The last Straw

[ColtsLax]

Ive supported Bush for a while, but his actions of Late have begun to change my mind about him and his admin. I still consider myself a Republican and a conservative, but i no longer support the Bush admin. And this is my reason.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-19/114054266496390.xml&storylist=jersey

apparently, the US is selling the contract to run security at may of our nations ports, including the ports of NYC, and the Elizabeth/Newark Ports, about a 30 min drive north of my house. Its also includes Baltimore, Miami, NO, and Philly

This company took over the former, British run company. There are proven ties to the men who attacked our Country on 9/11. Also, our new gov. fired our Counterterrorist Director.

So here i sit, in a state that runs one of the largest Seaports in the Country, about to be threatened by men who now have the ability to smuggle bombs, men and other weapons into the country. a majority of dock workers are Arab, this ne security company is Arab, and we dont have a CT guy.

Im Sorry, but ive lost faith in Bush. :thumbsdow

[wilsontopowell]

Ive supported Bush for a while, but his actions of Late have begun to change my mind about him and his admin. I still consider myself a Republican and a conservative, but i no longer support the Bush admin. And this is my reason.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-19/114054266496390.xml&storylist=jersey

apparently, the US is selling the contract to run security at may of our nations ports, including the ports of NYC, and the Elizabeth/Newark Ports, about a 30 min drive north of my house. Its also includes Baltimore, Miami, NO, and Philly

This company took over the former, British run company. There are proven ties to the men who attacked our Country on 9/11. Also, our new gov. fired our Counterterrorist Director.

So here i sit, in a state that runs one of the largest Seaports in the Country, about to be threatened by men who now have the ability to smuggle bombs, men and other weapons into the country. a majority of dock workers are Arab, this ne security company is Arab, and we dont have a CT guy.

Im Sorry, but ive lost faith in Bush. :thumbsdow

and thats why i wonder if Something is seriously wrong with him

[MeRattack]

colts, im pretty sure you feel the same way as many other rebublicans

[Trilax03]

yeah i'm a republican and this is just absurd to me...idk what to think

[MainLax28]

I am a conservative, and I have always been faithful with Bush until five minutes ago when I heard his quote about vetoing any bill that goes against this sale. Until that changes I am fully against him. Such a sale would ruin our nations borders and security even though they both huff already.

We need to get our soldiers back here to keep out illegals. We need hydrogen fuel technology and we need to pump out Alaska until then. We need to bring our manufacturing back here even if it is more expensive. Man I really am considering moving to Canada

[ColtsLax]

i dont know about moving out of the USA, but once i leave for college, as much as it pains me to say it, i will probally never return to NJ. I love the state, but we are close to 5 billion dollars in debt, our transportation dept has no money, our statehouse is rife with corruption, no-bid contracts, and entitlement abuse. With this thing going on, i wont be able to afford, monetarily and otherwise, to reside in the state of my birth.

Im afraid to sya that this new contract could possibly endanger the lives of millions of americans, and Bush is going to allow it.

[JoshM]

Some reason this is not too surprising to me.

[James]

I am in the same boat with you although I am only 14 and my thought doestn matter I have lost my former faith in the man for running our country how sad, I think he needs to have a kindergarten teacher explain it with blocks then he might understand that Arabs owning our ports= terrerost attacks

[Krypt0M4g!c]

Hopefully this will be reconsidered. If not, massive PROBLEM. I just can't see something not being done about this.

[jedimasterPIMP]

Yeah the UAE is no in control of security, my dad did a story on it and succeded in pissing off all 14 princes of the UAE.

[Coach_Goldberg]

Is anyone of voting age going to contact their senators or congress representatives about this? It may seem pointless but many of them care...

[ColtsLax]

Is anyone of voting age going to contact their senators or congress representatives about this? It may seem pointless but many of them care...
ive already done it, and told most of the kids at school about it. If you read the articles, Bob menendez is our senator whose really against this.

[Coach_Goldberg]

You know what, ColtsLax, I know our opinions differ based on different forums, but I respect you more now because you don't just gripe about politics. You use what tools democracy provides. That is essential to being able to keep our democracy. Thank you...

