[azredhawk44]

So... the patriot act has gotten renewed. It was a hotbed of controversy just a couple weeks ago.

Since then, Dick Cheney has shot a friend and Bush has put his foot in his mouth regarding port security.

I don't think Cheney intentionally shot his friend for media misdirection... But I do wonder if the port issue was an intentional misdirection to get the media off of the patriot act.

Thoughts?

[p35bhp09]

I voted no. While I'm no fan of Bush or his administration I doubt either would bring anything this controversial to the medias attention.

[longhorngunman]

I sure hope so:D . Looks like Bush might have succeded with the ole rope a dope again! I remember constant whining and bitchin' about the Patriot Act a few months ago, even on this forum:eek: :) . Well now Bush got what he really wanted and everyone is off ranting about something else. And within two months the Port deal will go threw too without a whimper while the libs are moaning about something else:D . Gotta love Dubya. He ain't no Reagan but I love the way he *****'s off the libs!

[Cosmoline]

Gotta love the way he's expanded the federal government more than any President since FDR. Gotta love the way he's attacked civil liberties. Yeah, there's a lot to love about the man :barf:

I'm with the liberals on this one. I want him *OUT* Even if that means having to swallow a Democratic resurgence in November. The best case scenario is to see the feds completely gridlocked. That way at least they won't do any more harm. Then maybe the GOP can get back on track for 2008 and put these miscreant big spenders up against the wall. As it stands today the federal government is a far greater threat to us than AQ ever was. Federalism itself is being torn apart by this administration. It's got to stop, even if it means the destruction of the GOP.

[Camp David]

I do wonder if the port issue was an intentional misdirection to get the media off of the patriot act.

Thoughts?

No.... seperate issues.
PATRIOT ACT RENEWAL
Dems finally realized that their lack of trust from the American public on the security issue would be further compromised if they objected to the demonstrated success of the Patriot Act. Most Americans support the basic idea of the Patriot Act.

PORTS ISSUE
This is the partisan political issue; it has nothing to do with national security. Dubai Ports World was sold; British did it previously. Dubai/UAE firm does an excellent job managing port traffic; United States Navy has 700+ ships now in Dubai control in UAE waters: Our friendliest port abroad! If the Armed Forces trusts them there, why not here? Dems are using the 'Ports' issue as partisan political campaign issue for 06 elections.

[JohnBT]

Cosmoline, did you mean to skip from FDR to President Bush and leave out one of the grandest empire builders of them all - LBJ?

http://us.history.wisc.edu/hist102/lectures/lecture27.html

LBJ's overwhelming victory also helped bring many liberal candidates into the eighty-ninth Congress. Historians often refer to this Congress as the "Fabulous Eighty-Ninth" for its great number of legislative successes. The "Fabulous Eighty-Ninth" accomplished the following:

Achieved the goals of the Fair Deal.
Achieved the goals of the New Frontier.
Introduced Medicare programs.
Passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Legislated a Housing and Urban Development program.
Ratified the highway beautification act, a pet project of Lady Bird Johnson, the First Lady.
Installed clean air and water regulations.
Ended the immigration quota system of the 1920s.
Set forth new city planning programs.
The Fabulous Eighty-Ninth Congress passed so much progressive legislation between 1965 and 1967 that it reminded many Americans of the germinal days of the early New Deal. Said Speaker of the House, John W. McCormack:

"It was a Congress of accomplished hopes, a Congress of realized dreams."

Like the web site says - if only it hadn't been for Vietnam.

John

[dpesec]

I don't think they needed to deflect attention. This was going to pass anyway. I really wish it didn't but hey what do I know.

[ArmedBear]

Ditto.

89-10 is a pretty wide margin, for something that has gotten so much attention and been the object of so much opposition.

Judge Alito was confirmed 58-42, and unlike the USAPATRIOT II, no one could come up with a good reason not to vote for him.

[longeyes]

The ports deal is about money. Google Carlyle Group, CSX, and Dubai Ports. The fog will lift.

I'd like to know why no American company can run terminal operations profitably while foreign companies can. Are the foreign companies "dumping" in effect, doing this below cost, with gov't subsidies?

[ArmedBear]

The ports deal is about money. Google Carlyle Group, CSX, and Dubai Ports. The fog will lift.

I'd like to know why no American company can run terminal operations profitably while foreign companies can. Are the foreign companies "dumping" in effect, doing this below cost, with gov't subsidies?

Bob Dole and Bill Clinton both work as consultants to the UAE, while their wives are in the Senate. Money, money, money.

As far as American companies running terminal operations... look to regulation, taxes, and union rules first. The longshoremen's union keeps willing workers out of the business if they don't have connections; I have no sympathy for them.

[cpileri]

Shall I add this to my list?

Event: Patriot Act renewed.
Brushfire: Saudi port sale scandal.

List seen here:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=144195


And in response to Moderator Art Eatman's valid point(s) in the aforementioned thread: I wont go so far as to say thet all of these are a 'wag the dog' episode. But it wouldnt suprise me of some are; and that some congresscritters wait for any of a number of explosive issues that do happen daily to catch the fleeting fancy of the sheeple and then take the opportunity to push anti-freedom laws through. Obviously i wouldn't have posted that thread at all if I thought they were all mere coincidences.

INCOMING...

C-

[seeker_two]

No.

If anything, Bush was hoping the Patriot Act would get all the coverage while the Bush-Family-Financial-Portfolio-Expansion Deal went through undetected.... :rolleyes: