# Protectionist Peckerwoods Bow Before "Enemy" **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 9, 2006, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625 "2006-03-09T02:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/21 "2006-03-09T12:35:54Z")
I’m more concerned that no American company is stepping up to do the port work. Why do we have to sell out to foreigners? We can’t run our own businesses in this country, we have to let others do it for us? Of course, it’s a global economy, but letting others run our infrastructure is like burning the furniture in the fireplace. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/22 "2006-03-09T12:48:32Z")
OK, I see where this is headed. Since the “other” argument won’t fit - the one about the Ayrab loving America hating traitors - we see the "you’re stupid argument. It’s actually funny. So it’s “hate them” when you’re told to, but give them a sweet business deal and forget all that hate stuff when you’re told to. As far as the ports themselves, meh. Security will still be overseen by our government, in the overall sense. Meh. The deal was approved, I understand, in a quick but legitimate way. Meh. But Mister and Missus Amurrica are against it. Like ohmygod whatever that is so not good. Gee. Who conditioned them to hate and fear the foreign devil?? To Middle Amurrica, it’s simple. It’s US and THEM. US good. THEM evil. Them hate freedom. Them want to kill us. That’s been the core propaganda message for years. So then, why the shock and surprise when these “great thinkers” decide to “stay the course” that was mapped put for them? You can’t constantly pander to paranoia and stupidity and then expect it to suddenly stop, just cuz you say so. Like I said, chickens coming home to roost. ---
**Author:** ![FWorld](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@FWorld](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FWorld)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/23 "2006-03-09T12:50:08Z")
> [@DesertGeezer](#): > > And since he’s made so much hay out of terrorism, this was a bad time for him to appear to be lending his support to a country which _has_ enabled terrorists, even if it hasn’t sponsored them directly. You’re aware that the 9/11 terrorists also operated out of Germany, right? And you do know that they were in America for months before they committed their crime, right? And that they had \*American \*bank accounts? They didn’t fly bloody fucking camels into the towers, did they? They flew \*American \*aeroplanes. And during their sojourn in America, they trained on flying those planes, didn’t they? So enabling while not directly sponsoring is a description befitting a great number of countries. Chew on that for a bit. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/24 "2006-03-09T13:02:03Z")
There is another fly in the ointment here, maybe two or three (?). On other hot button issues - pick one, any one - the argument is often " it may suck, it may be wrong, it may possibly be unconstitutional, but it’s the will of the people and the majority rules". Now in this specific instance, the “will of the people” and the majority are against the deal. So, does this “sacred will of the people” only hold when it’s convenient for the administration? I see a disconnect and it’s pretty “interesting”. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/25 "2006-03-09T13:17:24Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > What does it say about Mr & Mrs America when the issue upon which they attack Bush, the stuttering incompetent who lost a truth-telling contest with Saddam Hussein, is one of the few issues he’s _right_ about? It says this is the kind of thing the average American doesn’t really know about. Probably can be educated about over time. Would probably trust the presidents judgement on this if he had shown them he was trustworthy. Instead he’s shown them he’s not. How else would you expect them to react? ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/26 "2006-03-09T13:22:17Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > How else would you expect them to react? With blind paranoid ignorance because _not even Bush_ is right-wing enough for them. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/27 "2006-03-09T13:27:05Z")
> [@SentientMeat](#): > > With blind paranoid ignorance because _not even Bush_ is right-wing enough for them. Blind paranoid ignorance? I’m shocked! Shocked! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/28 "2006-03-09T14:09:06Z")
Oh please. The stupid argument comes from this: > [@](#): > > **SteveG1** : > > Especially when the company Bush specifically wants, is the property of a foreign government? …said quote being stupid, idiotic, and at complete variance with the facts. _Bush didn’t pick the company._ The company bought P&O in a regular everyday business deal, in the fall of last year. It has been routinely OK’d by the Brits and every other country involved, except us. Why? Because of stupid shit like what you posted above. Bush had precisely nothing to do with this deal, other than that some of the folks responsible for it OK’d it when it came before them. Why? Because post-9/11, this country and this company, both, have been strongly allied to us. Our Navy parks their boats regularly in the UAE, and guess who’s responsible for the security there? This is prejudice against Arabs, pure & simple. All the other explanations are bullshit. And your arguments are stupid. Period. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/29 "2006-03-09T14:20:58Z")
