Posted on 3/10/2006, 8:13:44 AM by KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle
March 10, 2006 -- DUBYA'S LUCKY LOSS ON PORTS
GEORGE Bush's enemies are excited. The Dubai ports deal is dead. The president had said he would veto any attempt by Congress to block it - but a House committee vote Wednesday with the insanely lopsided margin of 62-2 hollowed out his threat and left its husk to rot. (The Dubai company sure doesn't see much hope: It announced yesterday that it will sell off its U.S. port work.)
Surely, his enemies say, this is curtains for Bush. Republicans are fleeing from him, he can't keep his troops in line - and he can't work his will. He's become a lame duck, they say.
Wrong. Just as with his last serious political miscalculation, Bush has actually been saved by the very forces in his own governing coalition that are opposing him.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
The pandering morons who were fighting the deal didn't have pure motives and they certainly weren't doing it for our security. It was a calculated move designed to whip up the emotions of people who get their news from soundbites. It sure is easier to fan the flames than to educate your constituents.
I really hope the people saying no one will remember this by November are right, but I have my doubts. This will likely be the closest thing to a victory Dems have had since Bush got elected. They will NEVER shut up about it.
Congress didn't save the president, DPW backed out.
I have no doubt that Dubai has given us some assistance in pursuing al Qaeda. But it is still a cowardly emirate that will not do or say anything publicly to advance the fight against bin Ladenism, and while it may not be an enemy, it is neither a friend nor an ally.
It is wrong to ascribe popular feeling against the deal to isolationism. The American people can't make sense out of which side Dubai is on, and they don't think it should be that hard a call. They believe in the fight, and their continued support for it is the best news the embattled Bush presidency could have."
Actually this is a very good and balanced article and right on the money.
That was actually a pretty good biography.
The best one written on that subject.
Congress stabbed the president in the back. multiple times and the Ides of March are still several days away...NOT that President Bush is anything like Julius Caesar, but our Congresscritters ARE very like the ancient Roman ones.
Being for it before actually being against it.
I've never seen such widespread incompetance from our elected officials, be it Democrat or Republican.
I think your analysis is very astute. Congress is very much like the Roman Senate, the president is very much like the Principate, and even has many of the same powers. The people themselves seem to have much in common with the People of Ancient Rome.
Agreed.
Four years of Latin and a lifelong interest in and study of Ancient Rome comes in handy, sometimes. :-)
I agree. The Democrats want to win the House and Senate back, and the congressional Republicans are on their own to hold their seats, or pick up any gains. If they don't distance themselves from this administration (on almost every issue except the WOT), the Democrats will sweep both houses of Congress.
Republican voters overwhelmingly support the War on Terror and our military, no matter how much the Democrats and their media protest. While we have troops on the ground, there is little Congress can do (constructively) while the war game plays out. For Republicans, it is a non-issue in this election cycle, other than to say, "we support our troops, and we support the War on Terrorism."
Republican voters overwhelmingly oppose the administration on the wide-open borders, the various amnesty proposals, offshore outsourcing, increasing H-1B visas, "free-trade" give-aways at taxpayer expense, and unprecedented socialist spending. The Democrats love all these socialist, anti-American deals, couldn't accomplish this level of treason when they had the power, and they aren't about to critize them to any great extent now.
Bush isn't standing for re-election; the entire House and one-third of the Senate are. On all the above issues, the Administration is aligned with the Democrats. If Republicans want to keep their seats, they will have to at least pretend to recognize the issues that matter to Republican voters.
The former-Democrat, current neo-con, free-traitors are too few in number to keep them in office.
Yes, a knowledge of Ancient Rome will definitely help one understand the politics and government of the US better, especially since the Founders designed the system based on their knowledge of Ancient Rome and its politics. Under the Original Constitutional design, it seems that the House of Representatives emulated the Assembly of the People of Rome, while the Senate emulated somewhat the Senate of Rome, and the Presidency was designed like the principate. The powers of the principate included Imperium Maiorum (which we might associate with the US President's role as Commander in Chief), the power to appoint many officials and magistrates of the government, as well as Tribunicias potestas (which would include veto power).
But when America abandoned having Senators chosen, for having them elected , it still didn't keep the Senate from being the equivalent of the English HOUSE OF LORDS, nor the blue bloods of Ancient Rome. LOL
That list is YOUR hobby horse; NOT the worries and concerns of most Americans.
Yep. Mostly bread and circuses....
You obviously don't talk or listen to many people outside your little circle.
More important, the public reaction to the ports deal indicates that the American people are still very much committed to the War on Terror. They understand that Arab nations of the Persian Gulf cannot be and should not be deemed reliable colleagues in our struggle against militant, extremist Islam.
I have no doubt that Dubai has given us some assistance in pursuing al Qaeda. But it is still a cowardly emirate that will not do or say anything publicly to advance the fight against bin Ladenism, and while it may not be an enemy, it is neither a friend nor an ally.
Yep. Mostly bread and circuses....
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