Former Kansas Sen. Bob Dole, whose law firm is helping represent the United Arab Emirates in the bungled U.S. ports deal, at least doesn’t seem to be as tone-deaf as the Bush administration on this political fiasco.
He announced Thursday that he would not lobby members of Congress after Democrats raised questions about the possible conflict of interest with his wife, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., who opposes the deal.
He said he would limit himself to efforts to “help the American people understand the real facts.” Still, this can’t be a lobbying job that Dole relishes. He’s too savvy not to see how bad this looks to most Americans. They must be paying him well.
Meanwhile, more damaging info emerged about the decision-making process: Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff joined the list of Cabinet members with direct oversight (Treasury, Defense) who didn’t know anything about this deal.
Do WE bloggers think the ports sale is simply delayed or dead? My guess is the latter.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Chas on Health care reform would save state money
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Politico on Health care reform would save state money
- Politico on So they said
- Pleefer on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Phantom on Open thread 11/22
- Phantom on Open thread 11/22
- Rage on Open thread 11/22
- Pleefer on Open thread 11/22
48 Comments
I wonder if Homeland Security and the Bush Administration, including Bush himself is aware of the Chinese owned terminal operations in American Ports?
Probably as aware as they are of the $256 billion China held in U.S. Treasury bonds as of 12/05.
America has been asleep to the selling out of America.
No American port or business should be in foreign hands.
Bob Dole is as usual……for sale. Sad times that we have to place hope in his jesus freak wife to do the right thing.
The entire GOP is for sale!
J R,
Haw haw haw! Brutal. ‘Jesus freak wife.’
Haw haw haw!
Did anyone notice that Chertoff was saying he didnt’ know anything about the deal until the memo came out?
I think the deal is going on as if Americans haven’t spoken at all. We’ll wake up Monday and hear it’s a done deal, deal with it.
The President of the United States did not know. The Secretary of Homeland Security did not know.It begs the question then, just who in the top of our government is in the know?
Now as to Bob Dole, when Nafta and Gat or as I refer to them graft-ta happened and his support of them. I thought of him as either he was really short-sighted, blinded by money or at the very least naive. The best example of the effect of Nafta was GM one of the biggest companies pushing for the North American free trade act. Stated that it could not sale their cars in Mexico because of the fines and fees. Yet GM had factories in Mexico at the same time. The result of Nafta was a flow of cars going from South to North not the other way. Gat of course brought a flow from Japan, Korea, etc of cars sold under the GM brand, along with ninety some percent of the merchandise on Wal-mart’s shelves being made in China.It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out the real effect of these two sale out of the American public was the lost of jobs and the devaluing of the American product.
Bob Dole played a big part in that sale out, as it would appear he is play such a part in this port deal.But as a side effect of his involvement in such deals that effect the American way of life. It seem to make him a better President of the United States. At least he is aware of what is going on here more so then the current President.
Hey if he runs for President again, I have his campaign slogan: “I will sale you out , but at least I will know I am doing it!”.
Great article today in the ljworld newspaper about waste in homeland security spending.
http://www.ljworld.com/
Maybe they can take that money they were wasting and come up with a better government funded pr campaign here instead of the middle east.
Looks like bushco and the UAE are not “convincing” the public on this. Maybe that is why beltway bob is gonna lobby us, not the lawmakers. And…he will lobby us just in time for the 06 elections.
Now ex-senators are being paid by arabs to lobby (campaign) for bushco? I wonder if they will be reporting those “campaign” funds to the FEC? Nawwwwwww…..just another day of gaming the system by bushco.
Can’t Bob Dole just stick to selling Viagra?
How much money does this greedy old b*st*ard need?
I think the deal is already done and will go through. Bushco just needs time to do some thug arm twisting, and now the “delay” confirms that.
It is a classic bushco tactic that when they are losing, they just delay, and then distract the country and media with an irrelevant shiney object. And after a sufficient quiet period, surprise, the deal is sealed.
Patriot Act anyone?
I think that without significant modification the deal is dead.
I also think that the administration will pay a heavy political price here, no matter what. The price will skyrocket if the deal, as is, goes through; the price will be mitigated only slightly if it doesn’t.
That’s because after suffering the effects of 5+ years of wedge politics used as a tactic against the Dems, the Bush administration has handed the Dems a Wedge (with a capital W) of their own: port and border security. Somehow I doubt that the Dems will be able to contrain themselves in using it, either (although I do have my doubts that they even recognize the enormity of the opportunity presented them).
After training American voters that such wedge tactics are sure-fire evidence of guts ‘n conviction on the part of the party wielding the wedge, President Bush will pay a heavy political price for being on the “wrong” end of this wedge, imo.
