You don't seriously think Bush will lose on the port issue, do you?

[quaoar]

Bush will win this one and pretty soon our ports will be run by an emirate that not long ago was enjoying the sport of hunting with falcons in Kandahar with Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar.

Yes, it all looks pretty grim for him right now, doesn't it? Democrats lined up against him, Republicans lined up against him. This is the big one, right? This time he's finally gone too far. This time the Kool-Aid drinkers will sober up.

Of course, that's what was said after the NSA spying scandal broke. Heard anyone talking about that lately? How are those congressional hearings going? You know, the ones that were promised by all those outraged Republicans.

And that's also what was said after the ( fill in the blank ) scandal broke.

Bush knows exactly what he's doing. It's worked for him time and again.

First, he comes up with an easily repeatable line of bullshit to soothe the right. In this case, it's that this is really no big deal because nothing will change with the security of the ports. And then he has a bullshit line to put the left on the defensive. In this case, he says that opposition to the deal is racism against Arabs.

Second -- He makes sure that these two themes are repeated over and over and over.

Third -- He throws out a meaningless bone. In this case it is a delay in the deal so that it can be "studied." Republicans in Congress declare victory and say that America has been saved. They start to return to the fold. Some bogus poll comes out showing America is not worried about port security and Bush's mouthpieces in the press declare that he has won over American public opinion.

Fourth -- Congressional hearings are deemed unnecessary. Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman and Mary Landrieu agree. Joe Klein goes on Hardball to agree with Tweety that Bush is invincable.

Fifth -- Democrats in Congress declare that it is time to move on.

Sixth -- Three months later the deal is declared "studied" and is approved.

[Mythsaje]

1. Except...

The average Republican voter opposes this move very strongly. I think that changes the dynamic somewhat.

[elehhhhna]

2. It's an election year and the Reeps have to pretend to listen-

[quaoar]

7. The average Republican voter

also opposes deficit spending and open borders.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. But they are also racists

and I really think the racist mentality that says "all Arabs are alike" will take hold. In an informal survey yesterday at work, I didn't come across anyone who was defending Bush's decision. Not one. And I work in an extremely conservative town. The kindest comment I heard was "Bush is an idiot-what does he think he's doing?"

[quaoar]

17. You cannot even rely on Republicans

to be reliable racists anymore. They get their talking points issued and that's that.

[0007]

36. I'll second that opinion. I live in Midland Texas and most all

folks here do not want the Arabs operating the ports.

[spindrifter]

3. You got that right.

The slow down was the final tug on the zipper. WP Dubai will be sitting at the control of every crane on the waterfront and there will be some minor bone thrown to the people about increased funding for Coast Guard security operations.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Might not work this time, and here's why:

The whole point of Bush's propaganda since 911 was to get Americans scared and keep them scared. To do this, there must be an enemy, a bogeyman, to frighten folks with. Bush has succesfully used Arabs and Muslims in general for this task. One reason so many Bushbots gladly give away their 4th Amendment rights is because they are scared of those Arabs. Well now, "those Arabs" are going to take over the ports. Bushbots' brains are exploding, because they have been trained for years now that Arabs and Arabs, doesn't matter what country they're from (that's one reason Bush was able to invade Iraq, I think)-and Bush, who has promised to keep them safe, is now doing something that they only see as inviting terrorists into our ports.

[enough already]

37. It ALWAYS works

I knew that time would allow Rove and Company to program the nazi sheep repukes to support this. Just today there is a report of a deal with the pukes in Congress to get this through. Bush will get this just like he gets everything else, and Rove will probably find a way to call US racists at the end of it.

[Vincardog]

5. Wrong this time aWoL is going to get burned. Even the Sheeple can figure

this one out,

[niallmac]

6. Not for gambling purposes of course but....

sometimes I wish we had a way for everyone to place their bets as to how a certain situation will turn out so we can refer to it later with pride or humiliation.
Just good clean fun of course.

and on edit; oh yeah, I say I say the Bush Baby gets burned on this one.

[quaoar]

11. Suppose you had to bet $1,000

on how this would turn out. Not on how you want it to turn out, but how you think it will actually turn out.

Would you bet against Bush?

[niallmac]

19. Yeah. I'd bet against Bushy on this and put it on my VISA.

Can't even face the thought of him getting away with this considering the across the lines outrage.

[enough already]

44. Get ready to pay 23% interest on that $1,000

Because the fucking chimp is going to "win" again. The sheep pukes in Congress are working on a deal as we speak, god help us all. How the fuck does a moron who is so hated by everyone in the world keep getting away with everything he tries to do?