[Thrillhouse]

apparently, the US is selling the contract to run security at may of our nations ports, including the ports of NYC, and the Elizabeth/Newark Ports, about a 30 min drive north of my house. Its also includes Baltimore, Miami, NO, and Philly


…and from the article he cited to prove his point…
"Nothing changes with respect to security under the contract. The Coast Guard is in charge of security, not the corporation,"

[MainLax28]

i dont know about moving out of the USA, but once i leave for college, as much as it pains me to say it, i will probally never return to NJ. I love the state, but we are close to 5 billion dollars in debt, our transportation dept has no money, our statehouse is rife with corruption, no-bid contracts, and entitlement abuse. With this thing going on, i wont be able to afford, monetarily and otherwise, to reside in the state of my birth.

Im afraid to sya that this new contract could possibly endanger the lives of millions of americans, and Bush is going to allow it.
Oh, there is no way in hell I would settle my family in NJ. Anywhere but here.

[FredtheCat]

Is there ANY good reason for this to happen? I don't see how losing control of our ports to the UAE can be positive in any way.

[ColtsLax]

Is there ANY good reason for this to happen? I don't see how losing control of our ports to the UAE can be positive in any way.
the security was orginial under the purview of a British based compnay. That company was brought by DPI, the UAE company. therefore all contracts held by the brits are automatically transfered to the UAE company.

I hear the NYC has a clause that allows them to tear up the contract should the Brits be taken over. I know that the NY/NJ port Authority contract was for 30 years, and we were only in it for about 1. I do not know if this clause if in the Newark/elizabeth contract, or the other ports contracts.

[Thrillhouse]

the security was orginial under the purview of a British based compnay.

No it wasn't! The Coast Guard is, and has always been responsible for security at US ports. Do you know how I know that? I read the article you posted.

[OutBurst]

Im Sorry, but ive lost faith in Bush. :thumbsdow

Ohh, just now you lost faith in Bush. Woah, that's disappointing... :WTF:

[ColtsLax]

No it wasn't! The Coast Guard is, and has always been responsible for security at US ports. Do you know how I know that? I read the article you posted.
the coast guard, the way i understood it, is responsible for the overall security, but the searching of containers and such falls under the direction of the compnay, the USCG is like an overlord.

[ColtsLax]

Ohh, just now you lost faith in Bush. Woah, that's disappointing... :WTF:
its been a gradual decline, not a sudden 180. it all started with the election, and his SOU address, and its pretty much been downhill

[GeorgiaMiddie2]

welcome to the politics of a lame duck presidency, folks...

[Mavido]

its been a gradual decline, not a sudden 180. it all started with the election, and his SOU address, and its pretty much been downhill
I ( a blatant liberal) actually thought he was going in the right direction with the State of the union... Odd.... I thought he was looking at things in maybe not the right way, but starting to accept that things havent allways been perfect as he had always thought.

[mikecoyle]

Ive supported Bush for a while, but his actions of Late have begun to change my mind about him and his admin. I still consider myself a Republican and a conservative, but i no longer support the Bush admin. And this is my reason.

http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-19/114054266496390.xml&storylist=jersey

apparently, the US is selling the contract to run security at may of our nations ports, including the ports of NYC, and the Elizabeth/Newark Ports, about a 30 min drive north of my house. Its also includes Baltimore, Miami, NO, and Philly

This company took over the former, British run company. There are proven ties to the men who attacked our Country on 9/11. Also, our new gov. fired our Counterterrorist Director.

So here i sit, in a state that runs one of the largest Seaports in the Country, about to be threatened by men who now have the ability to smuggle bombs, men and other weapons into the country. a majority of dock workers are Arab, this ne security company is Arab, and we dont have a CT guy.

Im Sorry, but ive lost faith in Bush. :thumbsdow
Well geez, bush involved with the arabs no crap,, known that for years,same with his dad. Cant see why people are so blind to how they pretty much do as they please for money and oil.
And O.J. really never killed them did he?.........DUH!!

