Port (not wine) Issue
 

So? Whats the relevance of that distinction? Would you be more comfortable with a private Dubai contractor buying that British firm?

If anything, that the purchasing entity is state controlled augurs in favor of Bush's position.

But don't let me stop a good scandal. Carry on, by all means. And cite some bloggers for support. I'm really interested to hear what Kos has to say about it.

ETA: I will give you this... This GOP and Dem hand wringing over a non-issue shows the parties can unite when it comes to making asses of themselves.

Port (not wine) Issue
 

I have a hard time seeing a distinction that matters, but I suppose the thinking is that with more direct government control, they could directly infiltrate the company with their supposed terrorist program and implement it in US ports, whereas a privately held company would resist those efforts. Considering how compliant (or complicit) the telcos have been in assisting NSA's unlawful domestic surveillance program, I'm not sure it matters a whit whether a company is government owned.

ETA: And if anyone things a privately owned company will impose adequate security to the point that government oversight and security is obviated, well, go ahead and let the airlines run security like they did pre-9/11.

Port (not wine) Issue
 

I don't know that is, but "thinking" is not the noun I'd choose.

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

Is this inconsistency akin to the liberals being against the port deal on the basis of "racial profiling"?

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

No.

eta:

But thanks for asking.

And if it is, I don't really care about whether liberals (?) are being hypocritical here -- I care much more about the separation of powers and whether previously supine Republicans in the House and Senate are going to let Bush get away with announcing that he can violate the law if he asserts a national-security angle.

Port (not wine) Issue
 

2

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

No, of course not.

Hypocrite.

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

I'll "admit" that liberals are hypocritically exploiting an issue with a national-security angle to beat up on an unpopular president in an election year, and I gather you admit that the Republicans who were backing the president on the wiretapping thing were selling out the Constitution.

I'm not sure why it's an "admission" coming from me, since I was the first person on this board to back the President, but whatever.

Port (not wine) Issue
 

Because maybe a 45-day investigation might reveal some information that they didn't have when they decided they were satisfied? It's not a procedural waiting period -- it's a substantive investigation.

And also because I trust the executive branch of the federal gov't a little less than you do these days, particularly when they ignore "procedure" and then claim it's not really that important.

Port (not wine) Issue
 

And Apple, too. Yet I'm less worried about finding bombs in my iPod or my credit card statement than about finding them in one of the zillion containers coming into the ports of NYC.

This leaves aside the obvious distinction between "the Saudis" owning a huge "cunk" of a corporation's stock and the gov't of Dubai actually controlling a company.

Port (not wine) Issue
 

I don't have an awful lot of confidence in the security of our ports, but I also don't think the sale of P&O will make that much difference on the margin.

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

And I'm backing Frist. Weird day all around.

I don't see what's so revolutionary about suggesting that the administration ought to comply with the law.*




*man, I crack me up.

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

The liberals are consistently anti-Bush per talking points directives at du. Isnt that the memo Ty?

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

Would someone explain this sock to me? If there's a joke, it's lost on me.

Port (yes, whine) Issue
 

I have a hard time imagining what's going to come up in the further investigation (DoD: "Oh, you mean that government of the United Arab Emirates!"), but I'm all for it if it presents continued political trouble for Bush.