House Agrees To Vote On Ports

[cal04]

Showdown With President Likely
Efforts by the White House to hold off legislation challenging a Dubai-owned company's acquisition of operations at six major U.S. ports collapsed yesterday when House Republican leaders agreed to allow a vote next week that could kill the deal. Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) will attach legislation to block the deal today to a must-pass emergency spending bill funding the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A House vote on the measure next week will set up a direct confrontation with President Bush, who sternly vowed to veto any bill delaying or stopping Dubai Ports World's purchase of London-based Peninsular & Oriental Steamship Co.

"Listen, this is a very big political problem," said House Majority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio), explaining that he had to give his rank-and-file members a chance to vote. "There are two things that go on in this town. We do public policy, and we do politics. And you know, most bills at the end of the day, the politics and the policy kind of come together, but not always. And we are into one of these situations where this has become a very hot political potato."

Ron Bonjean, spokesman for House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), said GOP leadership is "endorsing the viewpoint of our members and Chairman Lewis that we do not believe the U.S. should allow a government-owned company to operate American ports." White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said last night that the administration is "committed to keeping open and sincere lines of communication with Congress." She added, though, that "the president's position is unchanged." Since the Dubai port issue exploded last month, the Bush administration, GOP leaders and DP World officials have tried to defuse the situation and to buy time to let the issue fade.

(snip, 2nd page)
DP World officials suggested yesterday that within days, Peninsular & Oriental's operations will belong to them, no matter what Congress does.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/07/AR2006030701229.html

[annabanana]

1. Wow... Is it just me or is this a biggie?

I thought there was a workaround on the table wherein Dubai would subcontract the physical operation of the ports to a US company... (huh.. probably Halliburton)

Is that compromise dead?

[Patchuli]

3. Nope, it's not just you!

I would just feel sooo much safer with Halliburton
protecting and bilking me! Geez, a great white or
a wolf...which do I have a bigger chance of survival
with?

:think: I got one!! How about NOT outsourcing our frigging
port security and having AMERICAN governmental workers take on
our security?!!! Oh how I loathe these people...

[TahitiNut]

2. I'd love to see Junior block spending for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Petard. Hoist 'em!

[annabanana]

4. It would give me the giggling fits to see this

come to a big puss filled head...

[TahitiNut]

6. Yes. Schadenfreude is a heady brew.

:dunce: Better than a Berliner Weisse.

[The_Casual_Observer]

5. jr will quietly beg Dubai to back out of the deal.

jr can't show the fact that he has sold his soul to them.

[FreedomAngel82]

9. Or do it under the rug

[librechik]

7. yea, this will make the Pukkkes look good to the folks back home

in November. Even tho it won't change anything.-- Worst case scenario: Dubai gets an American or Canadian front company and "free trade" marches on.

Corporations are the real rulers, all over the globe.

[FreedomAngel82]

8. They're trying to make it go away

Sweep it under the rug.

[Sensitivity]

10. Bush was about to Shoot his Party in the Face -- then they ducked

Unfortunately some Democrats joined the NeoCons in sounding the alarm and possibly saving
the republican congress from a Nov massacre.

I know a little about the industry and I think Kerry and Clark were the ones playing it right
-- point out Bush incompetence and unmask the corruption, but don't create an unnecessary scare.

Goodnight, and good luck.