[Frndlefire]

Well geez, bush involved with the arabs no crap,, known that for years,same with his dad. Cant see why people are so blind to how they pretty much do as they please for money and oil.
And O.J. really never killed them did he?.........DUH!!
People percieve actions like this as much more grave than Bush being golf buddies. Sure, big bad deals could be struck over hole 9 that would trump this in terms of security and money, but this is at home on our own land. We don't know what happens in other parts of the world, but we damn well know we don't want our "enemies" being responcible over our ports.

[marflax33]

i just dont care anymore. i live in my little hick town in the woods.politics dont matter to me.

[wolfie8914]

welcome to the politics of a lame duck presidency, folks...

Yea but maybe not....http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.J.RES.24.IH:

[wolfie8914]

Coltslax.....I am thoroughly impressed. Honestly, I am. Who ever would have thought? Not me.

But you do ring a valid point, and I agree that the Bush administration is ruining the face of Republicans. Deep down I know most of you are fuzzy, warm loving people.

[marflax33]

Coltslax.....I am thoroughly impressed. Honestly, I am. Who ever would have thought? Not me.

But you do ring a valid point, and I agree that the Bush administration is ruining the face of Republicans. Deep down I know most of you are fuzzy, warm loving people.

fuzzy warm loving people. lol that made my day. ah thats pretty funny. alright. heres marflax's scenario. I kill animals for my food. I think guns should be sold in vending machines. I like blowing the crap out of stuff. I wear the furs of the animals i kill. I dont like tree huggers. I think kerry is an *** because he said the animals were defensless. i live in a hut made out of mud. wow i love life.

[GeorgiaMiddie2]

saw that already wolfie... and the chances that it will actually become law are very, very, very, very slim.

[SDS416]

The situation is so stunning, its hard to describe. There is no comprehandable way I can imagine where the president of this country, in a time where he says we must be ever vigilant for threats of terrorism, can allow the selling of operations at our largest ports to the government of a forigen country that is so deeply associated with worldwide terrorism.
For a long time, I have sincerely questioned the competency and motives of this president. Its become clear that at the very least he is not competent enough to run this nation in a safe, intelligent and reasonable manner, and at worst he is willing to sell out the integrity of our nation and its people for his own personal gain.
It saddens me to think back to the number of people who during the 2004 election scoffed at me when I suggested that by voting for this man, they were doing nothing more than damning this nation to a future filled with deep nationalistic divide (the depth of which has not been seen in this country since the civil war in my opinion), worldwide humiliation, and domestic failure. Now, it has come to pass as what life in the US is these days.
If there is a good side to be found in all of this, its that democracy appears to be finally taking a stand. Republicans and democarts alike seem to be recognizing that the safety and security of a nation must not be sacraficed by person's delusional and ignorant behavior. And they have recognized that the tools of democracy can and must be used to stop these actions. Its reassuring to know that the values and safeguards written into the constitution still mean something.
The only other remotely positive thing that I can see is that under the leadership of ths president, the republican party has done more to isolate and alienate the people of the US than any other administration in history. Surely as midterm elections approach and the american people are given a chance to choose new members of the house and senate, a message will be sent loud and clear.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

My stance on Bush is this. He's isn't the best with word, we all know that. I support him mainly for a Republican controlled Congress.

This whole port thing blew me away. I was expecting him to have more sense than this. We'll see. I heard the governor of MD was asking for a 40 day grace period while him and some other state officials can do some research. Because Baltimore is in those ports.

[enjoi]

I support him mainly for a Republican controlled Congress.
God I hope you aren't of voting age... ever.

People like you make me absolutely sick. Voting along party lines is the worst thing to happen to this country ever. Whatever happend to the best of the best?

[HdGLaxWarrior]

God I hope you aren't of voting age... ever.

People like you make me absolutely sick. Voting along party lines is the worst thing to happen to this country ever. Whatever happend to the best of the best?

Well, Bush is clearly the best of the best.

