Port In Reverse

Michelle Malkin points out that the White House seems to be walking it back a bit. And suggests some others are retreating, too. Many retreating politicians, pundits, and bloggers are all too eager to overlook the dubious business-as-usual approval process that supposedly vetted the deal's risks thoroughly.

And the business as usual theme was picked up on by Rick Moran:

The backlash against the incompetent and cavalier manner in which the Bush Administration has handled the DPW port sale imbroglio has spawned its very own hysterical opposition – much of it from those who should know better.

To me, that seems a bit unfair. I don't understand the need to pin it on Bush when, as even ABC broadcaster, Anne Compton acknowledged today, this pretty much is business as usual. Such deals and approvals always work their way up through the administration, confidentially, as required by law.

I find it short-sighted when people think the President is supposed to be up on every single item going on in the world everyday. He became aware of it in the flow just as it was designed. If people don't like it, fault the Congress who established the agency who does these reviews.

Sure, we can second guess it. But one could argue the administration misjudged the negative feelings towards some countries by Americans, more than they did the significance of the deal.

Bush's statements have made it pretty clear he has faith in the people whose job it was to check out this deal. And, with Bush's history as regards the GWOT, I seriously doubt he would do a turn around if he wasn't comfortable there was no threat from the arrangement.

Frankly, with all due respect to Michelle and others, if the Prez and the Homeland Security Czar say they're comfortable, it means more to me than what other bloggers are saying - particularly when they started out on the issue seeming so irate. I've never seen the threat in this some have, but then I heard it discussed locally for some time.

The unions, more than anyone else, came out strongly against it. If, as is believed, the ports will eventually receive technological improvements, it could mean fewer jobs for dock workers. But that's how progress works.

That said, I don't see an issue with taking some time to get the political ducks in a row for this to go through. But that's about all the significance I give to it. Look at Rick's final conclusion:

In short, I just don’t trust them.

Well, that's clear enough. And it was the reaction I had for about the first five minutes after hearing about the deal. As I pointed out here, we have far too many military facilities in the UAE to not accept them as a partner, assuming due diligence was done. I suspect the record, when it comes out, will show it was.

This started out on local talk radio with a Friday interview with NYC Mayor Bloomberg on WABC. Limbaugh picked up on it but was decidedly neutral - but Hannity must have spotted his next big ratings driver the way he's been going on about it.

I'm not sure if this tells us more about the danger from the UAE, or the dangers from today's media, including blogs, moving at the speed of light. Sometimes people don't have time to get all the facts, or think them through.

Comments

[splashtc]

Excuse me-but just what the h_ll is he doing? He's not overseeing homeland security. He doesn't know about the prison abuses. He's not doing anything about the mexican border. One by one his cabinet members are involved in scandal. He nominated Harriet Miers...

[ViVi]

It's asinine to think that BUsh can micromanage every detail of every aspect of this country. A good leader can delegate effectively and efficiently to those whom he trusts. That's what it looks like to me.

[Phoenix]

My first response when I read this on a blog was what I typed: "Ho hum..... business as usual."

I agree that Bush can't be expected to know every thing. I also think Condoleeza had to go smooth some feathers BECAUSE of the public's very vociferous and very ignorant, knee-jerk outrage. How embarrassing to have to fly around to countries to make nice because 'we the people' are acting like idiots and yelling 'fire'. To say nothing of our oh-so-noble legislators making fools of themselves anywhere they could find a microphone.

I bet ALL the honchos involved in this deal are yukking it up about what assholes people are.

[splashtc]

no no no, with all due respect- this shows the world who runs our country "we the people" and that we're not a bunch of kool aide drinking blindly follow our rulers/ mullahs whatever- sheep. We think for ourselves and we question everything. This port deal is an excellent lesson in democracy!

[Phoenix]

Good point, Splash. But considering this was a business deal outside the realm of government control - until they got wind of the griping - I can't say I can agree with you 100%. We the people don't bother with every business deal that goes down. But when we did hear about it, everyone, and that includes our trusty government, went knee-jerk nuts. Still, you do have a good point about how a whole lot of hollering can make a difference.

This brings up the people who predict gloom and doom and how Americans will be wearing turbans and burkas......blah blah... How stupid. We may be given to complacency, but if anyone threatens us we rise up like one giant collective killing machine. Gotta love it...