I guess that was small p political, small c capital that Bush was talking about spending after the election ehh?
Posted by snark at March 9, 2006 12:08 PMso this allows both Democratic and Republican Congressmen to be able to say they derailed the deal... everyone wins...
I wanted to see the weasel back off his veto pledge...
Posted by Lefty at March 9, 2006 12:28 PMNeed to read Digby today. cleve
Posted by at March 9, 2006 12:32 PMif
yeah, that's about it. We'll be right over here waiting........
Posted by Zappatero at March 9, 2006 12:52 PMROFL!!!
Bush isn't just a lame duck; he's a dead duck.
I have this image of him sitting on the porch at Camp David, widdling away on a stick and longing for the day he and Pickles can return to the Crawford, TX pig farm once and for all.
When Mr. Bush first entered the White House, he must've stood 5'10", but today, he's shrunk to a miniscule 5'7" of "DL" cowboy.
Posted by Christopher at March 9, 2006 12:59 PMThis is all show and no substance. Digby thinks so and I agree: DPW wouldn't back down and NOT get their money. What is the shell company that will be set up in the U.S.? I figured the businessmen would find a way around Congress. The main thing I cared about is that the country got their grubby, Al Quaeda-laundering-money fingers off any security aspect of the ports. But will Lou Dobbs and the public go to sleep on this?
Posted by Mr Larry at March 9, 2006 01:15 PMMr. Larry, I think any shell company will get so much scrutiny now, that any attempt to slide this through like that will fail.
Posted by Steve Soto at March 9, 2006 01:43 PMMr. Larry, I think any shell company will get so muchs scrutiny now, that any attempt to slide this through like that will fail.
I don't know, Steve. They've made their political point. The voters have heard "American company" that may be all it takes. How else do you make certain that DPI has no financial loss from this? Are we giving international corporate welfare now, too?
Posted by ann at March 9, 2006 01:51 PMI suspect we've been doing international corporate welfare for a while now...
Posted by Steve Soto at March 9, 2006 01:55 PMCan you say Halliburton or a subsidiary. That would be my thought.
Posted by Mark H. at March 9, 2006 01:59 PMCan you say Carlyle Group?
Posted by tirade at March 9, 2006 01:59 PMSomeone just saw Mike Brown boarding a plane headed to Dubai!
Posted by snark at March 9, 2006 02:02 PMWhichever American company gets the deal the key to watch will be how it treats organized labor.
Posted by bbtb at March 9, 2006 02:08 PMI suspect we've been doing international corporate welfare for a while now...
*banging head on desk*
Damn those poor people sucking up our resources! If we could just quit all this spending on social services!
Posted by ann at March 9, 2006 02:19 PMI loved the pictures on TV of the military brass, Rummy the Dummy and his heir apparent, Joementum, whining to the cameras about what a good friend to the USA the UAE is.
Posted by Christopher at March 9, 2006 02:27 PMThe good news is that MSNBC has headlined a story that scientists have discovered a living class of rodent thought to have been extinct for 11 million years. The bad news is it's living in the White House.
Can these people get any lower?
Posted by PretzelsOne at March 9, 2006 02:35 PM"Rummy the Dummy" also said today that the Iraqi security forces can deal with the civil war. WHAT Iraqi security forces? Last I heard, they have no battalions prepared to defend the country. Isn't that why we're there, because they can't protect themselves?
Posted by ann at March 9, 2006 02:38 PM"If Democrats were smart and able to pivot quickly"
yeah, if.
WHAT Iraqi security forces? Last I heard, they have no battalions prepared to defend the country. Isn't that why we're there, because they can't protect themselves?
Ann, excellent point. I guess Rummy can't keep his lies straight. So based on Rummy's remarks, we can start pulling out.
Posted by Judith at March 9, 2006 03:11 PMHalliburton would be almost as bad, politically,right now(like they care). I'm betting Carlyle somehow
Posted by palolo lolo at March 9, 2006 03:35 PMann,
Sources tell me that Joementum is on Bush's shortlist to replace Rummy the Dummy at the end of the year when he retires.
