Cafferty: "this may be the straw that finally breaks the camel's back"

[kpete]

Wolf, this may be the straw that finally breaks the camel's back, this deal to sell control of six US ports to a company controlled by the United Arab Emirates. There are now actually Senators and Congressmen and Governors and Mayors telling the White House "you're not gonna do this." And it's about time. No one has said "no" to this administration on anything that matters in a very long time. Well this matters. It matters a lot. If this deal is allowed to go through, we deserve whatever we get. A country with ties to terrorists will have a presence at six critical doorways to our country. And if anyone thinks that the terrorists, in time, won't figure out how to exploit that, then we're all done. Nothing's happened yet, mind you, but if our elected representatives don't do everything in their power to stop this thing, each of us should vow to work tirelessly to see that they are removed from public office. We're at a crossroads - which way will we choose?

Here's the question: What should be done to stop a deal that would allow an Arab company to run US Ports??

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/21/155725/916

[Beetwasher]

1. We Can Only Hope, Jack, We Can Only Hope

n/t

[NoPasaran]

2. That camel already has so much straw on his back

I swear I saw a turkey in there somewhere.

[elehhhhna]

4. and a goat

[kpete]

5. He's going DOWN folks - I feel it in my blood...

In another shocker, Dennis Hastert has issued a "strongly worded" letter encouraging the President to back away from the port deal. Via Ed Henry at CNN:


Even as the President is now declaring that he wants this port deal to go through and that he would veto any legislation the Congress passes to try to block the deal, CNN has also just learned that the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert, a key Republican ally of the President, of course, has just fired off a letter to the President saying he should halt the port deal. He's saying he should also "conduct a more thorough review of the matter before it goes forward." Hastert is also warning that he might introduce legislation if the President does not follow through on that.

This letter almost directly mirrors... what Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist sent to the President earlier today. A prepared statement - not a letter - a prepared statement telling the President - complaining - that there had been very little Congressional consultation in this whole process. Also complaining about the potential security ramifications of having this Dubai company actually take over the operations of US ports. Senator Frist had also basically said it's time to halt this deal otherwise he will introduce legislation. This is coming after rank and file Republicans all up and down the East Coast of the United States, in port cities from New York to Florida, today and in recent days calling for the deal to be halted.

And finally, Republican senator Susan Collins today, Chair of the Homeland Security Committee, she's saying she'll introduce a resolution of disapproval of this whole port deal. That's another problem and headache for this White House.

And finally, Senator Chuck Grassley, key Republican - Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee - just within the last hour put out a statement blasting this entire deal. You see the President digging in, but Republicans on Capitol Hill really pushing back hard. This a tremendous political headache for the White House.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/21/155725/916

[mod mom]

11. That makes it scary. These are desperate evil dudes who definitely DON"T

want to relinquish power. Whose saying what they are willing to pull.

[Auntie Bush]

70. "He's going DOWN folks." Yeah, DICK CHENEY WILL BE PRESIDENT!

I'm really looking forward to that. The man who pulled the trigger on his shotgun and hit his friend in the face will have that same finger on the nu-cle-lar button. :bounce:

[electropop]

73. Cheney's going down too, thanks to his dirty dealings with

revealing state secrets. He's up to his eyeballs in trouble.

[oscarguy]

87. I feel it also, BUSHCO really pissed off some bigtime players....

and is on his way out. They have turned against him and his cronies and they are on thier way out. ...Oscar

[Gato Moteado]

3. here's how our elected representatives can stop it.......

IMPEACHMENT

[Richardo]

8. Let's just try for an override first.

Impeachment. :eyes:

[underpants]

13. ..and YOU want to be my impeachment salesman....

:eyes:

[Richardo]

18. .