WaPo has a fairly good analysis of the dog’n pony show problems with this (bottom line: the President’s flacks are tired):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/25/AR2006022501579.html
In the first sentence of the 3rd paragraph, I wrote “That’s because after suffering the effects of 5+ years of wedge politics…”
I meant to write instead “That’s because after *enjoying* the effects of 5+ years of wedge politics…”
Great post flike. They are the masters of creating fear and then using that fear to cloud the truth. They whipped up the anti-arab sentiment and used it well.
And now, that fear and racism is coming back to haunt them. They didnt realize they couldnt control the fear and hate once they fanned the flames. I guess they thought since they “create reality” that controlling fear would be no problem.
Now they have a “wedgie” and they dont know how to deal with it. Be careful what you ask for…
Seriously, how the hell does he think he can convince the American people if he can’t even convince his own wife?!?!
“He’s too savy not to see how bad this looks to most Americans. They must be paying him well.”
Well at least we know what his price of selling out the US is. He is not a saint… just another political hack of bushco.
Integrity? I think not!
Kfg, good point. Gotta give the repugs credit for scaring everybody to death. And they wonder why we’re not onboard when it comes to letting Arabs control our ports.I read somewhere that Carlysle (sp) is involved. Isn’t that Poppa Bush?
Yes, XXX and Neil Bush as well.
Mr. Scholfield, your heading here is a cheap shot at bona fide American war hero, and proud Kansan, Senator Robert Dole. Perhaps next time you disagree with Kathleen Sebelius in an editorial, my response will be titled, “Scholfield not in bed any more with Kansas Governor”!!
In any case, I think former Kansas Senator Dole could provide a valuable service to America and the world in explaining the case for the United Arab Emirates’ management of a U.S. port. I admit I don’t understand all of the ramifications.
But Mr. Dole having once been the most traveled person in the world and giving more speeches in the world for many years is probably one of the best informed people there is to explain this situation.
So I for one say, “Good luck Senator Dole on this new assignment.”
Nobody sits in Bob Dole’s chair.
JWink,You’re wasting your time pointing out the obvious: The liberal posters at this blog only know hate for anyone who disagrees with them. The is no meeting of the minds, because there are no minds, only one track ponies. Just angry people who would rather post trash politics than something constructive. Just the kind of people I would want to take over for the moronic idiots running the administration now . . . ya, right.
Dole is a war hero and a man, something not too apparent here. If the group here would take time to hear what Dole has to say, they might learn something, but that seems to be far fetched, at least in my opinion.
War hero . . . you mean like Kerry?
“War hero . . . you mean like Kerry?”
See what I mean? Pure cynicism. Trash politics.
This Ad;min. is not only trying to give foreigners control over our sea ports, but also over our airlines, with the EU-US ‘Blue Skies’ agreement. This rampant globalization of America ownership must be stopped by the people.
Congress should make use of this 45 day investigative period to get some bills passed. I don’t think the Dems.(defenders of America) will sit on their hands while Bush tries a cooling off period.
The same people who called Dole a hero for his self inflicted grenade throwing incident, condemned Kerry as an impostor for the same type of incident.
I think the difficulty in the Dole household is related to just who is “god”.
Now Libby Dole is as I said a worrysome “jesus freak” what with her “Praise god this and Praise god that”
But Bob. Well one wonders about the need for Viagra in the Dole household? We may forgive Libby Dole. Bob couldn’t give her enough circumstance to call out to God without pharmaceutical internention.
So Bob has to get in bed before he gets in bed?!First with the Pharmys and now with the arabs?
Dole gets on board to sell this deal to sell out national security. Maybe he is concerned for his relevance. He should be. He has none. I guess he’d rather be recogized as a shill than forgotten completely.
Sad.
Of course, Bob Dole would be concerned with “portal” access and the need to aid it.
Regulations make some “ports” difficult to access. Those who do not “hold up” to the criteria needed for access need “aid”. The place of these ports may be unwilling to grant access. The entering member may not be UP to the test. Access may be denied due to failure to demonstrate stiff adherence to the part of the accepting port to the entering members flaccidity.
Bob couldn’t give her enough circumstance to call out to God without pharmaceutical internention.
OOooohhh Shit! That was cold, dog! That was ice cold!!!
Hello this is Bob Dole and Bob Dole knows what Bob Dole is talking about. Bob Dole has looked over every angle of this deal. And Bob Dole is looking out for the best interests of this country.My Wife and Bob Dole may have different opinions on this deal.But Bob Dole will win her over.This has been Bob Dole, it has been a pleasure for Bob Dole to have a chance to speak to you!
That’s why I never even considered voting for the guy. Always refers to himself in third-person.
For the above trash offerings about true American hero, former Senator Robert Dole, all I can say at this moment, is “Criticize the messenger, not the message.” (I reversed the old saying, get it?)