[niallmac]

45. The 'Deal' won't float. It will just underline their desperation.

A pole cat is a pole cat no matter how you dress it or how enamored the NYT is about the development.
I'm sticking to my bet. Come on snake eyes, baby needs a new pair of shoes!.

[quaoar]

50. Warm up that Visa card

Cuz Bill Frist is already singing the praises of that fabulous Dubai port deal.

[niallmac]

51. Oh yeah sure Dr. Bill. He has such a finely honed instinct when it comes

to taking the temperature of public opinion e.g. Schiavo. He didn't examine the patient in person but he did once on Tee Vee.
He don't scare me. I'm keeping my chips where they are. If I lose I'll just have to eat crow right here in blog ville. I worked too hard getting rid of that
damn credit card.
Heres to me and my soon to be proven prognostic genius.

:toast:

[High Plains]

28. I would bet that this deal goes through.

Because despite all the hysteria, no security threat will be found.

[niallmac]

46. Perceptions, perceptions. How many years of Pavlovian conditioning

have gone into creating a knee jerk hysteria amongst us sheeple? Now we are supposed to ignore the very bell
that heretofore makes us salivate? I say they are hip deep in it this time.

[LaurenG]

8. I do have great hope that he will

It may be the straw that breaks the camels back for him.

[postulater]

9. Country for sale! No bid necessary!

Ports thrown in as a bonus.

Call George W at 1-800-FOR-SALE.

[quaoar]

15. Correction

It isn't George Dubya anymore. It's George Dubai.

[postulater]

16. Yeah, that's better yet.

[Burning Water]

10. You're right, of course.

Already my conservative acquittance's are asking when Democrats became so gung-ho on "racial profiling", and repeating talking points about how the "Ayrabs" will not be handling port security. They'll all come around sooner or later.

You have to hand it George Bush's handlers. They actually can take a sow's ear and make a silk purse out of it in the media.

[countingbluecars]

13. I have this feeling that

the UAE will somehow prove that they are our partners in the "War on Terror". Maybe they'll "turn up" Osama.

[XOKCowboy]

14. I agree..

I think you hit the nail right on the head. Everyone's attention will be distracted by some celebrity breakup or something just as trivial. The Repugs will then quietly OK the deal and no one but us will be the wiser.

It is just one more thing that's splitting the Republican party which is a very good thing in an election year.

[ThoughtCriminal]

18. Bush is losing

He has almost hit bottom already. ABout the only support left is from people who are freaked out on gay marriage - no other issue matters to them. And frankly, this move is probably even chipping away at this base. He will lose on this one because if he "Wins", it will probably cost them control of Congress and if that happens he may have to seek asylum in the UAE.

[quaoar]

22. They are in deep denial

about the election this year. They sense that they need to start separating themselves from Bush but breaking a 5-year addiction to licking his boots is tough. I don't think congressional republicans will learn it in time to save their asses. And we can all be thankful for their pigheaded arrogance.

[chieftain]

20. Either W loses or the Republicans lose.

I would prefer that the deal be stopped now but if it isn't we can jam it up the GOP's fat asses and then nationalize port operations when the Democrats regain power.

[murray hill farm]

21. I think it will go through...

I think the 06 elections will be fixed just like in 04...i basically think it is over...and it becomes more apparent every day....but..hey, i am probably just in a very pessimistic mood....hard not to be..all things considered.

[NanceGreggs]

23. He's already 'lost' on this one, no matter how it plays out.

If the deal goes through, his base -- who he has steadfastly scared into not trusting Arabs or Muslims -- is 'betrayed' by someone they looked to for protection from these same people he's cozying up to now.

If the deal gets quashed due to public outcry, his base will NEVER FORGET that he tried to sell the security of the country to the 'enemy' and was only stopped from doing so by others.

A lose-lose situation for the WH, and the Republican party, going into the mid-term election cycle.

Sweet.

[quaoar]

25. In a logical universe, that would be the case

But we live on Planet Bush, where anything is OK as long as Bush does it.

I mean, really -- didn't we all assume Bush's evangelical base would at least be ashamed when it was first discovered that a gay male prostitute was given access to the White House?

It doesn't matter what Bush does anymore. He can sell our ports to North Korea and his base will comply. That's how psychotics operate.

[Capn Sunshine]

27. In a logical universe, the beltway Dems wouldn't be enabling Bush either

So afraid of looking weak in the War on Terror, they have nothing to say and nothing to do except go along.

Meanwhile, the mainstream of America howls nbloody murder, and realizes that NO ONE represents them....

[NanceGreggs]

30. All of us here at DU talk about the BushBots accepting ...

... everything Bush does, without reservation. However, that is not the case, as has been demonstrated by his falling poll numbers.

