Prediction: Dems and Repubs Will Turn & HAIL Port Deal

[Dr. Jones]

Okay, maybe I'm being a bit pessimistic here. But you have to understand, we've had the Katrina aftermath which Bush purposefully (and criminally) refused to act upon until the Friday after the storm when we CONVENIENTLY saw images of the "cavalry coming in" on our TV screens while Bush finally got his lazy ass down there for a COMPLETELY STAGED photo-op. Yep, that's right - our fearless President saves the day. America was outraged at how we could allow so many of our own to suffer and die without taking action, and yet we are somehow able to help foreign countries in less than 2 days and somehow we are able to rebuild Iraq but not our own damn country. But the outrage subsided, and Americans quickly forgot.

Then we had the New York Times expose Bush's warrantless wiretapping program. News of the NSA "vacuuming data" and listening in on phone conversations between reporters and their overseas collegues - mothers and their overseas sons - outraged Americans. Even more outrageous is the fact that this was being done ILLEGALLY and WITHOUT FISA court warrants. Remember, FISA allows for IMMEDIATE wiretapping for up to 72 hours BEFORE going to the FISA court for a court order, which apparently is a very simple process. Anyone could be tapped - you, me, your mother, your grandma. It's big brother come to roost! It's tyranny! I'ts taking away our rights to privacy! Hearings were held, and Rove's blackmailing of Republican members of Congress ensued.

The next thing you know, solid Democrats paraded on the Sunday lineup saying, "I support the program - I think it's a good one. It just needs to be done legally." Wait a minute. True, it should be done legally. But you SUPPORT the program? Come again? Naturally, Republicans saw little wrong with this massive crushing of civil liberties and privacy and supported it the way it currently stands. The outrage quickly subsided, and Americans quickly forgot.

Now on the ports deal. A terrorist country taking over control of our ports. A country who has harbored terrorists including Bin Laden. A country who has financed terrorism. A country who flew half of the 9/11 hijackers to America to kill 3000 of our people! Is this not rewarding terrorism? Didn't Bush say he wouldn't do that? And that if you are not with us, you are with the terrorists? And that he does not distinguish between terrorist states and states that harbor terrorism? Whose side is he on, anyway?

But Congressional briefings are underway. The White House will explain how this is not about security, and that it has nothing to do with security. They will tell Congress that many of our ports are already foreign-operated, and security is not a problem at all. They will assure them that this has been scrutinized by Homeland Security (Chertoff - sure, that's one to trust...NOT!) and by our intelligence community. The Borg have spoken. It's just another business deal. Resistance is futile. Bush's Republicans will nicely fall back in line as usual, and even some Democrats will begin to agree that it's okay and not a threat to our national security. The outrage will quickly subside, and Americans will quickly forget.

This is simply the way things go down with the Bush admin. The evil prospers, and the wicked one always slips under the radar. I don't know how the hell he does it, but it's disgusting, and evil. And I dread seeing happen one more time.

Somebody, please prove me wrong here!!

[Skittles]

1. no time for love, Dr. Jones

I don't know; right now I feel like it is Bizarro World; I don't think anything would surprise me

[Dr. Jones]

5. no time for love Dr. Jones??

Gotcha! You're on to me!
:silly:
:loveya:

[Skittles]

8. my favorite line out of "Clerks"

an homage to Indiana; yes INDEED! :thumbsup:

[Dr. Jones]

11. Yeah,

well if you're ever in the mood for some good 'ol fashioned chilled monkey brain or some tasty snake surprise, I've got a whole bunch. Or so says Short Round.
:silly:

[Skittles]

20. LOL

:thumbsup:

[Crazy Dave]

2. If you haven't noticed already

The Dems are making less static over this than they did with Judge Roberts and Judge Alito.

[Canuckistanian]

3. But the freeper base is legitimately pissed

And they won't let go of this bone.

[zanne]

6. I think the freepers will become convinced....

It's really interesting to watch the spin machine at work. It usually takes them about two weeks to turn a liability into an asset for the administration. The media is complicit in this; the freepers wouldn't become convinced without all the "experts" assuring us that there's nothing to fear. I posted earlier that I think about 50% of the Republicans will be placated and about 10% of Democrats. I hope to God I'm wrong, but we've seen in happen before.

