Democrats Want Immediate Vote on Port Deal

[cal04]

Democrats used their weekly radio address Saturday to scold the Bush administration over the Dubai ports management deal. The address also gave a national stage to the party's candidate to replace former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., who was sentenced Friday to eight years and four months in prison for corruption.

Francine Busby, a school board member in a San Diego-area district, said Democrats want an immediate vote on the controversial ports deal, an increase in the screening of arriving cargo and more resources for the Coast Guard.
Congressional GOP leaders want to wait for the results of the administration's new investigation of DP World, a company owned by the government of Dubai, one of the United Arab Emirates, before considering legislation to delay or block it on security grounds.

The government initially approved DP World's $6.8 billion purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co., which would let the company take over significant operations at six major U.S. ports. But last weekend, the Bush administration agreed to a 45-day investigation of potential security risks to quell a political backlash. House Democrats tried to force a debate and vote on legislation Thursday that would require the 45-day security review and congressional approval of the takeover. That effort failed on a procedural, largely party-line vote.

"Given the record of this administration, 'trust us' is not a safe enough answer for the American people," Busby said, accusing the administration and Republican-led Congress of underfunding ports security and ignoring warnings on Hurricane Katrina. "At our ports, like our borders, Americans expect and deserve a Congress committed to stopping people who are intent on breaking the law," she said. Busby did not mention Cunningham in her broadcast but promised to be "an independent voice" in Congress. She faces several Republicans in a special election April 11 to replace Cunningham in the strongly Republican 50th Congressional District that takes in suburbs and beaches north of San Diego. Cunningham resigned last year and pleaded guilty to accepting $2.4 million from defense contractors and others in exchange for steering government contracts their way.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060304/ap_on_go_co/democrats_ports_security

[salin]

1. the public just isn't buying the "trust us", nor is it buying

that a bush friendly review will review anything. Poor GOPers - put in a bullied position by Rovebushco to protect bush, at a time when the public not only questions the credibility of bush - but is now starting to draw all sorts of ugly conclusions about the motives of bushco - not just on the ports deal... but going back in time to most of the bushco era policy pushes.

[CountAllVotes]

2. Interesting strategy ...

If they have the vote now, it might not pass given the recent happenings and also the fact that many of the GOP don't like this port deal anymore than we do.

If they vote now, it might be Nay Nay Nay all the way on it!!

If they keep going and wait the 45 days, this is 45 days that "they" have to cut more ugly back door deals and 45 days to convince people what a great idea this *really* is.

To me, this port deal is a nightmare. Two of the hijackers from 911 were on those planes and they were from the UAE. Why in the hell would anyone in the United States what a deal cut with them so they basically own 6++++ ports here in America?!!! I for one say NO NO NO! This is like closing the barn door open after the horse has already run out.

So, yeah, vote now before they manage to brainwash the Senate, pull off more arm twisted deals and close this horrific port deal in the middle of the night whilst no one is watching.

WE THE PEOPLE ARE GETTING DAMNED FED UP!!!! :grr:

America's ports ARE NOT for sale!!!


:dem: :kick:

[gizmo1979]

6. Brilliant a yea vote

shows you're weak on terrorism.This is going to blow the Repukes out of the water.Their own tacticsbackfiring on their sorry asses!

[VegasWolf]

3. Off hand, an immediate vote now sounds pretty silly. Why not milk

this damn thing for all its worth? Dem "leadership" I guess.

[TheCowsCameHome]

7. This is the gift that keeps on giving - drag it out for all it's worth.

[Rose Siding]

12. But calling for one is a good idea. Frist/Hastert would never be so

rebellious as to bring the issue to a vote, and this suggestion puts the repubs squarely on the side of The Deal. What *does* have to happen in order to milk this, is to keep it on the front burner. This headline helps to do that.

Smart, too, that the messenger is the Democratic alternative for the criminal Cunningham's district.

[rodeodance]

4. umm. House Dems tried to force a vote on this on Thrus.

House Democrats tried to force a debate and vote on legislation Thursday that would require the 45-day security review and congressional approval of the takeover. That effort failed on a procedural, largely party-line vote.

[MetaTrope]

5. So it's STILL "six major U.S. ports" rather than "21 U.S. ports"?

The media whores certainly goosestep in lockstep, don't they?

[joanski0]

8. Senator Byron Dorgan made a Floor

Speech on this Friday morning. He said he didn't need 45 days, and he didn't need 45 minutes, to decide that this is a bad deal. He said he was introducing legislation to kill this deal. It's as simple as that, he said.

[twaddler01]

9. Think what would have happened if this deal didn't

get out TO the public :scared:

[High Plains]

10. Probably absolutely nothing.

The containers go in, the containers go out...

[goforit]

11. It's about time the Dems figure out that delays are a scam.