He has lost supporters steadily for over a year now, pretty well concurrent with the start of his second term.

When it became apparent that Iraq wasn't going anywhere but down, his numbers went down. After his Katrina failure, his numbers dropped again. After the NSA wire-tapping story and the Abramoff scandal broke, his numbers plummeted again.

Yes, there will always be a bunch of right-wing nuts who WOULD support him if he ate a live baby on national TV. But they are a VERY SMALL MINORITY in the great scheme of things.

His apologists have managed to keep SOME of his base happy with such PR crapola as: "Things are much better in Iraq than you think. The liberal media is only showing the worst of it." "The economy is doing well, and shows signs of recovery every day." "The job market is picking up." "The Katrina victims are being taken care of." And SOME people will take those stories at face value.

But you can't spend four-plus years overtly and subliminally telling your base that all Muslims/Arabs are cut-throat murderers who think of nothing else, 24/7, than figuring out ways to slaughter Americans -- and then turn around and say, "Except for THESE Muslims/Arabs who I want to do business with," and expect people to have their minds completely changed on the issue overnight. And because of the deadlines involved with the ports deal, that's EXACTLY what he now has to do.

This ports deal is getting so much traction with Republican voters because it flies in the face of EVERYTHING this Administration has told them since 9/11. Many of his now-wary supporters are reacting the same way Pat Robertson's base would react if Robertson announced tomorrow morning that he's changed his mind about abortion, and Christians should SUPPORT abortion rights vigorously in every city, every state. They'd all scream WTF!!!???!!!

That's exactly what many soon-to-be-former Bush supporters are saying right now about this UAE deal.

And once a supporter walks away because they feel their ideals have been betrayed, they DON'T COME BACK, no matter what. And Bush's steady decline in favourability numbers prove that point.

[Jai4WKC08]

24. I sort of hope Bush "wins" this one.

If he does, the Repubs running this year will be hurt very badly.

I'd feel differently if I thought the deal is that big a threat to national security. Or rather, that refusing it at this point might not hurt national security more.

[Minnesota Libra]

26. Keep in that if Bush jeopardizes the republican party......

.....as a whole then what he gets in return has to be BIG enough to more than pay for the effort.

[jenmito]

29. I don't think THIS line will fly with the Repubs...

"In this case, he says that opposition to the deal is racism against Arabs." I don't think the "red states" care at ALL about racism against Arabs. They want security at ALL costs. Remember how they didn't even care about being wiretapped? Their line was, "Privacy means nothing if you're DEAD." I don't think that racial sensitivity will fly.

[agincourt]

31. You are correct,

He and his minions in congress or the media, never have had a real "accountability moment". Until Americans summon the values and courage to take action, he will always be the visible criminal who is seen but never arrested. Until Americans face the reality that this is an illegitimate presidency that never should have happened, things will just keep repeating themselves.

[nruth]

32. Seriously, yes, the deal will go through.

If history tells us anything, the deal will go through. The politicians will all try to act like statesmen and orate loudly...but in the end nothing will be done. No-one has been able to stop this boob from doing whatever he pleases...why start now? Bush and his cronies could care less what people think! I figure while we're all busy screaming over this one they're busy committing something even more ghastly while our heads are turned.

[quaoar]

33. Well, it looks like Repubs in Congress are already caving

That didn't take long, did it?

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Republicans in Congress are crafting a solution under which the controversial deal allowing a state-owned Arab company to run some terminals at six U.S. ports could move forward.

The agreement would first have to pass a 45-day investigation focusing on the national security implications of the deal, several sources linked to the talks said.

[howmad1]

34. I'm afraid I have to agree that pres. prick will get away on this one.

Face it, the sheeple don't give a crap about the UAE running our ports. Just wait until Brokeback Mountain wins the Academy Awards. Then you'll hear the outrage from the morans in this country. The ignoramuses will go bonkers.

[Disturbed]

35. It will go through.

The Rethugs that had reservations about it will change their minds and say it's ok. The Dems will whine a bit and then scamper to their feeding bowl.
What the public thinks doesn't matter one bit. Multi-Corps are in power and the Govt. serves them.

[abluelady]

38. The Port Deal May Go Through But Bush is a Loser

My congressman, for the first time in his career, I think, has gone against Bush. Eric Cantor is one of the biggest ass kissers out there when it comes to the administration--right up DeLay's pants. He is AGAINST the port deal. We are finally on the road to recovery!

[Jeffersons Ghost]

40. I wish it was true blue lady

But the OP shows how propaganda works and the GOP weaves lies like a master... The deal WILL eventually go through and neocons WILL allow themselves to believe any lie their leaders tell. Watch them learn the new talking points and fall into lock-step in upcoming weeks.