:spray:

[arwalden]

24. OVERRIDE NOW!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!!

[Susang]

79. This is HUGH1111

[Harald Ragnarsson]

93. Not just hugh! Siriusly hugh! n/t

[Toots]

67. But remember "we are at war" and he claims power to do anything he wishes

Congress has already rolled over and given him their belly. He will just do and tell them to shove it...Just like he illegally wiretapped thousands of Americans and revoked Constitutional Rights at will. This claim that we are at war is getting completely out of hand...

[Coexist]

6. now they are ranking on his suddenly finding the funds for re-hiring

alternative energy scientists.

[JuniperLea]

7. From your lips

to God's ears.

If this veto is not met with at least a 2/3 overriding vote, then we will all know beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are already completely and unalterably DOOMED!

[maxrandb]

9. This is going to get interesting

this mis-administration is not used to being told "No"!

[koopie57]

10. What should be done to stop the deal?

Any chance those who might actually want to stop this are being wiretapped?

[Kierkegaard]

12. No matter which way this falls, it's a loser for these creeps.

Deal = "weak on terror"

No deal = "racist/bigot"

Not to give away any free advice, but after a dog bites you, you stop trying to pet the damn thing. These ass clowns are beyond stupid.

[senseandsensibility]

14. And everyone's wondering "why" litttle chimperor is digging in

on this? What a mystery! Like everythig else, he can enrich himself and his family by doing so. That's why. Mystery solved.

[formercia]

22. Some people who invested a lot of other peoples' money

are going to be pissed when the deal goes bust.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

15. This has to be the strongest camel ever. n/t

[Kierkegaard]

16. I was thinking the same thing.

Freakin' mastodon wearing an iron girdle...

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

19. Super serum, steroid pumped camel if you ask me. n/t

[Salviati]

32. Well, where are the senate hearings on camel juicing then?

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

58. I'm sure McCain is all over that shit. You know, instead of actually

providing real over site.

[The Backlash Cometh]

28. That camel has had a lot of mileage because it's really a GOP elephant.

It sez a lot that its knees are buckling

[fishwax]

95. well put n/t

[President Jesus]

17. it really is racism that is fueling this 'outrage'

Look, I love to see the administration on the ropes, but the fact that there is ZERO said about UK companies controlling many of our ports, but a veritble shitstorm when a brown-skinned-owned company gets the same oportunity...it's racism.

Always be careful when you play this "enemy of my enemy is my friend" game, because in this case, you are teaming up with xenophobes, nationalists, and racists to score points against Bush.

[converted_democrat]

23. That isn't the case at all.. The UK isn't suspect the way the UAE is..

Apples and oranges friend.. Apples and oranges..

[President Jesus]

27. Total BS friend, total BS

Are there al Qaeda cells and sympatizers in UAE? Definitely.

Are there al Qaeda cells and sympatizers in the UK? Definitely.

[Salviati]

34. Which is why to me,

It's as big an outrage that a British company was running our ports as this UAE deal. Either national security is important or it isn't. If it is, then there are certain things that are too important to be left up to the free market.

[President Jesus]

45. Ok, THAT's a legitimate argument.

I'm fine with those that argue that NO foreign government should have control of our ports.

But understand that your point is not what is whipping everyone into a frenzy. It is purely anti-Arab irrational fearmongering, as I see it.

What I find tragic is what's going on here at DU. There is so much Bush hate that everyone just jumps on ANYTHING that makes Bush look bad.

[converted_democrat]

48. It's a state run company for God's sake.. n/t

[converted_democrat]

47. When did the UK attack us in recent history?? When did the UK

banks funnel money to the 9-11 highjackers?

[nonconformist]

75. There are some in the US too, I'm sure.

Still, I think that ports in the US should be controlled by the US. It's not racism; it's national security.

In any event, the UK doesn't fund terrorism. It also needs to be noted that many of us weren't aware that a UK based company controlled our ports. For what it's worth, I'm not cool with that either.

[Skittles]

96. England does not recongize the Taliban as legitimate

JESUS! WHAT *IS* it that you don't understand ?????

