Killing Two Quail with One Pellet

If 1) the ports operation business is so profitable, and 2) we want to keep it American owned, then why not simply give it out on a no-bid contract to Halliburton?

Tomorrow's Hindsight

Will we wake up one morning asking why and how did we give so much control over our infrastructure to foreign interests?

Grim Reaper

In recent days, how many times have you seen the phrase, "reaps what he sows"?

In a Heartbeat

Do you feel more or less secure with Cheney being a heartbeat away from the (Bush II) presidency than you did with Quayle being a heartbeat away from the (Bush I) presidency?

Gone Hunting?

Anybody seen Don Rumsfeld lately?

Pillow Talk

Any reason to doubt Senator Elizabeth Dole's objectivity now that husband Bob has been hired by Dubai Ports World? (Hmmm, wonder if they pay better than Viagra....)

Lose - Lose

In one fell swoop, President Bush has:
• admitted that he knew nothing about the Dubai ports deal until after it was disclosed by the press (Cheney-Whittington redux) but it must be approved or we will be sending a message to the Arab world that it can't be trusted.
• managed to bring together Republicans (Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert, Peter King, Chairman, House Homeland Security Committee), Democrats (Hillary, Chuck Shumer), Teamsters, Newt Gingrich, Cal Thomas, Arianna Huffington....
• given the Arab world reason for accusing the United States of anti-Muslim bigotry, thereby pissing off both the royal families AND the fundamentalists.
• squandered his anti-terrorism profile.
• strenghtened the aura of secrecy that has been pervading the administration.
Here's the question(s): Who's in charge and just what the hell were they thinking -- or were they thinking?

Morales

1) Is there a "humane" way to execute someone?
2) Should we care?

Ports

1) Is the Dubai company purchasing the right to control the ports, and if so, how much and to whom? Who brokered the deal?
2) What does "control" mean? Hiring and firing? Establishing budgets? Maximizing corporate profits? Determining what goods can move throughout the ports? Choosing outside contractors and vendors? And, is port control a function that should be left to private interests?
3) In the minds of the directors of Dubai Ports World, whose interests come first - the company's, its owners - the government of Dubai, or the United States?
4) Which lobbyists have been retained by Dubai, and how much have they been paid?
5) How many contracts does Halliburton have in the UAE?
6) Do the Bush family oil interests have any relationships with the UAE?
7) Should we be more confident now that both the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Customs Service, the two agencies charged with protecting our ports, are part of the Department of Homeland Security under the direction of Michael Chertoff?
8) Besides Treasury Secretary John Snow, which other current or former Administration officials have a link to Dubai Ports World or other UAE governmental interests?

Cheney

1) Why wouldn't a man who just accidentally shot his friend visit him in the hospital?
2) How many others were at the barbeque and in the hunting party, and has anyone interviewed them?
3) When was the last time anyone involved in an accident where there the use of alcohol was an issue admit to more than "one beer?"
4) Can the actions of a president or vice-president ever truly be those of a private individual?
5) Has President Bush hunted at the Armstrong ranch?
6) How are quail that are used as hunting targets raised and prepared for the hunt?