Everything is For Sale

Everything is For Sale

… … But Arizona Republican Sen. John
McCain, another possible 2008 presidential contender, said while Congress should
seek answers, it should not rush to judgement before finding out the facts.
“Surely his administration deserves the presumption that they would not
sell our security short.” … … John
McCain, the Suck-Up Express

(compliments of reader p.m.)

Oh, Ruuuuu-dy!

But let's face it, some of us are just miffed that the president
has managed to screw our homeland security priorities yet again.

… Companies like P&O don't
provide security at the ports. The US Coast Guard and Homeland Security's Immigration
and Customs Enforcement do. For instance, in New Orleans, P&O is
one of eight terminal operators responsible for marketing the port, signing
agreements with shipping lines, hiring labor, loading ships, and moving cargo.
But P&O has no responsibility for security. “We have our own
police force, harbor patrol, customs officers, and Coast Guard,” says Chris
Bonura, spokesman for the Port of New Orleans. “That won't change no matter
who is operating the terminal.” … Security is a top priority
at the ports, but there's concern the Bush administration has not provided enough
funds to properly pay for it. Earlier this month, the president of the
American Association of Port Authorities complained that the $708 million allotted
for maritime security over the past four years amounted to only one-fifth of
what the port authorities had identified as needed to properly secure the ports.
… …Strife
deepens over port security

One talking head terrorism expert on cable today said that if
a terrorist wanted to infiltrate a port he or she would likely do it through
an American company so as not to arouse suspicion. He said the furor is unjustified
and smacks of prejudice.

Port and homeland security under George W. Bush has been a disaster.
Look at our borders. Look at the money Bush and the Republican Congress allotted
for ports. The AAPA got one-fifth of what they wanted in their budget. To keep
this country secure we must protect our borders, airports and seaports, not
to mention our railways, subways, transit, telecommunications, electrical…
The list seems endless sometimes when you start doing the research. What the
president has done since the beginning is concentrate “over there,”
leaving America less safe at every turn.

Terrorists have multiplied. The Middle East is less stable, with
fewer American friends, especially where the people are concerned. Iraq made
us very unpopular, while also diverting funds from homeland security, including
our ports, which still don't track near enough of the containers and cargo.
And if you think the cartoon riots are about a bunch of drawings of Mohammed
you're as gullible as Mary Matalin.

Since Katrina, Americans have become super sensitive when we feel
we're being stiffed. It's not a rational response. It's pure emotion, which
illustrates just how much trouble the president and Republicans are in over this
issue.

Senators Menendez and Clinton came out on Saturday saying they
would block this deal, but nobody was listening. That's the day Deadeye's cover-up was
reaching the critical jumping off point, before the Mary Matalin smackdown took it into cartoonville.

However, Bush has traded Deadeye's accidental shooting frenzy
for an all-American backlash against what he hasn't done over here since 9/11. It's been
all Iraq, all the time, with our own country being left to fend for itself, as we watch tax cuts become the annual priority, the poor stiffed, and one of our greatest cities left to fend for itself, with the help and generosity of charities and world donations.

This Dubai port lease has hit a homeland security nerve with us
all. It's an emotional response. It's real. President Bush ignores our feelings at his
party's peril.