Just to put the kibosh on the idiotic arguments about “enabling” terrorists, once and for all, a statement from Israel: > [@](#): > > from [The Guardian](http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-5659094,00.html) > > CNN reported Thursday that a prominent Israeli shipping company, ZIM Integrated Shipping Services Ltd., wrote to a U.S. senator noting it does business with DP World and supports the U.S. deal. > ``As an Israeli company, security is of the utmost importance to us and we require rigorous security measures from terminal operators in every country in which we operate, but especially in Arab countries. And we are very comfortable calling at DP World’s Dubai ports,’’ ZIM chairman Idan Ofer wrote, CNN said. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/30 "2006-03-09T14:21:23Z")
**El Cid Viscoso** –your OP is so filled with rustic twaddle, I can’t figure out which side of the argument you’re on. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/31 "2006-03-09T14:31:52Z")
> [@pantom](#): > > Oh please. The stupid argument comes from this: > > …said quote being stupid, idiotic, and at complete variance with the facts. > _Bush didn’t pick the company._ Fair enough, so then why the fuck does he care? He should keep his nose out of it then, but instead has a hissy fit like a little bitch. Inquiring minds want to know. > [@pantom](#): > > The company bought P&O in a regular everyday business deal, in the fall of last year. It has been routinely OK’d by the Brits and every other country involved, except us. Why? Because of stupid shit like what you posted above. > Bush had precisely nothing to do with this deal, other than that some of the folks responsible for it OK’d it when it came before them. Meh. One of the rallying cries has been “we don’t care about other countries, we’ll go it alone.” Old Europe, freedom fries, etc. If Bush had nothing to do with this deal, then by fuck he should have kept out of it, not wade in with both feet. > [@pantom](#): > > Why? Because post-9/11, this country and this company, both, have been strongly allied to us. Our Navy parks their boats regularly in the UAE, and guess who’s responsible for the security there? > This is prejudice against Arabs, pure & simple. All the other explanations are bullshit. And your arguments are stupid. Period. But but but 9/11 changed everything. Sound familiar? It should. It IS prejudice. It IS bigotry. I called it as much, didn’t I? But the kicker is, who kept feeding that ignorance, stupidity and bigotry, for his own poltical expediency? Bush himself. So now he reaps the whirlwind. THAT was my point. Got it yet, dumb ass? You can’t stir shit for so many years, and then expect the suckers to do a complete 180 just because you say so. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/32 "2006-03-09T14:34:10Z")
Damn. Could some kind soul fix my quote thingies? ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/33 "2006-03-09T14:38:19Z")
What I have never seen discussed about this, and what I find to be one of the most glaring issues, is not about security, not about us vs. them, and not about terrorism. It’s about good old fashioned cronyism and Jack Snow greasin’ the rails for his buddies at CSX, then keeping the whole deal off the radar not just from the public, but from the administration. The administration seemed to be pretty blind-sided by the deal, and spun their wheels a bit before they took a position. Why doesn’t anyone remember Teapot Dome? I also think it’s funny that Mr. Boehner is being called a peckerwood. But I’m a yankee who never heard of peckerwood, but have heard of and enjoy juvenile humor. ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/34 "2006-03-09T14:51:42Z")
No, the opposition to Bush gets to decide what issues to bring up. The opposition decided this was a good one becauuse - well, what you said. If the opposition - Hillary, Chuck, etc., had a brain to share between them, they might be able to bring up such other obvious stuff like: [ul] [li]the response to Katrina[/li][li]the ongoing situation in Iraq, which is now deteriorating into a civil war.[/li][li]the trade situation (to which this deal is entirely unrelated, just to put a lid on that before it comes up); just this morning, the trade deficit came in at yet another record.[/li][li]the fiscal deficit, which is causing a revolt within conservative ranks.[/li][li]his pro-torture stance.[/li][li]warrantless electronic surveillance.[/li][/ul] The opposition - you included - instead decided that opposing a business deal because it involved Arabs was the best you could come up with. This does not reflect well on either your judgement or your character or your intelligence. Nor that of the Democrats. They could do better. If they only had brains instead of shit between their ears. ---
