 08 yesterday....I want to know how Mike Pence feels about the Appropriations Committee voting to put the ports amendment in the Supplemental Bill for our troops, which is using them...and humiliating President Bush..
Also, I notice Schmuckie isn't on the list..because I would like to know about his relationship with the company that COULD take DPWorld's place...
Granddaughter bugging me to play with blocks, I will write more later...
Reading that article (I did so an hour ago) it amounts to speculation that P&O's interests will be parted out. Eller might get Miami, Maher getting NY/NJ, etc.
In short, it's just the details of one particular style of divestiture. I'm waiting to see what DPW actually proposes, because THAT may take a radically different form from the speculation in the article.
In any event, I still think Eller is a bit player who might get rights in Miami (where it hangs its hat) and not much more.
To the extent you don't read it? Color me puzzled.
I admit I'm a bit of a crank, but jeez - I aim for an interesting yet informative style.
LOL!
NO! you are NO CRANK!
LOL!
I am just a ditz!
don't let the red hair full ya! --mean fool ya :-)
in fact- I am such a ditz that I just tried to email Meet the Depressed and it locked up my puter....
OY!
I agree, but couple that with Schumer's involvement and there might be something to change the dynamics of the questions asked on Sunday. The press is looking for a new handle on this. Give them a handle that trashes some Congressional pubbies and they might just run with it, without realizing where it will end up (of course, I don't know where that would end up...).
The key issue, for me, is to point out the motivations of the port deal critics. My main thust on this comes from the NY Sun editorial about the contributions from the International Longshoremen's Association union (and the mob) to the people who are leading this charge, led by Peter King. But the (NY based MSM) press won't touch that notion with a 100 meter pole.
I just sent this question to Meet the DePRESSED:
If my gas company gave me 45 days to pay my gas bill and then turned my gas off after 6 days.. I WOULD BE FURIOUS!
Could it be that Schumer and Company were so eager to slam this deal quickly because they feared THIS story was going to get out?
ELLER LOBBYED SCHUMER TO SQUELCH THE DEAL!
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20060304/1068106.asp
Then Schumer RAN TO THE CAMERAS (and to quote Al GORE) "HE PLAYED ON OUR FEARS!"
They are truly more important than anything else.
If you get a chance, ping FNS with your question.
Fox News Sunday contact information - FNS@foxnews.com
oooops! sorry- I meant to ping you to the above comment too!
This snake has a bunch of heads, and is hard to unravel to clarity.
WOW!
This is fun!
I have sent them ALL my question.... telling them of course that they wouldn't DARE address it...
THANKS AGAIN FOR THIS THREAD!
She is 6 years old and wants to be a ROCK STAR....go figure! LOL
Yes...I will have much more time tomorrow...thanks for posting this tonight, though...I ALWAYS look for to this thread.
Thanks for the ping, Phsstpok. I'll check out the thread in the morning. I don't know anything about Pence so I'll be interested in seeing him Sunday.
In the interim, thanks again for all your hard work and analysis and I hope you're healing well and following doctor's orders.
Evening everyone!
I heard on the local radio station that a Seattle Co (SAS, I think) was in the lead to take over. I'll see if I can find anymore info.
BTW - here's an article on Iraq for the naysayers on the shows:
'Job Is Getting Done' in Iraq, Despite US Press, Veterans Say
By Randy Hall
CNSNews.com Staff Writer/Editor
March 10, 2006
(CNSNews.com) - A group of veterans from Operation Iraqi Freedom said Thursday that U.S.-led coalition forces are getting the job done when it comes to defeating insurgents and helping Iraq establish a democratic government -- despite the U.S. news media's negative portrayal of the conflict.
"I am not here to debate the choices that were made, only to tell you that today, the job is getting done" in Iraq, Marine Corporal Richard Gibson said during a news conference hosted by the conservative group America's Majority at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
rest of the article is here:
http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewPolitics.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200603\POL20060310b.html
SSA. See http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1593991/posts?page=327#327 and related. What used to be P&O in the US may be parted out, or DPW may form a "fresh" oversight entity. It's all about money at this point, and structuring a transfer with "cash up front" / "cash flow" combinations that make sense for all the players.
Found it - it's SSA not SAS.
