# Bush is right and the Democrats are full of shit **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 9, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716 "2006-03-09T18:50:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/1 "2006-03-09T18:50:42Z")
I’ve done a lot of Bush bashing around here so it’s only fair to give him credit when I think he’s doing something right even when it’s hurting him politically to do it. Bush is right about the UAE Ports deal and Congress is wrong. Both sides in Congress, Republicans and Democrats alike, are completely full of shit about the deal being any kind of threat to US security. They KNOW they’re full of shit and they’re actually hurting the interests of the country by attaching their bullshit cockblock to an [emergency spending bill](http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/03/09/port.security/) intended to provide money for Iraq and for hurricane relief. I expect this kind of shit from the Republicans but I’m really pissed off at the number of Democrats who are jumping all over this only because they see it as a rare opportunity to get to the right of Bush on a “terror” issue and to pander to xenophobia and anti-Arab bigotry. Hillary Clinton, in particular has disappointed me. She’s smart enough to know what a charade this is and she’s purely playing politics. One member of Congress who has _not_ disappointed me is John McCain. He’s one of the only GOP Senators willing to call bullshit on all the fucking scare-mongering going on in both parties. If a presidential election were held today between McCain and HRC, I can’t swear that I wouldn’t vote McCain. Someone else who deserves credit is Bush himself, not just for refusing to go along with this crap but also for sticking to his guns about a veto threat even as his approval ratings are dropping like a turd in a well. As much as it pains me to say anything good about about Bush, I do have to admit that he doesn’t let himself get pushed around. by political gamesmanship. This is the first time in six years I’ve ever felt any respect for the man. I hope he writes a big “FUCK YOU” on the spending bill after he vetoes it. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/2 "2006-03-09T18:53:04Z")
I practically fell out of my chair reading this. I agree with you completely DtC. The End Times must be upon us…RUN FOR THE HILLS!! 😛 -XT ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/3 "2006-03-09T18:53:29Z")
I have a sneaking suspicion the veto will be overridden. I thought I heard that under federal law, it is illegal for the US to do business with a country that does not recognize Israel. It is my understanding Dubai (who owns the port company) does not recognize Israel. Has this been resolved? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/4 "2006-03-09T18:57:11Z")
Holy shit- down is up and left just became right! I tripped over my own feet and hit my head on the ceiling! I kid, I kid. I’m not opposed to giving the deal a little more public review, but this controversy is nuts. And I just heard that Dubai has pulled out of the deal. ---
**Author:** ![Xan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/ac8455/32.png) [@Xan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/5 "2006-03-09T19:04:59Z")
I agree with you DtC and I’m not fond of Bush at all. I’m so sick of this scare mongering. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/6 "2006-03-09T19:11:16Z")
This is pissing me off, too. Unfortunately, it’s a lose-lose situation for democratic polititcians. Either they take the same ignorant, stupid position on the deal as the majority of their [constiuents](http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/February%20Dailies/Dubai%20Ports.htm), or they take an informed position and lose popularity and confirm the popular conception of democrats as weak on national security. It’s hard to blame them for grabbing a chance to look tougher than the republicans and gain a little popularity. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/7 "2006-03-09T19:13:25Z")
I haven’t been following this closely enough, but wasn’t there a “mandatory” 45-day review that was neglected? I don’t approve of all the “scare-mongering,” but it seems it’s an important enough deal to deserve more gov’t scrutiny than it originally got. ---
**Author:** ![Danalan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@Danalan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Danalan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/8 "2006-03-09T19:13:44Z")
Sorry, you’re wrong. The UAE has unabashed ties to international terrorism, at the highest levels. This attitude permeates all levels of management. It is far more likely that a UAE middle-management official will pass on sensitive details than virtually any other country’s officials. Much of the shipping into any port is hazardous material in bulk. There’s no reason to smuggle in a nuke if you can arrange for an ‘accident’ with a bulk LPG carrier, or any of hundreds of other truly horrific possibilities (I won’t go into details, because I don’t want to give anyone any ideas). Knowing what is on the ship, and when and where it is going is the key. How much easier will it be to get that info from an Arabic-speaking UAE manager whose uncle goes golfing with the Bin Laden’s, than from an American, British, or even French manager? Before 9/11, I would agree with you. Who cares who runs the ports – it’s just another multi-national money-making operation. But the games changed. We can’t take their intentions at face value. The corporation truly may have the best intentions, but this deal takes critical, sensitive information and places it with the friend of our enemy. Bush is operating to support his own family interests in the middle east, not trying to protect America. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/9 "2006-03-09T19:21:40Z")
It seems Dubai has pulled out of the deal. That takes the wind out of thread a little bit. On the plus side, Congress now has to find another election issue. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/10 "2006-03-09T19:35:45Z")
