http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2007/07/362706.shtml

NOBLE RESOLVE - OPEN LETTER TO PETER DEFAZIO

With the beauty of Saturday night’s moon beaming brightly upon the water, hundreds of people gathered at the Bay St. Louis Yacht Club to listen to the deliciously divine music of Deacon John, a New Orleans legend playing all the favorites going back some fifty years. I couldn’t believe how hot it was or that sweat was running down my legs! A young friend informed me, “That isn’t sweat. It’s the humidity stuck to your legs.” I guess it’s been a while since I went dancing under the moonlight with humidity in the night air making life almost unbearable were it not for Deacon John’s music.

Update #2 - Save Our American Ports (SOAP) and SCRUB THE DEAL! Proposed operation of 21 American ports on the eastern seaboard, from Maine to Texas, by the United Arab Emirates' owned-company Dubai Ports World remains contested today, as Mr. Bush renewed his threat to veto any congressional action blocking the sale. Despite that, the Republican-dominated House Appropriations Committee voted 62-2 (only Reps. Jim Kolbe, R-AZ and Jim Moran, D-VA, voted against the measure) today to bar DP World from holding leases or contracts at US ports.

Remember the shells and bean game? Hide a bean under a nutshell, rapidly move the shells around, then ask "Where's the bean?" Are the American people unwittingly involved in a shells and bean game with much greater stakes: our national security vs. our American ideal of non-discrimination? The status of the acquisition of the operation of 6 American ports remains murky today, just hours before the scheduled turnover to the United Arab Emirates' government's corporation, DP World. The turnover of the ports is scheduled for this Friday, March 2nd, despite congressional calls for Mr. Bush to intervene.

If it seems like only yesterday that Senate and House Republicans were talking tough on the Dubai Ports deal, that's because it was!

Today, GOP leaders are singing a completely different tune. Here's Bill Frist:

Frist said Republicans trust the Bush administration and think its determination that the port deal doesn't threaten American security is "in all likelihood absolutely the right one."

Have we learned anything new to give us more confidence in Dubai? Not exactly! This is from the evil Rupert Murdoch's GOP rag:

Now, ram it home, Democrats. Get some spine and ram it home. From Rasmussen Reports:

Just 17% Favor Dubai Ports Deal

February 24, 2006--Just 17% of Americans believe Dubai Ports World should be allowed to purchase operating rights to several U.S. ports. A Rasmussen Reports survey found that 64% disagree and believe the sale should not be allowed…

For the first time ever, Americans have a slight preference for Democrats in Congress over the President on national security issues. Forty-three percent (43%) say they trust the Democrats more on this issue today while 41% prefer the President.

Surprise - Bush lied again! Remember when it was just 6 ports?

UAE terminal takeover extends to 21 ports

By PAMELA HESS
UPI Pentagon Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (UPI) -- A United Arab Emirates government-owned company is poised to take over port terminal operations in 21 American ports, far more than the six widely reported.

The Bush administration has approved the takeover of British-owned Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to DP World, a deal set to go forward March 2 unless Congress intervenes.

ON HISTORICAL MARKERS AND DIRTY DEALS

A SWEETHEART DEAL IN EVERY PORT (The UAE to run our ports? ...Help me out...Is that a democracy?)

Come on. When does all this "I'M SHOCKED" crap from the public get old?

You have to hand it to MICHAEL MOORE for being hot on the trail - the man who said the Bush family relationship with oil-rich Arabs, including the bin Laden family, was suspiciously tight. The Carlisle group (Bush) and the once near-bankrupt Halliburton (Cheney) are now making fortunes from the U.S. cookie jar.

WHAT ARE WE STARING AT NOW? A SWEETHEART DEAL IN EVERY PORT.

Lou Dobbs has the story, Crooks & Liars has the video, and Bush has a face-full of birdshot. I can't wait for the next rounds of polls!

Bush Family Ties to the UAE

DOBBS: President Bush's family and members of the Bush administration have long-standing business connections with the United Arab Emirates, and those connections are raising new concerns and questions tonight in some quarters about why the president is defying his very own party leadership and his party in defending the Dubai port deal.