MSNBC >> David Gregory re: Dubai deal: Cover For the White House?

[sabra]

http://dailynightly.msnbc.com/2006/03/cover_for_the_w.html

Cover for the White House?
Posted by David Gregory, Chief White House Correspondent (02:14 pm ET, 03/ 9/06)

If you saw today's White House briefing, none of us could believe that Scott McClellan was backing off the President's threat to veto any attempt to derail the ports deal -- allowing Dubai Ports World to assume management of major U.S. seaports. But he was, and minutes later we find out there is a deal: DPW will transfer management of the U.S. ports to a U.S. entity, thus giving the White House some cover.

The White House says they only knew of "rumors" of a deal, but one wonders whether there was coordination between the White House, DPW and Sen. John Warner, R-Va., who announced the agreement. It's clear the White House knew, especially after meeting with congressional leaders this morning, that Congress was prepared to buck him on this.

No one here wanted the President to veto his own party, so leave it to DPW, the state-run company no one apparently trusts to manage U.S. ports, to be the great peace broker in Washington! More to come of course.

[napi21]

1. Oh, I'm sure this was a deal created to give Shrub a way to save face.

I can't get a real feel for how much it was an attempt to boost the rep. of the Pubs in Congress, but I'm sure that played a part too.

[Roland99]

2. I can't imagine it's about the President.

Losing control of Congress in '06 would be more damaging.

[napi21]

3. WHY? Shrub has an ego the size of the universe, and he does

still have a few very powerful friends in Congress. EVERY "leader" wants a face saving way out of an unwinnable situation.

[gkhouston]

4. these aren't mutually exclusive concerns

Losing control of Congress means impeachment. Yeah, I can believe the WH would push for this in a (IMO futile) effort to get this PR nightmare off the public's mind. I'm waiting for the backfire, because I fully expect the buyer to be a crony.

[Roland99]

7. Good point re: Chimpeachment.

[Norquist Nemesis]

5. "The White House says they only knew of "rumors" " is BS!!!

Utterly, outright BULLSHIT!

There is absolutely NO WAY the White House was just hearing 'rumors'. In fact, I'd be willing to be my first born that they helped to craft and approve the press release from DPW.

"Rumors"? No Fucking Way! It's not how business OR politics is done ...ESPECIALLY with something this big!

[BuyingThyme]

6. If they're leaving a door open, or putting a false face on this

in any way, we can REALLY put it to 'em.