Democrats Hit Bush Hard on National Security
25 February 2006 1:26 pm by Taylor Marsh
Democrats Hit Bush Hard on National Security
“We cannot afford to let this
administration be stubborn in their mistakes and casual about our security,”
Corzine said. “Every homeland security expert identifies protecting our
nation's ports as one of our greatest unmet security challenges.” DP World
said this week it would proceed with the takeover of the British P&O company
— making it the world's third largest port operator — but not the management
of the U.S. ports while it discusses security concerns. “But what
we need is not a token delay, but a serious review,” Corzine said.
Already lawsuits have been filed to block the deal, including by the state of
New Jersey which is concerned about its Port Newark terminal. Democrats
Hit Bush on Security
Nothing better on a Saturday than hearing a Democratic leader
with his talking points down.
Governor Corzine is getting opposition from the Wall Street Journal,
a blogger and a host of Republicans who have decided to rally around President
Incompetent.
… First, blogs make an
excellent early warning system. … As with the many bloggers like me who
changed their minds … the White House should have taken advantage
of this early warning to have its arguments in order. … second lesson: The White House should not only have read blogs, but responded
to them … Paying more attention to the blogs won't solve that problem.
But it will help.
Glenn Reynolds for the Wall
Street Journal
What has happened is simple. They saw the
poll and the
reality is ugly.
After the Dubai port debacle, Terror Guy even trotted
out another tried and terribly false “war on terror” tirade. False
because it no longer rings clear. The reality plays out on our TVs, except for
Fox, of course, with their could civil war be a good thing headline.
The Republicans have gone tone deaf, not to mention politically correct, our president totally out of touch with
reality and the American people.
The Democrats taking the lead in national security frightened
the ideologues in the Republican Party. They'd rather be tight with the boss
than right on the issue. So it's all hacks on deck.
Mr. Reynolds saying Bush reading the blogs would have helped is
self-serving at best. It also shows the basic lack of respect the Republican
Party has for regular Americans.
No one and I mean no one had to tell the American people the port
deal stunk. If a country helped bin Laden hide his millions, well, then a country
helped Osama hide his millions. All of a sudden 9/11 is a memory because DP
World has been a recent ally. There is no other way to paint it, unless you're
just pushing propaganda.
And don't insult us by confusing international commerce with homeland
security issues, or bad judgment by Bush and the Republicans who contol Congress
by calling us bigots. By “us,” I'm talking about Americans, not just
Democrats, because this issue crosses all party lines. All you had to do was
listen to Rush's snake dancing on the issue last week, or hear Ken doll Sean
slithering around the facts. Using xenophobia as a talking point is a lazy person's argument. Trotted out when the facts don't support the supposition.
This is how
port security works, one more time, with feeling:
- While the ship is in the water it's under the jurisdiction of the Coast
Guard. - While docked at the port and goods are being unloaded, it's under the jurisdiction
of Customs and Border Protection. - But the second those goods go off of the ship and land on the docks, security
is the sole responsibility of the terminal operator, which Republicans want to be DPW. - The security plans are reviewed by the Department of Homeland Security,
but the terminal operator is solely responsible for the execution of those
plans, which in this new deal of Bush's would be DP World. - Port plans are classified “secret,” but if a foreign government
gains control of a terminal they become privy to “classified security
arrangements.” - DP World would have the blueprint
of the security at the port. - The Port Authority's authority ends at the roads leading to and connecting
the terminals. - Lighting, fencing, close circuit TVs are shared by the port and the terminal
operator. - But when it comes to the security guards, they are “hired, fired and
paid” by the terminal operator, which would be DP World. In other words,
they absolutely will be in charge of direct security of the port terminal
and the cargo sitting on the dock.
Only 5% of our cargo is inspected. In addition, the company managing the port,
DP World in this case, also gets access to classified port documents that outline
the security for the port itself.
Democrats have hit this issues for years, starting with presidential candidate
John Kerry. Oh, but it was just too nuanced for the wingnuts back then.
Now the American people are siding with the Democratic Party on national security, which has Republicans in a panic. But it's no wonder. Look at Iraq, look at Hamas and Condi's perpetuating “surprise” over
anything having to do with national security; look at Iran, then focus home
and remember Katrina. Now Bush and the Republicans who control Congress want
us to look the other way as they allow DP World to take the front line on as
many as 22 ports.
Americans are livid, nationalism and patriotism engaged, emotions raging,
with the president and Republicans backtracking, because party is evidently more important
than country to them, while Democrats stand to make this fight. Even Republican
port-critics like Rep. Peter King are now flip-flopping. Let 'em.
This is one American, standing besides tens of millions of others of all parties and none at all, who's willing to take this fight to the wall. We'll win on it too. Trust me. Oops, sorry, that's Bush's line.
