LIVE THREAD: Senate Hearing: Briefing on Ports Deal (11:00 a.m. EST)

C-SPAN ^

[Howlin]

The Senate Armed Services Cmte. conducts an open briefing into the management of six American ports by Dubai Ports World. Sen. John Warner (R-VA) called the briefing to review national security issues raised by the deal, which transfers control from a British firm to one owned by the United Arab Emirates.

[Howlin]

FULL COMMITTEE MEMBERS

REPUBLICANS John Warner (Virginia) Chairman John McCain (Arizona) James M. Inhofe (Oklahoma) Pat Roberts (Kansas) Jeff Sessions (Alabama) Susan M. Collins (Maine) John Ensign (Nevada) James M. Talent (Missouri) Saxby Chambliss (Georgia) Lindsey O. Graham (South Carolina) Elizabeth Dole (North Carolina) John Cornyn (Texas) John Thune (South Dakota)

DEMOCRATS Carl Levin (Michigan) Ranking Member Edward M. Kennedy (Massachusetts) Robert C. Byrd (West Virginia) Joseph I. Lieberman (Connecticut) Jack Reed (Rhode Island) Daniel K. Akaka (Hawaii) Bill Nelson (Florida) E. Benjamin Nelson (Nebraska) Mark Dayton (Minnesota) Evan Bayh (Indiana) Hillary Rodham Clinton (New York)

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Should be interesting.

[dfwgator]

It's a done deal. The Senators just want their chance to bloviate on the matter and get their precious little sound bites for the evening news.

[MJY1288]

Warner has already said that he saw no problem with the deal

[Earthdweller]

"Chuckie not happy about the tide turning. My ship was coming in.."

[mnehring]

What can they legally do. The laws in place regarding this transaction were followed, with all the correct US and UK agencies approving the transaction. Can congress legally even retroactively change the law to block an already approved transaction.

IMHO, just more grandstanding by people addicted to TV cameras.

[Howlin]

***Let me take a moment here to apologize to some of you on the Live Thread ping list; I just this minute realized I did not cull the list and some of you are on it twice! I promise I'll fix it this weekend!***

[tiredoflaundry]

BTTT

[Txsleuth]

Wow...I figured ALL of the POTUS candidates would be there to campaign...but I see that Biden is missing this one..

What a shame!!!!

This is gonna be just so much POMPOSITY!!!

Everyone remember who watches this: This process was set up and voted on by the CONGRESS...so if they complain about not being "in on" the negotiations or vetting...it is THEIR FAULT!!!

[Howlin]

Ha! You pretty much nailed it!

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I detest that creature.

[sinkspur]

Will Lindsey attempt to take his foot out of his mouth during the hearing today?

He and Schumer suck up microphones like candy.

[tiredoflaundry]

Could you add me to the ping list please? :-)

[Howlin]

Watch Hillary's butt boy, Jackie Reed; he'll be doing her "biden" today.

[Howlin]

Sure.

[zarf]

Somewhere down the line we'll discover the Congress laid the ground work for this deal to occur.

The same Congress will blame everyone but themselves for any problems.

[Howlin]

I was just thinking about that; you and I both know that they are ALWAYS behind the curve on things like this; it's going to be fun watching them making their speeches based on yesterday's talking points.

I'm all for it; let's get them ON THE RECORD as being fools.

[TexasCajun]

I guess this is where democrats act like they are tough on national security.

These photo-ops are more about playing to your constituents than the real issue at hand.

Plenty of grandstanding and Bush-bashing, should be more entertaining then educational. ...we'll see.

[Howlin]

Why wait?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1583784/posts

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IIRC, if they go against this deal and vote it down, Bush will veto it, then congress will vote to override his veto. Don't 2/3 of both houses have to vote it down?

[MOgirl]

Hello,

Thanks for the ping. Unfortunately, duty calls and I will be out for a few hours. See you all soon!

Glad to be here (even when I'm not!), MOgirl

[commish]

heheheh and the Strategery continues.

The hearing will be held. The Reps in opposition will announce how they have seen the light and will support the deal. The Dems will continue to bloviate and look like obstructionist clowns.

And in the end Dubya will cock his head, give his trademark little smirk and say "now, what was all the fuss about" :-)

[Howlin]

Yes, both houses.

It's not going to happen.

[Pukin Dog]

I think we are going to hear lots of calls for patience, and delay of the deal. Senators will be trying hard to not appear racist and xenophobic, while at the same time doing all they can to blame Bush for the controversy because he didn't ask for their early blessing.

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I heard this was a 'done deal' in September. Curious that it is just now getting attention.

[Pukin Dog]

The Democrat talking point for the day: "What is the rush?"

[Howlin]

The Reps in opposition will announce how they have seen the light and will support the deal.

Yep; now where is TomGuy with his list of FOR and AGAINST?

