Why would the Republicans who were so opposed to the sale of the port management company to Dubai Ports World, claiming that it was an unacceptable security risk, vote against the Sabo Amendment, to provide increased funding for port security?
The Sabo Amendment to HR 4939, Supplemental Appropriations Bill, included:
Oliver Willis entitled this, “They were for it, before they were . . . .” As much as I hate it when the leftists get it right, Mr. Willis did so on this one.
I wrote previously about the opposition to the port deal seeming a lot more like us being at war with Arabs, period, than Islamic fascists. It seems like the Republicans in the House are doing whatever they can to prove that to be right.
Of the top of my head, with Republican leadership in the House so rudderless, weak, and fearful of being turned out in November, members reacted to another big government expenditure in knee-jerk fashion attempting to pander to fiscal conservative values of limited spending.
If so, they misread the situation. The conservative base will support large financial outlays for real protections from likely terrorist attacks. It’s so-called entitlements, earmarks, and other silly boondoggles we oppose.
Conservatives, especially active ones, support exactly the measures Sabo addressed. Rejecting the amendment is stupid, shortsighted, and will be punished at the ballot box.
A good dose of the old time religion for House Republicans, and GWB too, is clearly in order. But, skimping on national security protections isn’t the way to electoral victory, or the way to pull back on runaway spending.
I’d like to get other opinions.
Well, the Republicans didn’t get the moniker “The Stupid Party” for nothing. Now that they have been in power for 12 years in the House, they still act like the Dims are in charge. They pander more to the Dims, than to the base. After a while you can’t tell the difference anymore. The only advantage that has been used was the Supremes, but the benefits have not been reaped yet. My gut reaction there says it’s 50-50.
The Reps have yet to take control, and use their power. If the dims get a majority of one, you will see a–holes and elbows working on legislation to give the lower 40 of the farm away. The lower 40 is all that’s left of the 10000 acres. The only thing working in this country is the economy, everything else has gone to hell in a handbasket in an ever tightening spiral.
As said years ago, when they figure out how to vote themselves the treasury, all is lost. $9,000,000,000,000.
Why? Good question Dana and I appreciate your honesty on this issue. I don’t know why, but Black Jack may be right – maybe they just dislike the price tag.
First of all, the money you’re showing here Dana is “chumpchange”.
The 2006 elections (and the rehtoric we will all be consumed with) are in full swing.
If you read todays post in the Washington Times, the Dems plan to take the remainder of this month to Bash Bush on National Security issues. They are grasping to this “ports deal” to claim Bush and the Republican party is not spending enough money for the ports, therefore, we see this legislation.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20060317-110209-4097r.htm
This is all very nice that Harry Ried wants to do a March campaign for National Security to make his party feel all toughy-feely, when GW has been doing it for 5 years.
Do the Democrats think that sometime in the last five years they could have gotten behind the President and this nation in all forms of security and the war on terror? Maybe if we had their support from the beginning our troops would already be home from Iraq.
Now that it’s an election cycle the Democratic party is going to attempt to show the public that they are tough on national security?
No, they’re going to do nothing but bash Bush to “excite” their base.
Why didn’t you have these town hall meetings last year Harry? Has anything changed within your party? What hypocrites!!!
Power is all they seek, and they will undermine the security of this nation to get it back.
[...] Fatherland- I mean Homeland Security isn’t about security. It’s a way to funnel more money into defense contractors. March 16, 2006 9:03 PM Common Sense Political Thought said: [...]