GOP Attempt to Block Challenge to Ports Deal Collapses

Washington Post ^ | 3/7/06 | Jonathan Weisman

[mathprof]

Efforts by Republican leaders to hold off legislation challenging a Dubai-owned firm's acquisition of operations at six major U.S. ports collapsed today when House leaders agreed to allow a vote next week that could kill the deal.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) will attach the legislation as early as Wednesday 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 has vowed to veto any bill delaying or stopping Dubai Ports World's purchase of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co.

"Listen, this is a very big political problem," said House Majority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), explaining that he had to give his rank-and-file members a chance to vote on the issue. "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."

Since the Dubai port issue exploded last month, the Bush administration, GOP leaders and DP World officials have tried to calm the political waters. In a deal brokered by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), DP World resubmitted its acquisition this week to the administration for a 45-day national security investigation.

[stand4somethin]

"i am beginning to think there are more anti port pubbies"

did you count me?
I'm in

[bayourant]

Exactly. Well said. I dont get this attitude of pure venom toward Bush.

[Mo1]

By that logic .. then Roe v. Wade will never be overturned

[jneesy]

"Calling us ignorant or racists... " You prefer...? how about freeper or man or dude or whatever but you will learn (or maybe not)that the first one to throw insults are usually on the wrong side of an arguement (just watch a dim in a debate}

[bayourant]

I would support a Veto. This congressman can wait the proper time period. If he wants to be President let him run in 2008. In the end I am hoping this Rider goes away in conference.

[processing please hold]

They sound like Jackson, Sharpton, McKinney, cair, and all the other crackpots every time they throw it out. Pathetic. Right out of the dims play book. You don't like what some are saying when they don't lockstep behind you...call 'em racist.

[jneesy]

Exactly. Well said. I dont get this attitude of pure venom toward Bush. as i dont understand the blind support for him no matter how bad the idea

[processing please hold]

Huh? When did you get that poll?

Here it is.

Support

49.1%

Oppose

37.9%

Undecided

13.0%

[Old_Mil]

The latest numbers: After a few days of fact finding and debate, do you now support or oppose the Dubai Ports deal?

Support -49.1%
Oppose - 37.9%
Undecided -13.0%

At any rate, even though 'only' 30something percent oppose it, your margin is only 1 out of 10. And that's at a website as conservative as this one.

If you go out on the street, cut your # in half, and double ours. The port deal is finished, the only question remaining to be settled is whether neoconservatism will be finished along with it.

[Reagan Man]

>>>>By that logic .. then Roe v. Wade will never be overturned

How do you figure? If there is five votes to overturn Roe v Wade, its gets overturned. Fact is, the line item veto was used by Slick 84 times in 18 months. The USSC said it gave the POTUS too much "unilateral power". I thought you meant in an after the fact type of case, should Congress approve the line item veto for Bush today.

[processing please hold]

If you go out on the street, cut your # in half, and double ours.

In your dreams maybe. The majority of Americans hate this deal.

[bayourant]

Have you noticed what the anti port people have been calling us. How about the word TRAITOR.

[Cboldt]

Remind to NEVER again tell you that you are right, when you are, because you're just a paranoid, stupid, jerk!

                              _   /|
                              \`O.o'
                              =(_ _)=
                                 U

                              Thbbbt!

[processing please hold]

I haven't personally done did.(that I can remember) How does it feel to be called a traitor? Probably the same way some feel being called racist.

[Mo1]

The proposal for the line item veto by the President is not the same as what Clinton had

Bush is asking for one before a final vote on a bill is to be voted on by Congress .. not after

[Old_Mil]

If you go out on the street, cut your # in half, and double ours. In your dreams maybe. The majority of Americans hate this deal.

As do I...that's what I meant. I doubt that there would be a single poll, anywhere in this nation, where sentiment for killing this deal (and for that matter, undoing deals with Saudi, etc) would poll less than 70%. This was a political and strategic turkey from the day it was conceived.

[bayourant]

Its not blind support. Yeah I have heard the quip of "our dear leader". Again why cant we wait for the 45 day review. Why attach this to an emergency spending bill for the troops. Where is our moral high ground when the dems to the same on some pet issue of theirs. This is being used by certain Conservatives for a certain agenda. There is no other explanination for it that this rider must be attaced now.

[mrsmith]

click on the details.

You will see the Freeper vote is as I stated.
(You guys are not defending yourselves from the "ignorant" charge very well LOL!)

But seriesly... it is significant that 1/3 of Freepers oppose the deal.

[Old_Mil]

Have you noticed what the anti port people have been calling us. How about the word TRAITOR.

Now wait a minute. I oppose the deal and I'm not running around calling everyone who supports it a traitor. I'm sure there are some people out there who, driven by a profit motive, are perfectly willing to sacrifice our safety for a buck. I would like to think that such people are in the minority.

I suspect the mistake made by most port supporters is that they've bought into Bush's concept that Islam is a religion of peace, trust Bush when he says that a country like the UAE isn't a threat, and are in this way misguided.