**Author:** ![descamisado](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e480ec/32.png) [@descamisado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/descamisado)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/35 "2006-03-09T15:05:10Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > What I have never seen discussed about this, and what I find to be one of the most glaring issues, is not about security, not about us vs. them, and not about terrorism. It’s about good old fashioned cronyism and Jack Snow greasin’ the rails for his buddies at CSX, then keeping the whole deal off the radar not just from the public, but from the administration. The administration seemed to be pretty blind-sided by the deal, and spun their wheels a bit before they took a position. Why doesn’t anyone remember Teapot Dome? > > I also think it’s funny that Mr. Boehner is being called a peckerwood. But I’m a yankee who never heard of peckerwood, but have heard of and enjoy juvenile humor. Slight hi-jack here: My, my, you never heard the word “peckerwood” before? You really need to get out more; get up off the porch and go hang at the general/feed store for a while. Have a pickled pig’s foot while you’re down there 🆒 Being from Mississippi, I heard it a lot and used it a lot (what’d I know?). Putting aside its meaning for a moment, it’s one of those words that just has a delicious sound to me – using the “peckawood” pronunciation or the “peckerwood” with the hard, southern “r” (That’s “arra” in southern.) Peckerwood! Peckerwood! Peckerwood, peckerwood, peckerwood, peckerwood, peckerwood, peckerwood. Okay, I’ll stop now and return you to your regularly scheduled rant. ---
**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, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/36 "2006-03-09T15:13:04Z")
> [@NurseCarmen](#): > > What I have never seen discussed about this, and what I find to be one of the most glaring issues, is not about security, not about us vs. them, and not about terrorism. It’s about good old fashioned cronyism and Jack Snow greasin’ the rails for his buddies at CSX, then keeping the whole deal off the radar not just from the public, but from the administration. The administration seemed to be pretty blind-sided by the deal, and spun their wheels a bit before they took a position. Why doesn’t anyone remember Teapot Dome? You “never” see it discussed because it’s a wild conspiracy theory. If you want to discuss it, bring some facts to the table. Show us that Snow kept it off the radar screen. **This was a public deal that anyone could read about in the papers.** There was nothing secret about it. Are you going to argue that Snow kept it secret from the Brits, the Germans, the French, the Australians, the Belgians? ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/37 "2006-03-09T15:16:46Z")
> [@pantom](#): > > The opposition - you included - instead decided that opposing a business deal because it involved Arabs was the best you could come up with. > This does not reflect well on either your judgement or your character or your intelligence. Nor that of the Democrats. > They could do better. If they only had brains instead of shit between their ears. It isn’t the Democrats who are going to kill this deal- it’s the Republicans. For years Bush has exploited the ignorance and xenophobia of the American citizen. Now it’s come back to bite him in the butt. My heart bleeds for him. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/38 "2006-03-09T16:31:34Z")
> [@pantom](#): > > No, the opposition to Bush gets to decide what issues to bring up. The opposition decided this was a good one becauuse - well, what you said. If the opposition - Hillary, Chuck, etc., had a brain to share between them, they might be able to bring up such other obvious stuff like: > > [ul] > [li]the response to Katrina[/li][li]the ongoing situation in Iraq, which is now deteriorating into a civil war.[/li][li]the trade situation (to which this deal is entirely unrelated, just to put a lid on that before it comes up); just this morning, the trade deficit came in at yet another record.[/li][li]the fiscal deficit, which is causing a revolt within conservative ranks.[/li][li]his pro-torture stance.[/li][li]warrantless electronic surveillance.[/li][/ul] > > The opposition - you included - instead decided that opposing a business deal because it involved Arabs was the best you could come up with. > This does not reflect well on either your judgement or your character or your intelligence. Nor that of the Democrats. > They could do better. If they only had brains instead of shit between their ears. Me included??? Do a search on my name. I went on record as being critical on ALL these issues. ---
**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, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/39 "2006-03-09T16:42:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > For years Bush has exploited the ignorance and xenophobia of the American citizen. Now it’s come back to bite him in the butt. My heart bleeds for him. Is that what people mean when they speak of bleeding heart liberals? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pantom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/34f0e0/32.png) [@pantom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantom)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625/40 "2006-03-09T16:46:14Z")
And then you went on record on this one, with that lame-o argument about Bush picking this company, while some other fool went on about them “enabling terrorists” or something. Meantime, every other country on this planet, including Israel, has no problem dealing with this company and this country. So, you waste everyone’s time, and you discredit the left in this country, who look like a bunch of beheaded chickens, running this way to vote for the war in Iraq if they’re in Congress (Kerry & Hillary), then that way to vote against this deal (Kerry & Hillary again), each time bumping blindly against reality while flailing their arms like helpless spastics. Stupid & ridiculous. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/protectionist-peckerwoods-bow-before-enemy/347625.md?page=3)