Can you imagine THAT mess?
Joementum is more of a hawk than Cheney.
Day Late, Dollar Short
Harry Reid must be feeliing like a guy who missed his flight to Hawaii today.
In a press conference this morning, flanked by Schumer and other Crat movers and shakers, Reid demanded a floor vote on the Dubai deal.
Unfortunately, the Republcians already killed the deal in the House yesterday and Dubai Ports World has withdrawn it petition, saying that it would sell the P&O's American interests to a domestic entity.
Reid and the Democrats missed what has to be their single best opportunity to take the whip hand on national security and flog the Republican for a change.
Of course, there is still plenty of work to be done. Senator Schumer and Clinton's home ports are effectively run by the mafia according to a Homeland Security report. Perhaps the good Senators can explain what they intend to do about that mess.
Posted by peter at March 9, 2006 03:48 PMSenator Schumer and Clinton's home ports are effectively run by the mafia according to a Homeland Security report. Perhaps the good Senators can explain what they intend to do about that mess.
Why is it that you people hate Italian-Americans so much? Gosh, Republicans sure are filled with hate...
Posted by dj moonbat at March 9, 2006 03:55 PMSteve:
...allow a transaction that would position Nancy Pelosi to their right on national security?
...GOP tell us why that isn't necessary and keep them on the run, and to the left of House and Senate Democrats on national security.
the position is not to the "left"-it's to the "wrong." very important distinction.
Ha! Over two weeks ago I wrote in jest:
Following the suprise announcement out of Dubai that the UAE was withdrawing it's bid to take over US ports, President Bush made the following announcement:
"Uh, yeah. Listen, it's the President's job to to keep all of you safe from the Islamic terror-faschoids so I've made the following really hard decision to award Halliburton a cost-plus contract to manage all our nation's ports, airports, train stations, bus terminals and taxicabs. Additionally they will patrol sidewalks nationwide to keep you safe. You will be able to apply for a permit to leave your home subject to Halliburton/NSA approval shortly. Until then, you can make like the Vice-President and bunker down. Heh Heh Heh. That was a joke - get it?"
Republicans cheered madly for their Commander-in-Chief while whining democrat-types probably did their usual bitching.
- Fox News, Fair and Balanced
dijorno lunar chiroptera: I godda couzen who works da docks in Joizey, I don EVA ax im boud iz bidnezz. Foughgeddaboudid.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 9, 2006 04:14 PMKarl's about due for a brain tumor.
Posted by ken melvin at March 9, 2006 04:15 PMAt this time I prefer the Mafia in our ports over the 'Mafia' that's in our White House!!
The Mafia completes the job with some sort of competency and efficiency!
Mob control of the ports?
Damn Peter, what decade are you in, the 1950's?
Posted by herbal tee at March 9, 2006 04:40 PMKarl HAS a brain tumor, which explains the horrible decisions. Hey, Melman, is it true you used to "hang" with Jackoff?
bb: You have to unload containers with the Mafia you have, not the Mafia you'd like to have.
I have space reserved for you and your species on the Tempe Ark. And so he spake, "let the skies open upon us".
Posted by TIKI AL at March 9, 2006 04:44 PMDigby's tagged it.
It was my first reaction when I read the "news" this morning. Doncha just hate it went complete and utter cynicism turns out to be truth??
Sources tell me that Joementum is on Bush's shortlist to replace Rummy the Dummy at the end of the year when he retires. Can you imagine THAT mess?
I've heard that rumor for a while now. But frankly, I don't see Rummy going anywhere, given Bush's "Stand By Your Man" mantra. And as much as Joementum loves the Bushies, I don't think Bush would appoint a Dem to any office. (That would be like Abramoff inviting a Dem to his restaurant - never gonna happen.) Joe would have to switch parties officially, and I don't think he will.
Posted by ann at March 9, 2006 06:19 PMSenator Schumer and Clinton's home ports are effectively run by the mafia according to a Homeland Security report. Perhaps the good Senators can explain what they intend to do about that mess.
