Posted on 03/08/2006 6:21:12 PM PST by Reagan Man
you can't look a 19% support level on this issue in the face - and tell the people to go to hell.
offer some positive off ramp here - some new ports security measure, something - the administration's message on this is - "tough luck, eat this". a lame duck president with a 40% approval rating, can't do that.
How about "Nation of Islam"? Aren't they American?
with that approach, there is nothing that the UAE might ask for - that we could deny them. because that same argument would be used again and again to justify doing whatever the UAE wants.
if tommorrow, the UAE wanted to buy the WTC lease from Silverstein, should we sell it to them? Should we allow the UAE to buy key defense contractors? is there any issue you would dent the UAE on, based on this "they are our ally, it will cost us if we block them" mantra?
Big Big BUMP!
Well...there has been no GOP leadership in the House or Senate and W has acted like an absentee president, refusing to veto a single bill. In a situation like this, its everyone for themselves.
The off ramp is to tell the GOP to grow a spine and lead on important issues. It is to tell the American public to get educated if this issue is so important (which it really isn't...and as I said not even 1% of the voting public will actually cast their vote on this issue). Furthermore these Ports and their security will not change one iota regardless of who owns them.
The same people doing security today....will be doing security when whomever purchases these ports takes over.
Lastly (think Rove) if the DEM's want to try and run with this issue and make "national security" the back-drop of the 2006 elections. Please let it be so. The GOP will win every time (as long as they stand firm behind CIC GWB).
Agreed.
You are 100% absolutely correct, NOBODY and I mean NOBODY trusts this administration on the issue of home land security. The administrations policy of open borders and allowing massive illegal imigration is comming home to roost.
a palatable off ramp would be to actually propose a new security protocol for US port operators, and have DPW stand up and say they will be first to comply. we could have diffused this story weeks ago with a positive agenda like that, but the administration refuses.
its the white house that has pushed this brinksmanship. thank goodness they didn't do the same thing with Miers.
Well stated! I never saw so many chicken littles in my life. Didn't even wait for the 45-day investigative period but immediately passed this amendment rushing to judge without facts. Do you know who the two people were that voted against this amendment?
Look, Americans have consistently said they want to ISOLATE the arabs not INTEGRATE with them. That is why less than 20% of the public approves of the dubaious port initiative, why Europeans are stumbling over themselves to pass laws counter to the prevailing mores of muslim culture. With each month and year that passes, we're going to see less and less interaction with the middle easterners. One day they may decide to join the world, but until then the smart money is parting ways.
its the white house that has pushed this brinksmanship.
I just don't agree. This WH is dealing with fighting and winning a war. It does not have the time nor the stomach to have to hold the hands of a bunch of weak-kneed GOP'ers in the House and Senate (to whom those in the Senate completely owe their majority-ship to this President).
It seems like you are offering to add layers of nonproductive security procedures "just for the purpose" of doing them (regardless if they make the process any more effective and efficient).
We are in a war. A war that is on-going 24/7. We don't have the luxury of making up silly "feel good procedures" just to do them.
Those in Congress are pathetic when it comes to "Leading" on anything. Be it WOT, Iraq, Soc Security, Energy legislation, Standing up to the BS over hurricane Katrina, etc, etc, etc. These people have no leadership and are constantly looking for a "poll" to tell them where to move to.
I find it pathetic. Thank God for CIC GWB and SecDef Rumsfeld.
How can they join the world when we won't let them?
its because they see what the administration plans to do with these 45 days - run out the clock, continue to toss out the "arab xenophobe" mantra, etc. that's not going to change public opposition to this, they should have been using these 45 days to make a deal of some kind, not try to just force it through "as is". so some in congress feel they have to make a move now.
I find it pathetic. Thank God for CIC GWB and SecDef Rumsfeld.
Ditto
IMHO, conservatives knee-jerked themselves into a position they can't get out of.
---DPW runs terminals in for major ports in China. Do you think that the Chinese are not interested in the security of their ports?---
Anyone?
I am prepared to wait for an answer until hell freezes over.
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