This info is from the Public Integrity org site. There's some interesting info on their Web site, including contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan, how much they've made, and their political contributions. Below this info is info from SSA web site - - I'm a little perplexed because I've heard over the past few weeks that no company in the US handles terminal operations, but it appears they do and are growing.
I think it would be a hoot if they got it because, IIRC, the Longshoremen were all over Schmuckie and others and here's what the article says about SSA:
"The company is known for its hard-line towards labor unions and for favoring the use of more technology in the ports to reduce its labor costs. It has been called the "most anti-union maritime operation on the West Coast" by union leaders. In 2002, port operators, including Stevedoring Services of America, locked out International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers in West Coast ports. President George Bush had to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to end the lockout."
Stevedoring Services of America
1131 SW Klickitat Way
Seattle, WA 98134
Phone: (206) 623-0304
Fax: (206) 623-0179
http://www.ssamarine.com
Stevedoring Services of America, founded in 1949 and one of the largest marine terminal operators in the world, had an estimated $1 billion in sales in 2002. The family-owned and -run company is a private venture which operates in more than 150 locations worldwide and employs more than 10,000 people. The Smith and Hemingway families have owned the company since it was founded, and maintain an active management role.
In spring 2003, the company decided to shorten its name to SSA Marine. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, the new name is intended to reflect the fact that SSA Marine has expanded its business beyond loading and unloading cargo. During the re-naming process, Carrix Inc. was created as a new parent company for SSA Marine.
The company is known for its hard-line towards labor unions and for favoring the use of more technology in the ports to reduce its labor costs. It has been called the "most anti-union maritime operation on the West Coast" by union leaders. In 2002, port operators, including Stevedoring Services of America, locked out International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers in West Coast ports. President George Bush had to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to end the lockout.
Stevedoring Services of America spent $80,000 lobbying Congress on transportation appropriations, water resources development and maritime security in 2002. In its mid-year report for 2003, the company had also added lobbying on activities related to the reconstruction in Iraq to that list. Stevedoring Services of America paid $40,000 to Denny Miller Associates, a lobby firm with strong ties to Washington State where Stevedoring Services of America is headquartered.
From 1990 through 2002, the company had 18 contracts with the U.S. government worth a total of $86,117,000.
Iraq contracts
USAID gave a $14.3 million contract to operate and manage the Iraqi Port Authority to Stevedoring Services of America on March 24, 2003. The award is listed on the USAID web site, but was not included in a list of contracts the agency supplied through a Freedom of Information Act request. The contract to operate and manage the port, which includes duties such as the handling of cargo, shipment tracking and managing security and customs, can be extended through 2006. The contract amount of a possible extension was not disclosed.
Another company, Bechtel, under its Iraqi reconstruction contract, started dredging the key southern port of Umm Qasr—Iraq's only deep-water port—in May 2003. In an assessment report to USAID, Stevedoring Services of America said that in order for the port to receive humanitarian aid, more than $90 million in repairs were necessary. In July 2003, Congressman Norm Dicks, D-Wash. criticized USAID, saying the agency's reluctance to make funding decisions and follow up on Stevedoring Services of America's proposals, limited the progress at Umm Qasr. A spokeswoman for USAID defended the agency and told the News Tribune in Tacoma, Wash., that "this is about setting priorities with the limited use of American taxpayers dollars."
In July 2003, shippers throughout the Persian Gulf region accused Stevedoring Services of America of "gross profiteering" because of the rates it charged. Local agents contended that the rates were high not just by regional standards, but also by international standards, according to media reports. Bob Watters of SSA Marine told the Center that the company "does not make any money from tariffs at all." The company is covered by the USAID contract and does not stand to profit from the tariffs. SSA Marine made a recommendation to USAID on tariff rates based on the agency's goal to have a self-sustaining port, Watters said.
Legal Action/Investigations
The Umm Qasr port contract was the first USAID awarded contract that prompted questions on Capitol Hill. Of the three companies USAID asked to submit bids, Stevedoring Services of America did not have federal security clearances—an agency requirement for the contract. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, it was only after members of Congress raised questions that USAID explained that "the security clearance was no longer necessary once military operations got under way" and that it needed the work to begin quickly. According to Stevedoring Services of America, none of the companies invited to bid for the contract had top security clearance. An internal investigation by the USAID inspector general found that the agency ignored its own rule regarding the security clearance requirement.
