Republicans: Ports Deal Doomed in Congress

[Eugene]

Republicans: Ports Deal Doomed in Congress


Thursday March 9, 2006 5:16 PM

AP Photo DCEV102

By ANDREW TAYLOR

Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican congressional leaders told President Bush Thursday his plan allowing
a company owned by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to take control of some
U.S. port operations faces certain defeat in Congreess, GOP officials said.

Bush, however, insisted again that he would veto the legislation if it reaches his desk.

The GOP leaders conveyed the news one day after a House comittee voted 62-2 to block the deal and
Senate Democrats demanded a vote.

<snip>

The House panel's vote spurred calls by Democrats in the Senate.

"I admire what the House did," Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor.
"They said we know the president feels strongly about this. We know he said he's going to veto this.
But we're going to do it because we think we have an obligation to our constituents."

<snip>

Full article: http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5673788,00.html

[DS1]

1. Nice move, Rove.

Bush is out anyway, he doesn't give a rat's ass about the public's opinion, and now the GOP can say they did their own thing and tried to protect 'Murka.

:applause:

[central scrutinizer]

2. bingo!

a nice softball, right over the heart of the plate, to help them cover their asses and pretend they are independent

[saigon68]

3. dubya the wonder monkey and his veto pen

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. But here's the question: do they mean it, or is it a win-win lie?

Is this a chance for the republicans to lie through their teeth about how horrible this is, making all sorts of public outcries and looking like they don't want it and want to block it, to make them look good to their constituents, while actually wanting it to happen and knowing that the president, who will suffer no fallout from it, to take the heat?

This way, the congresspeople get to look they are standing up to the dictator, so they look better, even while secretly agreeing with him.

Or do they truly disagree with the president, and are they being honest?

The republicans have cried "wolf" and played these games for so long, it's impossible to tell where the lies end and the truth begins; or when they're being serious, or when they're just being false.

[Dhalgren]

7. If Bush vetoes the port block, then it will come up for an

over-ride. If the Republicans won't over-ride the veto, then I think the public will know that the Congress caved - it can't be a "win-win", because someone, at the point of over-ride will lose...

[foreverdem]

9. They're looking out for their own asses

This is their chance to fool their constituents into thinking that they are really strong on homeland security, so they have a chance of being re elected in November. I'll bet this is the first of many phony "outreaches to their constituents" these repukes will make from now until November. If it makes * look bad, who cares, * is not up for re election, they are. And * is so unpopular now, it would actually serve them better to distance themselves from him.

[Kagemusha]

5. I don't get it... how are they going to stop the port deal?

How is that going to be legal? If the government has no national security justification, how is it not going to be some kind of bill of attainder? Or are they going to allow the buyout of P&O's US port operations, and just not allow Dubai Ports World to operate, and thus bring commerce at those ports to a crashing halt?

[Fridays Child]

6. Prediction: Bush will retaliate and start an all out war with the 'pukes.

But will Dems have the sense to exploit it? Will they re-introduce the drive to investigate wiretapping? Because I think it's the single most impeachable crime B*sh has perpetrated--aside from the slaughter of thousands at home and abroad, that is.

[m0nkeyneck]

8. it's a scam to distance GOP...

politicians up for election this year from bush and his lousy approval rating.

99.9% of the population will fall for it as usual.