Sunday Morning Talk Show Thread 5 March 2006

Various big media television networks ^ | 5 March 2006 | Various Self-Serving Politicians and Big Media Screaming Faces

[Alas Babylon!]

The Talk Shows

Sunday, March 5th, 2006

Guests to be interviewed today on major television talk shows:

FOX NEWS SUNDAY (Fox Network): Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Michael Brown, former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Weather Service Director David Johnson.

MEET THE PRESS (NBC): Pace; former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., and former Rep. Jack Kemp, R-N.Y., co-chairmen of the Council on Foreign Relations' task force on U.S. policy toward Russia.

FACE THE NATION (CBS): Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind.; Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa.

THIS WEEK (ABC): Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine; Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif.; retired Gen. Wesley Clark; comedian Stephen Colbert.

LATE EDITION (CNN) : Gen. James Jones, NATO supreme Allied commander; Iraqi Parliament member Adnan Pachachi.

[MNJohnnie]

"traiagualting" Putting distance between him and that nasty 34% popular GW Bush.

[FreeReign]

So Hunter, like most of the Gutless Congress spin stoodges, seems to be repeating rumor and hearsay.

Yes Hunter is gutless. It's interesting to note that Hunter pulled this stunt while the CIC was out of the country.

[snugs]

Thank you for your kind words, I like the proper gentlemen. My dad comes from the school of not even going up the garden without a tie on :0).

To all - I am logging off now will probably be around on the dose later but going to watch some TV now.

Thanks as always for the great company, we may not always agree on everything but I think on this thread we do it in a civilized reasoned way which is great and leads to good discussion and gets the old brain cells going.

See you all either next week or at award giving time.

Keep healthy and safe - God Bless you and God Bless America

All the best
Eleanor

[Cboldt]

Correct but don't forget the majority will be shipments from shippers that have been sending similar cargo for many years.

The DHS and ICE are pretty clear that they target searches, and I figure as much as makes sense, they look back through the chain of custody and experience as they prioritize the days search activity.

The more I read, the more I'm convinced that "100% scanned for radiation at entry port" is a goal at this point, not yet a reality.

H.R. 4437 - Border Security and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2005
Passed 239-182 on December 16, 2005

SEC. 119. DEPLOYMENT OF RADIATION DETECTION PORTAL EQUIPMENT
AT UNITED STATES PORTS OF ENTRY.

(a) Deployment.--Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall deploy radiation portal monitors at all United States ports of entry and facilities as determined by the Secretary to facilitate the screening of all inbound cargo for nuclear and radiological material.

(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the Department's progress toward carrying out the deployment described in subsection (a).

(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out subsection (a) such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2006 and 2007.

12/17/2005: Received in the Senate.
01/27/2006: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

---

H.R. 2360 - DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006
10/18/2005: Became Public Law No: 109-90

TITLE IV--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING, AND SERVICES
research, development, acquisition, and operations

For necessary expenses for science and technology research, including advanced research projects; development; test and evaluation; acquisition; and operations; as authorized by title III of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 181 et seq.); $1,420,997,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That of the total amount provided under this heading, $23,000,000 is available to select a site for the National Bio and Agrodefense Facility and perform other pre-construction activities to establish research capabilities to protect animal and public health from high consequence animal and zoonotic diseases in support of Homeland Security Presidential Directives 9 and 10: Provided further, That of the amount provided under this heading, $318,014,000 shall be for activities of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, of which $125,000,000 shall be for the purchase and deployment of radiation portal monitors for United States ports of entry and of which no less than $81,000,000 shall be for radiological and nuclear research and development activities: Provided further, That excluding the funds made available under the preceding proviso for radiation portal monitors, $144,760,500 of the total amount made available under this heading for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office shall not be obligated until the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives receive and approve an expenditure plan for the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office: Provided further, That the expenditure plan shall include funding by program, project, and activity for each of fiscal years 2006 through 2010 prepared by the Secretary of Homeland Security that has been reviewed by the Government Accountability Office.

100% of containers landing at Oakland are so scanned, per press releases that also tout the fact that this port lands something line 44% of the containers in the USA - which is an amazing concentration of entry!

[evad]

If any group of people could be held responsible for the utter bogging and ineffectiveness of our government, it would be the congress critters.

Not to mention I suspect that Brown absolutely HATES Michael Chertoff.

Truer words were NEVER spoken!

[evad]

No trouble at all: When he was a Bush appointee, he was evil. Now that he's out of the Bush circle, he's a saint. There's no need for a messy transition, just ignore the previous stories.

Yes...isn't it amazing that the same MSM that was calling for his head earlier has now taken up his mantra?

On second thought, not amazing at all. Totally transparent.

[evad]

IMHO BROWN was the fall guy and while there is NO DOUBT there were mistakes at every level of gov't, the LION'S SHARE of the blame goes to the LOCAL and STATE [Nagin & Blanco].

Indeed.

Something needs to smokescreen for the fact that we sent millions of dollars for levee/dyke rehab and construction and it was all pissed down the old New Orleans/Lousy-anna corruption rathole.