[napi21]

26. I hate racism, but you're wrong on this one.

I have to tell you, I also worked with a major vendor from Dubai in my last job. They are really nice guys, and we had a great customer/vendor relationship. HOWEVER, I'm not too sure about their gov't. They have radical fundimentalists there too, and 2 of them were on the planes on 9/11. Money was funneled through Dubai Banks to fund the terrorists.

I don't know if I would have much of a problem with an "Arab Co." running the ports, as much as I have a problem with and "Arab Co. that is OWNED by their gov't"!

I really don't think this is racism. It's the result of the Shrub admin. hammering for years now, that we can't trust any Nation that supports terrorists, and since they've convinced the American people they might be right, NOW they say...OOPS we didn't really mean all of them!

[President Jesus]

33. Let me aks you...

..are there radical fundamentalists in the UK too?

Maybe there are legitimate arguments to be made about this deal, but 99% of all that I've heard so far has been racist, ie all Arabs are terrorists at heart, etc.

[converted_democrat]

42. posted to the wrong spot.n/t

[Name removed]

49. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[converted_democrat]

52. Well, they laundered the money for the highjackers, so they would not

have been able to attack us without that help..

[President Jesus]

94. prove it

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

55. To me this has Nothing to do with racism. I don't want a foreign country

running our ports, period. How would you feel about our police departments being outsourced to other countries?

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[electropop]

72. Are there radical fundamentalists in the UK Government?

Are UK banks funding Al Qaeda? This really is a fairly simple simple, and insane, situation. It's essentially the same as selling the ports to Al Qaeda.

[oscarguy]

89. Our Government has an obligation to defend our Nation....

and not placing our security interests in the hands of a Nation that has large numbers of people who hate us is good common sense, and it is long past time we quit using common sense President Jesus. ...Oscar

[mac56]

30. How dare you attribute this to racism?!

UK companies shouldn't be controlling our ports either. But even so, the last I checked the UK didn't funnel money to the 9/11 terrorists, or recognize the Taliban as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. The UAE did.

How insensitive.

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[mac56]

43. Yeah, I wanna be educated just like you.

Send me a long list of all your opinions so I can hold 'em too.

If you read my post, which you clearly didn't, I wrote about how the UAE funneled money to the 9/11 terrorists.

Meantime, I have no more time for your arrogant, condescending BS.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[oscarguy]

90. Right on Mac ! This is one issue all American`s can unite on.

[stepnw1f]

31. go away (nt)

[Name removed]

35. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

54. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[converted_democrat]

57. You even have an argument with substance, besides accusing

people of being bigots without cause?

[in_cog_ni_to]

41. How many years has it been since the UK attacked us?

Just askin'....:popcorn:

Racist? MY ASS!

[electropop]

74. 192 years, I think.

[tjdee]

46. uh, no.

For me, it is that this company is owned by the government of the UAE. That's a lot different than being owned privately, and it's different than being owned privately by a UK company.

There really is a difference there, and I'm brown at that.

[txindy]

51. Britain doesn't own those companies, though, does it?

So your whole analogy is destroyed.

[madokie]

69. May I ask you a question, were you aware of the uk companies

having control of the security of so many of our ports and if so just how many are/were they in control of.
on edit: I would really like to know. OK

[electropop]

71. UAE is a known Al Qaeda supporter.

It's not about racism, it's about selling our ports to Al Qaeda. This time Bush has stuck his foot in it.

[WinkyDink]

83. Oh, dammit, it is NOT. Maybe many white Americans are racist

towards Sub-Saharan-African-Americans, but there is ZERO evidence this is true about Middle-Easterners. Not to make light of this, but Omar Sharif, anyone??

I doubt if we even think of Arabs as "dark-skinned".