[stevietheman]

10. But I think this time, many "freepers" will reject the explanations...

being fed to them. I really do believe this is a cathartic moment for many of them. And no explanations will work for at least a sizable minority of them.

[Dr. Jones]

13. I'll agree with that.

Many freepers are at least questioning this whole deal, which may lead them to question other aspects of Bush and his admin. Many will feel betrayed too. They just can't wrap their brains around why Bush would want to hand over port operations to a terrorist country.

But again - will it be enough to shut this deal down? And perhaps even lead to Bush's impeachment?

[Canuckistanian]

15. I agree

There ARE no good explanations for this. NOTHING that would fit into a ten-second sound bite.

[Dr. Jones]

7. True,

but will that be enough to tip the scales and STOP this deal from going through? Bush already got what he wanted out of the freepers, the evangelical ones anyway. He doesn't have a second term. He's got nothing to lose.

[central scrutinizer]

4. Democrats on the Waterfront

"We coulda been a contender"

<>

instead, we kept our powder dry

[stevietheman]

9. I reject the notion that Americans have "forgotten" about Katrina...

I think Bush's continued low poll numbers are an artifact of the American people *not* forgetting about Katrina, not to mention the warrantless wiretapping.

[Dr. Jones]

16. It's just that a certain apathy

has set in. We don't hear much about it on the news anymore. People are long back to their Desperate Housewives and NASCAR races. Who wants to hear about the endless suffering of "those people?" This is simply the attitude that all too many Americans currently seem to have towards the Katrina aftermath.

If everyone truly cared and were spurred to action to help the people recover, imagine what a difference we could make in people's lives.

This is not to discount though the many good citizens who HAVE helped the Katrina victims, without whose help we would see even greater suffering.

[stevietheman]

18. What? You're saying that apathy = not appearing on MSM?

...as if the American people's actual mood is reflected in MSM's newscasts? ...as if corporate CEO controllers of "the news" are in any way indicative of the public memory on this big event?

Come on!

[Dr. Jones]

19. Well people generally get their news from the news.

I simply meant that news covereage of Katrina has leveled off and many people would rather be engrossed in their shallow activities than to hear about Katrina's aftermath. I was just thinking, a couple of weeks ago NBC News was running a series all week about the Katrina aftermath - and Brian Williams did indicate they've gotten lots of complaints for continuing to air it. Many people "just don't want to hear it" anymore, because they have become apathetic.

You have to admit the level of urgency to help those affected by Katrina has leveled off. If we still had the urgency we did just after it happened, alot more would have been done by now. But again, that's not to say that alot of hard-working, selfless Americans haven't been working night and day to help them out. Just that a certain level of apathy has set in amongst the general public.

[earth mom]

12. I'm cynical myself.

I think they will get away with it just like they got away with every other crime the past 5 years. Congress IS looking the other way because of selfish self serving interests and the Corporate media whores are in bed with all of em.

Nothing changed after Katrina or when Illegal Spying was exposed, or when Cheneys above the law shoot out was whitewashed-how is this gonna be any different?

Same sh*t, different day. :grr:

[ROakes1019]

14. caving

If what you predict comes to pass, then the Dems will have a strong case in November to claim the Repugs are weak on national security. I don't believe the Dems will cave on this. They will stand as firm supporters of national security while the Repugs aren't, and really never were, strong on national security.

[Dr. Jones]

17. I HOPE SO.

Recently I called a bunch of Democratic Senators and urged them to "get a spine" and start REALLY speaking out on these issues and on Impeachment.

Will the Democrats ACTUALLY stand up and take advantage of a Bush weakness? They haven't done it much before. Will they LOUDLY proclaim that Bush has damaged our national security, and that they have a PLAN to secure our nation without the need for warrantless wiretapping and a terrorist nation taking over operations at our ports?? And that it's BUSH who is the one who is SOFT on Terrorism to allow such a thing? And maybe even that he's in bed with the Saudis and others just to make money for himself and his buds?

I HOPE SO!!