gov richardson wants people to sign his petition on ports

[seabeyond]

Dear XXXXX,

I'm preparing to travel to Washington, D.C., to join my fellow governors at the National Governors Association annual winter meeting. Thousands of you submitted thoughtful questions for us to ask the president, but we won't get the chance to ask many of them. Similar to last year, the number of questions we will be able to ask is limited.

I have an urgent question on my mind, however. It's dominating conversations this week from coast to coast. How, Mr. President, can you stand up for handing major American ports over to a foreign power?

http://www.democraticgovernors.org/ports

The ports of Baltimore, Miami, Newark, New Orleans, New York and Philadelphia must be kept safe. If the president turns over these ports to a state-owned company run by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), how can we know they will be as secure as possible?

As we've heard this past week, there are several questions about the UAE's links to terrorists. Until we're satisfied with answers to these questions, how can we be sure this UAE company isn't connected to those who want to harm us?

While Dubai Ports World has agreed to delay the sale, help us call on President Bush to explain why this contract was approved in the first place.

http://www.democraticgovernors.org/ports

As top figures in the president's own party line up against him -- the House Speaker, the Senate Majority Leader and others -- it is clear that his rhetoric about this issue is inconsistent with a strong policy on homeland security.

The questions surrounding this decision are important for a White House that so often neglects to answer us or anyone. But our security is too important -- and we Democratic governors take it with the utmost seriousness.

Democratic governors have been leaders in homeland security and protecting our borders, and we've improved our states' ability to respond in times of crisis. The president needs to partner with us to make our country safe for every American -- across every border, in every part of the country and at every port.

When we go to the White House on Monday, President Bush will hear from all of us.

Add your voice to ours now:

http://www.democraticgovernors.org/ports

Sincerely,
Bill Richardson
Governor of New Mexico

[spuddonna]

1. Thanks & done! K&R n/t

[yorkiemommie1]

2. done

n/t

[Wilms]

3. Done. Kick. Recommended. n/t

[annabanana]

4. done, K&R. . . .eom

[Kahuna]

5. Done!

:kick:

[chalky]

6. Thanks for posting this, seabeyond! Signed & Forwarded!

And rec'd, of course!

[seabeyond]

7. kick

[seabeyond]

8. kick