[Frndlefire]

Well, Bush is clearly the best of the best.
is he the best of the best because what he does is the best choices our country could make? Or is he the best of the best because he's republican and you desire a republican controlled congress

[HdGLaxWarrior]

Well, if he wasnt best of the best he would'nt have won. Now would he?

[SDS416]

Well, if he wasnt best of the best he would'nt have won. Now would he?

Do you really think that either of the 2 elections he's won were the best of the best facing the best of the best?

He managed to steal 1 election and lie and decieve his way to re-election. Seriously, look at who he beat then tell me exactly how your logic plays out.

[GeorgiaMiddie2]

no, he's not the best of the best... he's what the majority of the electoral college voted for. in other words, he's what we thought was the best of our options at the time.

[Frndlefire]

Well, if he wasnt best of the best he would'nt have won. Now would he?
Ha ha..oh...you're serious...well, ok, true...but only if our system was a competition between a number of presidential hopefuls who all competed against eachother on a level playing field. We have two parties and one of them is going to win. Therefore, just on the simple fact that your party selects you as their representative it gives you a 50/50 chance of becoming the president. Presidential candidates can be selected for a number of reasons (Bush has often been called a puppet - a figurehead for powerful individuals behind the scenes who push and prod the direction of our country). People, sadly, primarily vote along party lines. If you're a republican you vote for whoever the republican candidate is, and vice versa. Just because an individual become the president (particularly one who has been selected under such turmoil and cries of corruption as Bush - need I remind it took the Supreme Court to declare him the winner the first time around?) doesn't mean they are the best president we could have right now.

[HdGLaxWarrior]

Well, Florida couldnt get thier stuff in order. So someone had to step in.

[Frndlefire]

Well, Florida couldnt get thier stuff in order. So someone had to step in.
I don't understand how this responds to our statements...

[faacjb]

The link below is to a story that aired on NPR's Morning Edition today. It might help us all better understand what's going on here.
Most of our ports are operated(NOT owned, operated) by foreign companies. They do not import a bunch of foreign nationals to do the work. They hire locally. Security is handled by US Customs, the Coast Guard and a number of federal and state run agencies. This will not change. Listening to the NPR report, I got the feeling that the people who actually work at the ports look at this as a non event. One company was bought by another company. Happens all the time. Which explains why the administration didn't say much about it. It's not "secrecy", it's routine.
There are hundreds of foreign companies that operate in the US. Heck, my electric utility is owned by a Scottish company, but I don't see guys in kilts carrying claymores climbing utility poles in Salt Lake. I think ther is a lot of grandstanding going on here. Shame on BOTH political parties.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5227732

[Frndlefire]

The link below is to a story that aired on NPR's Morning Edition today. It might help us all better understand what's going on here.
Most of our ports are operated(NOT owned, operated) by foreign companies. They do not import a bunch of foreign nationals to do the work. They hire locally. Security is handled by US Customs, the Coast Guard and a number of federal and state run agencies. This will not change. Listening to the NPR report, I got the feeling that the people who actually work at the ports look at this as a non event. One company was bought by another company. Happens all the time. Which explains why the administration didn't say much about it. It's not "secrecy", it's routine.
There are hundreds of foreign companies that operate in the US. Heck, my electric utility is owned by a Scottish company, but I don't see guys in kilts carrying claymores climbing utility poles in Salt Lake. I think ther is a lot of grandstanding going on here. Shame on BOTH political parties.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5227732 damn liberal media bias supporting Bush...

[The Chariot]

I don't really care about this (TOO LONG DIDNT READ) I just feel bad for you man. You live in the worst state in the Union.

[marflax33]

meh nvm lalalalala

[NC-LACROSSE]

Bush = old pothead, thats asking for it no matter how good our relations witht he arabs get there will always be some who want to blow are brains out...

[ColtsLax]

It dosent matter what the logisitcs of the deal are. I DONT WANT FOREGIN COUNTRIES, COMPANIES OR PEOPLE RUNNING AMERICAN PORTS. especially since the ports have been recognized as the weakest link in the whole system. There are no US compnaies that can do this?