[JanusAscending]

92. Bullshit!!

I wasn't aware that our ports were being run by a British Company...........hell.......I've even heard some politicians say over the weekend that they didn't know this either!! We have an unemployment problem here in the USA, so why can't our own Companies run our ports??? Not enough money for bushco????????? I have a feeling he's got to "pay Paul", so now he's robbing Peter"!!! No , I repeat, NO FOREIGN COUNTRY should be running our under protected ports!!! That's the overall consensus, and I'm not "teaming up" with any of your aforementioned groups!!!

[converted_democrat]

20. Did you guys see that last letter...

From the Cafferty File..
"The last time the government was this unresponsive to the will of the American people we had a revolution."

[katinmn]

66. Yeah! Liked it, too

I was hoping he'd read my letter but there were 3000 of them. :-)

Jack: "I think the president is in trouble."

[AX10]

21. Will congress stop Bush or roll over and play dead as usual for...

the Fuhrer?

[The Backlash Cometh]

25. What did I tell you? If we allow him to do this to us, then we are

stupid, stupid, stupid. And no nation in this world will feel sorry for us the day the terrorists figure out how to exploit the weaknesses in those ports. No one. There is a point where you have to assume some responsibility for the decisions you make. Bush will be long gone from ground zero the day that happens. It's us who will be here to pay the cost for this sell-out.

[warrens]

29. Someone should make that Smirking Moron watch Syriana

Dubai and the rest put 25 year old kids in charge of major industries, if they have the right daddy. Now, if one happened to be the Osama of his family and he got put in charge of the ports...

[Greeby]

38. "Dubai and the rest put 25 year old kids in charge of major industries..."

if they have the right daddy."

Isn't that pretty much the Shrub's life story :shrug:

[in_cog_ni_to]

36. WHOA!!!!!! Did you hear what he just said???? Holy shit!

He is not a happy camper today!!

[txindy]

62. Did you see that a UAE co. just bought 109 million shares of Time Warner?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x483977

Interesting, no?

[Coexist]

37. Cafferty just SLAMMED them on why it is different for a British company

to run the ports.

He listed the UAE history with terror. Nice.

[Sydnie]

44. Yes it was

Let's hope those that are clueless were listening.

[Disturbed]

50. This should be a wake up call to all of the..

RWingers in Congress. The Bush Regime has no regard or respect for Congress, period. This deal was hatched in secrete and foisted upon America. Where is the checks and balances. Same goes for the Illegal Spying. The Bush Regime is attempting to cancell The Constitution and The Bill of Rights. Now is the time many have been speaking out about. This is the breaking point in the Republic of America.

[malaise]

40. Think long and hard about who this will benefit

if Bushco is playing people. This will whip up the base better than Harriet Miers. On the other hand keep following the money. It's got to be one or the other.

[stevietheman]

59. With the reported Bush admin ties to the deal, I think it's more...

probable that Bush really does want the deal and this is no game.

[malaise]

60. Well if that is how it turns out

either the end is nigh or fascism is closer than we all think.

[sendero]

61. Please explain

... your "play" angle. I can't see one anywhere. All I see is a petulant president who is not used to being questioned, and is acting totally within character.

[malaise]

64. Could this be used to whip up the base for

the November election. Congress over-rules lameduck Bushco and the Rethugs come out smelling like roses. I still say follow the money but I would not be surprised is this is one more Harriet Miers con job.

[sendero]

68. I suppose..

.... that would be a small win for the Repugs, but not huge. After all, they are not going to single-handedly reverse this, it will take Dems also.

And making your president look like a neutered puppy is not necessarily good politics, unless they are ready to throw him completely under the bus. Which is possible I suppose :)

[malaise]

80. Remember he's a lame duck

and they are up for reelection. Every man for himself. I don't know what to believe.

[Toots]

63. No one has said "no" to this administration on anything that matters in a

very long time."
Okay I'll bite, just how long has it been and what did they say no about.....:shrug: I can't think of a single thing that Bush* has had Congress say no on...In fact they seem to one up him every time. If he wants fifty billion they give him seventy five etc. etc. etc...