It should be interesting to watch the names SHIFT.

[mnehring]

But, does congress have the authority to override the deal in the first place? Technically, I don't know if Bush even needs to veto it if it is bad law- it may be a symbolic gesture to slap their hands. This may be more of a Supreme Court issue to validate the legality of the original process and/or any changes congress may pass.

[commish]

IIRC, if they go against this deal and vote it down, Bush will veto it, then congress will vote to override his veto. Don't 2/3 of both houses have to vote it down?

The deal is done, Congress cannot vote it down. They will have to initiate a new bill and pass a new law/regulation that will negate the deal.

If that happens it just grows the government more, breaks down the separation of powers more, and adds even more red tape beaurocracy and regulation to the mix.

NOW does everyone understand why the DEMS are so in favor of doing this.

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I can't see the majority in both houses agreeing that water is wet.

[Pukin Dog]

But, does congress have the authority to override the deal in the first place?

No, they don't. Much worse is that they know they don't.

[LisaFab]

Just a chance for some bloviating face time. Watch others join DiFi in suggesting that the ports be federalized.

[Right_in_Virginia]

Thanks for the "ping". This should be interesting...

[debg]

I might add that the UAE was a member of the coalition(s) of nations for Gulf War I and II.

[EQAndyBuzz]

With this they should include the Saudis since the Saudis had 15 people participate in 9/11. Then maybe they should discuss opening ANWR.

In the event the Saudis, Iranians, Nigerians and Venezuelans close the oil spigots it will do more to harm national security than this deal.

[commish]

But, does congress have the authority to override the deal in the first place? Technically, I don't know if Bush even needs to veto it if it is bad law- it may be a symbolic gesture to slap their hands. This may be more of a Supreme Court issue to validate the legality of the original process and/or any changes congress may pass.

DING DING DING!!! You win the cookie!!! THis whole thing is about breaking down the Separation of powers and giving Congress more power and regulation control.

And the Dems, MSM etc have played on the xenophobes and worryworts to the hilt on this issue.

[EQAndyBuzz]

It is basically the government getting involved in a business transaction. What is to say that if you own a business and decide to sell it, the government won't get involved and tell you who you can and can't sell your business to.

[ken5050]

Thanks for starting..Note that C-span calls this an "open Briefing"..NOT a hearing per se..Freeper Cboldt called Warner's office to try an get a schedule..list of winesses,e c..nothing is available, nor listed on the committee website..

This sounds more like a televised BS session..will they have kegs?..amazing (NOT!!) thatall tese senators would rush bakc to DC when the Senate is in recess..

[ken5050]

And today's BIG question is: Who briefs the briefers?"

[farmer18th]

Warner has already said that he saw no problem with the deal

Isn't he the one that saw no problem with Liz Taylor when she was yelling at fried microwave chicken to hurry up and finish?

Personally, I've learned to stop worrying about Muslim control of vital U.S. Ports because, heah, this is a deal and someone is going to make some money off of it and if we have to increase the risk of a dirty bomb coming in on a container ship, well, heck, that's the price we pay for free markets. Isn't it boys?

[ken5050]

FYI.over here..

[Dane]

Thank you for starting the live thread, should be interesting hearing all the bloviating especially from hillary.

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I heard this was a 'done deal' in September. Curious that it is just now getting attention.

Dems have yet to get their "cartoon" moment.

[mnehring]

They will have to initiate a new bill and pass a new law/regulation that will negate the deal.

That may not even fly, after all, this is a deal between a company in the UK and a company in the UAE. The US involvement would be to approve the newly merged company's license in the US. Depending on the existing contract between us and P&O, this may be even further out of congressional hands that I even could guess.

Because, technically, Dubai Ports World is owned by financial conglomerates (not the UAE as has been misreported..) that we do have non restricted business agreements with (such as Deutsch Bank and Citigroup), we not only risk having these container facilities shut down during the bloviating, but we also risk our relationships with the institutions that hold most of DPW.

[processing please hold]

But, does congress have the authority to override the deal in the first place?

I think so if they have the 2/3 majority.

This may be more of a Supreme Court issue to validate the legality of the original process and/or any changes congress may pass.

I wonder how long that process would take, the SC aspect of it.

This entire story should have been in the news months ago. I guess the media was too busy trying to impeach Bush and all his ancestors.

[hipaatwo]

Can you put me on the list please :)

[mnehring]

And the Dems, MSM etc have played on the xenophobes and worryworts to the hilt on this issue.

This has been an almost flawless strategy by the left to split our side.. just read the blogs and all the boards here.. Don't doubt for a moment that having Jimmy Carter agree with Bush was part of the strategy to make many on the right puke at the deal.

[confederacy of dunces]

Be right back. Need to fetch my rubber arrows and some snacks.