YellowLinesandArmadillos

Two Washington Post articles, the first echoing everything that Ken and Monkey have posted, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6030902291.html the second echoing BiB's understanding of the political consequences by David Broder http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6030902290.html The Post Even!

Two Washington Post articles, the first echoing everything that Ken and Monkey have posted, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6030902291.html the second echoing BiB's understanding of the political consequences by David Broder http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...6030902290.html The Post Even!

Ha, Ha, LOL, must be some Al-Qaeda working there, did the alert level go up? Bush folks should hire this lady, the one fired, they could use a good sales person.

You are right, Bush has been very careful the make the distinction between Arabs and terrorists, however, as I stated earlier, that is all he has said and he or his Admin, didn't make the case for the UAE ahead of time, given some of thier history. The rest of Republian Party has hammered Dems on this issue and the distinction has become mute because of this. Turn about is only fair politics. Actually, very good politics and both sides are playing it with lots of hypocracy thrown in. But as Monkey reiterated, Bush in lunchin lately and lost his best sales folk, so the rest of the crowd couldn't sell a space heater to an Eskimo in the dead of winter. On the merits, I happen to agree with you and BiB, the anti-arguement is weak. Still not thrilled with the idea of foreign companies controlling our ports, but from an trade negotiating standpoint, not security. I think our trade reps have given away the kitchen sink, going back to Bush 1 and including Clinton, and even that would not bad if we got something more in return. The trade deficit and debt proves my point. Furthermore, we continue to trade with lots of folks that we think are morally suspect including China, so what is the big deal as far as ownership goes, other than an economic one and that has not been argued. But isolationists, including Dobbs, Buchanan and Buckley have joined rural populist Reps and Dems that don't trust anyone that doesn't talk or look like white trash america and watch Jessica Simpson shake her @#$s, the rest see a political opportunity. Notice that folks like Biden and Liberman are keeping their heads down on this one. Can't wait to see the vote in the Senate.

Oh some low level staffer will read it, and give you a form KVIM reply, the Senator will read it briefly and sign it, if it is one response to all queries on this issue, letter will be preapproved and it will receive an autopen. I.E., I will certainly keep you views in mind...as this issue is debated and considered during the 109th Congress... Standard form response that I have written many times.

Understood, and while I like them, I agree they can be politically expedient and in Schumer's case, down right obnoxious.

Senate site gets crashed by overloads regularly, they can get as many 14,000 emails in an hour on a hot issue or grassroots lobbying campaign. At least that is what I remember our sys admin saying.

I know that you like to focus in on them, but the ones involved in decision making are folks like Santorum, Frist, McCain and Hatch. If and when they get back in charge, then I can appreciate the comment, until then, direct your venom appropriately.

And even when the Majority does listen, they take it over and grab credit as much as they can, often reintroducing the same bill under a Republican Congresscritter to pass, simpleton stuff really. Lobbying bill is an example. Yeh Schumer is a cheerleader, but this doesn't go anywhere without "spineless" Republicans. Man spineless and Republicans in the same sentence, that was cathartic.

Fallout has started, the London Stock exchange has just announced it rejected a takeover bid by NASDAQ. Don't know details, so what, the announcement timing is a shot.

CNN is asking for email response to the Ports Deal...Ken, Monkey, BIB have at it! Would be fun if anything gets on air.

Oh I think he would agree that we need to get Cosco out of the West Coast. P.S. Lou Dobbs is on CNN now stating that this issue has expose the vulnerability of nation to problems of free trade. Simplistic message, but it sells.

Santorum? He switches sides more often the a ping-pong ball and can't be trusted to keep his word. I am sorry you have to live under his idiocy. Specter is probably a little more amneable to your concerns. Besides, Santorum will probably go down, write Casey's campaign office, he is a moderate dem and pro-life to boot. Not sure where he is on this issue however.

Hey Ghost, you still around...took some neat shots of an Osprey and I think a red tail hawk riding an updraft together today. Will email.

Ah, the smoking gun connection, was wondering where it was, guess who ironically was defending the Admins decision the last couple of days on FOX news....Snow! Shoot, knew I smelled a rat, just couldn't figure it out...Snow and not Halliburton, but Carlyle Can't wait to hear the attacks from the Bush opologists tomorrow morn...More GOP cronyism. Hey, was Abramoff somehow involved?

8-5 in wild one tonight, 2 points out of first place...Let's go Buff alo!

I can understand that and am frustrated both by the American and Arab press and others who lump Arabs and U.S. intentions into one monolethic set of beliefs and culture. Stereotypes suck, but lacking more info aabout each others intentions makes steroetypes easier to aquire. Until the latest conflict ends soon and more open discussions and less adverserial sabre rattling by both sides keeps getting the desired political results, I am afraid we are doomed to carry on this way for some time. Hence the importance and need for good willed strong peaceful leadership on all sides.

Note: Sabres leading late in 3rd 8-5 in a late one. Tampa pulled goal tender and Roy got a hatch trick.

Oh there has got to be a way, just be creative. You have to know some young kid willing to pull a prank on the order of the Alabama Church deal (saracasm) and not get caught or at least have parents with their morals.

The rub is that Bush hasn't or can't give a definition of what one of those people look like so that we can appropriately hate them. Therefore , as a vacuum anyone resembling one of those protesting, american flag burning, shooting each other when full of religious fervor drummed to a fury by their religious mullahs or anything close gets our hatred and we do not differentiate. Dubai Ports was just a good excuse to take out that frustration and confusion.

P.S. So do Senate and House Dems stink at it, but are getting a little better. Up until recently, the only folks any good at it were House Republicans, that may change some with Delay struggling. But despite recent glitches, I think they will probably rebound and do fairly well after the next election assuming they remain in control.

Exactly, a false debate, but they laid it out there and got away with it. Of course it was rigged, but folks felt like they participated and let it go....Team Reagan and Team Clinton were great at it. Team Bush sucks at it, which is why I question their stamina and patience.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/03/09...24_273_8_06.txt Only in America does sh#t like this happen, if true, very humorous. Clear Channel who Howard Stern can't stand, and considered a conservative 1000 poune gorrilla of radio stations, owns KLSD. This woman had a KLSD bumper sticker and supposedly was fired because of it. P.S. Here is Advantage Sales and Marketings stated values on its website, interesting. http://www.asmnet.com/command/values_mission.cfm

But that is the rub, this President's Administration has been systematically unwillingly to put the info out there and engage in a full-scale debate. Clinton did that regularly and managed to win or modify and compromise and still get his way, despite what the other side was saying. This President and his minions are too stubborn to see that there are many ways to skin a cat. No matter how you do it, it will still taste like chicken, so give a little, as long as it gets you where you want. But these, guys aren't able to, too lazy, or too arrogant and don't want to do the hard work to pull it off. It is more than just P.R., but having the intellect stamina and patience to outduel the otherside with a smile on your face, a sense of humor, while you can't stand who you are dealing with. That is what makes a good Politician.

CRS background report: http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs...ytime&type=form Sounds like Frist just killed lobbying reform, putting it off for consideration 'till next week, because he would not allow Schumer to have his amendment protected to be considered or debated next week.