Don’t have time now to re-explain Robert Dole’s horrific war wounds suffered in Italy in April, 1945, shortly before the end of World War. But suffice it to say, it took years and extreme perserverance for Mr. Dole to return to some semblance of health. And even now after some 60 years, those wounds are still with him affecting every movement he takes. So shape up and be thankful there are people like Mr. Dole around at the right time to protect your American freedoms.
Jeez Walker, lay off the caffiene.
XXX,Evidently you haven’t read the crap and nonsense in this thread, or you whole-heartedly agree with it all. You may not like Dole, but to compare him to Kerry with the intended object being Dole is less a hero that Kerry, is simply trash politics. This is what CF,Proudlib, and others are so adept at doing here. They do nothing but give liberals a bad name. They offer nothing constructive, bait anyone who disagrees with them, then pounces whenever someone does. Is that what you are talikng about when you say, “lay off the caffiene”? Because if it is, then you belong in the same catagory, and I don’t think you do.
To each his or her own, though. Joe Williams has as much right to post here as anybody, regardless of his beliefs. But everytime he does, he is slammed in a personal attack, not his post, mind you. What does that tell you about the liberal mindset here? It basically tells me these people shoot from the lip and not the brain.
Anybody can badmouth, but it takes a bit of intelligence to debate in a manner conducive to accomplishing something other than the ridicule of another poster. CF, Proudlib, JR and others can high-give thenselves all day at the salvos they throw at people who disagree with them, but in the end, what have they accomplished? In my opinion, NADA.
Argumentum ad Bacculum
Hell even I’m guilty of that! However we’re all human and prone to insert emotions into our arguments, and well our posts speak for themselves just how angry or “passionate” people get here in the WE blog!
Passion is one thing, slamming someone for their beliefs is something entirely different. I can be guilty of that as well, but I keep it to a minimum, and only when it’s appropriate. ( well, sometimes I do like to throw rocks.)
Yeah, Dole is respectable because of his military career, but as a politician he seems very well, arrogant. I mean, how would you feel if I started to refer to myself in the third person all the time? That’s what the queen of England does doesn’t she?
back on the subjects of the ports. isn’t this a bit of racial profiling going on here? i’m against that and not sure where the line is drawn, but it seems to be the case here.
from what i understand the uae will only have the bureaucratic control of the port, we still control customs and security. am i missing something?
It wasn’t trash politics, Mr-I-Remain-Above-The-Fray.
I was simply making the point that if one respects Bob Dole for getting wounded in combat and serving his country, one should give John Kerry the same respect.
You notice Bob Dole didn’t stand up and call the scurrilous and despicable attacks on Kerry’s record for what it was–scurrilous and despicable.
He tacitly swift-boated Kerry along with all the rest of them.
The fact that Dole’s war record was brought up had and has nothing to do with Kerry’s record, except in the minds of people who feel it necessary to denigrate someone in order to make someone else look good. Apples and oranges. Your creed seems to be “never let an individual stand on his or her own accord; compare them with someone you think is better.”If it walks like a duck, etc.
“It wasn’t trash politics, Mr-I-Remain-Above-The-Fray.”
It is trash politics, and I believe I’m right in the middle of this, hence, you comment, as usual, is way off the mark. I serioulsy doubt you are doing any good whatsoever by the personal attacks you make on people like Joe.
You are not furthering the democratic principle, unless that principle is one of complete negativity. You certainly are not offering any usable ideas that would further the democratic cause in straightening out the mess Bush & co have left it. What you do is bitch and moan about how bad it is. What you don’t do is come up with WORKABLE solutions to the problem(s). And you call Republicans stupid?
Well walker I truly do not care about your opinion of me. Your posts demonstrate what side you are on. And I THINK I have been clear that while I was once a Republican, I now consider any and all Republicans by and large deluded and in some cases evil.
Joe Williams fits the latter. You seem to fit the former.
Bob Dole is a war hero. So was John Kerry. It is truly sad and illustrative of the division in America that the respect one awards a war hero is subjective to party of the war hero.
I had some fun upthread with Bob Dole. That does not diminish my respect for his service in the past. It speaks of my concern for his service of late.
It is fun and easy to do the Viagra jokes. But Dole made himself a national spokesman for that product. Now this is not entirely a bad thing. As a liberal, I am all in favor of anything that helps people. That a stodgy Republican like Dole endorsed a product that helped with SEX which many conservatives seem to see as dirty and wrong would speak well for DOel to me.
But of course……he was getting paid for that endorsement. We cannot know whether genuine concern for elderly love life was his prime motivation. Politicians love TV time and money. The viagra ads gave him both.