The Sopranos begin Sunday, so the mob-deprived will soon have their fix.
Posted by Christopher at March 9, 2006 06:19 PMShorter Peter:
The idiot in the WH is now going to pick a fight with the longshoremen. Pop the popcorn guys and enjoy the show!
The idiot in the WH is now going to pick a fight with the longshoremen.
I think the longshoremen will end up being the big winners from this whole DPW business.
Posted by dj moonbat at March 9, 2006 07:36 PMDid y'all hear that protests against the guv'ment in England has been outlawed? Protests against anything is a crime? Sheeuuttt! Something stinks about this port deal falling through. It's too neat a death.
Posted by Mal Feasance at March 9, 2006 07:37 PMI'm with Digby and Mr. Larry....
....however in addition to getting their compensation for the deal, I'm sure that part of the deal was the "Dubai Backs Down" headline for domestic consumption so as to give Bush an out.
This has nothing to do with domestic security, but everything to do with the rich boy club. Bush isn't a racist, he just has contempt for the "little people".
Posted by Simp at March 9, 2006 07:37 PMIn other words, Simp, he's classist.
Posted by iamcoyote at March 9, 2006 07:51 PMPersonally, I think the Republicans in Congress came out the winners on this one, and they'll be sure to let all of us know that leading up to the November elections. I still think the DP World deal was a red herring set up by the administration to prop up Republicans in Congress in advance of the elections. It sllowed them to "stand up" to a president whose approval ratings have been in the shitter for some time. It also allowed them to move their message to one of national security from one of ethics violations and indictments. DP World's quick retreat from this deal confirmed the set-up.
Well, you may say, the thing helped Democrats, too, right? Well, not really. The Dems need to pick up seats, while the Repubs just need to retain what they have in order to retain majority status. And what the Bush administration needs more than ever is to ENSURE that Republicans retain their majority status. To lose that would open up a Pandora's Box of problems for Bush. Republicans come away from this looking like they stood up to the unpopular Bush and took a stand for national security.
More brilliant election strategy from the right. Deception and chicanery is what makes it all work so well.
Have you heard?
DP World may sell its US operations to Halliburton!
Cheney will get the last laugh.
Posted by Christopher at March 9, 2006 09:44 PMTrouble is there are very few (try one, I can't remember the name) American companies that can actually run ports. There's one mentioned on the News Hour that's based in Seattle, and that's it. This was outsourced decades ago before anyone started paying attention. So, now, if not DPW, then who? Yeah, might end up being Haliburton. Wouldn't that be... um, sweet is not the word I'm thinking of. Gimme a minute...
Posted by Mr Larry at March 10, 2006 12:29 AMDrewL Bucket, it also got the NSA spying issue out of the news permanently.
Posted by Judith at March 10, 2006 05:00 AMIt is the Republicans that are getting the credit for the failure of the Dubai Ports Deal according to Timmy on Today's Show this morning. Not Republicans and Democrats. You all are right, I smell something rotting in this deal.
Posted by Judith at March 10, 2006 05:17 AMTimmeh seems to be missing the big story: The crack up of the GOP. And this story isn't finished yet. We don't know what is going to happen with the ports.
Posted by Ga6thDem at March 10, 2006 08:16 AMhi,
point of Dubai deal isn't control of US ports but transfer of worldwide ownership & liabilities of Penninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co., have put stuffed animal cartoon on ebay titled "Martial arts mouse re Dubai deal" tiny url below:
"http://tinyurl.com/fd9md>
As description says, if anyone wants to cut, paste, print for noncommercial use, please do.
Posted by Michael McIntyre at March 10, 2006 11:45 AM
try again:
in any case, it's findable on e-bay under "plushtown"
Posted by Michael McIntyre at March 10, 2006 11:49 AMI found this sticking out of a mailbox in my building. Think it means anything?
Posted by kirby gnilis at March 12, 2006 06:36 PM