About this 45-day "investigation" ...

[zanne]

Is there a snowball's chance in hell that this investigation will actually change anything? Isn't the ports deal a foregone conclusion? This morning on C-Span's Washington Journal, Governor Corzine (NJ) said that the investigation was a good "first step" and that the United Arab Emirates was an "ally in the war on terrorism". WTF is going on here?

[acmavm]

1. Well it's nothing if not absolute proof, even to the biggest

kool aid drinkers in the country, about how phony the 'War on Terra' is, was, and always will be.

[mmonk]

2. The "investigation" will be a way to sell the deal

to the public.

[zanne]

4. But has the administration softened on this deal at all?

In other words, I don't understand why Gov. Corzine would call the investigation a "good first step" if there's no chance that results of the investigation will have any effect on whether or not the deal goes through.

[mmonk]

5. because he is doing something.

[TayTay]

3. Sure the Rethugs are serious about downplaying this issue

Look they've even scheduled a hearing for this Thursday, (get-away Day) to talk about this:

Security of Terminal Operations at U.S. Ports
Full Committee Hearing
Thursday, March 2 2006 - 2:30 PM - TBD
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1776

Webcast: Click here to view a live webcast of this hearing.
Description: WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Commerce Committee today announced it will hold a Full Committee hearing on the recent purchase by Dubai Ports World (DP World) of the P&O Port division of P&O Group on Thursday, March 2, 2006, at 2:30 p.m. in a room to be determined. The hearing will examine DP World’s purchase of P&O Ports and the security role held by the U.S. government at ports. This deal, which allows DP World to gain access to terminal leases held by P&O throughout the world, was accepted by P&O shareholders February 13, 2006. P&O Ports is a multi-national terminal operating company based in the United Kingdom, which leases terminals throughout the world, including six in the United States – New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, and New Orleans. DP World is owned by the United Arab Emirates government. This offer was accepted over a similar offer tendered by PSA International. “This hearing will provide Committee Members the opportunity to clearly understand what the proposed purchase means for terminal operations at ports,” said Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-Alaska). “It is important for us to get the facts and avoid speculation. This hearing will help us make informed decisions to ensure the security at our nation's ports.” Witnesses will be announced when available.
****************

Can't wait to see who the panelists are for this one.

[Double T]

6. 45 day spin manipulation and justification period..............

Let's see how many rethugs will 'fall on their sword' for the portgate backroom deal. I hope their constituents finally see their legislators for what they really are, spineless lemmings.

[zanne]

7. After this deal goes through...

We'll know who to blame for the next terrorist attack. I don't know how Bush is going to keep us focused on "terror" and unfocused on the ports deal. And remember, the administration insists that there will be more terror attacks on American soil. It's not "if"--it's "when".

[Atman]

8. Haven't the republicans already said it was just to confirm the deal?

I thought that is what I heard Warner say in announcing his "compromise" (BushCo definition: We still get what we want but it will take six weeks longer), that they had reached an agreement with Bush that that they won't hold up approval of the deal as long as they are given 45 days to review it.

So WTF is THAT? Here is how I interpret what Warner is saying: "We'll hold all sorts of televised hearings, and each one of us will get 10 minutes to record a sound bite for our next campaign commercial, and in the end we'll vote across party lines (except for Lieberman and the usual Vichy Dems, probably), and the UAE will own our ports."

[bklyncowgirl]

9. By George I think you've got it.

After all this is about free trade and free trade trumps everything.

[Village Idiot]

10. Of course the UAE is an important "ally."

If you had billions of Iraqi reconstruction dollars to hide / squander / recirculate / launder, where the fuck else can you go but the UAE?

[Minnesota Libra]

11. Of course it's a foregone conclusion but there are those.......

.....who want to make it look like there's still room for choice on the deal. That's how you keep the masses in line until the Patriot Act is completely implemented. :puke:

edited: for spelling check

[zanne]

12. What percentage of the population will be convinced?

I'm just guessing here, but I'll say 50%.

[Minnesota Libra]

13. How many rethugs are there? They will be.......

.....convinced :puke: or at least convinced to go along with it without throwing too much of a fit. :wtf:

[AtomicKitten]

14. the investigation is required by law

and the Bushies will try to smooth the deal over by twisting Republican arms behind the scenes just like they did with Medicare, etc.

Regardless of how this turns out, this will stick to the GOP like stink on a monkey.