[Cboldt]

Where is the documentation for the statement that "Scanning means reading a manifest"?

That isn't exactly the inference I drew. I was merely noting that "being checked" and "being screened" are indefinite terms, subject to the reader's interpretation. At any rate, looking to corroborate "100% are scanned for radiation at port of entry," I used the link you provided. It says, in part ...

A Layered Defense:

Screening and Inspection: CBP screens 100% of all cargo before it arrives in the U.S.- using intelligence and cutting edge technologies. CBP inspects all high-risk cargo.

CSI (Container Security Initiative): Enables CBP, in working with host government Customs Services, to examine high-risk maritime containerized cargo at foreign seaports, before they are loaded on board vessels destined for the United States. In addition to the current 42 foreign ports participating in CSI, many more ports are in the planning stages. By the end of 2006, the number is expected to grow to 50 ports, covering 90% of transpacific maritime containerized cargo shipped to the U.S. ...

Presently, CBP operates over 680 radiation portal monitors at our nation's ports (including 181 radiation portal monitors at seaports) [Most of the radiation monitors must be other than at seaports - probably at airports], utilizes over 170 large scale non-intrusive inspection devices to examine cargo, and has issued 12,400 hand-held radiation detection devices. The President's FY 2007 budget requests $157 million to secure next-generation detection equipment at our ports of entry. ...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1590048/posts

That, in combination with recent Congressional activity on the subject of home-port radiation scanning, leads me to believe that substantially less than 100% of containers are presently scanned for radiation, and that radiation scanning is not a legal prerequisite for a container to exit a port of entry.

There has been a nasty habit of the Port Deal Critics making statements of "Fact" that turn out to be false or misleading. I suggest we take none of their "Facts" as gospel until we independently verify them.

I agree with that.

[Phsstpok]

Excellent!

Any indication of some of those you sent this to? I mean, I can imagine, but I'd love to pay particular attention to see if any of them actually get a clue. I've got this sneaking suspicion that they ARE starting to listen.

[malia]

"I for one don't see how the former FEMA director was so "COMPETENT" for the other 4 or so hurricanes that happened in the previous two years that back to backed Florida."

Well, Juan was very obvious with a reason why this am with a -- because it was the President's brother -- said with a slimy grin!

Frankly I'm sick of all this!!! Is it not a fact the Federal Government -a President and a Fema - can not - could not - should not send in anything without the request and approval of the Governor of that state. They must be ready to go when the Governor sends the request! Which means Federal and Fema have to be in constant touch with the States involved and Weather Services.

With the released tapes the MSM is now saying Brown was made the 'scapegoat' and are back to bashing Bush. Tapes show Brown was scapegoat because of the media!!!

I'm hung up on this issue because of Andrew and how it hurt daddy Bush ---- "clinton saying Bush cares more about Foreign Affairs than he cares about his own people" - kinda of crap!

When the towers were hit it did not take an approval or request to respond. The Federal Government just responded.

Governor Blanco is a perfect example of how important it is to vote for a leader. She was most likely waiting for instructions from the Dems and was told to wait and then blame President Bush. Otherwise, why would a Governor not react to an emergency in their state! One decision Gov. Blanco DID make was to order her offices remodeled just after the storms with a tab of $564,838. I can't link to it because I went thru GuruNet, but just do a search "Blanco orders remodeling just after storms Office tab: $564,838" interesting article - now, because of a nice place to work her staff can do a better job.

Mayor Ray Nagin has also shown to be incompetent. Leaving those buses drowning in the water AS HE MOVED his family to Texas, bought a new home, and enrolled his kids in school, THEN returned to LA.

I'm still left with an unanswered question!!!

Who ordered those Arkansas made mobile homes that are sinking in Arkansas. Who ordered them knowing they could not go to flooding areas. I hope before that bill is paid it is investigated!

I haven't seen FoxNewSunday yet - But tell me the following from NeoCon Bill Kristol is not true .....

Today on Fox News Sunday, Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol said that conservatives have come to believe the Bush administration is incompetent:

BILL KRISTOL: I think it’s become in people’s minds an emblem of the administration that just isn’t as serious about the competent execution of the functions of government as it should be. And even — I’m struck talking to conservatives and Republicans — they agree with the president on basic political philosophy, the they agree with his basic policy agenda, but they are worried that they just don’t seem to be able to execute as well as they should be.

Bill Kristol - you disgust me!!!!!

[sanjacjake]

Gee..I hope you don't pout, too. I see you are a
passionate Bush supporter...we can agree on that...I respect the whole Bush family..in fact, I would be out
front in a second for Jeb to come around in '08..but
me thinks it will be 2012..if he wants to go for it...
Port Deal...probably go through, but where is the
American 'know how' with Ports,etc... ? Why is it
lacking? Jake

[gov_bean_ counter]

And even — I’m struck talking to conservatives and Republicans — they agree with the president on basic political philosophy, the they agree with his basic policy agenda, but they are worried that they just don’t seem to be able to execute as well as they should be.