> [@](#): > > A United Arab Emirates-owned company has agreed to turn over all of its operations at U.S. ports to an American “entity,” Sen. John Warner said Thursday. Halliburton? ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/11 "2006-03-09T19:35:52Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Sorry, you’re wrong. The UAE has unabashed ties to international terrorism, at the highest levels. This attitude permeates all levels of management. It is far more likely that a UAE middle-management official will pass on sensitive details than virtually any other country’s officials. > > Much of the shipping into any port is hazardous material in bulk. There’s no reason to smuggle in a nuke if you can arrange for an ‘accident’ with a bulk LPG carrier, or any of hundreds of other truly horrific possibilities (I won’t go into details, because I don’t want to give anyone any ideas). Knowing what is on the ship, and when and where it is going is the key. How much easier will it be to get that info from an Arabic-speaking UAE manager whose uncle goes golfing with the Bin Laden’s, than from an American, British, or even French manager? > > Before 9/11, I would agree with you. Who cares who runs the ports – it’s just another multi-national money-making operation. But the games changed. We can’t take their intentions at face value. The corporation truly may have the best intentions, but this deal takes critical, sensitive information and places it with the friend of our enemy. > > Bush is operating to support his own family interests in the middle east, not trying to protect America. I’d be interested in seeing a cite for any of this. It looks like scaremongering crap to me. FWIW, I agree with **DtC** here. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/12 "2006-03-09T19:39:50Z")
> [@Sal Ammoniac](#): > > FWIW, I agree with **DtC** here. And, for probably the only time in my life, so do I. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/13 "2006-03-09T20:00:46Z")
This American ‘entity’ would still be controlled by DPW, just with non-Arab faces, right? Okay, maybe that will work. Bush isn’t about to use his first-ever veto on something that appears to hurt security or that hurts his party’s chances this fall, guys. Don’t take that threat seriously. Yes, it’s an election year. If there weren’t any pandering going on, that would be a shocker. If it meant anything in terms of how the panderers would actually act, that would be another shocker. Don’t get unduly upset when you see it, either. The only way I truly disagree with **DtC** , btw, is in supposing Bush had anything to do with the deal - he only found out about the shit after it hit the fan, and his reactions do appear to be driven more by concern for the corporate world than anything else. Yes, he’s in the right. He’s right only by happenstance, but he’s right. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/14 "2006-03-09T20:02:26Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > The UAE has unabashed ties to international terrorism, at the highest levels. This attitude permeates all levels of management. It would be interesting to see any legitimate support for this claim. I would think that if there were any truth to it, the Congress would be waving it around like a bloody shirt rather than making tepid noises about generalized “foreign” ownership. Sounds a bit like anti-Arab blog information, to me. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/15 "2006-03-09T20:04:06Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Sorry, you’re wrong. The UAE has unabashed ties to international terrorism, at the highest levels. \ Like **Sal Ammoniac** , I’d like to see your cite. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/16 "2006-03-09T20:04:17Z")
> [@Danalan](#): > > Sorry, you’re wrong. The UAE has unabashed ties to international terrorism, at the highest levels. \ Like **Sal Ammoniac** , I’d like to see your cite. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/17 "2006-03-09T20:05:57Z")
As do I. I agreed with it from the outset and was accused… well, I’ll let you be the judge: [ > [@lissener](#): > > You know, I useta would say that your lameness never ceases to amaze me. But it has. Your act is so old and stale that the amazement has just gone right out of it. Please, Doors, mix it up a bit, for old time’s sake. ]([http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7126770&postcount=83](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7126770&postcount=83)) Why? Because I was on the right side of the issue. I’m sure **lissener** will be around to say the same thing about you now that you agree with me. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/18 "2006-03-09T20:07:57Z")
Gah! Could a moderator delete my screwup? and then this post? thankyakindly! ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/19 "2006-03-09T20:12:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > The only way I truly disagree with **DtC** , btw, is in supposing Bush had anything to do with the deal - he only found out about the shit after it hit the fan, and his reactions do appear to be driven more by concern for the corporate world than anything else. Yes, he’s in the right. He’s right only by happenstance, but he’s right. I don’t think Bush had anything to do with the deal. What I’m saying he’s “right” about is his refusal to cave in to all the demagoguery about it and his willingness to use the Veto pen (and I think he really would have done it. I don’t remember him making any idle threats before). ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716/20 "2006-03-09T20:17:25Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > It seems Dubai has pulled out of the deal. That takes the wind out of thread a little bit. On the plus side, Congress now has to find another election issue. I don’t know. Check out what [this guy had to say a week ago or so](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=7147659&postcount=155), and that might still be what is going on. 🙂 Hey, good on ya, **Dio** , for taking a non-partisan stand on this! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bush-is-right-and-the-democrats-are-full-of-shit/347716.md?page=2)