Updates
As of March 31, 2004
The Center for Public Integrity received a partial copy of the contract USAID awarded to Stevedoring Services of America for the operation and management of the Iraqi Port Authority. The documents reveal that USAID tasked Stevedoring, now known as SSA Marine, with providing an assessment of the Umm Qasr port, valued at $642,370, an improvement implementation plan costing $280,987, and at least partial operation of the port under a cost plus fixed fee of $3,895,628. These activities are "to ensure that USAID-provided materials and supplies, and other cargoes including urgent food assistance and materials for reconstruction and rehabilitation, flow smoothly through seaports designated by USAID, specifically the Umm Qasr port in Iraq." No amendments or task orders were included to detail spending activities.
According to USAID, the amount spent ($14.3 million) on the contract has not changed since October 2003.
—André Verlöy
http://www.publicintegrity.org/wow/bio.aspx?act=pro&ddlC=56
From SSA web site:
Today, SSA Marine and our affiliates operate more cargo terminals than any other company in the world. Our operations and its diversity of cargo, volumes and commercial models and ports are unprecedented in our industry. We strive to ensure that our size and tremendous network of resources continue to add value for our customers.
SSA Marine provides a full spectrum of transportation services including:
Terminal management
Stevedoring
Rail yard operations
Project development management
Technology system design, installation and training
Equipment procurement
Marketing support
Trucking
Warehousing
Off-dock yard operations
Feasibility studies
Few transportation service companies in the world extend as far and wide as SSA Marine, but we continue to look for new opportunities at ports and intermodal facilities around the world.
And this:
March 7, 2006
Media contact:
Bob Watters
206.654.3575
SSA Marine’s U.S. Container Terminal Operations Grow by over 22%
Seattle, WA – SSA Marine, the largest U.S. owned container terminal operator, reported 2005 container volume of 7,300,000 TEU’s at its eleven U.S and International marine container operations, a 15% increase over 2004. Container volume at SSA Marine leased and operated U.S. container terminals grew 22% topping the 4,300,000 TEU mark. International container terminal operations grew by 6% surpassing 3,000,000 TEU’s, while their container stevedoring operations at Port Authority operated terminals grew 40% to exceed 1,500,000 TEU’s. SSA Marine’s sister company, RMS, handled 12,700,000 TEU’s at its 42 intermodal rail terminals it operates for U.S. class I railroads. “This continued growth is a testament to the commitment and professionalism of our employees and the support we receive from our, ocean carrier customers and partners”, stated Jon Hemingway, CEO. “We are particularly encouraged by our growth at our seven U.S. marine container terminals and the close working relationship we enjoy with the Ports of Seattle, Oakland and Long Beach.”
Mr. Hemingway continued, “We are bullish on the future of the U.S. marine container terminal industry and our role in expanding crucial port infrastructure. In Texas City, supporting the Houston market, we are privately financing and building a $250,000,000 container terminal. On the West Coast, we are working with the Port of Seattle and our partner Matson to double the size of our T- 25 container terminal by including the T- 30 container terminal lease area. And while we are expanding our terminal capacity in both the U.S. Gulf and West Coast we are working closely with our local communities to improve service, air quality and traffic. We have several initiatives underway to prove the feasibility of using biodiesel and even cleaner fuel sources and to virtually eliminate truck idling at all our facilities.”
About SSA Marine
SSA Marine a subsidiary of Carrix, Inc., is the largest U.S owned and the largest privately held container terminal operator and cargo handling company in the world, handling approximately 22 million container TEU’s per year. The nearly 60 year old company serves more than 120 locations worldwide, including port operations throughout the U.S. as well as internationally in Panama, Mexico, Chile, Costa Rica, South Africa and New Zealand.
http://www.ssamarine.com/index.html
Thanks for the thread. Your descriptions cracked me up!
Glad you're doing well - rest your eyes and take care of yourself. We'll miss you if you can't spend much time here and on the Sun thread, but, it will only be for 1 or 2 times and then we'll get to spend LOTS of time together :-)
There is also rumor about that Patty Murray's husband has some cozy relationship with SSA. I haven't bothered looking for corroboration or facts in that regard. Don't plan to either ;-)
And, here's the parent co of SSA Marine:
Carrix, Inc. headquartered in Seattle, Washington is the parent company of SSA Marine, Tideworks Technology, and RMS (Rail Management Services), as such it's the world's largest privately held marine and rail terminal operator. We continually seek to achieve not only our objectives but those of our customers. Currently, Carrix has over 30 strategic alliances that include customers, competitors and knowledgeable partners in ancillary businesses.