If they believe in it so, why the hell aren't they willing to fight for it themselves? They write and vote on the legislation. Negotiate this away, negotiate that away. Where is the stinking legislation that reflects the conservative view?

[Phsstpok]

Now, Cboldt.  There you go again!  Stirring things up with nasty stuff like "facts" and "research."  How... inconvenient.  I can't simply fall back on my rhetoric and preset talking points.

Shame on you! <g>

COSCO was a big issue, and AFAIK, COSCO still isn't operating any terminals. They are landing lots of freight however.

We are also hearing that only 5% of containers are being checked. The voices saying that 100% are checked from the EXIT port is not being heard.

Depends on what "checked" means. I'm still looking for corroboration for the assertion that 100% are scanned for radiation. 100% landing at Oakland are (supposed to be), but the (not yet passed) Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 recites an allocation of funds for a DEMONSTRATION program.

In case you can't tell, I think this is a nice catch.  I'm still leaning "pro" ports, primarily on the rationale that our security depends on inspections at the port of origin, not our ports, and we need cooperation from folks like DWP to do that, but the more info, the better.
 

[cajungirl]

yep but this deputy said breached and I knew what he meant. He was describing water coming in under the levee at the base and he was in a car in the midst of the storm.

[dalight]

Tony Snow came to the air in Cincinnati only a few months ago.. and since then.. I keep getting more and more impressed. He nailed this ports thing.. by starting with .. "I don't know what or why this is happening" and then interviewed his way to an opinion that is based on facts and not on slogans..

He was kicking the administration in the butt by saying how they were asleep at the switch.. but he got to the truth by interviewing folks.. its almost like having a real news source.

Makes me remember how good he was in the seat now held by Chris Wallace. Still on net, having Tony on the radio for 3 hours a day is alot better than moderating one hour a week.

We lost Laura Ingram, Hugh Hewlett and crew from Salem Communications as they traded the underpowered WBOB 1160 for a 50,000 watt station in Detroit. Instead Clear Channel has given us "Air America" on WCKY 1530, so you can tell which way the wind is blowing..

[gov_bean_ counter]

Air America on Wacky radio. Figures.

[dalight]

You get the credit for coining the term.. WACKY 1530.. in Cincinnati.. :)

[Not A Snowbird]

I can't find it offhand... I'll keep looking.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Thank you, thank you very much. I'll be here all day.

[Cboldt]

I'm still leaning "pro" ports, primarily on the rationale that our security depends on inspections at the port of origin, not our ports, and we need cooperation from folks like DWP to do that, but the more info, the better.

I think the bruhaha over the DPW purchase of P&O is blown so far out of proportion as to be a joke. IMO, there is ZERO safety and security ramification as a result of the sale. I'd concede thre may be a marginal difference, likely due to funding or ability to fund technology, that favors the sale. That is, I think DPW will be more able and willing to implement technologial advances than P&O would be.

As for checking containers at overseas ports, the buzzwords are Container Security Initiative, and Megaports Initiative.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1581698/posts?page=80#80

Another reference, re: Megaports ...

March 2005

PREVENTING NUCLEAR SMUGGLING

DOE Has Made Limited Progress in
Installing Radiation Detection Equipment
at Highest Priority Foreign Seaports

DOE's Megaports Initiative has had limited success in initiating work at seaports identified as high priority by DOE's Maritime Prioritization Model, which ranks ports in terms of their relative attractiveness to potential nuclear smugglers. Gaining the cooperation of foreign governments has been difficult in part because some countries have concerns that screening large volumes of containers will create delays that could inhibit the flow of commerce at their ports. DOE has completed work at 2 ports and signed agreements to initiate work at 5 other ports. Additionally, DOE is negotiating agreements with the governments of 18 additional countries and DOE officials told us they are close to signing agreements with 5 of these countries. However, DOE does not have a comprehensive long-term plan to guide the Initiative's efforts. Developing such a plan would lead DOE to, among other things, determine criteria for deciding how many and which lower priority ports to complete if it continues to have difficulties working at higher volume and higher threat ports of interest.

Through the end of fiscal year 2004, DOE had spent about $43 million on Megaports Initiative activities. Of this amount, about $14 million was spent on completing installations at 2 ports. Although DOE currently plans to install equipment at a total of 20 ports by 2010, at an estimated cost of $337 million, this cost projection is uncertain for several reasons. For example, the projection is based in part on DOE's $15 million estimate for the average cost per port, which may not be accurate because it was based primarily on DOE's work at Russian land borders, airports, and seaports. Additionally, DOE is currently assessing whether the Initiative's scope should increase beyond 20 ports; if this occurs, total costs and time frames will also increase. DOE faces several operational and technical challenges in installing radiation detection equipment at foreign ports. For example, DOE is currently devising ways to overcome technical challenges posed by the physical layouts and cargo stacking configurations at some ports. Additionally, environmental conditions, such high winds and sea spray, can affect radiation detection equipment's performance and sustainability.

http://www.gao.gov/highlights/d05375high.pdf