It is as Solomon writes of fools. A fool never seeks truth. All fools seek is information that supports their closed mind positions. A fool cannot learn and is doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes. You'll soon see how many fools vote in America.

[abluelady]

41. Like I Said

My rep going against "his" President is big stuff. We'll just have to wait a little while to see.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

43. mine aren't

i have a senator named Jeff Sessions that talks like an extension of the lying mouth of the tyrant... Talking against Dur Fuhrer is one thing, voting against him is quite another... I hope I'm wrong and you're right but recent experience makes me less than optimistic.

[Cocoa]

39. Wolf Blitzer said Bush always gets his way in the end

MediaMatters.org shows how that's not so...

http://mediamatters.org/items/200602240002

<snip>

In a discussion during the February 21 edition of CNN's The Situation Room with Democratic strategist Donna Brazile and CNN contributor Bill Bennett about the bipartisan opposition to a deal that would permit a company owned by the government of the United Arab Emirates to manage port terminals in six major U.S. cities, host Wolf Blitzer asserted that when President Bush "puts his mind to something, he usually gets his way, at least over these past five years." Blitzer's assertion came a day after President Bush, whose administration supports the deal, vowed to veto any legislation passed by Congress that would delay or override it.

After Brazile noted the broad opposition to the deal among members of Congress, Blitzer replied, "You say there's no way he's going to win this debate, but a lot of times, Democrats and some Republicans, they've underestimated this president." While Bush has threatened to veto legislation he opposed during his five years in office, he has never actually done so. In addition, he has reversed course in cases where he initially vowed to see his agenda realized despite any opposition and has also rebuked Congress only to change his stance later.

<snip>

Creation of cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security
McCain's anti-torture amendment, Patriot Act extension
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
2005 Transportation spending bill
9-11 Commission investigation and Rice's testimony
Social Security reform
Nomination of Miers to Supreme Court

[THUNDER HANDS]

42. except there's no racist element to exploit

never underestimate the power of middle aged white men to be scared of people who don't look like them.

[TankLV]

47. Bunkerboy (as opposed to America) will win on this one, again.

It's already happening right before our eyes, with Frist, Hassert, Roberts, et all, giving aid and comfort to our treasonous repuke AWOL pResident.

[RazzleDazzle]

48. You forgot: Change the subject

Even tho you gave a really good example:

We were talking about NSA spying, and now we're not. Bush&Co. will even use another scandal to simply change the subject.

Now we'll see what the NEXT change of subject is going to be, to get us off the Ports issue. I rather suspected the Ricin scare in TX was intended to change the subject. Hasn't there been some other "terrorism" news?

VERY GOOD overview of their M.O. Very good.

[AX10]

49. Bush will most likely win. But Americans will be pissed about it.

[Disturbed]

52. DPW is paying $6 Billion $800 Million.

What sort of profits will they reap in the coming years for that non-taxable profit? Why can't a US Corp. reap those profits and pay a little in Taxes? The US Govt. could use a little long term money back, couldn't it?

[tinfoilinfor2005]

53. bush is in the WH, and the repubs control everything else.

All the whining of those who have finally "seen the light" isn't going to change that fact. Of course it will be approved.

[WinkyDink]

54. Yes, I do. Big time. The dock-workers will see to it.

[quaoar]

55. The dockworkers will see to it?

I think I saw that movie. "On the Waterfront" right?

Unfortunately Marlon Brando is dead.

[marions ghost]

56. I would be surprised

if it doesn't go through. A scenario like the OP suggests is plausible.

As arrogant and narcissistic as Little Boots is, he would push this through just to PROVE that he is in charge and will not bend to public pressure. Just to PROVE that he always gets his way. And don't you forget it. He has Executive Power...and it trumps all.

The challenge is to the Repuglican base. It's up to his base to actually DO anything about this. And there's not much reason to have any faith in them.

[AX10]

57. His "base" will be back to licking his arse come November.

[Javaman]

58. Seventh - - a dirty bomb goes off in one of our cities 6 months from now.

Eighth -- moron* will parade out saying that we must be vigilant in the eyes of terrorism. At this point a few people will bring up the port deal but they will be shut up.

Ninth -- moron* will use the explosion of the dirty bomb to enhance is failing rating, promote fear and boost the repukes running for reelection.

Tenth -- the midterms are filled with fraud but nobody cares, because everyone is still scared out of their wits by moron*s
"catapulting of the propaganda", so everyone ignores the election and voter turn out is at "an all time historic low".