Carrix's strategy has evolved into developing state of the art terminal information systems not only for our facilities but also third parties. Through its Tideworks Technology division the company's IT capabilities support over 40 marine terminals, 80 shipping lines and 3,000 users.
Carrix's most valuable asset is the quality of its people. As a privately held company, Carrix has fostered a family atmosphere as part of its corporate culture
http://www.carrix.com/company.html
It wouldn't surprise me if Patty and/or her hubby were involved somehow. Our other dimbulb senator, Can't-vote-well got them to use biodiesel:
SEATTLE, WA - U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) Thursday announced that SSA Marine the world's largest privately held cargo terminal operator and cargo handling company, and the Port of Seattle have joined together to enter into a deal for nearly one million gallons of biodiesel annually beginning in 2006 by converting their entire vehicle fleet to run on Washington-produced biodiesel.
http://www.ssamarine.com/news/010506.html
Thanks for the link!
I wonder why Congress was afraid to let the 45-day investigation of the DPW deal go ahead. Dubai was willing to have it proceed.
Message to Muslims worldwide:
Biden AGAIN on MTP?...how do we know it isn't a rerun?
Thanks for the thread and I'm glad your surgery went well. Good. All I know is I'm voting no on pain, hospitals, doctors and dentists. I'm voting no on getting older too.
Thanks for the link. The saddest part of this whole chapter is it seems to be a lose-lose situation now. I hope that aspect can be turned around but it appears everyone loses except the Democrats who will try to keep using this as an election issue.
The one thing I'll be looking for, as this is discussed over the weekend, is what makes sense for future countering the claims Democrats are sure to make. I'm still convinced following the money and special interest group influence will eventually show the ultimate reason for the opposition to the Dubai Ports World deal.
Thanks. This is what I was remembering too, if my mind is intact this early in the morning. When the DPW news broke there was speculation of automating the process, and that the unions were opposed to it for that reason.
The common theme this weekend seems to be President Bush is a lame duck president. His reign is over and we can now prepare ourselves for the eventual Democrat congress and president in 2008. All the shows are jockeying to be considered the first to proclaim Bush over and identify the next president.
From my perspective, the Republican control of congress and President Bush's obituary is a little premature. Old media and the Democrats are running on wishes, not fossil fuel. They are beginning, again, to overplay their hand of assumptions and it will come back to haunt them.
As for Dubai Ports World, I hope nobody thinks this is over and forgotten. It will be off the front pages but the Bush Administration is certainly working behind the scenes to work with UAE and other Arab countries. Democrats will use this as a claim they are security conscious but time will show it was all about politics and Democrat supporters and donors. I'm guessing all the Q&A over DPW will be a showcase of Democrats somehow proving they care more about security than Republicans do. I doubt this will work in the long run as union fears and Democrat party donors are exposed in the future. It's kind of like Abramoff, they are starting out talking tough but will temper themselves as more becomes known.
Nor is there any mention of the Hillary/Harold Ickies creation of a new database to mine voter information, apart from the DNC. There is a real split in Democrat party ranks but it seems to be ignored, so far.
I wouldn't put it past him.
Should be interesting to watch the democrat firewowrks in the coming months.
I 've felt that way since the day he took over, particularly when he maneuvered to get the "grass roots activists" that supported his campaign in as the heads of the various state parties. It stopped being the Democrat National Committee and became the Dean National Committee.
He's lousy at raising funds, but that's only partly his fault. Hillary isn't going to let him be the one doling out goodies to candidates that would then owe him. She's built her own fund raising and distribution organization. Note how often folks comment that "Hillary is sucking up all of the fund raising money." She isn't doing that immediately for her Presidential run, but for this Congressional election cycle. If they win they all owe here. If they lose they can blame Howard.
And they're building, with Soros help, their own "back room" infrastructure, including this little jewel:
Hillary Guru Plans Database to Rival DNC; Soros Financed ('Data Mining' Stirs Intraparty Battle)
Should be interesting to watch the democrat firewowrks in the coming months.
Oh, yeah!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.