But as an advocate for the UAE port deal, Dole troubles me. There are no positives to this deal for America or any American that anyone can cite…. other than giving bush his way. And there is great reason to fear negative consequences.
And so it makes me want to suggest that we follow the money.
J R.I must have touched a nerve: Your post makes more sense than what I have been reading earlier.
I am not a Republican, but neither am I a Democrat. I will look very closely at who is running for whatever political office and vote accordingly. I will also stand up for people who get constantly slammed by people who address the poster not the post, as is common here.
If Dole had shown the sense of humor he has doing Viagra commercials when he was running for president, he might have knocked Bush out of the running. Good or bad? Who knows.
I agree with you that Dole should be questioned about his association with the UAE, and the money trail should be followed, but I would like to hear what he has to say prior to passing judgement.
The problem I have with the port deal is the fact that shipping security will have to be known by the operators, in this case the UAE. That is more frightening, to me, than the UAE owning the ports.
One thing I would have you consider: Is it possible that deep down in his heart, Bush is really a Liberal in disguise? Who else could bring the Republican party to the brink of ruin:-)
Good post, JR.
As for me never posting anything “positive,” let me tell you what I’m for–
1. Fiscal conservatism. The biggest problem our country has is not political terrorism. It is economic terrorism by the wealthy special interests who have co-opted government and are borrowing and spending us into oblivion.
BushCo is cutting rents on national lands so that oil companies can make more money at taxpayer expense. Welfare for the rich.
I support the pay-as-you go plan of Clinton-Gore. If you can’t afford it, don’t do it. He raised taxes where they needed to be raised, he balanced the budget, paid down the debt and the economy boomed.
2. Voting reform. I support a popular vote for president–a person’s vote should not count more because they live in Montana than because they live in New York or Los Angeles.
I support a non-partisan, transparent, and uniform system for registering and voting. The use of private electronic voting machines that cannot be recounted would immediately be halted. Election day should be a national holiday or a Sunday, 24 hours long that starts and ends at the same time throughout the contiguous 48 states.
3. Effective foreign policy that makes America safer. Use cooperation with other countries to combat terrorism. Treat all terrorism the same, whether it comes from Muslim extremists or skin-headed white supremicists (Tim McVey, David Koresh). Identify and deal with the underlying causes of terrorism–not “they hate us for our freedoms idiocy.”
4. Emphasize facts and rationality. The humanist tradition gave us our Constitution. We cannot be a great nation if we substitute wishes, lies, and superstition for the process of reason.
5. National universal health care. If Denmark and China and Japan and France and England and New Zealand can do it, we can do it.
“But what about the costs,” the right wing whines. Yes, what about the costs RIGHT NOW? How much do we pay to NOT insure 45 million Americans? How much do businesses have to pay and how much less competitive are they internationally because they provide this huge expense to workers?
6. A real alternative-energy plan. As opposed to Bush’s fake one.
7. Stem-cell research. Screw the Bible beaters. People with spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s need the cells from fetuses that will be flushed down the drain. For mercy’s sake, give it to them, and let America be the world-wide leader in the most exciting medical advance in our lifetimes.
There’s seven, for starters . . .
Well Walker certainly lberals get bashed and called names here too. One would hope you as a “moderate” are an equal opportunity defender. In my own defense, I have no pseudonyms and my email is live. I do not think there is a right wing poster here who can claim the same.
Answer to your question is bush is not a liberal. He is also not a conservative. This is best illustrated by the recent port deal. Liberals and real conservatives are against it. Only slavish bushies are for it. They have no reason for being for it.They are for it because bush is for it.
So if bush is not a conservative and not a liberal what is he? Simple. He is a puppet. Us liberals saw that since 1998. And as a former Republican myself, his candidacy and “election” were only further affirmation that the GOP is about just one thing: Commerce. And further commerce at any cost up to and including selling out the industry, future and security of America.
If you are a moderate Walker I appeal to you. Bush “did not know about this deal until after it was concluded” (their quote not yours) Yeah? Even though top admin officials WORKED for the corp in question? And if you don’t know about something, do you threaten veto power to make it so over widespread concerns?
PL,
McVey and Koresh were not White Nationalists. In fact, both were race mixers!
“It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible.” – George Washington
JR and Proudlib, these are some rockin’ posts. Just great. I am proud to be on the same side (most of the time:) with such intelligent, well spoken, and truely patriotic people. Too bad the bigots will just scroll past.
You go boys!!
JR,The question was rhetorical and done in a humorous vein only. No way is bush anything other than a really bad president.
As for Dole getting paid for Viagra commercials? How many people plugging this or that actually believe in what they are selling? Money talks, bro.
Thanks the kudos farmgrrl.
Good to hear you’re not on the bandwagon walker.
Yeah money talks. It is talking real loud right now and too much. It is way past time to do something about that.