George W. Bush is about to fritter away his party's last advantage.

Washington Times ^ | February 24, 2006 | Wes Pruden

[When_Penguins_Attack]

George W. Bush is about to fritter away his party's last advantage. What Republicans have had going for them is that they aren't Democrats. Over the past few days we've seen the men at the top of the Grumpy Old Party drifting toward something that looks suspiciously like an Old Boys' Party. When he hears applause only from Jimmy Carter, who gave away the Panama Canal (now controlled by the Chinese), and Bill Clinton, his newly adopted little brother, George W. should be looking for the panic button. Once they're no longer regarded as the toughest party on national security the Republicans will be burnt toast.

[CWOJackson]

Then why waste time establishing procedures to vet these commercial concerns free of outside and undo political influence and pressure, if we're just going to second guess them when it's politically opportune or whenever a citizen has concerns...which would be every time.

Why waste the time of the agencies involved, just go straight to Congressional and public hearings...that should really benefit our economy and security.

[MamaB]

You are so right. I think I am on that other site sometimes.

[CWOJackson]

"This is much ado about nothing."

It's about something, but national security isn't involved.

[LK44-40]

From the column: It's not national security that worries [Treasury Secretary John Snow] but whether angry Arabs will withdraw their investments from America. The protection of commercial interests, making the world safe for mergers and acquisitions, seems to interest the president and his men most.

What Wes Pruden said!

[jveritas]

Lead us and will follow you (sarcasm beyond belief).

[ARCADIA]

"After Harriet Miers, all I heard was, "The Republicans are finished." Sorry, they are stronger than ever."

Miers took three weeks, this one three days, prehaps the next battle 3 minutes. I just don't see the strength.

[maica]

So the safest way to smuggle a nuclear weapon ready-to-go is in a shipment of cocaine?

Cocaine shipments will go up with a new company on the docks, go down, or stay the same?

[jveritas]

Nah we do not need Arabs to spy on Arab terrorists, we can send our 6'4" blue eyes, blond hair guys to do this job because they will blend right in and the terrorists will not notice them :)

[Tolik]

Again, its true with the Bush-haters, they are opposed to anything and everything, you are right. And I don't care about them at all.

But in this case his usual and loyal supporters are not with him. Maybe because he is wrong, or maybe because they are wrong. He should have explained to his supporters why he is doing this. We are all reasonable people, and dealing with the facts. New facts convinced me to change my opinion on many occasions before. This is not a hissy fit of a hysterical know nothing. He has my apriori support and benefit of the doubt, but not a blind faith.

Plus, there is a sizable middle that showed on many occasions as well that a good argument from Bush works well on them. But its got to be something, not just trust the government...

[ARCADIA]

Do you understand how the bid process works?

Why do you insist on confusing the issue. I don't care about the bidding process, or the contract award. If someone wants to pay a trillion dollars in a foreign land for some bag of stocks, that is between the buyer and the seller. What we are discussing is the process of vetting the new, or potential owner to see whether we will allow the lease to transfer from seller to buyer. If there is a security issue, then it should not transfer. Just because you buy an airline ticket does not mean that you will be allowed to board; you still have to pass security and, if you are a wanted criminal, they may even cart you away. So stop wasting out time by telling us that they bought the thing, because it is completely irrelevant.

[CWOJackson]

"Why do you insist on confusing the issue. I don't care about the bidding process, or the contract award."

LOL! But YOU were the person saying we gave the contract to the UAE. It wasn't, they won it legitimately. If you're getting confused it's because you can't keep up with what you're spouting.

[MamaB]

I think so, too. There are security issues at stake here that we know nothing about. They should remain secret.

[maica]

Then why did you use the term "give" implying that President Bush personally was doing a favor.

[ARCADIA]

LOL! But YOU were the person saying we gave the contract to the UAE.

We are in the process of giving them permission to operate specific slips and facilities within six east coast ports. Whether you want to call the OK a contract, an award, a green light, or a fudge muffin; that is the issue that we are discussing and nothing else. I do not see any compelling reason for us to grant that permission and I see plenty of reasons for concern over the security of doing so.

[CWOJackson]

"We are in the process of giving them permission to operate specific slips and facilities within six east coast ports."

We're not giving them anything and they have been properly vetted for security.

[BeHoldAPaleHorse]

"You make it sound like Bush is the second coming of Christ or something."

No, I make it sound like some "true conservatives" on Free Republic are saying things like "Bush is stupid," "Bush is a crook," "the Bush family does business with bin Laden," et cetera.

[CWOJackson]

"What's disturbing is the idea Bush didn't even know about the deal until it was done."

That happens to be how the process was designed, to keep it free of political pressure and influence...I'd find it disturbing if he had known.

As for trusting the UAE, we've been trusting them to be the key port link in our logistical support of our troops fighthing the war, and in servicing more U.S. Navy ships then any other vendor outside of the U.S.

[kaktuskid]

Now, back to your silly claim that we're giving DP World anything. You do know that they "won" the contract based on their bid don't you?

No, DP is buying the company that already has the contracts.