[katinmn]

65. Jack said he got 3,000 emails in 2 hours on the port deal

and you can count on one hand those that offered even a modicum of support for the deranged one.

Impeach Bush now!

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

76. "finally" nt.

[spanone]

77. Cafferty just said on Wolfies that out of 5000 emails 4 are for the deal.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[kpete]

78. Repub answers Cafferty's question

"I am a Texan who was proud to vote for George Bush both times he was elected governor and both times he was elected President, but if he does not change his stand on selling our ports, then I agree he should be impeached."

[Nothing Without Hope]

81. ***VIDEO*** of Cafferty's statement this is riveting all right- it's here:

http://www.first-draft.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=5322&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

I like his saying that if our elected representatives don't do everything in their power to block this deal, they should be removed from public office.

McCain has apparently said he supports the UAE deal - he's still kissing up to Bush & his corporate supporters:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x484601
thread title (2-21-06 GD): Surprise! McCain all for the sales of our ports to UAE
Comment/excerpt: IThe poster says: “In a statement released moments ago, he says Bush has earned our trust in the war on terror and that there is too much heat and not enough light on this subject.” No links yet, presumably they’ll be added to the thread when they become available. No surprise, since McCain has been courting Bush financial backers (see Reply #25) and they want the Dubai deal.

[WinkyDink]

82. They're catching on that Bushco is only out for the $$$$$$$$!!!

And couldn't care less about Republican political careers not their own!

[Burried News]

84. Dayum nuthin upsets a Unitary Executive more than an independent

Legislature. Hell it might feel so good to Buck Fush that they'll do it again and again and again ...

[mnhtnbb]

85. Time to storm the Bastille

and this just might be the thing to energize the crowd.

[tlsmith1963]

86. Finally...

...something that Democrats & Republicans can agree on. I certainly don't want terrorist-supporting countries controlling our ports. This proves that Bush doesn't really care about protecting us from terrorism. Everything is just a game to this guy.

Tammy

[oscarguy]

88. I agree Tammy, BUSHCO must have pissed off the wrong guys or these...

people in leadership positions of the Republican party would not be making these statements. He may very well get impeached. Something big happened and that is for sure. ...Oscar

[iconoclastNYC]

91. Viewer reactions.

Ask the families of our war dead if they think we should hand over security of our ports to a foreign government. The very idea of it is obscene. And Mr. Chertoff, our brave troops aren't making those sacrifices to protect "robust trade." You shouldn't be in charge of a neighborhood watch if you believe half of what you say.
James, Fayetteville, North Carolina

You got it wrong, Jack. The #1 priority of the Bush regime since 9/11 has been to promote the illusion of safety. The hypocrisy is so transparent even Bush's puppets are finally seeing the treasonous sellout of our country for the crime it is.
Toni, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

The impending sale of the ports to the Arabs is proof positive that the administration is pouring water on our shoes and telling us it's raining. It's also evidence that a deal has been cut somewhere. I just don't believe they are that stupid. Then again, I could be wrong.
John, Jacksonville, Florida

It's hypocritical and appalling to talk about national security and then sell off control of vital US ports to any foreign country, especially a Muslim one.
Justin

I used to think President Bush should be impeached. I think now, he needs to be committed! There is no end in sight to the insanity of this administration.
Evelyn, North Carolina

Isn't this port situation like McDonalds hiring Burger King to run their business?
Charles, Fort Wayne, Indiana

You have got to be kidding me. Our government has not learned a thing from 9/11. Shame on all of you that are making this happen!
Mark, Baytown, Texas

If they want to have foreign companies do security in our ports, they need to have the standards as our TSA -- U.S. Citizenship.
Linda, Port St. John, Florida

Outsourcing has gotten out of hand. This latest situation is insane! Why don't we just give them the keys to the White House?
George Townsend, Bradford, Vermont