GOP Fears Race With Democrats Over Ports

[ProSense]

GOP Fears Race With Democrats Over Ports

By LIZ SIDOTI, Associated Press Writer
Wed Mar 8, 4:51 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Defying President Bush's veto threat, House Republicans moved Wednesday toward blocking a Dubai-owned firm from taking control of some port operations at six U.S. ports. Democrats hoped to bring the contentious issue to a vote in the Senate as well.

The GOP-run House Appropriations Committee planned to attach a provision to stop the ports deal to a $91 billion must-pass measure for Hurricane Katrina recovery in the Gulf Coast and for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The legislation would prohibit DP World, a company run by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports.

Snip...

The House GOP's rush toward a vote — which could occur next week in the full House — was being fueled by Republicans' fears that Democrats would force their own vote on the matter. Republicans worry that could weaken the GOP's longtime lock on the issue of national security.

more...


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060308/ap_on_go_co/ports_security_16

[stepnw1f]

1. That Hard for them To Do the Right Thing

"who do you really serve GOP?"

[Atman]

2. Bush fucked over his whole party

LOL!

After everything they've done for him, in perfect lockstep, this is how he pays them back, with a secret port deal that totally backs them into a political corner!

Bush will still find a way to give our ports to Dubai, no doubt.

The GOP will still steal the 2006 election.

Congress will have a deal worked out by next week allowing Dubai to have the ports as long as they hire an American shell company or something, but they'll get the ports. This is all a big fucking charade for sheeple. "We're tougher on security than YOU are!" Then they find a way to claim their "strength" on Port Security is what got them their election bump.

[IsItJustMe]

3. On Lou Dobbs tonight, Repug in charge of service committee said, Repugs

are taking the lead and will make sure the American people will be secure. Already trying to steal the issue.

[justabob]

4. Yes, he was very obnoxious

saying the republicans were out front handling the issue.... over and over again.

[IsItJustMe]

5. Now that you mention it, he sounded and looked like a used car salesman.

[ProSense]

6. Will Senate GOP also defy Bush on ports deal?

Will Senate GOP also defy Bush on ports deal?

Senate Republican leaders might not be able to block vote

MSNBC News Services
Updated: 8:01 a.m. ET March 9, 2006

WASHINGTON - After an election-year repudiation by a GOP-led House committee, President Bush hopes to avoid getting steamrolled in the Senate over a deal allowing a Dubai-owned company to take control of some U.S. port operations.

By a 62-2 margin, the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday voted to bar DP World, which is run by the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, from holding leases or contracts at U.S. ports.

The ports provision was added to a must-pass measure funding the war in Iraq and providing new hurricane relief.

In the Senate, Democrats moved for a vote as well by trying to attach a measure blocking the deal to legislation designed to overhaul rules governing travel, gifts and their dealings with lobbyists.

more...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11741617/from/RSS/

[MrBenchley]

7. It's telling...

The fear from the Republicans isn't that a backward, extremist nation aligned with terrorists might take over the ports, it's that they can't posture and pose on the issue and attack Democrats over it.

[ProSense]

8. The Repubs had to wimp out on Bush; fear of backlash. n/t